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connect ST. JOHN'S
issue 03.23.23
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This Sunday's Gospel reading from Luke explores the parable of the mustard seed.
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In 1896, the Gospel of Mary was discovered in Egypt. Known as the Berlin Codex, the papyrus bearing this Coptic manuscript dates back to the fifth-century. Contained within the text are three other writings - the Apocryphon of John, the Sophia of Jesus Christ, and an epitome of the Act of Peter. Some of these texts were also found among the Nag Hammadi writings. However, I imagine these four texts are less familiar to you, because they are not found in the Bible. They’re not something we’re going to hear read in Church on a Sunday morning as part of the lectionary.
The early Church didn’t have a Bible as we know it. They had the Hebrew Scriptures - the stories and songs and writings of what we often refer to as the Old Testament - which shaped Jesus and his followers. Many of Jesus’ teachings emerged directly from these sacred texts. In the decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, more stories and letters were written, and over time, many of these texts were organized together into what we know today as the Bible. The books of the bible are considered canonical, and most believe that the canon was established by the 5th century.
During the first few centuries, as Christianity was developing, there were lots of writings which were not included in the canon - like the Gospel of Mary. In her book, Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel and the Christianity We Haven’t Tried Yet, Meggan Watterson explores this text and the ways in which it reveals the radical love at the heart of the Christian story. In the introduction, she writes, “Mary Magdalene’s gospel is considered an ‘ascent narrative,’ which means that it describes a path that we can navigate to liberate the soul; not in death, but here in this lifetime.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the Gospel of Mary, please join spiritual director Jennifer Whitaker and myself as we explore Meggan Watterson’s book over the next several weeks. We are offering a retreat this Saturday morning, 9-11am, and weekly Thursday evening gatherings on zoom (3/30, 4/16, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4), 6:30-7:30pm. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Rev. Heather.
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Prayer list & Pastoral Notes
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SUNDAY
8am: Worship (inside)
9am: Family Worship (Held on the lawn, weather permitting, or in the Parish Hall.)
10am:
Worship (in-person & live stream)
Sunday School for children
Sunday School for youth
MONDAY
7pm: Bible Study (Zoom). All are welcome. We are reading the Acts of the Apostles.
TUESDAY
7:30am: Christian Meditation (Zoom)
Click here to receive an invite for the online service.
One TUESDAY a Month
6pm: Dinner Church in the Parish Hall (3/21, 5/16)
2nd SATURDAYS of the Month
8am: Men's Group
Click here to request a meeting invite.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER @ST. JOHN'S
Sunday, April 2: Palm Sunday liturgy at 8am, 9am, 10am
Thursday, April 6: Maundy Thursday Agape Meal and foot-washing at 6pm (w. Choir)
Friday, April 7: Good Friday liturgy at noon
Saturday, April 8: Easter Egg Hunt at 9:30am
Saturday, April 8: Easter Vigil with Choir at 7pm
Sunday, April 9: Easter Sunday at 8am (w. Choir), 9am, 10am (w. Choir)
(*we invite you bring a flower on Easter morning to decorate the cross*)
Music for the Congregation: Click here to hear sound clips of the choir singing the "Lenten Acclamation," "Sanctus" and "Agnus Dei" sung during Lent.
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Our New Online Database St. John's is pleased to announce the coming of its new online parish database, 'Breeze.' Parishioners will be receiving an email invitation in the next few days to create an account. This database will allow you to view and update your own and your family's information, view your giving history, and to easily donate online.
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Annual Fund 2023 St. John’s is so grateful for your stewardship of our parish and needs your continued support through your contributions to our Annual Fund 2023 – ‘Connect to God through Stewardship.’ We have reached about 85% of our goal with generous gifts and commitments from 214 households so far. If you have not yet made a donation, you can give online or make a commitment. Your contribution makes a great impact on the financial stability and security of our parish. Please consider increasing your commitment by 10% to help us pay for higher operational costs caused by inflation as well as support of our vibrant parish programs. You can also go beyond that amount if you are able, increasing your commitment to God through Stewardship Names of all households who make a commitment or gift to the Annual Fund 2023 will be published in the Easter Sunday bulletin on April 9. We are so grateful for your generous financial contribution that joins with the other 295 pledging families making our one million dollar Annual Fund 2023 goal a reality. For assistance, please contact, Lee Steward, Director of Stewardship via email or at 415.456.11023, x117.
