January 2021
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
January 2021 from Father Tim
The feast of Epiphany arrives in January on the 6th. Other holy days of note are the Circumcision of Christ (1st) and the Conversion of S. Paul (25th). And, believe it or not, Septuagesima and Pre-Lent falls on the 31st of January. Anno Domini 2020 is now behind us, and heaven knows it has left us a world of changes and inconsistencies going forward into 2021. Thankfully God, the Eternal Wisdom, the Holy Trinity does not change. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Heb. xiii.8). That eternal truth brings one much comfort and solace. All of us at Saint John’s must enter the new year with the strength of Samson, the confidence of Saint Paul, and the patience of Job. Nothing less will suffice. We must take each day one at a time and with the might of Caleb, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it (Num. xiii.30). According to the cornerstone laid in the foundation of our building, which reads 1899, Saint John the Evangelist church has been a fortress on O’Fallon and 8th Avenue for those seeking Christ, along with refuge from the world and its tribulations, for 121 years. 2021 must be no different. I hope and pray to see all of you every time the bell in the tower peals across the city and the river this New Year. ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone in your life who does not usually attend church? Do they spend the Epiphany Season preparing only for the upcoming worldly celebration of Valentines Day? Epiphanytide is the season of the appearance of Jesus Christ as the savior of the world—of Israel and the Gentiles, as well as the visitation of the Magi. It is a beautiful season to speak with a lost soul about the reason wise men still seek Him. ~ Father Tim
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The utter folly of our time is lamentable, that men should think to assist God with human help and to protect the Church of Christ by worldly ambition. ~ S. Hilary, B.C.D., feast day 14th of January
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Star of the East, how sweet art Thou,
Seen in life’s early morning sky,
Ere yet a cloud has dimmed the brow,
While yet we gaze with childish eye;
When father, mother, nursing friend,
Most dearly loved, and loving best,
First bid us from their arms ascend,
Pointing to Thee, in Thy sure rest.
Too soon the glare of earthly day
Buries, to us, Thy brightness keen,
And we are left to find our way
By faith and hope in Thee unseen.
What matter? if the waymarks sure
On every side are round us set,
Soon overleaped, but not obscure?
‘Tis ours to mark them or forget.
What matter? if in calm old age
Our childhood’s star again arise,
Crowning our lonely pilgrimage
With all that cheers a wanderer’s eyes?
Ne’er may we lose it from our sight,
Till all our hopes and thoughts are led
To where it stays its lucid flight
Over our Saviour’s lowly bed.
There, swathed in humblest poverty,
On Chastity’s meek lap enshrined,
With breathless Reverence waiting by,
When we our Sovereign Master find,
Will not the long-forgotten glow
Of mingled joy and awe return,
When stars above or flowers below
First made our infant spirits burn?
Look on us, Lord, and take our parts
E’en on Thy throne of purity!
From these our proud yet grovelling hearts
Hide not Thy mild forgiving eye.
Did not the Gentile Church find grace,
Our mother dear, this favoured day?
With gold and myrrh she sought Thy face;
Nor didst Thou turn Thy face away.
She too, in earlier, purer days,
Had watched thee gleaming faint and far –
But wandering in self-chosen ways
She lost Thee quite, Thou lovely star.
Yet had her Father’s finger turned
To Thee her first inquiring glance:
The deeper shame within her burned,
When wakened from her wilful trance.
Behold, her wisest throng Thy gate,
Their richest, sweetest, purest store,
(Yet owned too worthless and too late,)
They lavish on Thy cottage-floor.
They give their best–O tenfold shame
On us their fallen progeny,
Who sacrifice the blind and lame –
Who will not wake or fast with Thee!
~ John Keble
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When nothing diverts my thoughts from God, my heart swims in an excess of overflowing joy, in so much that I often forget my food and all earthly things; but it is an affliction to live amid the distraction of worldly conversation. ~ S. Paul, First Hemit, Confessor, feast day 15th day of January
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St. John January Ordo Kalendar
Sunday, the 3rd of January at 10:30 AM, Christmas II
Wednesday, the 6th of January at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, Epiphany
Sunday, the 10th of January at 10:30 AM, Epiphany I, Annual Meeting
Wednesday, the 15th of January at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 17th of January at 10:30 AM, Morning Prayer (Fr. Tim off)
Wednesday, the 20th of January at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 24th of January at 10:30 AM, Epiphany III
Wednesday, the 27th of January at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 31st of January at 10:30 AM, Septuagesima
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As to the King, the laws of the land will clearly instruct you for that…For the people; and truly I desire their liberty and freedom, as much as any body: but I must tell you, that their liberty and freedom consists in having the government of those laws, by which their life and their goods may be most their own; ’tis not for having share in government [sirs] that is nothing pertaining to ’em. A subject and a sovereign are clean different things. ~ Bl. Charles Stuart, K.M., feast day the 30th day of January
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January Birthdays & Anniversaries
Susan Moore – Birthday – January 20
Kim Marshall – Birthday – January 24
Devan Smith – Birthday – January 25
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A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make the church so beautiful this 2020 Christmastide!
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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