November 2023
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
November 2023 from Father Tim
November has arrived with a lot of beautiful Fall colors on display. This month will conclude our 2023 Trinitytide Season and the church year. Other Holy Days to note are All Saints’ Day (1st), All Souls’ Day (2nd), All Anglican Martyrs & Saints (8th), and S. Andrew the Apostle & Martyr (30th). And since we are closing out the old church year our Annual Meeting will also be on the 19th! We need everyone to attend! Our worship, our work, our lives are a constant series of endings and beginnings. Some are happy, others are sad. Some come sort of slowly, others come suddenly or abruptly. Some we can control, others we cannot. Let’s commit to celebrating the former and not despairing over the latter as this church year ends with Sunday Next Before Advent. As Advent I begins our new church year, let us recognize each ending opens a door for a brand new beginning. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, writes, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . He hath made every thing beautiful in his time, also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. In its entirety it is a breathtakingly beautiful passage about the necessary change of times. What should we consider, what should we contemplate, what should we pause to reflect during these transitions? How about being thankful for the former that is ending? Or grateful for the knowledge learned and the goals accomplished? Shouldn’t we be thankful for the blessings we have and the beautiful people we shared them with? As a door closes, what about remaining hopeful for the coming new beginning and the new bonds of friendship it will create? And lastly, shouldn’t we remember that Christ is with us through all the endings, all the beginnings, as He said. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. I hope and pray your November is celebrated with thankfulness, and your new church year is breathtakingly beautiful. ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone in your life who struggles deeply with change? Do they despair over a final ending? Are they anxious about a new beginning? November is a month to experience thankfulness for both. Please invite someone to Saint John’s where they can find peace and love amongst church family and discover, in Jesus Christ, the only relationship in this world that never ends. ~ Father Tim
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When the emperor Valens threatened Eusebuis with confiscation of all his goods, torture, banishment, or even death, the courageous Christian replied, “He needs not fear confiscation, who has nothing to lose; nor banishment, to whom heaven is his country; nor torments, when his body can be destroyed at one blow; nor death, which is the only way to set him at liberty from sin and sorrow.” ~ Author unknown
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Did you know?
Did you know Saint John’s made a charitable gift to the Hosea House ECHO soup kitchen in October? Did you know our Book of Life Club is discussing The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity, by Carrie Gress in November? Did you know that all of our kneelers are now refurbished? Did you know additional landscaping has been planted at the Church and Rectory? Did you know that St. John’s was established in 1873 and 2023 is our 150th anniversary? Did you know Archbishop Mark Haverland will be at Saint John’s on the 7th of January for Confirmations and will cap our Sesquicentennial celebration?
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Now is the school time – then the eternal holiday. Now is the tossing on the waves of a troublesome world – then the quiet harbor. Now is the scattering – then is the gathering. Now is the time of sowing – then is the harvest period. Now is the working season – then the wages. Now is the cross – then the Crown. ~ J.C Ryle, 1816-1900, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool
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Saint John November Ordo Kalendar
Wed., the 1st of Nov., at 6:30 PM, All Saints’ Day, Evening Prayer & Litany of the Saints
Thursday, the 2nd of November, at 6:30 PM, All Souls’ Day, ‘Quiet’ Mass
Sunday, the 5th of November at 10:30 AM, Trinity XXII Mass
Wednesday, the 8th of November at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer TBD
Sat., the 11th of Nov., at 2:00 PM, The Usual Suspects Club, Bible Study Lineup
Sat., the 11th of Nov., at 3:15 PM, The Book of Life Club, The Anti-Mary Exposed
Sun., the 12th of November, at 10:30 AM, Trinity XXIII Mass
Wed., the 15th of November, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 19th of Nov., at 10:30 AM, Trinity XXIV Mass, Annual Meeting
Wednesday, the 22nd of November, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sat., the 25th of Nov., at 3:15 PM, The Book of Life Club, The Anti-Mary Exposed
Sunday, the 26th of Nov., at 10:30 AM, Sunday Next Before Advent Mass
Wed., the 29th of Nov., at 6:30 PM, Vigil of S. Andrew, AP.M., Evening Prayer
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How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none. Eternal years lie in His heart. For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are in Christ share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years. God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. For those out of Christ, time is a devouring beast. ~ A.W. Tozer., 1897-1963, Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, & spiritual mentor
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November Birthdays & Anniversaries
Brian & Sarah Miller – Anniversary – Nov. 11th
John & Lennie Fisher – Anniversary – Nov. 13th
Tom Fleischman – Birthday – Nov. 17th
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Why should we want to worship Jesus well?
We don’t come to church, to be a church. We come to Christ, and then we are built up as a church. If we come to church just to be with one another, one another is all we’ll get. And it isn’t enough. Inevitably, our hearts will grow empty, and then angry. If we put community first, we will destroy community. But if we come to Christ first and submit ourselves to Him and draw life from Him, community gets traction. ~ C.S. Lewis, 1898-1963, British Writer, Literary Scholar, and Anglican Lay Theologian
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Walking in the garden in the cool of the day . . .
Have you noticed some changes in the landscape around St John’s this spring and summer? The vestry approved an investment in some new plantings and we have been implementing them slowly. One of the goals of the new plan is to have the front garden be more attractive during our winter season, and to that end we’ve planted more evergreen plants. We’ve also tried to be certain that Easter will be recognized in the front garden – thus the white weeping redbud that will hopefully be in bloom at this time. We will soon be planting some lavender crocus for their spring blooms along the edge of the garden. If you would like to know more about what we are planning, or what has already been planted just ask me – I am happy to explain the plans. We have some new plantings also in the sidewalk gardens along the Parish Hall and our large side garden – I hope you have noticed them. Many members of St John’s have been joining me in this effort, and I would like to publicly thank them here for helping to make St John’s landscape even more beautiful. Jean and Terry Centers have been helpful with planting and moving some of our existing plants to other locations where they will flourish. Kyle Maycock and Chris Stockman, have been key in planting the “big things”. Bill Hill has been invaluable in finding and directing a new landscaper to care for our plantings, Kim Marshall has helped move some of our beautiful iris and daylilies, and Sally Thomson has donated some of her beautiful pink Lenten Roses now planted under our small crabapple in front of the church. We should have a beautiful new look in the spring when our re-designed gardens will spring back to life. Please join me in thanking these members and friends for their contributions to St John’s. ~ Judy Evans
The Risen Christ & S. Mary Magdalene in the Garden ~ Rembrandt
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The seeking of Jesus Christ and the quest for chivalry combined lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler