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Sunday, September 8 is the Sixteenth Sunday

after Pentecost.

Service at 10:00 AM, Holy Eucharist

Find this week's readings in the bulletin.

***A few dates to save:***

Sunday, September 8 - Choir's return to Worship. Alleluia!!!

Homily on the Lord’s Prayer 

During the summer, we have been praying on version of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic. The Prayer is found in Matthew and Luke’s gospels, with the shorter version in Luke.  Aramaic, the first language of Jesus of Nazareth and those who would have been his early followers is a vastly nuanced language— earthy, sensual, and rich in meaning.  The Lord’s Prayer is so familiar and we tend to take it for granted, like anything that is rote. In Aramaic, it has powerful resonance weighted toward infinite love and possibilities. Join us as we discuss how this prayer land’s in our hearts and lives.

Sunday, September 8 - Lord’s Prayer Discussion 11:45-12:45

Discussion of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic, led by the Rev. Marya DeCarlen 

Sunday, September 15 - Welcome Back Sunday! Details below.

Starting September 18 - Lectionary Based Sermon Roundtable, Wednesdays 12-1:30

Starting last February, a small group of parishioners met for 12 weeks in the study and exegesis of scripture while learning how to provide effective and supportive sermon feedback.

Join us now as we continue to support the preachers at St. John's each week by engaging in an in depth discussion of scripture for the next Sunday, before they preach. We will start each meeting with prayer and a review of the homily from the previous Sunday. This enables us to not only hear for ourselves what God may be speaking, but also encourages us to share our insights with the preacher before and after they preach!!!

Welcome Back Sunday, September 15, 2024!!!

If you have been around the Episcopal church for awhile, you may have heard of the Blessing of the Backpacks. This tradition is usually celebrated in early September before students return to school!

This year at St. John we are going forth with a twist on that tradition. Please bring your purses, backpacks, fanny packs, briefcases and pockets for a blessing. You will also be invited to participate in collecting something special to put in your purse, backpack, pocket, etc.!!!

Also, this is a Sunday when you can invite a friend or neighbor who you feel might benefit from the wonders of our faith community. Tell them what this community means to you and how you are lifted up by the beauty of our music, the inspiration of our prayers and the loving outreach we participate in together. We will have nametags for them and put on a shine on our welcome of newcomers on this day. 

Can’t wait to see you as we gather more fully. Marya+ 

BUCK-A-BAG! It's that time again! The Regal Rummage is having their end-of-season Buck-A-Bag sale on all clothing, shoes and accessories, September 4-14. AMAZING deals on clothes for men, women and children, plus shoes and accessories. Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10-2. Don't miss it!! And tell your friends!!

NORTHSHOREMEN BARBERSHOP CHORUS Join us on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 7:00pm for an evening of entertainment! The Northshoremen Barbershop Chorus will be giving a concert to benefit The Open Door (50% of ticket sales will go directly to The Open Door). General Admission: $20  Senior Discount $15 For more info, check out this video or download the flyer.

SUNDAY PARKING UPDATE On Sunday mornings when you come for church service and find the available parking spaces full, we have a solution! St. John's parishioners have permission to park on Sunday mornings in the lot behind Attorney Sal Frontiero's office at 46 Middle Street. For more information, ask Marge. THANK YOU, SAL!

Zoom Laptop Available Jan Goodwin has generously donated her Apple laptop to St. John's in case any parishioner wants to borrow it for Zoom meetings at St. John's. If you are interested, talk to Marge in the office. Thank you so much, Jan!

September is Hunger Awareness Month, and The Open Door continues to be a significant force in helping to meet the needs of the Cape Ann community. In the first six months of 2024, The Open Door has served 957 MORE people and had 4,452 MORE household visits than the same period in 2023. In 2023, the food pantry distributed 1.98 million pounds of food. Saint John's has made significant contributions to The Open Door over many years, and continues to do so with weekly collections of items every Sunday (look for the basket at the rear of the church). This week, the following items would be greatly appreciated: healthy cereal, oatmeal, granola bars (for kids' school lunches), bread mixes, and flavored rice. Many, many thanks.

Documentary Screening The documentary film Common Ground unveils the dark web of money, power and politics behind our broken food system. On Sunday, September 8 at 3 pm, the Interfaith Committee of the Cape Ann Climate Coalition is hosting a special screening of "Common Ground" at the Annisquam Village Church. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of farmers who are using alternative, regenerative, models of agriculture, which could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize the American economy before it is too late. Refreshments will be served. Parking is available on Leonard Street and Washington Street, south of Leonard. Carpooling is encouraged. For more information, download the flyer, or see the documentary's web site.

