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.