The Church of SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST Duxbury, Massachusetts ______
+ Vol XII #51+ Thursday January 7, 2021 + ______T i d i n g s
Epiphany Reflections from Fr. Ed
Epiphany is one of the three principal and oldest festival days of the Christian church (the other two are Easter and Christmas). We observe the Epiphany on January 6.
Matthew tells us “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is the child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed his star at it’s rising and have come to pay him Homage.”
The Epiphany primarily celebrates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. The significance of this is that Jesus came not just for the salvation of the Jews, but also for the Gentiles. For all of humankind.
For us the evening preceding Epiphany is called Twelfth Night. The time between December 25 and January 6 is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Christmas is a season.
Another tradition associated the Epiphany (This tradition coming primarily from the Eastern Church) with the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River. In that event Jesus is made known to the whole world as the Son of God.
Some of the customs attending the celebration of Epiphany are: Singing -Hymns 116 - 139 in our hymnal have as their theme Epiphany, Chalking the door, blessing one’s house, consuming Three Kings Cake, winter swimming as well as attending Church Services.
There are many different recipes for Three Kings Cake, sometimes called 12th night cake. The most common ones include milk, butter, yeast, water, brown and white sugar, eggs, salt, nutmeg, flour and cinnamon. The frosting is typically made from confectioner’s sugar, water, lemon juice, and colored sugar crystals. The cake is intense to draw the kings to the celebration.
A tiny figurine is hidden in the cake - it represents the infant Jesus. The person who gets the piece with the figurine in it is specially blessed for the years and is to be a blessing to others.
Chalking the door has a rich and varied history. What is written in chalk above the door is “20 + C + M + B + 21.” The letters are the initials of the Magi s- Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar. The + represents the cross and the number at the beginning and the end designates the year.
Printed below is a house blessing for Epiphany:
Leader: Peace be to this house and to all who dwell in it. All: The Lord has shown forth his glory; Come let us adore him.
Leader: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Leader: Let us pray.
Leader: O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth; Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
All: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed; the Almighty has done great things; for me. and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Amen
Leader: Let us pray
All: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence, bless all who live here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort and strengthen us and preserve us in peace, now and forever. Amen
All: Lord’s prayer
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
The service concludes with the exchange of the peace and/or an appropriate hymn.
The only form of celebration not mentioned so far is Winter Swimming which should only happen in fresh, clear, water (i.e., the Ocean or a moving stream.) This form of celebration can be done with any of the other forms of celebration. The recommended prayer to be used each time a person enters the water is THANK YOU JESUS or some other appropriate expression of Thanksgiving and Joy for the life we have from God. (This prayer can be said loudly and with as much enthusiasm as possible.)
Hoping you have a wonder-full Epiphany
Fr. Ed
Worship
CLICK HERE FOR THE ST. JOHN'S WEBSITE & LIVE STREAM
The above link takes you to our website, from which the live stream may be viewed, beginning time of each service. When you arrive at the webpage, just click on the black box beneath the words "Live Service" to begin the stream on your computer.
As for viewing on Facebook, we are able to do so and we try make it so for each service. Because of the added technical requirements for doing so, for one reason or another, this is occasionally not able to happen. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Again, I offer thanks to Almighty God for our benefactors. The generosity of those who donated to this project will continue to bless us ~ and generations yet to come ~ in ways we now can only imagine.
~ Fr. Daniel Church Announcements
Dear Good Folks of St. Johns: Thanks so much for your kind and generous gift this Christmas!
Father Ed and Sue
WANTED Unwanted Christmas Decorations
If you have decided you no longer have use for some of your decorations, Pat Arnold & Sandy Sweetser could use them to make their beautiful Christmas pieces to sell at next year's Holly Days Fair. You may drop them off in the hallway outside of the office, or call Kelley Carroll at 781-361-7254 to make arrangements to pick them up.
Events
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Prayer Service Co-hosted by the Duxbury Interfaith Council & Prejudice Free Duxbury Monday January 18, 2020 via Zoom Service will begin at 9 a.m. and will be followed by breakout sessions to discuss how we can further Dr. King’s dream in the year to come. Click here for Zoom Link Meeting ID: 863 1905 0821 One tap mobile +16465588656,,86319050821# US (New York)
Christian Education
As we enter a holiday season unlike any other, we are all looking for ways to bring our faith closer to home. At St. John's we have been working to create online Sunday School resources to support our families in at-home faith formation. And now, it is easier than ever to access our Virtual Sunday School programs!
We add new videos and activities three times per month. Click below to view our Sunday School webpages.
Sunday School
Coffee & Conversation Bill Albritton
Wednesday Mornings 9 to 10 Greetings, C&Cers and friends! Here’s hoping all is well as we near Bethlehem in our journey to worship the Christ child. We are aided on our journey with a journal in the form of daily postings in Johnna’s apenandaprayer.org. blog. One of this week’s is posted below and might offer some rich discussion to begin our conversation tomorrow. Reading the previous day’s posting would be helpful. Drop by via Zoom (ID# 326 495 5454) at 9am, Wednesday, December 23, and join the journey. Come to C&C and see. Your friend along the Way, Bill
Outreach Each third Sunday of the month St. John’s provides a nourishing meal for the guests at Father Bill’s in Brockton. The next meal, Meat Loaf, will be delivered Sunday the 16th. Donations would be gratefully appreciated. Please label food donations for “Father Bill’s” and leave items in the freezer in the kitchen. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Rosenhoover at 617-851-5910 [email protected]. Thank you, Community Ministries
Please drop off food donations at St. John’s in the basket on the 2nd floor landing. Plymouth Coalition for the Homeless is in need of non-perishable food.
