Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the Rector of St. John's Church in the city of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 165 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Monday, October 06, 2025

Rector's Rambling (Fall Eagle Edition) - October 5, 2025

     August and early September are usually “down time” at churches.  Hot weather, people away on vacation, and the last of summer activities usually means less activity and attendance at the church.  This has not been so at St. John’s!  From mid-August to the third Sunday in September was full of activity for us!

During this time we had three baptisms at St. John’s!  Leo (4 years old) and Charlie (infant) were born again of water and the Holy Spirit on August 24th.  On September 21st Victor (infant) also joined the church as a child of God and heir of the kingdom.  Not only were two sets of the parents of the children married at St. John’s, but two of the parents involved were baptized at St. John’s when they were infants!

On August 30th and September  6th we had two weddings.  Jeff and Sunshine Glover, and Rob and Addison Burton, were united in Holy Matrimony.  Although this can be an insufferably hot time of the year, these weddings were blessed with cooler weather for the occasions. 

Speaking of marriage, we celebrated with a special blessing at the 10 AM Service the 55th Anniversary of Andy and Alice Baetz on August 17th and the 50th Anniversary of Ralph and Sarah Babcock on August 24th. 

And we also had three funerals in this time period. Phyllis Lewis passed away last year in Western Canada and we had a Requiem Mass for her on August 26th.  On September 13th we had the Burial Office for the Repose of the Soul of Ruth Roby Glancy and on September 23rd we had the Requiem Mass and burial of Gail Weedon.  May they rest in peace.

Additionally the Vestry has been busy improving the signage around the parish.  New halo backlit signs have been added to the Burton Ministry Center, and new signage for the front tower door, the chapel door,  and freeway side walkway have been ordered.  Additionally the large electronic signboard will be restored and upgraded.

Inside this newsletter is information on all the upcoming events, God willing, happening at St. John’s.  Be sure to be here for worship and the activities!   Fall Eagle