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Sunday, December 15 is the

Third Sunday of Advent

Service at 10:00 AM, Holy Eucharist

Find this week's readings in the bulletin.

Advent Note from Marya: As we enter the season of Advent this Sunday, our worship will reflect a sense of anticipation, quiet, and hope. One way of listening for God's voice during Advent is to practice intentional times of silence. During our Sunday liturgies this Advent, (three more Sundays) we'll lean into silence in two particular ways. First, on entering the church, you're invited to maintain holy silence, using the time before the liturgy for quiet prayer and reflection. There will be no musical preludes during the next four weeks. Our posture of "holy noise," enjoying the opportunity to gather and chat with our neighbors will resume during Christmas. 

Secondly, after the readings and homily, we will observe a full minute

of silence and stillness as a way of letting God's Word soak into our hearts. May God bless us as we enter this season of joyful preparation.

Things to look for that are different in Advent:

1) Liturgical Color: Blue. In Advent, the color blue symbolizes hope and anticipation, representing the waiting period leading up to the birth of Jesus, often associated with the color of the pre-dawn sky signifying the coming light of Christ. 

2) Advent Wreath: There will be an advent wreath with four blue candles, one for each Sunday during Advent. The Advent wreath will be lighted each Sunday with a prayer focus.

3) In place of the Song of Praise, we will be singing the Trisagion, composed by Richard Fabian (b. 1942). The Trisagion is sung, or spoken, when the Gloria is not used in the seasons of Advent and Lent. The text, Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us, is sung/spoken three times. The term comes from the Greek, meaning “thrice holy.”

4) New Lectionary Year: We use the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) in the Episcopal Church and will begin Year C. During Advent in Year B, the Hebrew Testament readings are from the minor prophets and the Gospel readings are from Luke.

5) The Prayers of the People: are customized for the season of Advent with themes of pausing, anticipation and hope.

6) Eucharistic Prayer B: There are four different Eucharist prayers (A, B, C, D). Eucharist Prayer B was chosen because it is best suited for the themes of Advent.

7) Seasonal Blessing: The service will conclude with a seasonal blessing which will reflect the themes of the Advent season and encourage us in particular ways as we go out into the world after church.

Many blessings for you during this Advent season, and may we all wait expectantly for those things which are hidden from us, to be revealed.

A Festival of Lessons and Carols

Please join us at St. John’s Church this Sunday, December 15, at 4:00 pm for A Festival of Lessons and Carols. Our expanded choir, led by Director of Music, John Churchwell, will be joined by two trumpeters, adding to the hope and anticipation of the season. Nine lessons will be combined with familiar carols and newer choral expressions of the Advent and Christmas Season: This is the Truth Sent from Above, by Ralph Vaughan Williams; Sussex Carol, by David Willcocks; Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, arranged by Joel Raney; All is Well, arranged by Lloyd Larson; I Saw Three Ships, arranged by James Kirby; and Here is the Little Door, by Herbert Howells. 

Check out the bulletin here.

The Middle Street Walk!

This year's Middle Street Walk is happening on Saturday, December 14, with various activities from 9 am to 6pm. St. John's will be open for self-guided tours of the stained-glass windows, Director of Music John Churchwell will play Christmas music on the organ, and at 2:15, the young singers of Cape Ann Arts Alive will perform a concert of holiday songs from many lands and times, entitled "“What a Goodly Thing.” Check out the whole schedule!

Thank you for visiting!

Ralph Naomi Gurt Lind came to speak with us last Sunday about her journey to rabbinic school school and share her job description for the temple she now serves, Temple Ahavat Achim. To learn more about this community, check out their web site.

The Men’s Group: A Spiritual Seeking Group Did you know that every Wednesday morning, from 7:00to 8:30, a small group of men from Saint John’s comes together to reflect on scripture, as well as seek new knowledge regarding the teachings of the Bible and other spiritual texts? Scheduled as a year-round activity, the meetings provide a forum for participants to study and explore scripture and the lectionary more deeply. Read more here.

Immigration and Refuge Resettlement

The Episcopal Church supports Dreamers, immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, and recognizes them as part of our churches, communities, and part of our nation. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) offers protection for hundreds of thousands of individuals who had to flee or were unable to return to their home countries due to natural disasters or armed conflict. TPS holders are authorized to work in the U.S. and protected from deportation.

