Christmas Services at Saint John’s
Christmas Eve 4:40 p.m.: Music of the Feast
Christmas Day 12:00 Noon: Holy Eucharist with Carols, Rite II
Followed by luncheon and fellowship in the Long Hall
The Reverend Mark D. W. Edington is our Celebrant and Preacher at the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II Services this Sunday, December 22nd. Child Care will be provided at the 10:00 a.m. service.
The Newton Food Pantry Update: Thank you to Marjorie Carey, St. John’s parishioner and volunteer at the Food Pantry stopped by and loaded up her car with all the donations left under the tree this past Sunday! Thank you to all for your bountiful donations during this holiday time! As 2014 draws near, please continue to remember the Pantry with your thoughtfulness as they strive to stock and sustain their food shelves. It is so appreciated!
Mark holds office hours at Saint John’s on Saturday mornings between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. If you have any pastoral concerns, you can reach Mark at 617.645.4691 or email him at mark.edington@gmail.com.
Sunday School News:
This Sunday, December 22 there will be an Advent Children’s Pageant during the 10:00 a.m. service. Church School classes will resume on January 5th.
Church School classes are for children aged 3 through grade 6 are held from 10-10:40 a.m., with children joining the service at the Offertory to be with their families for Holy Communion. Our youngest children will be using Godly Play as their curriculum which is a montessori based program. Our older children will be using Feasting On The Word which is a lectionary based curriculum. Questions? Contact Kate McKey-Dunar, Christian Formation Coordinator, at kemckey@gmail.com.
St. John’s Pictorial Directory
The absolutely final photo taking will be this Sunday, December 22! Please be sure to stay following the service to have your picture taken by our professional photographer, Alastair Battson! We do not want you to be missing from our New Pictorial Directory! Call (617-964-2591) or email (stjohnnew@rcn.com) if you have any questions. Thank you!
Cathedral Soup Kitchen Lunch Program –Monday, December 30: Volunteers from St. John’s are invited to assist in serving lunch to the homeless at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont St., Boston. If you can participate, please plan to be at the Cathedral by 11:45 a.m. Contributions of finger food desserts (brownies & cookies) may be brought to church on Sunday, December 29th. Please leave them in the Loring Room anddesignate them for the Soup Kitchen. If you are interested in helping and could use a ride to the Cathedral, please speak to Libby or email her at epseaman@comcast.net. Serving and clean-up are completed by one o’clock.
Coffee Hour Sign-Up Sheet for January – April, 2014 is now posted on the Parish Office door. Please take the time to sign up for a Sunday. Participating in this essential and fun part of fellowship at St. John’s is easier than you think! If you are interested in hosting one, there are plenty of veteran coffee hour providers who could guide you and answer your questions. Thank you!
Postal Rate Increase: As you may have heard, postage will go up three cents, costing now $.49 for a standard letter, effective January 26, 2014. The Parish Office would gratefully welcome a booklet of Forever Stamps to help defer the cost of our various mailings. Thank you for remembering St. John’s before these new rates go into effect!
Saint John’s Calendar:
Sat. Dec. 21 Gift & Thrift Shop Closed
Sun. 22 8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II
10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Greening of the Church (following the service)
5-7:30 pm Confirmation Class (@ St. Paul’s)
~ Please See Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Service times above ~
Sat. 28 Gift & Thrift Shop Closed
Sun. 29 10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II
5:00 pm OA Group Meeting (lower hall)
Mon. 30 Noon Cathedral Soup Kitchen
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Eucharistic Minister: Jessica Zabchuk – Romans 1:1-7
Lector: Peter Brown – Isaiah 7:10-16
Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Acolyte: Ian Groh
Altar Guild: Kristin Knudson-Groh
Ushers: Peter Brown, Alec Schoeck
Coffee Hour: Greening of the Church &Pot-Luck Brunch
Collection: Laura Brewer, Tom Wood
If you have any announcements for this bulletin, please contact Paula DiMauro
(stjohnnew@rcn.com) or Kristin Knudson-Groh (klkgroh@verizon.net).