Lent/Easter Eagle - Rector's Rambling for February 4, 2024

     Another year of grace is underway at St. John’s Church.  We celebrated our 165th anniversary on December 27th.  What a remarkable thing to think that what was started with a vision by people living in a rural area on the outskirts of Detroit would become this wonderful parish of people with a glorious church building set in the midst of a revitalized urban neighborhood now dubbed The District Detroit.

We had our Annual Parish Meeting on a cold, snowy, and slushy Sunday last week,. Despite the weather, a sizeable gathering of members and guests were here for worship and for the meeting following in the Undercroft.  A soup luncheon was served - thank you to all who pitched in to make it a special meal.

At the meeting we elected new members of the Vestry, reviewed the 2023 year-end financials, and received the reports of the various ministries and organizations in the parish.  God continues to bless us in remarkable ways and we give thanks to Him for them!   I am humbled that I will be celebrating, God willing, my 23rd anniversary as Rector of St. John’s at the end of February.

Looking forward, this edition of The Eagle contains all sorts of information about upcoming events and opportunities for your participation.  Lent is a time when we get pretty busy around here at St. John’s, and it is a very ‘good’ busy.

In addition to the regular Lenten disciplines of fasting and abstinence such as giving up something for Lent, I want to suggest that you also take on some things for Lent as well.  Top of the list would be to not only be regular at worship on Sunday (this is the bare-minimum expectation for all members of the church), but also become more regular about weekday worship at home or here at St. John’s.  Come to a weekday Mass or go online and join us for Evening Prayer.  Take out a prayer book and pray along with us when livestreamed (you can pray along anytime on replay) or pray Evening (or Morning) prayer directly from the Prayer Book by yourself.  If you need a 1928 Book of Common Prayer, we have used copies in the parish library. 

Also, we are offering once again The Alpha Course.  This time it is being offered on Sunday at 11:45 AM after coffee hour.  You are already here for Sunday worship, stick around for the video and discussion.

And of course start inviting people now to join us for Holy Week and Easter at St. John’s!