THE SISTERS OF SAINT MARGARET IN HAITI will be the recipient of our Lenten devotional offerings. Each Sunday in Lent and Holy Week there will be opportunity to make a sacrificial offering to aid the Sisters in their work in the slums of Port-au-Prince and at the hostel for elderly women in Cap Haїtien. Please be as generous as possible.
As everyone should know by now, two children have been left fatherless in the accident caused by Bishop Heather Cook, which took the life of Tom Palermo. If you should like to show your support for the Palermo children, you may do so by contributing to an education fund that has been created for them. There are two ways to contribute. You may give online at: http://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/children-of-tom-palermo/283939. Or, you may mail a contribution to: The Palermo Children's Education Fund, c/o Molloy Investment Group, Stifel Nicholas, One South St., 30th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; Tel: 410-659-2300.
FRIDAYS IN LENT are days of abstinence or fast in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus. Abstaining from a usual pleasure and giving its cost to the poor is an age-old way of keeping these days of special devotion. Other ways include abstention from television, meat, a meal, alcohol, or sweets. Traditionally, fish (not crab, lobster, or other expensive seafood) is eaten on both Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, in remembrance of the ‘sign of the fish’ used as a password by Christians during Roman persecutions. The Greek word for fish, ΙΧΘΥΣ (ichthus), was used as an anagram/acrostic for "Ίησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ", (Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr), which translates into English as "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour". This affirmation of faith gained access to the secret meetings of Christians and the Holy Eucharist. A box of sand could be presented with an imprint in it made by the ridge of the hand. A Christian would know to place the opposite hand’s ridge in the sand next to it to create a “fish outline”
in the sand. Getting it right got you in. If not, the deacons threw you out, or, everyone scattered!
THE PROCESSION FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - scheduled for 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 22 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation - WILL be taking place, no matter what the weather brings! Please, do be safe and circumspect in your travel, but join us if you are able and bring your friends. This is a beautiful, musical, contemplative way to enter into the devotion of Lent, and we aren't letting God's snow and cold keep us from offering Him this worship. Come be with us if you can.
Your prayers are bidden for the Holy Catholic Church:
For its mission of reconciliation throughout the world
For Christian missionaries and their families
For the Church suffering persecution
For the unity and healing of the Church; for +Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury,
+Katharine, our Primate, and for +Eugene, our Bishop, and +Heather, his Suffragan
For the People, Rector, Wardens, Vestry, and all who minister in this Congregation
For our increase in faith, in number, in zeal, and in means for the work of the Kingdom of God
For the Sisters of Saint Margaret, the Monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey,
for their increase in vocations; and for all others under vows of religion
For the ministry of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and for its pilgrims
For discernment and perseverance for all Seminarians,
and for Eric as he continues his vocational preparation.
Your prayers are bidden for our common life in the world:
For the Leaders of the nations, and the welfare and peace of the world
For this nation, our President, our Courts, and our Congress
For our Governor, our Legislature, our Mayor, and all others
in civil authority among us
For our Waverly and Charles Villages, our leaders, people, and those who work or visit here
For the protection, encouragement, and guidance by the Holy Spirit of our Police,
Fire-fighters, Paramedic Teams, and of our Armed Forces: among them Skyler, Dennis, and Gabriel
For our enemies, and, through Christ Jesus, for an end to our enmity
Your prayers are bidden for those in need, trouble, or anxiety:
Sally, Ian, Anthony, Judith, Michael, Diane, John, Tom, Gene; the destitute ministered to by the Sisters of Saint Margaret in Haiti; those endangered by armed conflict; the unemployed, the homeless, those travelling; the imprisoned: among them Ted
Your prayers are bidden for those commended for healing in mind, body, or spirit:
Brian, Jennifer, Albert, Laura, Shelley, Gene, +Heather, Joel, Charlotte, Richard, Nashelle, Dean; those grieving: Brad, Michael
Your prayers are bidden for those in hospital:
Evelyn, Good Samaritan Rehab Center
Your prayers are bidden for + those who have died:
Barbara; our deceased benefactors; those who have died by violence, battle or murder; and all who have died suddenly and unprepared
Your Thanksgiving is bidden for:
Prayers answered; safe travel completed, beginnings of recovery, our benefactors, our volunteers; and for our Priests Associate
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 22 February, the Choir of Saint John's Church will sing ‘A Procession for the First Sunday in Lent’ at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore. This 19th annual service is at 5.00 PM.
