Activities and Announcements for week of December 5, 2021
Sunday, December 5
9:00 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM Worship/Children's Sunday School
Monday, December 6
2:00 PM Needles & Hookers
7:00 PM Boy Scouts
Tuesday, December 7
1:00 PM. Women's Bible Study
6:30 PM Cub Scouts/Webelos
Wednesday, December 8
7:00 PM. Chancel Choir
Thursday, December 9
Friday, December 10
Saturday, December 11
3:00 PM. Wedding
Sunday, December 12
8:00 AM. Bells Practice
9:00 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM Worship/Children's Sunday School
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If You Liked Where The Crawdad Sings…
The year: 1932
The place: Minnesota’s Gilead River
The characters: four orphans escaping from the Lincoln Indian Training School
Follow these four children down the river where they encounter others who are also adrift. Join the Bad Girls onMonday, December 13 at 6:30 in the Conference Room to dissect This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. This big-hearted epic connects all Americans.
Live Nativity
St. John’s will once again be sharing with the community our Live Nativity. Performances will be on, Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30. This beautiful musically narrated story of the birth of God’s gift to the world has become a tradition and gift to the community from St. John’s. Please stop by and share in the Christmas story as portrayed by the youth of St. John’s
Altar Flowers & Bulletin Sponsors
Order forms for altar flowers and bulletin sponsors for 2022 are available in the church office. Please stop in and reserve your date!
"Mary's Song"
Sunday, Dec. 19, 10:30am Worship and special musical reflection, "Mary's Song" based on Luke 1:26-56. Come celebrate the fourth Sunday of advent as St John's choir members and friends and Congregational UCC, Canton musicians share beautiful music, art and movement inspired by the loves and dreams of Mary of Nazareth.
Merry Christmas From Socko Clause
Remember when you were a kid always getting new socks and underwear for Christmas. My children used to say those were the gifts from “Socko Clause!” Since T-4-C is not distributing those items this year, St. John’s is going to take over the job of being “Socko Clause” in our community. Starting Tuesday, December 14, 2021, we will be hanging all sizes, colors, and styles of socks and underwear, for both children and adults, outside the church. They will be available for anyone who needs them until Christmas Eve. Please bring your contribution to the office during the next two weeks. If the items are not already bagged, please put them in a plastic bag. We’d like to be able to keep the clothes-line filled. Everyone enjoys new gifts from Santa Clause, but everyone NEEDS new gifts from Socko Clause!
Advent Devotions with Rev. Jeff
This year I picked up a book of daily devotions titled Traveling with Our Ancestors: An Advent Devotional by Sandhya Rani Jha. I would invite you to find a copy that we might read along together. I have known Sandhya (pronounced like “Honda” beginning with a “sh”) for many years and we worked on some different components of the same initiatives. There have been times when I have disagreed with her perspective and also have been in awe of her prophecy. In retrospect, I suppose I could have been wrong in either case... or in both cases! What l find especially interesting and unique about this book is that it extends Advent through Epiphany – 7 weeks! This was the way the church used to do it. The introduction offers some resources to prove it! I’ll offer the occasional updates via Facebook, email, and or One Call. Looking forward to hearing back.
Looking Ahead
Reminder to all Committee Chairs, Class Leaders and Department Chairs that it is time to begin preparations for your year-end reports for the 2021 Annual Report.
How to Say Thanks
Many of us express our appreciation for St. John’s professional, efficient, and personable staff at Christmas by purchasing gift certificates, by baking Christmas goodies, or by presenting any of a variety of gifts. This year, the Elders are suggesting another tactic. If you are interested in donating toward a love gift that will be divided equally among our staff, please label your cash or check donation “love gift” and either place it in the offering plate or bring it directly to the office by December 19.