Spirit of the Eagle – April 2016

Spiritual Tidbits for April from Father Tim

He is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Jesus the Christ, after all His sufferings, has risen from the dead, liberated from hell and from death those who were raised raised with Him, ascended into heaven, and is enthroned at the right hand of God the Father. He has acquired honor and glory that is “far above every principality and power — and above every name that is named” (Ephesians I: 21). A happy Eastertide to each and every one at Saint John the Evangelist; Can you believe the first three months of 2016 are already behind us? We are off to an amazing start this year. Can you continue to rise to the occasion? It is hard to fathom with the current momentum of our parish, and especially with God’s help, how much goodness can be accomplished before the years end. God has given much, so much it is beyond our total comprehension. What can you give Him in return? The Holy Spirit is really moving among, through, and around His beautiful holy church on O’Fallon Avenue. The Love of God continues to blossom all over Saint John’s. Spring is abloom with His goodness. Can you begin April leading with the inspirational and heart-warming words to the church in Rome (VIII: 37-39) written by Saint Paul: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Imitate Christ. Change the world. Rise, give, and lead… ~ Father Tim

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ACW Barbecue Dinner

The one ACW fund raising event of the year will be held in the parish hall on Saturday, the 23rd of April, beginning at 6:00 PM and ending at 9:00 PM. Last year support was somewhat weak, and we let the ACW down, and, to be honest, one could easily say we failed this wonderful organization within our parish. Now, I would boldly ask, has the ACW ever failed one of us when we called upon them? For a Coffee Hour? For a charitable event? For a funeral? For a wedding? I dare say they have not. Please contact an ACW member this year and purchase tickets for this great event, sell tickets for this great event, and invite all you know to this great event. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring potential new members to Saint Johns, and the unchurched to Jesus Christ. Enjoy a great meal in Christian fellowship with someone, and show them around God’s holy and beautiful church. See you on the 23rd. ~ Father Tim

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Ministry for Children

Savannah will host the Ministry for Children on the 17th of April after Holy Communion. It is designed for age 2 through 12 years. We have purchased new Sunday School curriculum that flows with the church year and the 1928 BCP. Please make every effort to bring all related children in your family for these fun and educational classes. The children will participate, enjoy, and learn the foundation and building blocks of the Christian faith through bible stories and created crafts. Savannah will bring the crafts and refreshments are provided, and is also looking for someone with a desire to teach children the foundation of our faith to step forward and help!

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Confirmation Class

The Confirmation Class concludes in April and all are welcome to attend. The fourth class will cover “How Do We Worship Together?” and “Why Do We Go to Confession?” There will be only one opportunity to attend this class, 12:00 PM on the 10th of April after the Mass. Upon completion of this class all confirmand manuals containing completed answers must be turned in to me. The final class will cover “A Catechism” starting on page 577 of the Book of Common Prayer and will be held at 12:00 PM on the 24th of April after the Mass. Each class will be 30-60 minutes in length. Please arrive promptly. ~ Father Tim

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April Spirituality Class

Please join us on the 17th of April after Holy Communion as we continue an in depth study of The Revelation of St. John The Divine. Many people today regard Revelation as the hardest book in the New Testament. It is full of strange, lurid and sometimes bizarre and violent imagery. As a result, many people who are quite at home in the Gospels, Acts and Paul find themselves tiptoeing around Revelation with a sense that they don’t really belong there. But they do! In fact, Revelation offers one of the clearest and sharpest visions of God’s ultimate purpose for the whole creation, and of the way in which the powerful forces of evil, at work in a thousand ways, can be and are being overthrown through the victory of Jesus the Messiah and the consequent costly victory of his followers. Please come and bring a friend to visit our parish!

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Food Box Outreach

Please, each time you go to the grocery store, pick up a few extra dry good items for our Food Outreach boxes in the Parish Hall. Just a couple or three items here and there will add up pretty quickly for those in need. Thank you!

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April Birthdays & Anniversaries

Katie & David Schmidt – Anniversary – April 11
Brittany Sams – Birthday – April 13
Ethan Whalen – Birthday – April 15
Mrs. & Robert Hooks – Anniversary – April 22
Carol Petrie – Birthday – April 22
Julie & Mike Murray – Anniversary – April 28

ORDO KALENDAR

Sunday, April 3 – EASTER I – 10:30 Holy Mass – Celebrant, Fr. Neuroth
Sunday, April 10 – EASTER II – 10:30 Holy Mass – Celebrant, Fr. Butler
11:45 Coffee Hour
12:00 Confirmation Class, Children’s Ministry
Sunday, April 17 – EASTER III – 10:30 Holy Mass – Celebrant, Fr. Neuroth
11:45 Spirituality Class
Saturday, April 23 – ACW Barbecue Dinner, 6 – 9 p.m.
Sunday, April 24 – EASTER IV – 10:30 Holy Mass – Celebrant, Fr. Butler
12 p.m. Confirmation Class