The Cold Springer - Week of January 27th

Sunday, Jan. 27th, 2019 - Morning Prayer

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Us

Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit… Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. From Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians

[Jesus] unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." From the Gospel of Luke

Is not by chance that these two passages are read on the same day, this coming Sunday. We are in the season following the Feast of the Epiphany, marked by the visit of the Magi to the manger. I guess you could say it was like a baby shower for Jesus, but in the tradition of our church it’s known as his first introduction to people outside of the covenant; a sign that the Christ would be for all persons.

That encounter was an epiphany and on the Sundays that follow we hear Gospel stories of Jesus’ early ministry… stories filled with opportunities to discover who Jesus was and who Jesus is. The story of Jesus’ baptism reveals that he is the son of God. The wedding at Cana: that Jesus is the one who gives new purpose to old things and shares God’s available and abundant grace.

In this Sunday’s Gospel passage we find Jesus reading in the synagogue of his home town, a devout Jew taking part in the life and worship of his faith tradition. After he reads from the scroll of Isaiah (above) he sits down to teach: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." The epiphany encountered this Sunday is that the son of a carpenter, just a local boy, is also the manifestation of Jewish hopes and dreams. Jesus is the Jubilee Year - a harbinger of liberty, restitution, and the simple life.

Hold on to that image of Christ - peace and unity incarnate in Joe Sixpack - and reread the bit from 1st Corinthians: “Now you are the body of Christ!” The deeper reading is that by grace and the Holy Spirit, we are and are becoming Christ. We share in his mystical self at Eucharist, in his divine inheritance through baptism and we are called to do his work in the world. Our epiphany this week is to see that we, the average Joes and Janes of St. John’s, are called to fulfill the words of the prophet. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us and we are called to be the harbingers of liberty, restitution and the simple life.

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. This Sunday’s Collect

Yours in Christ,
The Reverend Jesse Lebus

Children’s Chapel

This week the children will begin a season of the Parables of Jesus. Each week until Lents, they will be introduced to a new parable through a Godly Play story. This week is the Parable of the Great Pearl. A merchant searches for the greatest pearl of all and when he finds it, sells everything he owns. What does Jesus mean when he tells this parable. Ask your kids to find out!

Elements of Faith

This week the Elements of Faith gang is going to explore the idea that Jesus had to walk everywhere he went. That’s a lot of walking! Using this week’s Gospel lesson they will also ask themselves what it means that Jesus fulfills the Isaiah scripture. They will continue to look for epiphanies, in the text and in their lives, adding to the banner of revelations!

Super Bowl Chili Cook-Off and Snack Sale

Sunday, February 3rd
Coffee Hour, Bleecker Hall

It's that time of year again, the first Sunday in February approaches and people's appetite for football and chili is at its peak. Thank God for St. John's Annual Super Bowl Chili Cook-Off. All parishioners are invited to enter one pot of chili into the competition held during coffee hour. Samples will be offered for judging and quarts will be available to purchase for your own game day party. Parishioners are also encouraged to bring any other snacks to sell for game day. Would be chili contestants, please contact Seamus Mitchell.

Concerts by the Pond - Music for the Young & Young at Heart

Sunday, February 10th
3pm

Bryce Westervelt, tenor and children’s book author and illustrator, joining with violinist and creative music educator Dale Stuckenbruck, collaborate with guest musicians in this imaginative concert designed for families. Classics for children (and adults!) will be presented with songs, together with a variety of instruments and exciting original illustrations, bringing these works by well-known composers alive for generations of listeners. This will be a terrifically engaging afternoon for audiences of all ages.