Please send an email to the office if you did not receive a pledge card yet: SJECCentreville@aol.com, or let Carol know. The cards may be mailed back to St. John's, or put in the collection this Sunday, Nov. 4, when we have the Ingathering and blessing of the pledge cards during the service.
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Crypto Christians
The government was not at all happy with what was happening. They believed that “foreigners” were having too much influence on their citizens and posed a danger to their culture. The government decided to act to end all the foreign power. The target of all this wrath was the work of a Jesuit missionary named Xavier, who, in 1549 had introduced Christianity to Japan.
In 1641 the ruling Shoguns expelled all of the Christian missionaries from Japan. They then demanded all of the nearly 300,000 Japanese Christians to register as either Buddhists or Shintoists. Any Christian who refused was executed. Twenty-Six Christians were crucified on crosses near Nagasaki. As a result of this brutal persecution, Japan was thought to be cleansed from virtually all Christian Influence.
Unknown to the Shoguns some Japanese continued to cling to their Christian faith. They described themselves as the Kakure which is the Japanese word meaning “the Hidden." In the West, they became known as Crypto-Christians. In their everyday lives these Crypto-Christians were indistinguishable from any other Japanese citizen. The Crypto-Christians even constructed Buddhist shrines in their homes. They would then try to practice their faith entirely in secret so no one would know they were Christians.
This practice of trying to protect their Christian faith by trying to mask it using accepted cultural norms actually led to its loss. Over time the Crypto-Christians had merged their Christian beliefs and their Japanese disguises so much that there was very little difference. This resulted in the orthodox faith that their ancestors died for being lost. The Book of Genesis records three instances where the Patriarchs Abraham and Isaac feared the secular culture so much they tried to hide who they really were. The New Testament shows how the Apostle Peter’s fear of cultural norms and personal weakness led to his public denial of even knowing Jesus.
There is an old tongue-in-cheek joke that says “If you were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?” During this final phase of the 2019 Pledge drive you may consider that the sharing of your time, talent, and treasure is an excellent statement that you are indeed a Christian, a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and ready to go:
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David Weir, Senior Warden
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A
fghans/thr
ows are here!
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If you already placed an order for one of the Historic Centreville afghans/throws featuring St. John's, they have arrived! They are ready to be picked up in the office. Please see Carol. (If you didn't already order and pay for one, there are a few extras available to sell. The price is $50.)
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- Dave Parker for taking apart and disposing of the old piano in room 213.
- -Penny Parker and Susie Pike for cleaning out the choir closet.
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- Donation Envelopes for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries Thanksgiving baskets now available
I
t's not too early to start thinking about helping our neighbors in need with food baskets for Thanksgiving! Envelopes are on the back table in the church to make donations to purchase the food for the baskets. We will be providing 10 baskets for Thanksgiving and 10 baskets for Christmas. Thanks (again!) to Marie McDermott for organizing this outreach ministry.
- As these E Notes go out about noon on Wednesday, we have NO ONE signed up to be the LEM, lector, usher, coffee hour host or flower donor. If you can help, please sign up on the sign up sheet further down the page. Also, our nursery attendant is away this Sunday. Please email Carol if you can fill in.
- All Saint's Day, November 4
We will be celebrating All Saint's Day
this Sunday
, November 4 and we will be reading the names of the beloved departed. If you would like to have the names of loved ones who have died read at the service, please send those names to Carol
at stjohnscvpriest@gmail.com
by Friday.
- Ingathering of the pledge cards - November 4 - this Sunday
The ingathering of the 2019 pledge cards will this Sunday, November 4. You may return your completed pledge card by putting it in the model of the church by the pulpit on Sunday or you may mail it to the church.
- Don't forget to turn your clocks one hour back before going to bed on Saturday night! Enjoy an extra hour of sleep!
- Sunday School class for ages 2-4 - this Sunday
As this is the first Sunday of the month, our Sunday School class for ages 2-4 will be held this Sunday from 10:50 - 11:30. Angela and Russ Hadfield will lead the class about God's love for us. Please bring friends with you!
-Things are progressing well for Elim Kids Academy to open their day care center at St. John's very soon, using some of the upstairs classrooms. More to follow!
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Bob Faithful and Carol Hancock will be your representatives at the Annual Diocesan Convention this Friday and Saturday in Richmond. Please keep the diocese in your prayers.
