All Saints-tide 2004
Saint John's Church

Dear Members and Friends,

Let me encourage you to make your reservation now to attend our Anniversary Dinner on 5 November at the Engineers Club. An invitation with reservation details in the post to you. If it should fail to arrive, just ring the Church Office (410.467.4793) to be sure to get one. Canon Norris, who will be our speaker, will be presenting some very important ideas about what it means to worship in a "traditional" manner in our present society. This will not be a polemic or "conservative diatribe", but an honest exploration of what we, who find rich and deep meaning in traditional forms of worship and piety, might have to offer others today. A large part of our out-reach at Saint John's is in the form of traditional music for worship and spirituality. Does anyone today really want what we have to offer? Are we making a dim noise in an unlistening world? Join us to hear what Canon Norris, noted author, historian, and sometime Professor at the General Theological Seminary, has to say about these things.

Before we come to that anniversary time, we will celebrate the feast of All Saints on Monday, 1 November, and the Commemoration of All Souls on Tuesday, 2 November, both at 6.30 PM. All Saints' Day is one of the principal feasts of the Church Year and attendance is expected of everyone at the principal Choral Eucharist of the day. The Choral Requiem of All Souls' Day is a wonderful remembrance and intercession for our loved ones who have passed through the gate of death to new life. On this day in particular we remember our many Benefactors, whose generosity has provided us with the beautiful things we use for worship, and much of the income which sustains our ability to continue as an independent congregation. Do come for both of these wonderful services.

I remind you again that we are one of the very few parishes to offer the evening prayer of the Church in its most glorious form of Choral Evensong. It is an increasingly rare opportunity to experience this beautiful service on a regular basis outside of England, and I encourage you to come, worship, and bring friends to participate. Did you know that experiencing Evensong has brought more new members into our congregational life than any other form of outreach we do? Let it work its Spirit upon people you know who are searching for depth of spirituality in their lives by inviting them for worship.

Finally, do not neglect your Pledge for the coming year. As for all of us, the economy has not been kind to the Church, and we need an increase from every household to make up our deficit. The parish cannot go out and get a job; it depends upon YOU to meet its needs. Please, be as generous as you can. May this wonderful autumn season of Holy Days, anniversary, and beautiful music for worship lead us to grateful giving as we prepare to contemplate that startling discovery of God in flesh- Christmas.

May all the Saints bless you with their holy intercession.

(The Rev'd) Jesse L. A. Parker
Rector of Saint John's Church in the Village
Baltimore