December 2021
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
December 2021 from Father Tim
December is, to say the least, a busy month. It is especially challenging for those who live for worldly things such as toys, electronics, trendy clothing, gadgets and gifts of all kinds. Entertainment and parties consume the consumer’s time as well. As Saint Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 spiritual wickedness in high places always makes sure the coming Christ-child has plenty of competition. Worldly people really do wrestle with this season we call Advent. In the Holy Church the season of Advent (Coming) is a time we prepare ourselves for the Incarnation – the Grand Miracle – the birth of Christ. But Advent carries another theme as well, and that is a preparation for the Second Coming of Christ on that last day with no end. Thus we have a double emphasis which gives the season a unique combination of devotional tone. During Advent we celebrate another English proponent and example of homely divinity, the 17th century Anglican deacon Nicholas Ferrar, whose commemoration falls on the 1st day of December. He was the guiding light of one of the most remarkable experiments of Christian living in the history of Anglicanism to date. Ferrar, along with a few close friends and his extended family, including his mother, brother, sister and their families, retired to Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire, England where they restored an abandoned church. There he founded what has sometimes been referred to as the first monastic house in England since the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. The whole family shared in a discipline of prayer based on the Prayer Book offices, together with the twice daily recitation of the entire Psalter. Day and night, there was always at least one member of the community kneeling in prayer before the altar, so that they might keep the words of Saint Paul, “Pray without ceasing.” The parish around them was touched and enriched by their prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and teaching, as well as their care for the needy and the sick in the community. The experiment did not survive beyond the generation of Nicholas and his siblings, but the holiness of the lives lived there continues to resonate down through the years of our Anglo-Catholic heritage, and inspired one of the great poems of 20th century literature, T.S. Eliot’s Little Gidding. May your Advent this year include the discipline, “Pray without ceasing”. ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone you know who is being consumed by the secular holiday rush? Do they miss the reason for the season? December is a very holy month to invite someone into the Holy Church to experience the coming Christ-child. Invite a lost or seeking soul into the presence of the Word made flesh, His kingdom, and His church family. ~ Father Tim
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He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful. ~ S. Peter Chrysologus, feast day 2nd of December
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Did you know?
Did you know that Saint John’s was represented by our Jr. Warden, Rick Hanson, and his wife Eileen at the annual Gala in Covington for Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions? Did you know that Gala raised $58,000.00? Did you know that Saint John’s gave $400.00 in Gift Cards to the Dayton Family Resource Center in November? Did you know we are very close to having the Rectory completed? Did you know that Heritage Window Solutions have now ordered new (and beautiful) glass storm windows for nine of our stained glass windows?
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St. John December Ordo Kalendar
Wednesday, the 1st of December at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 5th of December at 10:30 AM, Advent II, St. Nicholas Visit
Sunday, the 12th of December at 10:30 AM, Advent III
Sunday, the 19th of December at 10:30 AM, Advent IV, Vestry Meeting
Friday, the 24th of December at 5:30 PM, Christmas Eve Mass
Saturday, the 25th of December at 10:30 AM, Christmas Day Mass
Sunday, the 26th of December at 10:30 AM, S. Stephen, Protomartyr – Morning Prayer
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Give me the child until he is seven and I’ll give you the man. ~ S. Francis Xavier, Confessor, feast day 3rd of December
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When lies have been accepted for some time, the truth always astounds with an air of novelty. ~ S. Clement of Alexandria, Confessor and Doctor, feast day 4th of December
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December Birthdays & Anniversaries
Coraline Parker Bock – Birthday – December 3
Jim Barnett – Birthday – December 3
Fr. Timothy Butler – Birthday – December 4
Brittany & Joel Sams – Anniversary – December 14
Paige Bock – Birthday – December 17
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The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves. ~ S. Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor, feast day the 6th of December
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When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking about Christ. ~ S. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor, feast day the 7th of December
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The word of the Father by whom all time was created was made flesh and born in time for us. He without whose divine permission no day completes its course, wished to have one of those days for His human birth. In the bosom of His Father He existed before all the cycles of the ages. Born of an earthly mother, He entered on the course of the years on that very day. The maker of man became man that He ruler of the stars might be nourished at the breast, that He the bread might be hungry, that He the fountain might thirst, that He the light might sleep, that He the way might be wearied in the journey, that He the truth might be accused by false witnesses, that He the judge of the living and the dead might be brought to trial by a mortal judge, that He justice itself might be condemned by the unjust, that He discipline personified might be scourged with a whip, that He the foundation might be suspended on a cross, that He courage incarnate might be weak, and He security itself might be wounded, and He life itself might die. ~ S. Augustine of Hippo
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Remember the sufferings of Christ, the storms that were weathered… the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith… All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown. ~ S. Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop & Martyr, feast day the 29th of December
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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