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For Pentecost Sunday, May31st: We welcome you to Zoom worship at 10am Sunday morning - The Rev. John Beach will officiate. Link and dial-in information has been shared to parishioners and friends, and the service bulletin is posted here to the right. Hope you will join us!
For Sunday, May 24th: We will be gathering again on Zoom this Sunday morning. All are welcome to join us at 10am, with Rev. John Beach officiating Morning Prayer. The service bulletin is posted here to your right, and links have been emails to parishioners, and please note that it is the same link and dial-in information as last week. Diocesan update ~ Tuesday, May 18th: Please note that per our diocese, virtual worship will continue until July 1st. We deeply regret that as a result of temporary technical issues with the Zoom website, we were unable to gather for worship Sunday. Rev. John's sermon is posted here to the right - please click on the link if you wish to view. For the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 17th: We will be celebrating Morning Prayer this Sunday on Zoom with The Rev. John Beach presiding. The downloadable service bulletin is posted here (to your right). Log-on and dial-in information has been emailed to parishioners. Please join us - all are welcome! Please note: Per the Episcopal bishops of Massachusetts, virtual services have been extended until July 1st. We remain hopeful that in-person worship will resume sooner than expected. Diocesan update ~ Wednesday, May 13th: The Board of Directors and staff of the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center have just announced the difficult decision to suspend all summer camp programs. Please contact the office for additional information. Diocesan update ~ Tuesday, May 12th: Massachusetts Episcopal bishops have announced that virtual worship has been extended until July 1st. Please see the letter from Bishop Alan and Bishop Gayle posted at www.Diomass.org. We are disappointed but remain determined to stay faithful, home, and safe, and look forward to resuming in-house worship very soon!
For the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 10th: We look forward to everyone joining us online this Sunday at 10am to celebrate worship with The Rev. John Beach presiding. Zoom link information to dial in or log on has been emailed to parishioners. Kindly see the service bulletin listed here to the right.
For the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 3rd:
Please join us for worship via Zoom this Sunday at 10am - you can observe online or dial in to participate. The service bulletin is posted here to your right. Wednesday, April 15th: Just an FYI that weekly publication of The Episcopal Church bulletin inserts has been suspended until the 5th Sunday of Easter, May 10th.
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of single candle” St. Francis Of Assisi
The other day, I took a picture of one of our newer traditions at St John’s, our Ambry. When Father Allen was with us, he arranged to have it donated and installed next to the alter. Ever since then, whenever the consecrated Eucharist in present in the Ambry, the candle that hangs in the holder above stays lit. Many of you may remember when we started to use the Ambry, but how many of you remember the history of the candle holder? Did you know it was part of a much older tradition with roots from colonial days and older? Have you heard the saying of “A candle in the window” or “I will light a candle for your safe return.”? Travel during the colonial days was far more difficult and if darkness fell before you reached your destination, it was very easy to become disoriented, even on a familiar route. So as darkness fell, if you were expecting someone to arrive at your home, you would light a candle in hopes to guide them home. Some people would also light a candle to show any lost traveler they were welcome. Especially in the darkest of nights, a single candle would be a beacon to the lost traveler. Our candle holder was purchased in 1942 and hung in the original Chapel of the Ascension (now the robing room and we still have the original order request). From what my father remembers, it burned for more than 3 years throughout World War II in the hope that it would symbolically guide our soldiers back home safely from the darkness of war. I imagine that simple act brought comfort for both those at home hoping not to receive a telegram, as well as the soldiers in the field, just knowing that no matter how dark things got, there was light to guide them through. It is ironic that during these present times with “Stay at Home orders” there are so many who are not home. Each day thousands of doctors, nurses, facilities workers, food service employees manufacturing stave, government workers, grocery store workers, gas station attendants, social workers, first responders and so many more leave their home to do their job to provide the care and infrastructure and basic real needs of our society, hoping that when they return they do not infect their loved ones while out doing the work that needed to be done. In addition to these courageous workers are all of us who are staying at home and in doing so are away from places we also consider home such as Church each Sunday. In a way on this Easter 2020, are we not all at least temporary homeless, having lost our way on a familiar route? Since the candle holder above the Ambry is currently illuminating the body of Christ, we have enlisted the Christmas window candles in the Nave during this Easter season and beyond to shine Christ’s light in the window, guiding us all home until that day we are able to gather together as Christ’s family. We will keep them lit day and Night until that day and may they not be needed for as long as in 1942. Happy Easter and May the Light of Christ lead you home in this darkened time. Fritz ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We have adopted safety protocols set forth by the Diocese, and we ask the following of parishioners: * If you feel unwell in any way, please do not attend church. * If you are in what is considered a “high-risk” group (i.e., chemotherapy, heart disease, respiratory, or diabetes patients, or have an autoimmune disorder, you are strongly urged to avoid attending large groups, including worship. * During worship: We will not perform handshakes, elbow bumps, or other touching during the Peace, there will be in-one-kind Communion, and no passing of the offering plate (to be placed in a designated area), etc. Until further notice, and per strong diocesan recommendations - Bible study will be on hiatus. We understand these circumstances are unique and uncertain, but we must be vigilant in keeping everyone’s best interest in mind, while we seek God’s comfort and protection. As this situation changes, we will keep you posted - your cooperation is greatly appreciated. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Worship Please note: when we return to in-person worship, from June through August our Sunday morning service begins at 9am. September through May our two-service schedule resumes: 8am (Rite I) and 10am (Rite II). Additional services are held during Christmas and Easter Holy Week. All are welcome! Bible Study: Please see above. Healthy Students, Healthy Saugus: We gather to pack food for the HS2 program on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm (w/ the exception of holidays). Please check our worship bulletin announcements or St. John's FB site for updates on collection information. Find us on social media: Instagram: We're new to the site! Follow us at ~ StJohnsECSaugus Twitter: @StJohnsSaugus Facebook: St. John's Episcopal Church Saugus For national news about The Episcopal Church, please visit www.episcopalnewsservice.org Please look under 'Resources' to download St. John's recent newsletter. Our national church: www.episcopalchurch.org Episcopal news: www.episcopalnewsservice.org |
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