Spirit of the Eagle – May 2018
Spirit of the Eagle
ST. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for May 2018 from Father Tim
The arrival of May brings a beautiful spring to full splendor. May also brings us three great holy days: Ascension Day, Whitsunday (Pentecost), and Trinity Sunday. The busiest time of the church year begins at Christmas Eve and ends at Trinity Sunday. It is the busiest for the following reason. Through these seasons we experience all of the earthly life of Jesus Christ from beginning to end. If we are to be true imitators of Christ it is necessary that our lives pass through all the stages of His life. Read the wisdom of Saint Gregory of Sinai:
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ’s own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. To Christ’s conception corresponds the foretaste of the gift of the Holy Spirit, to His nativity the actual experience of joyousness, to His baptism the cleansing force of the fire of the Spirit, to His transfiguration the contemplation of divine life, to His crucifixion the dying of all things, to His burial the indwelling of divine love in the heart, to His resurrection the soul’s life-quickening resurrection, and to His ascension divine ecstasy and the transport of the intellect into God.
I hope and pray your spring, conceived in the last days of winter, progresses and grows to its full height of beauty, lifting your spirit outward and upward in divine ecstasy toward the eternal Sun of Righteousness, Jesus the Christ. ~Father Tim
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When in 1723, on the 4th day of November, Samuel Johnson became the Rector of the first Anglican parish in the Puritan controlled Stratford, Connecticut the church numbered about thirty families — not many, but there were no nominal Churchmen among them. They meant business. They had long projected a church building, and had gathered some lumber for it, but no actual construction had yet been done. On June 21, 1723 the wardens and vestry petitioned the town selectmen (all Puritan Congregationalists) for a parcel of ground on which they might build and grow their membership. Naturally, they got nowhere. But then they proceeded to buy a piece of land right next to the Congregational Church. This was too much. The selectmen proceeded to give them land in exchange for a less offensive site. ~ Don R. Gerlach, Samuel Johnson in New England
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Spring construction and restoration projects are underway! Soon the roofers will be back with a crane and we will be having the tin roof on the Bell Tower repaired. You may have noticed some windows missing in the bell tower and turret. Those are in the process of being restored. As soon as the Bell Tower roof is repaired we will begin the plaster work in the Narthex and Nave. Finally, some of you have already taken advantage of items inside the glass display case in the Parish Hall. We will continue (in a small way) recreating the old St. John Church Book Stall where you will find copies of Christian books, St. John bookmarkers, and other interesting items.
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May Spirituality Class
In May we will be changing up our class a little and will transition to a Bible Study through the summer. The study of God’s word is central to the life and mission of our parish church of St. John the Evangelist. Please join us after Holy Mass on the 27th of May for an engaging, dynamic, and informative exploration of the Holy Scriptures. All are welcome, but be warned: continued exposure to God’s word will change your life.
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I do not try, Lord, to attain Your lofty heights, because my understanding is in no way equal to it. But I do desire to understand Your truth a little, that truth that my heart believes and loves. I do not seek to understand that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that unless I believe, I shall not understand. ~ Anselm of Canterbury
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We will finish our academic year on the 6th of May with a lesson on the Gifts of God, and in so doing bridge from Easter to the Ascension to Pentecost. As this year comes to a close I want to give a special ‘thank you’ to Savannah Butler and Judie Boughner for their dedication to the children. I also want to thank all those who have supported our parish’s children through a year full of challenges. Please feel free to keep contributing prayers to our Prayer Cross. The Psalm Children ministry aims to provide religious education and encourage service through a combination of lessons, activities, and fellowship. All children ages 2-12 are encouraged to attend. ~ Mary Matias Akhtar
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St. John May Ordo Kalendar
Sunday, the 6th of May, we celebrate Easter V. Vestry Meeting after Mass.
Sunday, the 13th of May, we celebrate Sunday after Ascension.
Sunday, the 20th of May, we celebrate Whitsunday. Denver Jones baptism (conditional). Coffee Hour.
Wednesday, the 23rd of May at 5:30 PM, Requiem Mass for Fr. Neuroth
Sunday, the 27th of May, we celebrate Trinity Sunday.
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A big ‘Thank You’ to the Vestry and parishioners for a donation helping children in northern KY who are suffering and homeless as a result of the opioid epidemic. I will post a letter from the helping organization on the board in the parish hall. ~ Father Tim
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May Birthdays & Anniversaries
Abigail Evans – Birthday – May 4
Maria & Mike Whalen – Anniversary – May 8
Carol & Bob Petrie – Anniversary – May 9
Donna Lipscomb – Birthday – May 10
Judie & Rich Boughner – Anniversary – May 15
Natalie Evans – Birthday – May 16
Mike Murray – Birthday – May 16
Fr. Richard Bryant – Birthday – May 17
Kim & Jim Marshall – Anniversary – May 23
Judy Hiltenbeitel – Birthday – May 26