| | Weekly Dispatch, May 25th, 2022 |
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| |  | | 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
- 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 | We have an incredibly rich week ahead of us in the life of St. John’s, and I hope you can be a part or all of what’s happening! In this week’s dispatch, I would like to highlight one event: the Prayer Book Retreat.
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We all have different expectations when we think of a retreat. Perhaps we think of rest, but instead it can feel like information overload. We may even see it as a waste of my Saturday morning with all the work weighing on me from the previous and next week. In my experience of leading and participating in spiritual retreats, I have found the benefit of letting go of my expectations.
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Instead, I open myself to what the Holy Spirit seeks to do within me and around me in that space and time. Retreats will often have a focus, like this one, but do our various expectations prevent us from entering retreat? What would it look like to let go of some expectations, and come with a sense of expectancy in how the Holy Spirit seeks to shape me in this context?
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As you probably know, the focused attention of the retreat will be the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. It is a rich resource of spiritual formation reflecting our identity of worship and theology in the Anglican tradition. We will practice the various offices of the hours, acquaint ourselves with the flow of the Prayer Book, and devotionally engage the liturgies of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Finally, we will have a provided lunch together and afterwards you are free to stay on the property until 3pm if you desire more space and quietness with the LORD.
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I can’t encourage you enough to come and rest. I understand what can feel like one more thing to do for the week but consider it a space where you can literally retreat to the rest of God and let go of your expectations. All are welcome, and here’s the information below.
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| | Loyola Retreat House
700 Killinger Rd.
Clinton, OH 44216
May 28th, 9am-12pm |
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*Follow the road to the back parking lot where you will be greeted.
*Bring your Bible and a writing utensil. You may bring your BCP, but not required.
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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:
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PO BOX 36591, CANTON OH 44735
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| Rogation Sunday by Fr. Joe |  | A message from the series "Sermons from Lectionary Texts." What does Rogation mean? I am so glad you asked! (Insert joke). Apologies if you don’t get it, but even more reason to listen to this sermon. Rogation Sunday, and the three days to follow, are focused days of prayer for the whole created order. Amid such violence and strife around us, it can feel difficult to see prayer as a first response. In this sermon, we look to the prophetic word of Joel to lead us to the wondrous character of God who is more present than we realize.
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|  | | 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. |
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 | | 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. |
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| | Evening Prayer and Bible Study Since we have so many wonderful things happening this week, we will cancel our weekly Evening Prayer and Bible Study this Wednesday. As we approach the summer, we hope to have Evening Prayer at various locations in people’s homes. If you would like to find out where we will be meeting next, contact Fr. Joe.
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| | 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.
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| 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. |
| | 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.
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| 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 |
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