Music Notes

How would you celebrate? How would you express your unlimited gratitude for a life-changing event in your life? I asked myself this question as I planned this Sunday’s service, looking for a unique way to express joy, gratitude, and awe. When Words Alone Cannot Express (LASST UNS ERFREUEN) will be sung for our Processional Hymn. The text, by John Thornburg, expresses how music can take the place of spoken speech, when words alone cannot express all our hearts ache to confess bring music! Alleluia!

John Bell wrote Sunday’s Choral Anthem, We Cannot Measure How You Heal. Dawn Pratson (flute) and Maryann Tapiro (cello), will accompany the choir. Lord, let your Spirit meet us here to mend the body, mind and soul, to disentangle peace from pain, and make your broken people whole. Couple these musical offerings with our Offertory Hymn, She Came to Jesus (SLANE), text by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, reflects the Gospel Reading for the day: a Canaanite woman who was desperate for her child to be healed by Jesus. Jesus, you listened, debated – then healed – For in her asking, her faith was revealed. Words alone could not express her gratitude for her child’s healing, I can imagine her running through the streets singing with excitement.

The refrain of our Recessional Hymn, How Great Thou Art (O STORE GUD), concludes our service with simple, but astonishing words: Then sings my soul, my savior, God to thee; How great thou art! What has taken place in your lives that make you sing with joy? Showing our gratitude for the events in our lives through music is in our DNA at St. John’s, for this, I am grateful.

Your Friend,

John Churchwell

Science Training Encouraging Peace

Sunday, Sept. 22nd at 3 p.m. at the AVC - the Annisquam Village Church and Temple Ahavat Achim welcome Dr. Allen Taylor and Kim Kronenberg to share the remarkable story of the STEP (Science Training Encouraging Peace) program, which brings Israeli and Palestinian scientists together to work in pairs. There will be speakers via Zoom who have participated in STEP. For more information, email avchurch820@gmail.com.

The Cape Ann Youth Chorus is welcoming new members!

Rockport Music’s Cape Ann Youth Chorus provides a comprehensive musical experience in an inclusive and supportive environment for young singers ages 8 and up. Singers participate in weekly rehearsals, concerts at different community events and at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Mentorship applications will be available for interested advanced singers. Singers in the chorus can expect to join a wonderfully supportive community that values high artistic excellence and diverse musical programming that reflects the Cape Ann region within a global context.

Directed by: Kristina Martin (of CAAA, above) and Thomas Smoker

Rehearsal Schedule: Mondays at 4-5:15 p.m. (Starting 9/9/24)

Location: Shalin Liu Performance Center, third floor

Tuition: $300 per year (includes 30 weeks of rehearsals and approximately 4 concerts) Sign Up Now or for more information, see the web site or download the flier.

CELEBRATE BISHOP GATES Come together in gratitude and celebration for Bishop Alan M. Gates and Tricia Harvey and 10 years of Episcopal ministry among us as Bishop Gates prepares to retire this fall.

Sunday, Oct. 6, 12-4, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston. Come for all or part of this family-friendly celebration and reception. Aquarium admission is included, 12-5. All are welcome! Click here to RSVP by Sept. 20.

SIGN UP NOW! Join in celebration with the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. God willing and the people consenting, The Rev. Julia E. Whitworth will be ordained and consecrated a Bishop in the one holy catholic and apostolic Church and 17th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon Street in Boston. Reception to follow the service.

All are welcome! Clergy: Red stoles.

Seating is available as capacity allows. Register to attend, watch the livestream, or join a watch party: ww.diomass.org/consecration

Evensong with Seating of Our New Bishop Our new bishop will be seated at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont Street, Boston on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 5:00 p.m. All are welcome! RSVP for Oct. 20 requested here.

September 8, 2024

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 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

Join us for Zoom Coffee Hour, aka Reliable Joy! 

Reliable Joy meets Sundays at 12:30. 

Use this Zoom link to join in. Meeting ID: 873 3272 1412

Passcode: 01930 Dial by location: 1 646 558 8656

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sundays               

• 8:30 - 9:15 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 

St. John's Intercession List: CoCo Baxter, Isaiah Woods, Nancy Neschis, Steve Jencks, Francisco Lococo, Clayton Dyett, 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, Lyn Brakeman, 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.