Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 160 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Monday, August 09, 2021

The Return of Alpha - Rector's Rambling for August 8, 2021

      In many ways  the Church has felt like it has been on hold since March 2020.  Worship suspended and then reinstated with varying levels of restrictions.  Our most recent phase of reopening has expanded our ability to gather together for more than just worship, and now is the time for us to look forward to resuming some programming for the upcoming autumn.

First, Sunday School will resume on September 12, God willing.  This takes place at the beginning of the 10:00 AM service, with the children joining us for Communion.  Stay tuned for more information on that.

Secondly, we are planning on using the Alpha Course once again.  What is Alpha?  It is a 10-week introduction to Christianity.  I would like it if EVERYONE in the parish experienced Alpha in the next year.

Why do I want everyone to experience Alpha?  Even if you are a longtime worshipper at St. John’s, the Alpha Course is a great way to reboot and re-evaluate your faith.  It is also a great way to make sure ALL OF US are up to speed on the basics of the faith.  It is the primary mission of the Church to know Christ and to make him known.  Alpha is a great way to make sure we understand what it means to know Christ, and it is a great vehicle for us to introduce Jesus to others…making Him known!

We will in the next few weeks be announcing the course day and dates, the first one beginning in October.  We will also schedule one to start mid-January and one in late March.  Plan now to be involved by volunteering (if you have already taken the course here or elsewhere) or by signing up to take the course.  It includes dinner, a video teaching, and discussion afterwards.

It is vital as we come out of this Coronatide that we shake off the COVID19 malaise and get to work both learning the faith, and also becoming a church focused on the mission of leading people to Jesus Christ.  It is primarily why we are here, and God the Holy Spirit will do his part to help us to be the Church that Jesus desires us to be!

 

posted by StJohnsPriest | 1:15 PM