| | Weekly Dispatch, May 18th, 2022 |
|
|
| |  | | St. John's Schedule- Catechesis Hour – Sundays at 9:00 AM before Church
- Holy Eucharist – Sundays at 10:30 AM at Church and via Facebook
- Evening Prayer and Bible Study – Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at Church
- Feast of the Ascension (Provided Meal and Holy Eucharist) – Thursday, May 26th at TBD
- Prayer Book Retreat – Saturday, May 28th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Loylola Retreat Center (Lunch provided)
- Bishop's Visitation for Confirmations – Sunday, May 29th at 10:30 AM at Church
- Eagle and Child – Thursday, June 2nd at 7:00 PM at TBD
| | A Message from Fr. Joe | | This Sunday will be a very unique day in our worship of the Risen Lord. It is called Rogation Sunday. The word “rogation” comes from the Latin word rogare which means “to ask.” In the Church calendar, there are also Rogation Days following Sunday on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. These are focused days of prayer asking the LORD for His mercy, blessing, and provision over all areas of the created order. |
In the wake of so much violence occurring throughout our country, including against the unborn, Rogation Sunday is all the more fitting for us to practice in worship. What does this look like?
|
Since these are prayers oriented around the created order, we will first gather outside in front of our building (same place as Palm Sunday) where we will sing, hear Scripture, pray, and process around the building leading us into the church.
|
As we process into the building, we will be praying through the Great Litany. It is one of the first liturgies crafted by the former Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (author of the Book of Common Prayer). It is rich, and fully expresses the scope of our prayers over all things. What’s evident on Rogation Sunday is our care and intercessions for all of life. Jesus said, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. We ask our LORD Jesus for life and renewal of life all around us. We need His resurrected life upon us, our region, country, and the world.
|
The Great Litany also invites us to repent. We repent and ask for God’s mercy to bring repentance all around us. So much of our world is filled with pride, self-righteousness, and an inability to own our wrongs admitting we need more grace than we realize. Rogation Sunday leads us towards deepening repentance. Also, it carries us forward in gratitude. We give thanks to God who redeems a people for Himself, who sustains all of creation despite ourselves, and “that though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the ruler yet.” Let us gather together to worship our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all things.
|
If you would like to support St. John's during this time, you can give online by clicking the button below. You may also send a check to the following address:
|
PO BOX 36591, CANTON OH 44735
|
| | |
|
| Glory, Love, and the Cross by Fr. Joe |  | A message from the series "Sermons from Lectionary Texts." When we think of glory, we don’t often associate it with weakness, let alone with a Roman form of execution (cross). Yet Jesus reveals that God’s glory is manifested through it. What’s even more surprising is how the cross of Christ reveals the true nature of love and how it is to a witness of the Church in the world. How can these things be? Check it out.
|
| |
|
|  | | Join us every second and fourth (usually) Thursday night for our Eagle and Child reading group! This is a group that meets to discuss and apply classic works in Christian theology from the likes of Lewis, Augustine, Bonhoeffer, and other important authors. Currently, we are reading Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis to discuss Lewis' layered text pointing us to the great truths which underlie the Christian faith. |
|
 | | Cana Vox is a discussion group that meets every other Friday where those, married or unmarried, who support a classical understanding of marriage can explore the controversial issues in a calm, deliberative setting that is not subject to the hostilities often found in today's public discourse on the topic. We seek to discuss thoughtful and gospel-oriented responses to the confusion surrounding marriage in our culture. |
|
|
| | Ryan Sprunger – Awarded the Medal of Valor I was amazed to hear of this wondrous award and honor given to our very own, Ryan Sprunger. These are some of the posts from online, and I received permission from Ryan to post, but as his priest all I could feel was pride and increased respect for him. I am honored that such a man is called to St. John’s and calls this church his home. Ryan, we love you and are honored by the presence of you and your family.
|
|  |  |  |  | “We would like to give our congratulations to one of our own, Ryan Sprunger of the East Wayne Fire District, as he was awarded the Medal of Valor today at the White House. Ryan received the Medal of Valor for his heroic rescue in December of 2019 when several individuals, a grandfather and his two grandchildren, fell into a frozen pond. Ryan rescued the grandfather and one grandchild, and led medics to rescue the second grandchild."
|
"The Medal of Valor is awarded to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect others from harm."
