News from St. John's

A Voice in the Wilderness

2019-11-27

Get ready, get set...WAIT! Are you ready?

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11-12 ESV)

Are you ready?
Never mind the shopping mall Santa's and fake snow or even the Christmas music that has been playing since the day after Halloween.

Are you ready!
Is everything set?
I'm not talking about those last minute gifts that are on your list, or whether you have your tree up or the lights hung on the eaves of the house.
Are you ready for Advent?

Advent is a season for reflecting on this mortal life, past and present, as well as hoping expectantly for the future. Not just any future, but that day when Jesus will return in glorious majesty...THAT future.

And because of that long awaited and hoped for coming of our Savior, Advent is also a season of urgency. The night is past and the day is at hand and salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

Advent is a time of preparation and growing expectation. It is also a time when we ask for God's grace as we are intentional in casting off of the works of darkness and begging God to put upon us His magnificent armor of light.

Are you ready?

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for First Sunday of Advent, BCP pg.159)

Blessings,

Matthew+


	Coming up...

Journeying the Way of Love: Advent Curriculum

Why not make the Way Of Love part of your Advent practice of getting ready.

During Advent, Journeying the Way of Love offers four sessions to be explored as we await the coming of Christ by moving through the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke.

We will start our study on December 1, the first Sunday of Advent, right after the service. Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we walk The Way of Love together.

Season of Giving

St. John’s members are actively involved in a number of activities with the Mountain Family Center (MFC):

Holiday Gift Project:

St. John’s and Trinity (Kremmling) will be sponsoring families through the MFC Holiday Gift Project. Families who are not able to provide gifts for their children for the holidays apply for help with items on their children’s “wish list”. These wishes are not extravagant and, in many instances, reflect basic needs or small things that all kids seek. Look for the “Giving Tree” in the gathering area at St. Johns if you would like to take an ornament tag and purchase a gift or gifts for these children. Gifts along with the ornament tag should be returned no later than December 8^th to the church and under the Giving Tree. We will have a wrapping party that day from 11 AM-1PM. If you have questions and/or wish to donate a monetary gift for the purchase of gifts, please contact Elaine Skoch at 785-218-5599 or pfyre@centurylink.net

Support for Seniors:

Each year Grand Seniors/MFC provide a holiday gathering (a meal and a small gift) for seniors. They also provide transportation throughout the year for various needs. In addition to monetary donations, MFC is also seeking donation of Socks for Seniors (new men’s and women’s heavy/Christmas socks) to pass out to attendees at the annual dinner, which will be held December 15^th. These may be brought to the church and placed under our Giving Tree as well. Watch for the location and time. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to serve at the event should contact Elaine (above).

The holiday season is always a good time to take stock of our many blessings and to share with those who are less fortunate. Thank you to all of you who so generously give to make life a little better for those around us

Christmas lights

We have a Christmas tree to decorate outside the church that is in need of some new LED lights. Do you have a strand that you might be willing to donate?

Stewardship

One way of thinking about Stewardship is this:

Using the gifts we’ve been given to do the work God is calling us to do.

Hopefully by now you have received a stewardship letter along with a pledge card. Thank you to all of you who have already turned in your pledge for the coming year.

If you did not receive a letter and pledge card, let us know and we will be happy to send one to you. You can also find a digital copy of them by clicking the links that follow.

2019 Stewardship Letter

St. John’s pledge card

Journey to Faith:
The Five Thresholds

Recently, Melodie Marske, a Regional director at InterVarsity gave a presentation after the service on how to help people on their journey to faith. If you missed the presentation or want to revisit the videos you can find them here.

Read about Deacon Kaye's mission trip!

On Monday, the 4th of November Kaye left for Nogales, Arizona with several other members of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado.

She spent time working in a shelter and a children's health clinic. This mission was part of our Baptismal Covenant, "to seek and serve Christ in all persons".

You can read more about her trip in this article from the Sky-Hi News.

Cranmer Dinners

Its time to get ready for the kick off of the 21st year of the Cranmer Dinners. Our first dinner is always Thanksgiving Dinner. You can sign up to help by donating food and/or as a volunteer to help with the dinners.

Read about it in the Sky-Hi News here and the Winter Park Times here.

City Market Rewards Program

Do you shop at City Market or King Soopers? If you do, St. John's can benefit benefit every time you go grocery shopping. We are participating in City Market Community Rewards program. You can be part of this by enrolling here. Once you enroll, look us up by our Organization name: St. John's Episcopal Church or Organization Number: TU289

Church Directory

We are in the process of updating our church directory. Please click here to fill out your current information.

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