King of Kings - Rector's Rambling for October 27, 2024

 “We have no king but Caesar”  John 19:15

The phrase above is recorded for us from the mouths of the religious authorities of Jesus’ earthly time.  Having brought Jesus before the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, they accused him of all sorts of sedition mainly centered in religious disagreement.  Pilate seems to know better than to meddle in such matters, and looks for a way to let Jesus off with a scourging and admonition.

But the religious authorities were set that Jesus must be put to death for having declared himself the Son of God, in their ears a blasphemy.  In one last attempt at relief Pilate asks why he should crucify their king (they had tried to trip up Pilate with a political charge that Jesus was trying to usurp Rome’s earthly authority with a claim to be an earthly king).

When asked, the Sanhedrin, no friends or admirers of their Roman overlords, reject Jesus and claim Caesar as their own.  A full apostasy on their part.

Today we have a secondary observance of Jesus as Christ the King.  Not an earthly kingdom, as many expected, but King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  For an explanation of the history and theology of this observance, see the Teaching Notes on page 4.

Jesus is King, and where he desires to rule is in our hearts and in our lives.  His Kingdom is among us as his faithful people, and we worship and adore him as Sovereign over us.  And yet he is also an intimate friend who dwells in hearts, feeds us in His Word and Sacrament, and loves us so much that he died on the cross for us.  So let us submit in love to his most gracious rule!

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I am most grateful that Fr. Geoffrey Piper could be with us today at St. John’s while I am in Philadelphia for my annual rowing race (yesterday) with alumni friends from college.  Fr. Piper served in the Diocese of Quebec, then in the Diocese of Michigan at Church of the Advent, Orchard Lake and Christ Church, Detroit before moving on to the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.  He recently retired back to the area to be near children and grandchildren and I am grateful!

 

Stewardship - Rector's Rambling for October 20, 2024

     It is that time of the year when the Treasurer, Book-keeper, Wardens and Vestry begin to work on the budget for the coming year.

By God’s grace we are starting from a positive financial position at this point of the financial year. As of the end of September we are ahead  of anticipated income, pledge and plate as well as overall income, for 2024.  With 75% of the year completed as of the end of September we are above 75% in giving due to YOUR generosity.  Thank you!  Rarely at this point of the year, after a long summer of lower attendance due to parishioners being away, are we at 75%.  In most years we spend October, November and December catching up to anticipated budget.

And due to the financial prudence of the Vestry and Staff we are below 75% in expenses as well as at the end of September.  Ahead in income and below in expenses is a good financial position to be in at this point, and we are most grateful to God for it.

So from this point we are both thanking you for your support of the parish, and we are asking you to consider what you are giving now as you discern what your giving might be in the year ahead for 2025.  Pledge cards are enclosed in this Order of Service, and will also be mailed to homes that are currently regular contributors.

We are asking you to continue to support St. John’s not just because St. John’s needs you to - of course we do..  We are asking you to support St. John’s because it is good for you to be generous in the support of His Church here for our continued ability to do ministry and to expand that ministry into the future.  The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), and also that it is more blessed to give that receive (Acts 20:35). 

Your support blesses St. John’s AND it blesses you as well.  You learn continued generosity and are reminded in a tangible way that what you earn is still a gift from God— “for all things come of Thee, and of thine own have we given thee “ (1 Chronicles 29:14)

 

Homecoming 2024 - Rector's Rambling for October 13, 2024

     Happy Homecoming Sunday at St. John’s.  We started this tradition in 2001 as an additional excuse to get those Christmas and Easter visitors to come a third time a year. 

When I first arrived here 23 years ago we had many former parishioners who moved the suburbs in the 1970s and 1980s and continued to attend St. John’s for the big holy days, bringing their children with them.  Those children grew, married, and many continued the family tradition of returning to St. John’s for the big celebrations.

But time, and the change in our culture, has interrupted that pattern.  Those ‘kids” now grown have either settled into their suburban parishes and want to spend the holidays there, or tragically have stopped attending church at all.  Nationwide church attendance is down.  Those kids’ kids now grown, do not have the emotional attachment to St. John’s.  Best case is that they just don’t feel drawn to make the trip downtown for worship. Worst case is that they do not practice the faith at all. 

But we continue Homecoming for those who continue in the faith and want to join us, as well as for our own fellowship.  I am so grateful to the women in our parish who coordinate our September Welcome Back Luncheon, this Homecoming Potluck, and the other food-related events coming up in November and December including the Front Door Canteen for Thanksgiving and Advent Soup Luncheon.  All this in addition to the events such as craft days, monthly themes (school supplies in August, Coats/Blankets and Food collection in October), bake sales, Advent Tree lighting reception, the Christmas Bazaar, and The Advent Tea . These are the result of the dedication of the St. Catherine’s Guild and Daughters of the King. THANK YOU for all your hard work!

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Please note - THE ALPHA COURSE will now begin on November 7th.  We are grateful that we had to move the schedule because of the Detroit Tigers playoff run.  

 

Dante, Alpha, and the neighborhood - Rector's Rambling for October 6, 2024

Last week we started our Adult Education Class on Dante’s Inferno.  Elizabeth Savage is leading this class, and on the first week we had 17 people in attendance, with a few more people planning on joining us this week.  Last week we did an introduction to Dante, and Canto 1.  Today we plan on discussing Cantos 2 through 4.  We are using two translations, by Mark Musa, and Robert and Jean Hollander, to help us look at not only the small translations differences, but the differing notes that the authors feel are pertinent about the text.  Just as Virgil is guiding Dante on his way through this epic poetic journey, Elizabeth is guiding us through the class!  Interested?  Come sit in on the class after the 10 AM Service to give it a try. 

Note - with the Tigers Playoff Schedule now announced, we have pushed back the start of ALPHA to November 7th.

On Thursday we begin The Alpha Course.  HOWEVER...as of the writing of this article which we have to send to the printer Wednesday morning, so therefore we do not know if the Detroit Tigers will be hosting a home playoff game that evening at Comerica Park.  For the good of the community I hope that they win the wildcard series and at least one of the first two games of the American League Divisional Series so that they will have game scheduled at home on Wednesday and Thursday.

If this turns out to be true then we will have to pivot on when/where the class will start because of traffic issues in the neighborhood.  This would be a great problem to have (or may not be a problem at all—we will have to see).

All that above being said, let me encourage you to sign up for the Alpha Course.  The evening begins with dinner at 6:30 PM, followed by an entertaining video teaching and then a discussion.  We are generally finished by 8 PM.  And the course is FREE. 

Alpha is not only for those of us in the Church who would like a refresher course on The Faith, but also a class for those discerning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or even those who are just curious about Christianity. Know anyone like that?  Invite them to join us for this free meal, class, and discussion.