Please bring in high protein food: tuna, peanut butter, and beans. Basic food staples are very helpful, too. All donations are greatly appreciated.
An Opportunity to Feed the Hungry, Again. Scott McDonald, Outreach
You may recall that last winter we made a modest goal of making 50,000 meals in one day to support The Outreach Program, which feeds hungry New Englanders. We felt that this was an attainable goal if we had the support of our Priest, staff, Vestry and volunteers. That, we did. With over 300 volunteers, our parish and community came together to produce over 96,000 meals, the largest first event by a church ever (9 years). Those meals were distributed to the needy in our own communities on the South Shore. Continue reading.
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTE VENMO HERE CHECKS (payable to The Outreach Program) can be mailed to Matthew Martin, 93 Whiffletree Ln, Marshfield, MA 02050
CHECK THIS OUT, so you know what we’re doing: Duxbury's own, Deacon Mary Beth Emerson, Certified Spiritual Director, is available to explore your path with you. Curious?
Read Further
Reminders
Altar Flowers Needed
There are opportunities to give Altar flowers on January 17, 24 & 31
We ask for a donation of $75 for altar flowers, by check payable to St. John’s Church. (Financial assistance is available.) If you would like to reserve a date, or find out more, please email: Amy Annis (781-934-5020)or contact the Parish Administrator Flower Sign-Up (781-934-6523).
The New Church Directory is now available!
Click on the directory cover on the right to open the PDF and print. Hard copies are also available in the office. Daily Prayer Everyday at 3:00 p.m.
While this pandemic has drastically changed many aspects of our daily lives, we have discovered new ways to connect with one another. As Christians, one of the most important ways we connect with one another is through prayer.
We invite you to join us in saying this prayer each day at 3:00 p.m. Wherever you are, this is an opportunity to pause, reflect and connect. Please join us in this daily act of communal worship.
St. John's Prayer Team
Are you or someone in your life in need of prayer? Would you like to include others in your daily prayer?
Add Name to Prayer list
Calendar & Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 10th ------Virtual Sunday School 10:00am------Virtual Holy Eucharist
Tuesday, January 12th 6:00pm------TNT Middle School
Wednesday, January 13th 6:30am------Men's Bible Study
Sunday, January 17th ------Virtual Sunday School 10:00am------Virtual Holy Eucharist
Giving
Most of the work of St. John the Evangelist is based on the stewardship and contributions of our members and friends. We believe God gives us everything we have and everything we are and that we are called on to use our time, talents and treasures for His works. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to the many ministries of our Parish. Your gifts are essential to these ministries and we are grateful.
GIVE
Covid-19 Resources
During this time of uncertainty, you don't have to feel alone; we're here to support you. Just call the office at 781-934-6523 or click:
STJ Covid-19 Help
Mass. Covid-19 Help
Episcopal Diocese of MA Updates and Resources
Diocesan Clergy The Right Reverend Alan M. Gates, Bishop of Massachusetts The Right Reverend Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan
Parish Clergy The Reverend Daniel S. Dice, Rector The Reverend Ed Perkinson, Assisting Priest
Vestry
Ken Beeby, Warden Peter Hoover Patty Roberts, Warden Cheryl Ross Liz Bayston, Treasurer Joe Foley Lizzi Campbell, Asst. Treasurer Peter Breiling Michelle Russo, Clerk Patrick Gagnon Lauryn Burnes, Youth Rep.
Parish Ministries Administration – Kristin Rappe Altar Guild – Donna Duffy & Susan Poinier Buildings & Grounds – Doug Godfrey Finance – Peter Hoover Flower Guild – Melissa Foley Garden Guild – Melissa Boynton Cemetery Trustees – Dianne Hearn Historical Guild – Cheryl Ross Hospitality – Nancy Sharpe Legacy – Robert Bayston Outreach – Scott McDonald Stewardship – Dan Kostreva & Joe Foley St. John's Guild – Kimberly Glattstein
Youth Education Program Coordinators Sarah Roberts, K-5th Grade Liz Bayston, High School John Rappe, Mission Trip
Vergers/Liturgical Coordinators Peter Hoover • Shannon Keith Sue Perkinson • Jerry Steinke
Office Volunteers Peter Hoover • Susan Poinier Cheryl Ross
Parish Staff Ms. Melissa Boynton, Administrative Assistant Mrs. Kelley Carroll, Director of Parish Development Deacon Mary Beth Emerson, Missioner Mr. Gregg Frazier, Sexton Mr. Brendan Mahoney, Director of Christian Education Mr. Alan Wittrup, Organist & Choirmaster
Monday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.