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8:00 AM Rite II
9:00 AM Pancake Breakfast
10:00 AM Rite II: Choir & Sunday School
Click either button to watch the livestream
Visit our virtual worship page for the Sunday Bulletin
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THIS SUNDAY: Advent Pancake Breakfast Dec. 1 9:00 AM -11:15 AM
Includes juice, sausage, and fruit salad to go with your flapjacks.
Suggested donation amount: $7/person or $25 for a family of 4.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you to the many families who donated to our Thanksgiving Food Drive! Rev Jill loaded her Prius (including the passenger's seat!) with 17 turkeys and lots of canned goods, instant potatoes, and stuffing.
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Thanksgiving Day, BCP p. 246)
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Walk in Love: Gratitude
Thanksgiving Day is usually a time when we all take a few minutes to focus on the blessings we have in life, to pause and give thanks for the life and love we are so richly blessed with.
Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest, writes "Life is a gift, totally given to us without cost, every day of it, and every part of it. A daily and chosen attitude of gratitude will keep our hands open to expect that life, allow that life, and receive that life at ever-deeper levels of satisfaction—but never to think we deserve it. Those who live with such open and humble hands receive life’s “gifts, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over into their lap” (Luke 6:38)."
Stewardship is also a time to pause and reflect on all the blessings in your life, noticing that all we have, all we are, all we do, comes as a gift from our Creator God. Reflecting on these, we then return a portion back to God as a way of expressing our gratitude to God for God's generosity in our lives.
Thank you to the many parishioners who have turned in their pledges as a way of expressing gratitude to God. Sunday, December 1st ends our stewardship campaign to support next year's budget, and we have received 59 pledges totaling $192,026, which is 87% of the way to our fundraising goal of $220,000.
If you haven't yet turned in a pledge, we ask that you prayerfully consider all that St. John's means to you and make a promise to support the ministry of St. John's by making a pledge now.
In gratitude,
Rev Jill
Learn more about why St. John's is special to the Dormans by watching this video:
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Adult Formation at St. John’s:
“Rejoice: Exploring the Carols of Advent & Christmas”
Sundays Dec 8, 15, & 22 at 9:15.
We'll explore the history of several beloved carols during this Advent adult formation forum. Meeting in the Battin Room.
Full Schedule here.
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A Joyous Day to have our Bishop with us!
Last Sunday, Bishop Gutierrez celebrated the mature commitment to Christ of 17 St. John's parishioners.
Here are a few pictures. To see more, visit our Facebook page.
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Gift Card Collection for Chester Eastside
We are collecting gift cards of any value to Walmart, Target, and Amazon. They will be distributed to families experiencing need in Chester so they can shop for holiday gifts for their family. You can place your gift card in the offering plate, mail it to us or bring it into the office from 9 AM – 1 PM Monday – Friday,
by December 16. Thank you in advance!
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Please sign up!
We are in need of hosts to provide our treats for Coffee Hour on Sunday mornings. Hosts can attend either the early service at 8:00 or the second service at 10:00. Please sign up on the clipboard on the treats table.
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My Siblings in Christ,
Since the beginning of this year, I have had 131 meetings with our churches, with you. I spend every waking hour and many sleepless nights thinking about how we can strengthen our churches, deepen our faith, and make your prayers a reality. At each visitation, I deeply listen to your dreams, fears, and challenges.
The number one question I am asked is: How can we grow?
Beginning this Advent, and continuing for the next three to four years, the diocesan offices will not launch new initiatives. Once again, all our financial, spiritual, and physical resources will be used to grow our churches, empower your ministries, connect churches, and build up the resources you need to meet the challenges ahead. (See the list of resources we have and are continuing to build for you: https://www.diopa.org/help.) I believe our parishes and their ministries are the direct connection between the world and the Gospel.
The purpose of the diocese is to walk with you on your journey, to make sure you know you are not alone, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, together. As your Bishop, my ministry among you has been to provide connections: to one another, to support, to resources, and to partners. Since the beginning, my commitment has been supporting you, and I will redouble that effort.
We are one family of 136 churches – some small, some large. Some in between. Like a family, we come together to help those with greater need. When one church helps another church with greater challenges, we prove that we are one. In a divided society, that unity can be a beacon of light. We are stronger together.
Each parish does ministry in its own context, and it is those parish ministries that the Holy Spirit uses to draw people to Jesus Christ. You are the most critical disciples in spreading the Gospel. I trust each of you to know your communities and how to minister to them. We want to help you grow your ministries so you can continue to reach those who are vulnerable. When we empower you, we grow stronger together. When churches work together, that connectedness is amplified.
This Advent is the season of preparation for the present and the future. It is a Season of Care and Connection of our Churches. Let us keep our eyes on Christ and prepare.
Please invite someone to church during Advent and Christmas. Share the hope of Jesus Christ and the hope of our churches.
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez
XVI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
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St. John's Episcopal Church
Usual Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9 AM - 1 PM
610-459-2994
saintjohnsconcord.com
The Rev. Jill LaRoche Wikel, Rector
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