Saint John's Weekly e-bulletin

Dear brothers and sisters
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory forever!

The contents of the best email you'll receive this week:

1. Upcoming Schedule
2. Update on Saint Nicholas Wish List project
3. ShopRight gift cards
4. A couple of studies: Bible and Book
5. LANS (Looking Ahead to Next Sunday) readings and reflection

The services are back to the regular schedule and the church is open to everyone. Physical distancing of 6 feet is required at the moment.

We are currently in the Nativity Fast (the Advent) season.
We don't just follow a certain dietary restrictions during this season for the sake of avoiding meat and dairy products. Rather, the fasting is meant to unburden us of thinking too much about food (or maniacal shopping for the "holiday" season). We think less about food, we prepare less food, we eat a bit less, so that we would have some more time for repentance, prayer, and charity.
Therefore, use this time for deeper self-examination, repentance, and confession (schedule one with Fr Aleksey before Christmas). Pray a bit more at home and attend an extra service a week (see our schedule here). And remember your neighbor (here's a reminder of who our neighbor is).

Saturday, Dec. 5 - Great Vespers & confessions at 5pm
Sunday, Dec. 6 - Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

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Tuesday, Dec. 8 - Advent Supplication service (Paraklesis) at 7pm & Bible Study

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Wednesday or Friday - online Book Study at 8pm

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Saturday, Dec. 12 - Great Vespers & confessions at 5pm
Sunday, Dec. 13 - Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

saint Nicholas wish list project update

Thank you to everyone who donated towards the Saint Nicholas Wish List project to brighten this Christmas season for the seminarian families. We collected a cool $1,225 in donations!
I would like to especially thank Katrina and Jakob Fett for organizing, running, and being on top of the Wish List project for our parish.
Thank you!

ShopRite gift cards

If you are doing your Christmas and New Year's shopping at ShopRite, consider buying ShopRite gift cards from us.

They do not cost anything extra to you, they are as good as cash, but ShopRite donates back to the parish 5% of the amount we sell.

Please see Vickie Duin or Judy Van Beesel for more.

a couple of studies

Join our online Book Study group, which meets once a week, Wednesday or Friday at 8pm.
Right now we are reading a book by Rod Dreher "The Benedict Option, a strategy for Christians in a post-Christian nation."
A very timely book for everything that's going on in the society right now.
We meet via Google Meeting service; therefore, reply to this email to get the meeting link.

Tuesdays, starting with an Akathist service at 7pm.
The Bible Study is available both for in-person attendance and online via Google Meeting.
Reply to this email for the link to the online meeting.