Due to the recent rise in Covid 19 cases, Bishop Fisher has advised us to halt in-person indoor worship. Therefore, and especially out of loving concern for keeping everyone safe and healthy, we will return to online Sunday worship only. There will be one service of Holy Eucharist via Facebook livestream at 10 AM this Sunday.
St. John’s Growing Edge Book Group will be starting a new book on December 10, 2020.
The selection is Karen Armstrong’s “Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life” The book is available in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and on Kindle. Used copies of the book can be found at Abebooks.comas well.
Financial assistance can be provided to anyone needing help to purchase the book. Church membership is not a requirement. Any adult - from anywhere - is welcome to join!
The group meets via Zoom every Thursday from 4:00 - 5:15 pm. If you are not comfortable with Zoom, let us know and we will get you up to speed before the first meeting. Each week’s reading assignment is 20-25 pages on average.
If you are interested in participating, email Sue Kucharski, at SJCbookgroup@gmail.com to sign up or get further details.
Here’s a description of the book:
“One of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world--author of such acclaimed books as A History of God, Islam, and Buddha --now gives us an impassioned and practical book that can help us make the world a more compassionate place. Karen Armstrong believes that while compassion is intrinsic in all human beings, each of us needs to work diligently to cultivate and expand our capacity for compassion. Here, in this straightforward, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book, she sets out a program that can lead us toward a more compassionate life. The twelve steps Armstrong suggests begin with "Learn About Compassion" and close with "Love Your Enemies." In between, she takes up "compassion for yourself," mindfulness, suffering, sympathetic joy, the limits of our knowledge of others, and "concern for everybody." She suggests concrete ways of enhancing our compassion and putting it into action in our everyday lives, and provides, as well, a reading list to encourage us to "hear one another's narratives." Throughout, Armstrong makes clear that a compassionate life is not a matter of only heart or mind but a deliberate and often life-altering commingling of the two."
Silent Auction
Do you have an item, service, or experience you'd like to donate to help us fund-raise for St. John's? We are looking for a diverse set of items, from big to small, and anywhere in between. Need some inspiration? Here are a couple of items that will be featured:
You'll be able to bid to receive Geriatric Care Counseling fromSue Kucharski, a Registered Nurse with a 37 year career in gerontological nursing, rehabilitation nursing, and case management. She is a certified SHINE Counselor, and is able to explain Medicare and Medicaid to folks in terms they can understand, and can help folks choose the Medicare plan that best meets their needs.
Also, bid on a Still Life Painting! It is an oil painting and was painted by Betsy MacDonald's grandfather, who was a graduate of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School. It would have been painted in the early 1900’s.
You can now pre-order your wreaths! Order deadline is Wednesday, November 25th. All wreaths will only be made to order this year and there will be no extras on sale.
The J2A Pilgrims are selling Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters coffee to raise money for their Pilgrimage. These 1lb bags of whole bean or ground coffee make great holiday gifts. Price is $14 per bag and pick up or local drop off can be arranged the week of December 13th. Please use the form below to place your order. Payment can be made through the “give” section of our website (choose “Coffee” from the drop down menu) or a check can be mailed in to the office at 48 Elm Street, Northampton MA 01060. Please direct any questions to Olivia at education@stjohnsnorthampton.org. Thank you!
