Liturgy News&

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
 Saint John's parishioners and visitors had the good fortune during the Christmas Season of coming into Saint Paul Plaza hearing the sound of digital sampled church bells. These bells are part of a demonstrator unit used by the Schulmerich Carillon Bell Company when selling bells to churches, cities and cemeteries. Many thanks to their local representative, Kermit Junkert, for letting us use his unit to play Christmas carols before and after our liturgies. What a wonderful addition it would be to be able to play songs and hymns outside the church as people come and go. We hope you enjoyed the Christmas carols!

VESPERS THANK YOU
A special thanks to all those who helped with Advent and Epiphany Vespers (Evensong). Thanks to Father Michael's Young Married Couples, especially Steve and Jacquie Cavanagh, Jim and Eileen Hable, Scott and Jenny Armstrong, Todd and Amy Woolf, Doug and Kristin Anderson, David and Pam Clark, Bill and Roseanne Kroening, Tate and Cindy Moser and Mike and Wanette Hill. Thanks also to our schola (singers) Amy Howard, Amanda Slabiak, Mary Ann Bennek, Kathy Carlson, Candy Stanton, Larry Pecchia, Vince Mans, Jim Hable, Tom Hoel and to our acolyte, Gary Rother. They wish to use the free will offering for the new Chapel of the Angels.

ALL LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND SERVERS PLEASE PICK UP YOUR NEW SCHEDULES AT THE UPPER SACRISTY THIS WEEKEND - NEW SCHEDULES GO INTO EFFECT NEXT SUNDAY!!!

A CHRISTMAS THANK YOU
 To everyone, too numerous to name, many thanks for your participation at our Advent and Christmastide liturgies. Many behind the scenes workers, some visible and some not, to our many Christmas flower fund donors, participants all in the pews and sanctuary!!! Many blessing in the New Year!

Bulletin Board&

PLAYGROUND POSITION AVAILABLE
If you are a mom, dad or grandparent and love to work with children, have consistent policies and are punctual, St. John's is looking for a playground supervisor for grades 1-8.  Hour are 11:45--1:05 daily.  This position pays $10 per day.  Call the school office at 651-633-1522.

Social Justice&
Thank you to all the people of St. John's who helped with our holiday collections.  You contributed; 99 Blankets, 36 Pillows, 13 Sleeping Bags and 1,542 pairs of socks!  We delivered these to Simpson House and St. Stephen's  Homeless Shelters. We are grateful for your donations    totaling $1,549 at the  Thanksgiving liturgy which helps us to continue to help others.  If you are interested in being part of this group, call Carole at 651-639-9103. 

From the Associate&

Baptism

     I attended a Christmas party several weeks back, where I was introduced to some couples, and then sat down to eat with them.  The first statement of one gentlemen was, "Michael, we're glad that you also believe what is most     essential to eternal life, is a personal relationship with Jesus, and not baptism."  He is a Baptist.  I was a little flabbergasted that such a statement would be made so abruptly, and with such conviction.  I felt like I was doing some back peddling, trying to figure out where the guy was coming from, but I knew he was certainly making a statement in opposition to the Catholic Church's understanding.
     Having a personal relationship with Jesus is incredibly important, both to happiness in this life, and for eternal life.  Jesus is the only one who can raise us from the dead, and if we are hoping to live forever, it is essential that we pursue intimacy with him.  I've heard the following metaphor at a funeral homily:  "If you knew when you were young, that at age 70 you would have to board a ship, and while crossing the ocean, jump overboard, hoping that someone from a land afar would meet you there and save you from drowning, you would certainly check into the credentials of your redeemer, investing in a relationship with him so as to have the kind of confidence that because of love and fidelity, he will indeed be there for you."  Similarly, we will all die, and yet we cannot save ourselves, we need Jesus Christ to do it.  A personal relationship with him is key! 
     However to negate baptism as a salvific event, in favor of a certain moment of prayer on one's knee, asking Jesus to come into one's heart and be his/her Lord and Savior, is to draw a contrast, which is heretical.  It is vitally important to make a decision as an adult, to commit one's life to Christ; yet, baptism is the springboard of that love union.  Baptism is the cleansing and purifying bath, which washes away original sin, and reestablishes a relationship with God.  It is a powerful sacrament, with grace and God's intimacy flowing into the soul.  Today as we recognize the wonder of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, we give thanks for the gift of our own baptism:  he was baptized, to make holy the waters, which make us holy.

Fr. Michael

Weekly Collection

Last Week                                    CAPITAL                    ACTUAL   GOAL   CAMPAIGN
12/30          $34,104  $36,381         $15,058
1/6              $29,829  $28,236         $13,165 
SINCE:        July 1, 2001            To Date
12/30       $783,225 $773,104       $3,624,549
1/6           $813,054 $801,340       $3,637,714 

Children
12/31 $103
1/6 $78


Thank you for your continued support.

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