Dear friends,
Reading through the comments from your listening sessions that were held during the Rector Search, and those coming out of our Cottage Meetings over the last couple of weeks, one theme that keeps rising to the top is a deep desire to be more engaged with our community.
It was very exciting, then, to be approached by Ethan Eisenberg with an opportunity to be a sponsor of the Viking Broadcasting Program at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Ethan made a proposal to the Vestry, who unanimously approved the project, and he reached out to you all to help fund the $500 necessary to be a Platinum Sponsor. I am happy to report that you went above and beyond, raising over $700 toward this project. (In case you’re wondering, the additional $200 will be used toward renovations of the Atrium for our youth programming.) As a Platinum Sponsor, the broadcasting students at H-F High School will be worshiping us this Sunday during the 10:00 am Mass and will be filming portions of the service, segments with the youth following the service, during Coffee Hour, and at St. John’s Table Sunday evening. They will produce a 30 second commercial for St. John’s that will be ours to use however we see fit, and a 15 second commercial that will broadcast during all H-F Sporting events and other programming throughout the year on Viking Television and Viking Radio.
This is only one way in which we are reaching out to our community, not only letting people know we are here, but more importantly, that we are here for them. Thank you for your support of this project, thank you for the work you do to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus, and thank you for your service in this corner of God’s kingdom, here at St. John’s. Please make a special effort to be in church this Sunday and particularly be sure to bring your youth with you to be a part of this exciting opportunity.
Grace & Peace,
Fr. Jeremy
|
|
Attention St. John's Ministry Teams:
Please submit your 2019-2020 meeting dates and/or other events to the office (office@mysje.org) no later than Tomorrow, August 23, 2019 so that we may begin creating the new calendar. Please include dates, times, locations, and any other pertinent information you would like noted.
|
|
|
|
Thanks to the Communications Committee you can now Follow us on Instagram @stjohnflossmoor or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/St-John-the-Evangelist-Flossmoor-189813271062627/
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summer is that time of year when attendance is lower than usual as we all travel and enjoy the summer vacation. But unfortunately, the expenses of the Church do not go on vacation. Please consider maintaining your pledge and offerings during the summer through our new Online Giving option. Click the link above to go to the Online Giving page of our website and join us as we continue worshipping God through our generosity.
|
|
|
Adult Christian Formation
Our exploration of the Spirituality of the Twelve Steps will continue Thursday, August 29th at 7:00pm in the Resource Room. This study is based on Richard Rohr's book, Breathing Underwater. You can purchase the book on Amazon by clicking here.
|
|
|
|
A HUGE Thank You to everyone who has already overflowed the donation box! The bin has been emptied, sorted, and condensed to make room for further donations. We will be taking the contents of the Rich Township donation box to the food pantry on September 3rd. If you have non-perishable items you would like to contribute please feel free to bring them on Sunday or drop them off at the office Monday through Thursday between 9:00-2:00.
|
|
Serving this week:
8:00am Holy Eucharist
Lector: Kristy Petersen
LEM: Donna Blackburn
Usher: Warren Becker
10:00am Holy Eucharist
Lectors: Betsy Elliot, Bob Burgwald
LEMs: MJ Bond, Debbi Huggett
Acolytes: Abbey Sutherland, Maggie Oyster, Catherine Madden, Zoe Huntoon
Ushers: Steven Russell, Stewart Scott
Greeters: Mike Juskelis, Don Rubins
Oblation Bearer: Gale Michael
Coffee Hour: Lois Rinkenberger, Gale Michael, Sarah Walter
Altar Guild: Captain: Lynn Ruschhaupt, Bev Keene, Marilyn Kromer, Nancy Mulcahy
|
|
|
|
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, with whom SWIFT has long partnered for service projects, will be having their 34th Annual Hunger Walk on Saturday, September 7 at Jackson Park. The walk opens at 7:00am with the Walk stepping off at 8:30am and concluding at 11:30am. For anyone interested, the food pantry out of St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Park Forest has a bus bringing people to where the walk is located and anyone interested is invited to catch a ride on that bus. For each person who registers with St. Irenaeus the food pantry gets a $12.00 credit with the Food Depository. The bus will be leaving from in front of the Park Forest City Hall. Contact Bryan Burke for more information.
If you or someone else you know is interested in registering, please let me know and sign up at https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/hunger-walk/.
To sign up specifically with the St. Irenaeus group and to ride the bus, please follow this link: https://www.classy.org/team/245572.
|
|
|
|
Collect for August 25th
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
|
|
|
|
|
The Hidden Gem Half Marathon, which takes place in conjunction with Flossmoor Fest, will be held on Saturday, September 7th. The course will pass in front of St. John's and we will be hosting a water station for the runners. Many thanks to those who have already volunteered. We still need 10-15 more helping hands to man the water station, beginning at 6:45am, for about an hour and a half. This is another great opportunity for us to be visible and active in our community. You can learn more about the Hidden Gem Half Marathon by visiting:
|
|
|
|
The Bishop Search and Nomination Committee needs your help. The schedule of listening sessions were published this week and will take place during the month of August. Please make an effort to attend one of these sessions and share your experiences of both blessings and challenges in our Diocese. The information gathered during these listening sessions will be used to compile our Diocesan Profile.
September 5, 7 - 8:30 pm
Grace, New Lenox
|
|
|
Have you ever wondered, "What if church was like a dinner party?"
On Sunday evenings it is! You're invited to join us as we worship much like the early Church did, gathering as a community around the table, sharing a meal that we all help to prepare. Come see how God's Holy Spirit is moving in our own time and community.
St. John's Table is held every Sunday at 5:00 pm. Come join us and invite your friends.
|
|
|
UNDERCROFT UPDATE!
The asbestos is gone, the cracks are sealed, the walls are painted and the new flooring is going in!
Extra special thanks to everyone who helped get this project underway. The movers, the painters, the all-around helpers- we couldn't have done it without you.
Now we need some volunteers to move tables and chairs from the education wing back to the undercroft. If you are able, we are meeting at 10:00 on Saturday, August 31 to move everything back in preparation for our “Grand Re-opening" on Sunday, September 1.
|
|
This week's Birthdays
August 25: Robin Lawler
August 29: David Trier
August 31: Alexandra Foster
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you in thanksgiving for those who are celebrating this week. May they continue to feel the fruits of your spirit, today and every day. Amen.
|
|
|
|
|
Cottage Meeting Sign-up
*Update* If you signed up on the board in the narthex your name has also been added to the digital sign-up forms. We will continue to check the board on Mondays and will update the digital forms accordingly.
If you haven't already signed up for a cottage meeting please check out the list of dates and times on our website. You can also sign up to attend a meeting at https://www.mysje.org/capital-campaign.html or on the bulletin board in the narthex.
|
|
This Week's Lessons
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71: 1-6
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17
Go to lectionarypage.net to read this week's lessons.
|
|
|
|
Parting Thoughts: Conversations about living after loss
Parting Thoughts is an invitation to a three part series of conversations with Certified Life Celebrant, Silvia Gale. These conversations are for those who have experienced the death of a beloved--be it a parent, spouse, partner, child, family member or friend, and who are committed to finding health and wholeness for their lives again.
This is a safe space of understanding, compassion, encouragement, maybe a little bit of dark humor (the kind one acquires while trying to make sense of the senseless), and support for those who have and/or are grieving a loss, regardless of how long ago your loss occurred.
The Parting Thoughts workshops will be held on September 14, October 12, and November 9. There is no cost to attend but we will be taking donations to offset the cost of the facilitator's travel.
|
|
|
|
|