|
Congratulations, Ryan! We thank you for your selfless service to our community.” — Wayne County Emergency Management Agency
|
| “Possibly by now you have heard that I was awarded the Presidential Public Safety Valor Award by President Biden. This is the highest award given to a public servant. This was purposely meant to not be public information until after the event. But now I'm able to share some pictures of our trip to the White House and DC. I was extremely honored to be in the company I was in with the other honorees. To hear their harrowing acts of bravery was humbling to be awarded the same award as them. The DOJ stated they receive an average of 160 nominations for the award a year, and only may select 5 each year. To be one of the five was even more humbling. Thank you everyone who has reached out with words of encouragement. It's a blessing to be able to serve so many people.” — Ryan’s FB post |
| | Feast of the Ascension| Jesus, after His resurrection, was with the disciples for 40 days. He taught them, fellowshipped together, and even appeared to 500 more people. At the end of 40 days, He commissioned His disciples for mission in the world and instructed them to wait and pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon them in power. This feast day is one of the highest in the Church calendar (alongside Christmas and Easter). What makes the Ascension so significant, and why is it worth feasting? Come and see. As with other high feast days, we will provide a full meal with a service of Holy Communion to follow. Join us May 26th with the meal beginning at 6pm, and the service beginning at 7pm. Please RSVP to help us prepare the food. The sign-up sheet will be at the coffee station. |
| | Prayer Book Retreat| Mark your calendars for a special retreat at Loyola Retreat Center, Saturday, May 28th, 9am-12pm. Lunch will be provided at 12pm. You may also stay longer until 3pm for your own personal prayer and retreat. The retreat will focus on major aspects of the Prayer Book where you will reflect and pray through the sections. All are welcome to attend, especially those to be confirmed and those discerning. Please sign-up either through emailing Fr. Joe or the sign-up sheet in the back by the coffee. |
| | Bishop Visitation and Confirmation| Are you sensing a call to be confirmed in the Anglican Church and deepen your sense of calling to St. John’s Anglican Church? If so, there are three things to pursue. First, contact Fr. Joe and he would love to meet with you. Second, start attending our Sunday catechesis on the sacraments at 9am. Third, mark your calendars for the Prayer Book Retreat on May 28th and the Bishop’s visit on May 29th. Among many aspects of the Anglican Way, catechesis on Sundays will also further explore the nature of confirmation and more information will be made available. |
| | Catechesis As we begin a new season in the Church calendar, Eastertide, we will begin a new catechetical focus. Our focus will be on the sacraments and the sacramental life within the Church expressed in the Anglican Way. We will resume April 24th at 9am.
|
| Our children will begin a new focus on the post-resurrection encounters from Jesus, the development of the Church and worship, the sacraments, the ascension of Jesus, and culminating with Pentecost. |
| | Evening Prayer and Bible Study As we enter a new season in the life of the Church, we will begin a new pattern of prayer and focused conversations on the Scriptures. Eastertide is often associated with the book of Acts or what’s called the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is a wondrous text to explore and engage to help inspire us in our called ministry together. Please come with a desire to be shaped, formed, and sent out by the Scriptures.
|
| | How Can I Serve at St. John's? There are plenty of ways to serve at St. John’s and we would love for you to join in on what God is doing in the church. Below you can see all the different ways to serve. No special skills required, simply a willingness to learn and grow in service.
|
| Acolyte Ministry – Carrying the cross, assisting at the table, and learning more about the Anglican Way. |
Altar Guild – Preparing the Lord’s Table for Holy Communion before the service and developing a sense of holiness in worship.
Readers – Approaching God’s Word with boldness and declaring it to the people.
Hospitality – Providing food, setting up and cleaning up the area, and making space for all people to feel welcome and belong. We also hold special events throughout the Church calendar preparing feasts together.
Gospel Play – Experience catechesis with our children with interactive materials enhancing biblical narratives within the liturgical calendar. It is a lot of fun!
Ushers/Greeters – Welcome people as they come to church, especially newcomers, handing out bulletins, and passing the plates for the offering. |
| Music – We would love to expand our music ministry with your various gifts. Do you play an instrument? Are you a gifted singer? Come join the team! |
We hope to develop these ministries with more lay leadership. In the meantime you can contact Fr. Joe, Dcn. Chad, or Maggie if you interested in participating or even taking leadership in these various ministries. |
| | Interested in Becoming a Member of St. John’s?| Fr. Joe would love to take you out for coffee discussing your interest in becoming a member at St. John’s Anglican Church. Membership is wonderful step forward in affirming your sense of calling to the local and even wider church. If you have any interest in becoming a member or seeking discernment of membership, please reach out to Fr. Joe. |
| | The Daily Office| Interested in a simple way to pray the daily office from the Book of Common Prayer? Follow this link for text and audio versions of the morning, noon, and evening prayer services taken directly from the 2019 ACNA BCP. |
| | Contact Fr. Joe
| I am here for you. If you would like to grab some coffee or other beverages, or would like a home visit, please don’t hesitate to contact me at: frjoe@stjohnscanton.org |
| |
|
| Connect with Us on Social Media | |    | |
|
|
| |
|