Taking the form of a penitential procession, the Choir moves to the singing of hymns through the length of the Cathedral in a "virtual pilgrimage" from sin to resurrection. There are resting stations along the way for readings and anthems as the Procession moves toward its climax at the High Altar. Join us for this musical tour de force of spiritual preparation for Lent: Sunday, 22 February, 5.00 PM, The Cathedral of the Incarnation, 4 East University Parkway, Baltimore, MD. Don't let the forecast rain deter you!
Wednesday is a day of strict Fast for all able-bodied Christians. Children under 12, the elderly, and the sick are always exempt from the Church’s Fasts. The Fast is from after the sundown meal on Tuesday until sundown of Ash Wednesday. The Choral Liturgy of Ash Wednesday is at 6.30 PM. (Ashes will be distributed on Greenmount Avenue between 11.00 AM and 1.00 PM.)
As part of a grant-funded program to upgrade our online presence, we're looking to better understand the people who visit our website and/or our Facebook page. We have created a brief survey, and we are hoping you'll help us out by taking three minutes of your time to fill it out. Your answers are completely anonymous and will give us valuable information which we will use to evaluate our online activities in the future.
You can complete the survey here.
Your prayers are bidden for the Holy Catholic Church:
For its mission of reconciliation throughout the world
For Christian missionaries and their families
For the Church suffering persecution
For the unity and healing of the Church; for +Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury,
+Katharine, our Primate, and for +Eugene, our Bishop, and +Heather, his Suffragan
For the People, Rector, Wardens, Vestry, and all who minister in this Congregation
For our increase in faith, in number, in zeal, and in means for the work of the Kingdom of God
For the Sisters of Saint Margaret, the Monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey,
for their increase in vocations; and for all others under vows of religion
For the ministry of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and for its pilgrims
For discernment and perseverance for all Seminarians,
and for Eric as he continues his vocational preparation.
Your prayers are bidden for our common life in the world:
For the Leaders of the nations, and the welfare and peace of the world
For this nation, our President, our Courts, and our Congress
For our Governor, our Legislature, our Mayor, and all others
in civil authority among us
For our Waverly and Charles Villages, our leaders, people, and those who work or visit here
For the protection, encouragement, and guidance by the Holy Spirit of our Police,
Fire-fighters, Paramedic Teams, and of our Armed Forces: among them Skyler, Dennis, and Gabriel
For our enemies, and, through Christ Jesus, for an end to our enmity
Your prayers are bidden for those in need, trouble, or anxiety:
Sally, Ian, Anthony, Judith, Michael, Diane, John, Tom, Gene; the destitute ministered to by the Sisters of Saint Margaret in Haiti; those endangered by armed conflict; the unemployed, the homeless, those travelling: among them Mary, John and Gerry; the imprisoned: among them Ted
Your prayers are bidden for those commended for healing in mind, body, or spirit:
Laura, Shelley, Gene, +Heather, David, Anne, Joel, Charlotte, Anthony, Nashelle, Dean; those grieving: Brad, Michael
Your prayers are bidden for those in hospital:
Evelyn, Good Samaritan Rehab Center; Richard, Saint Agnes
Your prayers are bidden for + those who have died:
Barbara; our deceased benefactors; those who have died by violence, battle or murder; and all who have died suddenly and unprepared
Your Thanksgiving is bidden for:
Prayers answered; safe travel completed, beginnings of recovery, our benefactors, our volunteers; and for our Priests Associate
DO NOT FORGET THE FRANSICAN CENTER. Your contributions of non-perishable food items are needed, as well as warm children’s clothing. On sale, 10 for $10? Buy ten and give five (or all!) to the Center. Place items in the basket at the Font. Large ‘commercial’ tins of vegetables help the kitchen.