Sarah Larson and I (the Rev. Marya DeCarlen) attended a zoom meeting on December 4th to learn more about how our diocese might be encouraging us to pray and act locally. This is what we learned about how to be a church prepared:

• Determine the Mayor, police chief and sheriff’s public stance on the deportation of immigrants and refugees. 
• Determine how to collaborate with local agencies that will support housing, shelter, ESL instruction, school registration needs or emergency services.
• Inform ourselves regarding local immigration or refugee needs on Cape Ann
• Organize efforts with other community churches 
• Connect with Essex County Community Organization (ECCO) to support local immigrant rights
• Consider hosting families who are homeless due to our newly enacted commonwealth’s shelter time limits (church campus or private homes)
• Print "Know Your Rights" cards to educate ourselves and to be a resource

For more information about evolving conversations regarding immigration follow this link to the Episcopal Church Office of Governmental Relations.

Please contact a vestry person if interested in supporting an immigration effort.

Bring a Friend!

From Marya: I found an article published in Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices this week (Making our Congregations More “Find-able” by Jacob Sierra) and I wanted to share a survey with you. It states boldly that 265 of the people in the pews in Episcopal Churches are there because someone invited them to be there. Beyond Ask-a-Neighbor-to-Church Sunday, which we celebrated in September, please consider again inviting someone you know who could benefit from an invitation to lengthen their life expectancy, strengthen their immunity, improve their body's response to stress and boost sources of prayer filled encouragement, growth and support in their lives!!! When you invite someone, please let me know before worship!!! - Marya

TOYS FOR KIDS is an annual program allowing St. John's parishioners to purchase Christmas gifts for community children. Here's how it works: people within the community phone the office with requests for toys (or other items) for their children. Marge Bishop writes those requests on notes and posts them on a tree in the office. St. John’s parishioners can select a gift then buy and return the desired item to the office by December 19. Gift wrapping and tape is optional.

THANK YOU!! - Marge Bishop, church assistant.

Christmas Flowers

If you are interested in contributing to our Christmas Memorial and Thanksgiving Flowers, the donation envelopes can be found in our pews. Please complete the information found on the envelope and return to the offering plate or the office by Monday, Dec. 16. You can also donate online here, select "Flower Donations" and email names to Marge. We suggest a $20 donation per dedication, but any amount is gratefully received. Thanks!

Let's not forget. While we are all busy getting ready for another holiday, let's not forget those folks in our community that could use a boost in their pantries. The Open Door is hard at work preparing holiday baskets for distribution, and every donation helps tremendously. When shopping for your holiday meals, picking up an extra item or two to provide healthy nutrition to members of the Cape Ann community and bringing it to church on Sunday would be most appreciated. This includes: canned goods, bread making boxes, healthy cereal and oatmeal, and flavored rice. Many thanks.

Music Notes 

The Advent and Christmas Seasons have the best music, in my opinion! It always makes me think of my high school piano and organ teacher, Gwendolyn Skinner. Gwen was a phenomenal musician, who not only taught her students music, but taught them passion for life and how to connect with the people on a personal level. Her favorite carol was Once in Royal David’s City. Growing up in a Southern Baptist Church, Once in Royal David’s City (IRBY) wasn’t in our hymnal, it was always sung using a piece of mimeograph paper with purple ink (you immediately thought of the smell, didn’t you?). This carol, text by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), composed by Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876), is best known for its use as the Processional for Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, originating from King’s College, Cambridge. We will be singing this carol for the Processional at our Festival of Lessons and Carols, this Sunday at 4:00pm.

Cecil Frances Alexander was born in Dublin, Ireland, and began writing at an early age. She became so adept that by the age of 22, several of her hymn texts made it into the hymnbook of the Church of Ireland. Alexander married William Alexander, both a clergyman and a poet in his own right who later became the bishop of the Church of Ireland in Derry and later archbishop. Aside from her prolific hymn writing, Mrs. Alexander gave much of her life to charitable work and social causes, something rather rare for women of her day.

The first time the text appeared with its most popular tune pairing, IRBY, composed by Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876), was in the Appendix to the First Edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868). Gauntlett, born in Wellington, Shropshire, England, was trained in law and music, and is said to have composed over 10,000 hymn tunes.

Your Friend,

John Churchwell

Looking Ahead!

The Middle Street Walk Saturday, December 14, 9 am to evening. The young people of Cape Ann Arts Alive will sing at 2:15.

A Service of Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 15 at 4:00pm

Holy Eucharist with Choir 

Christmas Eve Service Tuesday, December 24 at 8:00pm

Candlelit Eucharist with Choir

A Service of Christmas Carols Sunday, December 29 at 10:00am

Holy Eucharist with Choir 

Vestry Notes for December 2024

·      The 163rd Annual Meeting of St. John’s Gloucester will be held directly after 10:00 AM worship in the Sanctuary on January 26, 2025.

·     After the Vestry approved the Vision Plan and action steps in April, we determined that the next steps would be to recruit someone to oversee the implementation of the Vision. Don Crane, who has experience in helping parishes redevelop, is willing to share his gifts cultivated in the Diocese of Washington DC and lead the implementation! He will be convening an Advisory Team and will also meet with the Vision Implementation Team in January.

