Are we there yet? - Rector's Rambling for December 21, 2025

 “Are we there yet?”  “How about now?”  “How much longer?

Those of us who are parents have heard those phrases said from the back seat of the car or mini-van, as children are anxious to be done with a long trip and be at the anticipated destination (or perhaps we remember saying that ourselves).  Over on Twitter there is a funny account called, “Is it Henley Regatta time yet?”, and every day at a set time that account tweets, “no” (this rowing regatta in England is in July).

Well, just as during the car trip an answer of “almost there” is a small consolation, the Fourth Sunday in Advent is our “almost there” Sunday.  The church got a head start on the decorating Friday, and today after the service, the sanctuary will be decorated, as well as the rest of the church and chapel.  We can sense even more poignantly the “almost there” of Christmas.

So, as you do all the last-minute preparations for Christmas, one thing to add to that list is to decide which Christmas service you will attend!  Though the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve service includes the Children’s Pageant, it isn’t just for families with children, but for all parishioners and friends.  The 8:30 PM Carol Prelude and 9:00 PM Candlelight Mass are our primary services for Christmas Eve, and the Christmas Day 11:00 AM service in the chapel is our smallest attended service (but growing), with a hearty amount of carol singing during the otherwise simpler spoken Communion Service.  And the 11 AM Christmas Day Mass has a different set of readings than the ones we do on Christmas Eve.  A few parishioners attend both days and you are welcome to do so as well.

If you haven’t already done so now is the time to invite friends, family, and neighbors!  Your invite may be the way that God is bringing someone back into the practice of attending church, and attending St. John’s!  And of course you should  be sure to come to the great celebration that is almost here!

If you will be out of town be sure to bring us a service bulleting to share with us so that we can see what other parishes are doing to celebrate!