Christmas Greetings - Rector's Rambling for December 25, 2022

     A hearty welcome to all those joining us for worship at St. John’s!  I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the blessings of peace on these Holy Days.

For 163 years, St. John’s has been a “destination” church, with people coming from far and wide to worship in this beautiful building with its sublime music, traditional Anglican liturgy, and wonderful people.

Christmas Eve and Day, and all the Sundays following, are wonderful days to be at St. John’s.  Not only are they wonderful days to worship the Lord, but here at St. John’s we delve deeply into the fullness of the timeless Anglican expression of the faith once delivered to the Saints.

It has been a long time since St. John’s averaged a high of over 2500 people on Sunday.  But it has also been almost 25 years since we hit a low of 37!  Covid shutdowns have been a setback, but God has been at work in rebuilding St. John’s, and we believe that not only is He not finished, but there are amazing things ahead for this parish and its parishioners – both those here now and for those not yet members of it.

Our neighborhood is undergoing a transformation and many are discovering why people come to St. John’s: Liturgy, music, building, preaching, location, theology, fellowship.  Rarely is it one or two things, but a combination of each thing supported by the others.  We call it “the package”.  Our Anglican tradition, adhered to because it is the package, inspires people to love Jesus, and to become more and more like him.  To become Saints!

If you are visiting today we invite you to consider joining in on all the wonderful things God has in store for this parish!  Become a “regular” by worshipping with us on Sundays and by getting involved in the ministries and activities of the parish and the neighborhood.

You are most welcome to be a part of all the wonderful things God is doing here: Holy Days, Sundays, and every day of the week!

 

4th Sunday in Advent - Rector's Rambling for December 18, 2022

So close, so very close.  Next Sunday is the Feast of the Nativity, with our grand celebration on the Eve as well as the Day of Christmas.  Be sure to check the schedule of services so you know when you will be here.  Thankfully the Detroit Lions are away for their game on Saturday evening, and we will have plenty of room for parking in our lot!

As you begin your last week of Advent, a discipline I would encourage is for you to invite five families to the Christmas Eve service at St. John’s.  Think about who you know you would like to see come to Church at St. John’s; family, friends, neighbors, co-workers.  Those five (or more) are the ones you need to actively invite to Church this Christmas Eve.

What do I mean by actively invite?  Approach them, or call them, and say, “Hey, ______, I was just thinking of you and was wondering where are you going to attend a Christmas Eve service this year?”  If there is any hesitation of an answer, begin again, “We go to a great church downtown called St. John’s.  We love it there and go there because ___________ (fill in your reasons) and there is no place that has a more beautiful Christmas Eve service.  I would love to have you (and your family) come down to the 8:30/9:00 service” (or to see the Pageant at 4:00 PM if you are going then).  Offer them a ride if you have room, or to follow you down in their own car.

There are many un-churched or nominally-church people who look to attend a Christmas Eve service.  Take advantage of that desire and invite them to St. John’s.  There are a few “regulars” around here whose first experience of St. John’s was a Christmas Eve Service.  You may be the person God is using to bring them into a deeper relationship with himself through St. John’s Church.

Some will say no, others will hesitate.  But pray for them and keep cheerfully offering and asking them to join us, even after Christmas.  God may be working on them through you.

  

The Great "O" Antiphons - Rector's Rambling for December 11, 2022

     Next Sunday we will sing the classic Advent hymn – O come, O come, Emmanuel, number 2 in the Hymnal 1940.  It sums up the hopes of the people of Israel that God would send a Saviour.  Each verse of the hymn is a paraphrase of a Latin antiphon to be said at Daily Evening Prayer before the first canticle, The Magnificat.  It is yet another wonderful way the Church is counting down to the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas).

Why am I writing about this hymn here?  Because the days assigned for each verse begin Friday, December 16.  Listed below are the antiphons for the proper days, with the verses in the hymn to which they correspond:

12/16 – O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. (v.2)

12/17 – O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appearest in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law in Sianai: come and redeem us with an outstreached arm. (v.3)

12/18 – O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shout their mouths, unto whom the Gentile shall seek: come and deliver us, and tarry not. (v.4)

12/19 – O Key of David, and Scepter of the House of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth: Come, and bring the prisoners out of the prison-house, them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death. (v.5)

12/20 – O Day-spring, Brightness of the Light everlasting, and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death. (v. 6)

12/21 – O King of Nations, and their Desire; the Cornerstone, who makest both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay. (v. 7)

12/22 – O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, and Desire of all nations and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God. (v.1)

12/23 – O Virgin of Virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any seen like thee, nor shall there be after.  Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me?  The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery

Be sure to pray each of these verses every night, and perhaps sing the hymn version too.

 

Special Events Sunday and next Saturday - Rector's Rambling for December 4, 2022

     Today we are starting a new tradition at St. John’s with the lighting of our Garden Tree. 

Although it is still the season of Advent we wanted to add some festive brightness to the garden with the lighting of the tree, and already we are looking into perhaps next year lighting the larger pine tree that is growing here in the garden!  And next year we hope to add a manger scene to the garden as well.

Inside we are keeping the proper liturgical season of Advent, a penitential  time of preparation, we want to also reach out to our neighborhood with the reminder that all the festivity of the ‘holiday’ season is in fact about the ‘holy day’ that is to come...the birth of Jesus Christ!

At 5:30 we will gather in the parish garden for a shortened service of Evening Prayer with the blessing and lighting  of the tree, and will sing Carols as we enjoy some hot chocolate and other refreshments.  God willing the those living in the neighborhood will join us for the festivities - so lets make sure our own St. John’s folks come back this evening to join us to welcome them and give thanks to God for the opportunity to do this!

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 Next Saturday we have a special occasion at 6 PM.  The premier of the PBS Documentary on the Churches of Detroit will take place at the Fillmore Theatre.  St. John’s is one of the featured churches included in the production.

It was a great joy to be asked to be a part of this - a great opportunity to share via public broadcasting.  Later the next week it will be broadcast on Channel 56.

There are tickets available for the premier on Saturday.  Contact Elizabeth in the parish office during the week and we can make sure that there is a ticket for you.