Your prayers are bidden for the Holy Catholic Church:
For its mission of reconciliation throughout the world
For Christian missionaries and their families
For the Church suffering persecution
For the unity and healing of the Church; for +Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury,
+Katharine, our Primate, and for +Eugene, our Bishop, and +Heather, his Suffragan
For the People, Rector, Wardens, Vestry, and all who minister in this Congregation
For our increase in faith, in number, in zeal, and in means for the work of the Kingdom of God
For the Sisters of Saint Margaret, the Monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey,
for their increase in vocations; and for all others under vows of religion
For the ministry of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and for its pilgrims
For discernment and perseverance for all Seminarians,
and for Eric as he continues his vocational discernment
Your prayers are bidden for our common life in the world:
For the Leaders of the nations, and the welfare and peace of the world
For this nation, our President, our Courts, and our Congress
For our Governor, our Legislature, our Mayor, and all others
in civil authority among us
For our Waverly and Charles Villages, our leaders, people, and those who work or visit here
For the protection, encouragement, and guidance by the Holy Spirit of our Police,
Fire-fighters, Paramedic Teams, and of our Armed Forces: among them Skyler, Dennis, and Gabriel
For our enemies, and, through Christ Jesus, for an end to our enmity
Your prayers are bidden for those in need, trouble, or anxiety:
Sally, Ian, Anthony, Judith, Michael, Diane, John, Tom, Gene; the destitute ministered to by the Sisters of Saint Margaret in Haiti; those endangered by armed conflict; the unemployed, the homeless, those travelling; the imprisoned: among them Ted
Your prayers are bidden for those commended for healing in mind, body, or spirit:
Gene, +Heather, David, Anne, Joel, Charlotte, Anthony, Nashelle, Dean; those grieving: Brad, Michael
Your prayers are bidden for those in hospital:
Evelyn, Good Samaritan Rehab Center; Richard, Saint Agnes
Your prayers are bidden for + those who have died:
Barbara; our deceased benefactors; those who have died by violence, battle or murder; and all who have died suddenly and unprepared
Your Thanksgiving is bidden for:
Prayers answered; safe travel completed, beginnings of recovery, our benefactors, our volunteers; Thomas Hetrick and our Choir; and for our Priests Associate
SHROVE TUESDAY IS 17 FEBRUARY. Confessions will be heard between 6.00 and 7.00 PM. It is time now to begin your preparation for a thorough and good personal confession on Shrove Tuesday to more richly participate in the communal rites of Ash Wednesday. If it has been a while since your last confession, or you have never made one, you might want to take advantage of this Sacrament to clean up any spiritual issues which compromise your relationship with God, your neighbor, or creation itself. If you need help or direction in your preparation, please speak to Fr Parker by calling the church office to arrange a time to meet. About private confession: “All may, some should, none must.”
The Rector commends to the parish the recent Pastoral Letter from the Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, the Bishop of Maryland.
I am sure it is difficult for each of us to take in the events which have transpired in the Diocese of Maryland since the afternoon of Saint John’s Day in December. A new ministry begun with such joy and promise has been waylaid by tragedy and death. People in and out of the Church rightly feel shock, grief, betrayal and a wide range of other emotions. An innocent man is dead, a wife is widowed, and two children have lost their father, while extended family and friends are stricken by loss and sorrow.
Death happens daily around our city, state, nation and the world, and we read of tragedies un-numbered in passing, perhaps with a note of sadness, perhaps as just another headline. We have become inured to the commonality of daily death. Perhaps this must be so lest we be overcome by despair at so much grief and loss. But this particular death, this particular loss, engages us and is made immediate because one of our own, one of “us”, is at the heart it. Only someone who has no concept of what a church or Christian community is could possibly say as an Anglican Christian, “This doesn’t concern me.” Someone we have entrusted with the cure of souls and with leadership in example of Christian witness to a wider world, someone who represents us in Christ’s name, has brought death into our midst and to a circle of humanity who are now no longer strangers to us.
What should our response be? First, compassion and support for the family of Mr Palermo. It would be unfortunate, but, understandable for them to reject any ‘official’ overtures from us, but we can all offer up our prayers for them, and make ourselves ready to do what we can to assist in whatever ways we might discover. Second, contributions to their children’s educational fund could be made through the Diocese of Maryland or through one of the cycling groups to which Mr Palermo belonged.
We must also hold our Bishop Suffragan, Heather Cook, in compassionate prayer. In mere seconds her life and the ministry we entrusted to her were shattered. What we know is her acknowledgement of the accident and the charges laid against her. What we do not know about with any certainty is legal guilt or innocence. That judgement is for the legal process; it is not ours to make or speculate about at this time. Our Bishop and the Presiding Bishop have appropriately inhibited Bishop Cook from the exercise of any ministry in the Church at this time.
