From Deacon Ron Reno:
Last weekend we celebrated Whitsunday and that is an English term for the Christian Holy day of Pentecost. To us Anglicans and other Christians, it is the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, and it is commonly known as the birthday of our church. Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and 10 days after His ascension into heaven. The prophet Joel prophesied Pentecost when he said:
“And it will come to pass in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams…and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Joel 2:28-32a)
Let’s take an ‘overlook’ at the important holy days that we sometimes 
overlook. We begin with the basic training period to shape our souls into proper vessels. We call it Pre- Lent (the 3 weeks leading up to Lententide). And then we begin Lententide. Once we exorcise our sins out of us like a marine drill sergeant would exercise our bodies, we celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection, Easter day and the great 50-day feast which follows. But we are not done there, awaiting only the commercialized count-down until Christmas. In the fifth week of Eastertide, on Thursday, we have the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into the Kingdom of Heaven, where He prepares for us a place to live eternally with Him. A few weeks later we have Trinity Sunday and the beginning of Trinitytide. And right before that is Pentecost, formally addressed as Whitsunday, which is the feast which we celebrated last weekend. This paragraph came from a homily that Father Ponec gave in 2020 and is beautifully illustrated in his words.
O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. Collect for Whitsunday
Student art attached. God bless, Deacon
here March 20 and 21st for our three confirmands. His Grace also wants us to meet as a family that Friday night before for dinner and conversation. It is always great when God’s children can gather together for these special events. Saint John’s will pick up the tab; the gathering will be at the Embassy Suites downtown Old Market. I will give out more information as the time gets closer. It is always a blessing when our Bishop comes here.
O Lord, who for our sake didst fast for forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen…….collect for the First Sunday in Lent.
Church before the disunion of East and West; more particularly, as professed by the Church of England, as it stands distinguished from all [medieval] and Puritan innovations, and as it adheres to the Doctrine of the Cross.” Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, England (1637-1711)
We are planning to have a Christmas Eve service. Although the campus will be closed through January 3rd, they will keep the chapel open for us for all of our services. If possible, please come to the December 24th service, honor Jesus’ birth and enjoy some great music.
prepare the way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen….Collect for Advent 3, God bless, Deacon
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour 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, now and ever. Amen.
traveling mercies for Father Andrews and Anneliese. We will have our usual gathering after the service for a light lunch. Father and Anneliese will be heading to Minnesota after the service to visit their son and his family. It its by the good Grace of God that we have Father consecrate the Holy elements (wine and bread) so that the Deacon can feed our people every Saturday. Thank you so much Father for all you do for this growing parish.