The Messenger E-News

Livestream @ 10 AM on Facebook

Sunday worship service schedule

8 AM - Rite I

9 AM Coffee Hour
10 AM - Rite II

with choir and Sunday School

Visit our virtual worship page for the Sunday Bulletin

Access Rev. Jill's Sermon Podcast here

Livestream @ 10 AM on YouTube

Upcoming Events @ St. John's:

See Sunday's Lectionary here.

Men's Breakfast

Saturday, 12/13 @ 8:30 AM

Youth Group Cookie Baking

Saturday, 12/13 @ 10:00 AM

WWJB? (Winter Warmers)

Tuesday, 12/16 @ 6:30 PM

Xmas Flower Sponsors Deadline

Wednesday, 12/17

Chester Eastside Meal

Thursday, 12/18 @ 5:30 PM (Carpool)

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512 Families Need Help

LAST CALL: Gift Card Collection

Over 500 families in Chester have signed up with Chester Eastside for assistance this holiday season. In order to help them all, CEI would need $12,000 in gift cards; they currently have a quarter of that.

We are collecting gift cards of any value to Walmart, Target, and Amazon. Place your gift card in the offering plate or bring it into the office from 9 AM – 1 PM Monday – by Thursday, Dec 18. You can also note ‘Holiday Gift Cards’ on a check or give online and we will buy them for you.

Thank you!

Reflections from the Rector

Preparing for Christmas

There are many ways we prepare for Christmas. Retail stores kick this off weeks before Advent - aisles of decorations, aisles overflowing with toys, tech gadgets catching our eyes. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sell us on the idea that happiness can not only be bought - but purchased at bargain prices, too (apparently, you can buy love...and love is bought for cheap).

We also prepare for Christmas by squeezing as many memory-making moments as we can into these weeks of December: holiday parties, school concerts and gingerbread days, decking halls and homes, train rides and sweet light displays, traveling around to see family and friends, Secret Santa exchanges.

What would it be like if we prepared for a calm Christmas? Choosing one event to build your December around, baking only one or two cookie recipes instead of half a dozen? Into all the frenzy and chaos and over-stimulated joy, is there space to breathe and find centering peace?

This is just what the Christian season of Advent is: a time of comfort and peace, of hope and expectation that only asks that we clear some space in our heart and mind for God to enter in anew. While the world around us puts thousands of blinking red and green lights on houses and trees, we light a few blue candles kindling the Light of Christ within.

I invite you to make the time to come to church in the craziest month of the year. On Sundays, we light the wreath and hear about God's deepest desire for humanity: connection and caring. Attend our Longest Night Liturgy - a candlelit service of comfort and peace, quiet and meditation - on Saturday, Dec 20 at 4pm.

May the themes of Advent - peace, hope, joy and love - be yours as you prepare for the birth of the One who fulfills all these things.

Blessings,

Rev Jill

PS - Wednesday is the deadline to have your Christmas Flower donation listed in our Christmas Eve bulletins. Please fill out our online form today.

Seeking

Advent Study - The Power of YES!

Join us for an Advent series on Sundays, December 14 and 21 from 9:15-9:45 AM in the Battin Room.

Throughout the story of the people of God, brave and faithful, everyday people said yes to God. In Advent, these yeses are even more significant as they unfolded to make the Incarnation of God as Jesus possible.

Dec. 14 – Mary said Yes! (Luke 1:26-56)

Dec. 21 – Joseph said Yes! (Matthew 1:18-25)

Here is the link to the advent devotional that goes with this study.

Sometimes called a “Blue Christmas” service, the Longest Night Liturgy is a worship service for those who need comfort and peace, while society is focused on gaity and joy. For some people, memories of past experiences and the pain of present situations can be overwhelming during a season when much of society professes joy and wonder. Christmas and New Year’s Eve can be a difficult reminder of the challenges in our lives. In this service, we invite you to meditate upon the pain and sorrow you may bring—and we invite you to offer this pain to God. May you find hope and comfort in knowing that you are not alone, and though there are times we walk through darkness, the promise of the Christ child is that Love and Light, and not darkness, will be known throughout the world. (This service will also be live-streamed.)

Thank You to ALL Who Committed Your Support to Saint John's!

Thank you to everyone who has turned in their pledge for our 2026 budget at Saint John's! We have raised $219,036 towards our $240,000 budget goal. Pledges make up 2/3 of our income for our budget (the rest of our funding comes from interest from our endowment, rentals, and non-pledged plate giving).

We still need $21,000 to reach our budget goal. If you are able, please make your pledge promise by clicking the button below.

Pledge Today!

Growing

LAST CALL: Sponsor Christmas Flowers

Every year we decorate the church with flowers and greens and also have special music for Advent and the Christmas season. Each listing you sponsor is $25.00. There are envelopes in the pews to use or you can sponsor flowers online here. Deadline: Wednesday, December 17. Thank you!

What Would Jesus Brew?

Join us THIS Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 PM as we learn about and sample winter warmers. All are welcome!

A Look Ahead: Christmas Schedule

Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

3 PM Cocoa, Carols, and Creche – A short family Communion service with a Pageant and cocoa
5 PM – (live-streamed) Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Choir Music
7:30 PM – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Choir Music

Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day Worship – 10 AM (live-streamed)

Serving

Card Ministry Volunteers Needed

St. John’s is looking for volunteers to help send out cards for our mail ministry to members. Cards are sent to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, offer get-well wishes, sympathy cards, etc. The card ministry is a way to celebrate with and comfort members in times of need. If interested, please contact Peg Long.

Parkinson's Support Group

Mark your calendars for our next Support Group:

January 7 @ 1:30 PM to 3 PM More info here.

Please feel free to come; open to the community; all are welcome. For more information - e-mail --darreeclark@gmail.com

Coffee Hour @ Saint John's

Sundays from 9:00 - 9:45 AM

We are switching up the way we handle coffee hour. You can now either HOST a coffee hour (bring the food to share) or SPONSOR a coffee hour (pay $30 for the Hospitality Team to buy food and setup). Sign up here or on the clipboard in the Parish Hall. Thank you! Our next GROUP Coffee Hour will be December 21 as we throw a birthday party for Jesus! Bring goodies to contribute to the party.

Diocesan & Community News

Give 'Gifts for Life' through Episcopal Relief & Development

Christmas Lessons and Carols from Bethlehem and Philadelphia

Saturday December 13, 2025

10:00am - 12:00pm - Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral

Praying for Peace. The 20th annual Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols live simulcast. The service will be in person at The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral and streaming live on YouTube: bit.ly/Simulcast25