-Need a nice wooden desk? We need to get rid of the desk in 213 as soon as possible. If you can cart it away, it is yours!
-Robyn Ramsey is on her way to Colorado to start her "winter job" as a hospitality manager at a ski resort in Park City, Utah (and she gets to ski most every day!). Robyn will return in the spring. Tim spends a good bit of time out there as well. So when you don't see the Ramsey's for awhile, that's where they are!
-Craig Staresinich and Nita Amar successfully completed and graduated from Santa School last week! They plan to be Santa and Mrs. Claus this Christmas at some homeless shelters.
-Our nursery attendant will be out of town this Sunday. If anyone can staff the nursery, please let Carol know as soon as possible.
- "Scouting for Food" drive - volunteers needed
T
he Boy Scout drive "Scouting for Food" to benefit the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries will be held on Saturday, November 10. Volunteers are needed at the sorting site at 14280 Park Meadow Drive (in the parking garage) in Chantilly. Shifts are available from 10-1, 11-2, 12-3, 1-4. Help to load and unload the trucks is needed from 11:30-2:30 and 2:00-5:30. Those with strong backs and arms are needed to lift the crates of food. For more information and to sign up, please contact WFCM
at
ScoutingforFood@wfcmva.org (attn: Sandy).
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Not too early to think about the holidays...
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We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lessons.
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The Twenty-third Sunday
after Pentecost
October 28, 2018
9:30 AM
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The First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
Isaiah foretells a great feast that awaits God's redeemed people.
The Psalm: 24
The Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6a
God establishes a new heaven and a new earth, and will dwell among the saints for the rest of time.
The Gospel: John 11:32-44
Jesus weeps with those who weep, and then speaks his powerful word that conquers death.
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM
MEETS EACH SUNDAY IN THE LIBRARY, FOLLOWING THE SERVICE
FROM 10:50 - 11:50 AM
___________________
CHILD CARE IS PROVIDED IN THE NURSERY
(Rm. 205)
During the Service
____________
JOINT SUNDAY SCHOOL: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Each week, St. John's children join with three of our Ministry Partners:
Fairfax Chinese Christian Church, Wellspring UCC & Grace Baptist Church
Room 207/208
St. John's Sunday School
class for ages 2-4, Room 215
Meets the first Sunday of each month from 10:50 - 11:30
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VOLUNTEERING AT ST. JOHN'S
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Sign Up Here
to be an altar server
*,
or to donate flowers for a Sunday service, or to bring refreshments for Coffee Hour after the service.
*
(if you're not an altar server, and would like to be a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM), a Lector, or a Crucifer, please see Carol).
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WESTERN FAIRFAX CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
WFCM
"We know that food can be one of the most expensive items on a household budget list. Our hope is that in allowing our clients to visit once per month they will save enough money to pay for other expenses such as rent or utility bills." - WFCM
Items are collected weekly in the baskets at the front door of St. John's Church.
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UPDATED ITEMS REQUESTED
AS OF 10/02/2018
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Currently Needed Items
Food & Beverages
- Fruit Juice (individual size appreciated)
- Canned pineapple
- Tomato paste
- Sugar
- Canned vegetables (no green beans or corn needed)
- Flour
- Oil
- Pancake Mix/Syrup
- Pasta
- Canned spinach or collards
Toiletries
(NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased by our clients with their food stamps)
- Body wash
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
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Reminder
Every Wednesday evening, we have a service of Holy Eucharist and healing at 6:00 PM. The service is about 30 minutes. It is a perfect alternative for those who cannot come to church on Sunday mornings, as well as a good spiritual boost in the middle of the week. Come join us!
Reluctance
We need to be willing to be called by God. If you are not willing, or if you have no interest, if you are reluctant or hesitant or resistant you probably won't hear the voice of God speaking your name, even if shouted from the housetops.
-Br. James Koester
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My email address is stjohnscvpriest@gmail.com,
and the office number is 703-803-7500.
May our ministry together spread God's love to all whom we encounter.
-
Carol
The Rev. Carol Hancock, Rector
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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | 5649 MT. GILEAD RD. , CENTREVILLE, VA | 703-803-7500
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Please note:
If you choose to unsubscribe below, please note that you will no longer receive either St. John's sermons or E-Notes, which are sent weekly. If you do unsubscribe and later want to be added back in, that needs to be done through the provider, Constant Contact. Please email St. John's office with the request: SJECCentreville@aol.com.
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