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!