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Agape Meal and Maundy Thursday Service All are invited on Thursday, April 6 at 6pm to commemorate the Last Supper with a simple meal, liturgy, and song in the Parish Hall. This is followed by an optional ritual in the church of footwashing representing our service and humility to one another. Volunteers are needed to cook and clean up. Sign up here to help with cooking and clean-up. Join us to mark this meaningful tradition of Holy Week.
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United Market Community Cards When shopping at United Market show your card at checkout and a percentage of your purchase goes to St. John's. Please email Virginia Kosydar, Church Administrator, to receive a card and one will be mailed to you.
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Lent In A Bag. We provide resources for families to observe Lent at home. In the bag you will find a Lent Calendar for Children, 40 Days & 40 Nights Pop-Up Calendar and Footsteps to the Cross, and activities for the family during this Season of Lent. You can get your Lent in a Bag on Sunday in the Parish Hall or have one sent to you. To make a request, email Sandra Pathik, Director of Children's Ministry.
Sunday School @ 10AM. Sunday School is open to kids from preschool to 5th grade. For the whole Lent Season, we will have one class in the Fireside Room for all kids. The kids will join their parents in the church for communion after the class.
Children's Worship Bulletin Download the Children’s Worship Bulletin for 3+ years old and 7+years old. Free online game included. Secret code to unlock the game: AJD761.
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Click here for our Spring 2023 Youth Calendar
Sunday Morning Youth Group We meet at the 10 am service – 6th-12th grade in the Youth Room. Join us for doughnuts and good chats!
Sunday Evening Youth Group There will be no evening youth group this Sunday, March 26th. We will be back the next Sunday, April 2nd!
Youth Group on Instagram Follow Youth Group St. John's at _y_g_s_j_
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This Sunday's Music: For centuries, the eucharist that we celebrate on Sunday has been the primary mode of worship for Christians, but it is not the only mode. From the earliest times, the church has also prayed to God by means of the “Divine Office,” also known as the “Liturgy of the Hours.” Originally comprising eight prayer services, many of them meant to be sung, they were most often performed in monasteries, as they continue to be today. In the Roman Catholic Church, daily recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours is a canonical obligation for priests and deacons aspiring to the priesthood. In the Greek Church, the services are found in the “Book of Hours,” while in the Anglican Church, the services have been reduced to Morning Prayer, Evensong and Compline. “Laudate Dominum” is from Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, (Solemn Vespers of the Confessor), K. 339, composed in 1780 for use in Salzburg cathedral, where he was music director at the time. “Laudate Dominum” is the fifth movement of this six movement work, and it is one of the most lyrical pieces he ever wrote for a church service. After a lengthy soprano solo over a flowing accompaniment, the full choir comes in near the end of the piece to sing the Gloria Patri, crowned by the soprano floating above the rest as she sings “Amen.”
The text for "Father, we thank thee" is from an ancient text known as the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, also known as the Didache. It dates to 110 C.E. and was discovered in Constantinople. It is a prayer for the whole church. described in the last stanza as grain scattered over the hillsides, but harvested and made into a single loaf of bread, which reflects the prayer of Jesus to the Creator in John 17:21, “that they all may be one.” The text is a beautifully concise and poetic description of the eucharist. William Albright was one of the true mavericks in American composition, yet was eventually accepted by the mainstream classical music community during his lifetime. He was also an accomplished organist and teacher. His setting of "Father, we thank thee" is found in the hymnal as #303.
The St. John's Choir sings weekly at the 10 AM Sunday service, as well as special services for the Christmas and Easter seasons. This warm and welcoming group sings repertoire from all periods and many different styles. While there is no audition required to join, it is hoped that members are able to read music well enough to find their way around a musical score. Rehearsals take place Thursday evenings from 7:15 PM until 9 PM.
The St. John's Choristers welcome all children ages 6 through 12 into the program. No prior musical experience is necessary and there is no audition to join. Currently, the Choristers rehearse on Sundays at 11:15 AM (or just after the 10 AM service) for one half-hour.
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