·      The Vestry reviewed the draft 2025 budget for St. John’s. The final budget, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting, will be considered and voted on at the January Vestry Meeting. Copies of the budget will be made available before the Annual Meeting.

·      The totals from the Holiday Fair on November 23 are in: We took in $8,000, an increase of $1,000 over last year! The elves are currently evaluating the results of the fair with the goal of continuing the successful activities and reconstituting those that were less financially successful.

Christmas Fair and Greens Sale All are welcome at the annual Christmas Fair at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 142 Prospect Street in Gloucester on Saturday, December 14th from 9:00am until 1:00pm in Our Lady’s Hall. Find special gifts, beautiful jewelry, and religious books and gifts. Take a chance to win an Apple iPad, Electric Lawnmower, or a gift card in the Super Raffle. Santa Claus will join for photographs from 10:00-10:30. Our Lady is working with Cressey & Sons in Rowley to offer for sale both Christmas Cemetery Baskets, Christmas Kissing Balls, and Christmas Wreaths. Each log-shaped basket is $30 each; decorated 15-inch kissing balls are $35 each; and decorated 26-inch wreaths are $35 each. Orders are gratefully accepted through Sunday, December 8th at noon. All proceeds support Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. For more information or to place an order, please call Beth Fosberry by phone 978-790-0196 or email jcbf33@yahoo.com. Thank you for your support! God bless you!

December 15, 2024

The Third Sunday of Advent

10:00 AM

Download the bulletin to see who is participating in the liturgy.

SIGN-UP IN THE PARISH HALL! We always need people to contribute funds for the weekly burning of our sanctuary lamp and for altar flowers. Pick a date that has special meaning for you (anniversaries, birthdays, etc.)! We also always need donations of any kind for the Open Door food bank (no expired items or glass containers please). And don't forget about helping provide lunches for the Action Shelter so people can have something to eat on Sundays!

Sign up in the parish hall for future dates for flower and lamp, Action Sandwiches and coffee hour.



CONTACT MARYA (Priest-in-Collaboration) at mdecarlen@comcast.net or 978-590-1642

St. John's Intercession List: Fozzie Hill, Randy Travis, Dolores DeRuscio, Lois Lupo , Steve Jencks, Ben, Rosie, Reverend Stephen Woods, CoCo Baxter, Francisco Lococo, The People of the Middle East, Jim LaBelle, Eric Leibowitz, Ruth and Gabriel Leibowitz, Anna and Isabelle, Ondine, Don Baker, Mandy, Nina Ziv, Marjorie Frontiero, Hope, Brie-Anne Martel, Patty Reed, Marjorie Fergusson, Laurie Menard, Jeremy, Lucy,  Gaëlle K., Sean G., Josh R., Sean, Alexis Morris, Charlie Bishop, Sarah Clifford, Ace Torrence and Family, Jacoby, Jay Featherstone, Isabelle Higgins, Christopher Antonuk, Miranda Featherstone and Family, Marsha White, Claire Stahler, Carole Secrest, Chris Klosterman, Sereda Feener, Alex Furth, Simeon Teitelbaum, Miriam Teitelbaum,  Len Berry, Ellen, Wayne Martin, Ernie Runnells, Jack Ketchopulos, Michael Rocha, Liana and Joe Webb, Anne Sullivan, Linda, Malcolm Henderson, Emelia Currier, Danny, John Fleming.

Contact prayer list manager: Joan Gorga 978-283-5926 or jmgorga@yahoo.com

Please notify Joan Gorga if there is any change with the people on this list. Thank you.

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sundays               

• 9:00-9:30 am Choir rehearsal (Sept. through June)
• 10:00 am Sung Eucharist

Mondays             

• 9-noon Church open for prayer and meditation
• 9-noon Ms. Fixits Women gathering to tend to the fabric of the church

Tuesdays

• 9-noon Church open for prayer and meditation
• 4:30 pm Women's Cursillo Reunion Group (1st and 3rd Tuesdays)

Wednesdays

• 7 am Men's Bible Reflection, (Bible study) 
• 9-noon Church open for prayer and meditation
• 10 am to 2 pm Thrift Shop and Regal Rummage Open
• 7 pm Fish City AA

Thursdays    

• 9-noon Church open for prayer and meditation
• 7 - 8:30 pm Parish Choir rehearsal (Sept. through June)
• 7:00 pm AA

Fridays

• 10 am to 2 pm Thrift Shop and Regal Rummage Open

Saturdays             

• Action Shelter Lunch-Making, Carolyn Stewart
• 10 am to 2 pm Thrift Shop and Regal Rummage Open
• 7 pm Big Book AA