Circumambulation - Rector's Rambling for May 25, 2025

     Today we celebrate Rogation Sunday, which means we take a walk around the church perimeter (circumambulation) as a representation of the walking of the boundaries of our parish, asking God to bless us with the fruits of the field as the crops begin to be planted.  Although we are not an agricultural parish (with the exception of some community gardens nearby), it is good to be reminded of our dependence upon God to give the blessing of the fields in cooperation with human labor.

Rogation Sunday is also a good reminder that we are sowing seed (of the Word of God), tending fields (by loving our neighbors as ourselves), and harvesting for the Kingdom of God (bringing people to Jesus).  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are also Rogation Days and will be celebrated on Tuesday at the 12:15 PM Holy Communion, proceeded by the Litany at noon.  Weekday Masses are about 30 minutes long, and are of a quieter, more introspective nature than our grander Sunday Service.

The Feast of the Ascension, the 40th Day of Easter, will be celebrated at the 10:30 AM Mass that day. 

On Friday, in the midst of the 9 days between Ascension and the Feast of Whitsunday/Pentecost (celebrating the gift of God the Holy Ghost) we will begin our yearly Novena of prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.  Paper copies are available in the narthex (the church lobby) and will be emailed daily and posted on the parish Facebook page. 

—————————————

“Where is my kneeler?”  About 1/3 of the kneelers have been removed from the Church and sent to be restored.  Over the next two months or so eventually all of the kneelers will be removed and returned.  If you don’t have a kneeler in your regular spot you are welcome to try another pew, or move a kneeler from another pew into your favorite spot.  With a church that seats 800 people even with 1/3 of the floor level kneelers out of the building there are plenty of them left here for use.

_________________________

Last week we announced that organ scholar Grace Jackson will be leaving St. John’s this summer.  Today we can announce that our new Edwards Organ Scholar has been hired.  Chanmi Kim will be joining us in mid-August, God willing, as she begins her Doctoral work at the University of Michigan.  A full bio will be published nearer her arrival date.