Brothers and Sisters,
Happy Feast!
On Wednesday, August 31, we’re going to begin just about the most important project our community has ever undertaken: We’re going to start talking about WHAT’S NEXT in our Building Program. We’re going to do that over eleven weeks in our Fall Theological Seminar, but, as we get ready to embark on that dramatic undertaking, it’s also good to remember all the work that has preceded us.
For example, our community purchased our property in Cedar Park in 2003. Before that, our forebears at St. John’s spent close to a decade setting up and taking down equipment in a variety of different temporary settings and they also remodeled a couple of rental locations.
Once we were on our five acres, we cleaned up the property, put in a parking lot, and redesigned the structure that we now call the Parish House. In 2006, we started raising money for an additional parking lot and for the facility that we call the Long Hall, and we moved into the Hall in late 2009. In 2011, we installed the first section of the playground; in 2016, we completely remodeled the Parish House. In 2020, we finished the playground, and in 2022, we took out the old parking lot and installed a brand new lot.
So, the folks who came before us at St John’s were also builders, but now it’s our turn: We need even more parking. We need a commercial kitchen and a fellowship hall. We need a chapel and a new temple. Join us at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, as we start talking about how, through the prayers of St. Eanswythe and the grace and mercy of the Most Holy Trinity, we are going to get all that done.
Our Calendar
Fasting Days
Wednesday, August 24, and Friday, August 26
Daily Services
Monday, August 22 to Friday, August 26
Orthros 5am
Vespers 5pm
It’s generally a good idea to check the day before to make sure that the service will be offered. Sometimes pastoral situations require a change of plans and the service cannot be offered on that particular day.
The Hours
Seth Hart is continuing to read the Hours and stream them to Zoom. The schedule is below:
First Hour, 6:45 a.m.
Third Hour, 8:45 a.m.
Sixth Hour, 11:45 a.m.
Ninth Hour, 3:45 p.m.
Please see the emailed newsletter for login information.
Tuesday, August 23
Parish Council Meeting at 7:00 pm in the Parish House
Orthodoxy 101 at 7:00 p.m. in the Narthex of the Long Hall and Online
Topic: Orthodoxy 101
Please see the login details in the emailed version of the newsletter to join Zoom meeting
Thursday, August 26
The Bible Study 7pm
Topic: St. John the Forerunner - Bible Study
Please see the login details in the emailed version of the newsletter to join Zoom meeting
Saturday, August 27
St. Thomas School at 4:00 p.m.
Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 28
The 11th Sunday of St Matthew
Orthros at 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
Fellowship Hour at Noon
Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children at Noon
Between Orthros and The Divine Liturgy, a family will be received into the Church and the Sidwells, three families and and individual will be made catechumens. Please arrive early to participate in these Holy Mysteries.
ST THOMAS SCHOOL
On Saturday, August 27, Father Aidan Wilcoxson will lead the discussion of Chapter Three in Volume Two, “The Contents of the Bible: Biblical Criticism”.
In order to participate online, send an email to remote.meetings@theforerunner.org by this coming Thursday, August 18. You will also need to keep your camera on during the session.
Fall Theological Seminar
Several weeks ago, we all received an announcement about The 2022 Fall Theological Seminar. In case you missed that announcement, a copy of was attached to the emailed edition of The Happy Priest. During this year’s seminar, we will be talking about What’s Next in our building program and in the life of our parish community. This will be one of the most important things we have ever done at St. John’s and we want to hear from everyone during this process. So, please go ahead and reserve your Wednesday evenings this fall, beginning on Wednesday, August 31 and running through Wednesday, November 9.
COMING UP
The Return of Church School
Church School returns on Sunday, September 4. Levels I, II, and III will meet at 8:15 a.m. in the parish house on the first and third Sundays of each month. The Youth will meet in the parish house on the same Sundays, but they will get started at Noon. If you need information about Church School or the Youth Group, please contact Sandi Andrews or Father Aidan Wilcoxson.
Upcoming Feasts in the New Liturgical Year
We begin the new Church Year with three feasts. On Thursday, September 1, we will celebrate The Feast of the Indiction, which marks the start of the liturgical calendar. On Wednesday, August 31, we will offer Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m. On Thursday, September 1, we will serve Orthros at 5:00 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 7:00 a.m. On Thursday, September 8, we will celebrate The Nativity of the Mother of God. Great Vespers will be served on Wednesday, September 7 at 6:00 p.m. and, on Thursday, September 8, Orthros will be at 5:00 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 7:00 a.m. On Wednesday, September 14, we will celebrate the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. Great Vespers will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13. On Wednesday, September 14, Orthros will be at 5:00 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 7:00 a.m. Please plan on joining us for each of these celebrations as we begin the new Church Year together.
OUR MOMENT OF GRACE AND COURTESY
As we enter into a particularly intense midterm election cycle, please remember that, while we encourage and enjoy friendly and respectful discussions of political and cultural issues, our parish also has a long-standing policy against the distribution of political literature, cartoons, or paraphernalia. In addition, while we have no control—and desire no control—over the messages that people affix to their vehicles, we ask that, while you are on parish property, you refrain from wearing buttons, stickers, or clothing which promote specific candidates, parties, political organizations, or causes.
Things That Make Priests Happy
Blessing Rob and Becky T. on their 43rd anniversary; hearing about Marcus M.’s first band The New Creation; hearing that Yoshiko H. made it to Japan for her visit (and hoping that Matt and the rabbit get along during her absence); having Schadrac M. return just in time to do some French translating; talking glaciers with David M. and Baker G. ; agreeing with Dino M. and John C. that Blackened Corn Dogs are a Fellowship Hour First; listening to the frogs after the rain.
An unworthy priest,
Aidan
The Happy Priest is a publication of Life at a Dead Run Media, which is a subsidiary of One Take Productions. Our IT Guy is Father Deacon Gerasimos Juliano. Our Webmasters are Lily Halsey and Seth Hart. Our Keeper of Lists is Father Andrew Wilson. Our Roving Reporter is Champ Kind. Our Sepak Bola Api Team is called Feet of Fire and our Spiritual Advisor is Elder Galaction of the Holy Mountain.