The provision of the Canons dealing with the discipline of the Clergy has been invoked and, falling under her jurisdiction, the Presiding Bishop has initiated an investigation. The Canons require that the investigation remain private until it is complete. There will be no steady stream of factual updates. The Church is not CNN. The investigation will follow the published, open, and transparent requirements of the Canons in a timely and orderly fashion. At its conclusion the findings will be made public. There may be updates as to the progress of the investigation itself. It is important to understand that the Church’s investigations are not criminal investigations in the same sense as legal criminal investigations. It is an investigation into whether or not evidence exists to discipline a member of the clergy— or laity —in accordance with the Canons, and whether or not an individual may continue to exercise any ministry in the Church. Through all of this ordeal, we must keep our Bishop Suffragan in our prayers and in our hearts. She is a person beloved of Christ and for whom he died; that alone calls us to compassion and reconciliation.
It hardly needs to be said that our diocesan Bishop, Bishop Sutton, is also in need of our continuing prayer, and those of his and Bishop Cook’s staff who have worked so closely together. Nor should we neglect to remember before God the members of the former Search Committee for a Suffragan Bishop. This has been a tortuous time for all of them, with many conflicting responsibilities and emotions. Pray for them, for wisdom, comfort, discernment, encouragement, and right actions.
Finally, it likely that it will take a great deal of time for reconciliation with the events which are still unfolding, both for us as a diocesan family and for the Palermo family. Some may never achieve it. However, it is of the utmost importance for each of us to remember that reconciliation is the very ministry explicitly entrusted to us by Jesus– it is the Christian ministry. We were not called by Jesus to judge our neighbour, but to love him or her. True reconciliation requires compassion, patience, understanding, discernment, forgiveness— indeed, all of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These have amply been given us in Baptism; it is for us to accept and use them. Heather Elizabeth Cook is not an outcast. She is now more than ever a broken woman in need of the healing power of God in his Holy Spirit. The Palermos are a grieving, hurting family in deep need of the same. Our role is to be instruments of reconciliation when and where and however that is possible. At the same time, the call of the many ministries around us which lead to personal and societal reconciliations in God’s great world still have their claim upon us. While remembering and offering to God our concerns for the Palermos and for Bishop Cook, we must not neglect these.
As we go about the work of the Church, if anyone needs sacramental reconciliation or spiritual counsel regarding these on-going events, please do not hesitate to contact the church office at 410.467.4793 and leave a message. May the Lord who loves us, and gave himself for us, lead us into all truth in all peace, in accordance with his will.
Jesse L. A. Parker, Rector of Saint John’s Church
THE VESTRY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE the introduction of an electronic option for making regular offerings. Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account, or processed using your credit or debit card. The new electronic giving program offers convenience and much-needed help in our volunteer–staffed Church Office. If you are currently giving on a weekly basis, you will no longer need to write out 52 checks a year or prepare 52 envelopes. And, when travel, illness, or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, this program will allow your weekly offerings to continue on an uninterrupted basis. An authorization form and a “Frequently Asked Questions” flyer will be available soon. And if it is more comfortable for you during the collection of alms, there are even slips provided on the table at the back of the church to place in the alms bason, indicating that you gave electronically, so that you have something to put in the plate when it comes by. This will also allow people across the internet to easily make donations to Saint John’s. It’s a brave new world out there; we are trying to engage it.
Your prayers are bidden for the Holy Catholic Church:
For its mission of reconciliation throughout the world
For Christian missionaries and their families
For the Church suffering persecution
For the unity and healing of the Church; for +Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury,
+Katharine, our Primate, and for +Eugene, our Bishop, and +Heather, his Suffragan
For the People, Rector, Wardens, Vestry, and all who minister in this Congregation
For our increase in faith, in number, in zeal, and in means for the work of the Kingdom of God
For the Sisters of Saint Margaret, the Monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey,
for their increase in vocations; and for all others under vows of religion
For the ministry of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and for its pilgrims
For discernment and perseverance for all Seminarians,
and for Eric as he continues his vocational discernment
Your prayers are bidden for our common life in the world:
For the Leaders of the nations, and the welfare and peace of the world
For this nation, our President, our Courts, and our Congress
For our Governor, our Legislature, our Mayor, and all others
in civil authority among us
For our Waverly and Charles Villages, our leaders, people, and those who work or visit here
For the protection, encouragement, and guidance by the Holy Spirit of our Police,
Fire-fighters, Paramedic Teams, and of our Armed Forces: among them Skyler, Dennis, and Gabriel
For our enemies, and, through Christ Jesus, for an end to our enmity
Your prayers are bidden for those in need, trouble, or anxiety:
Sally, Ian, Anthony, Judith, Michael, Marvin, Diane, John, Tom, Gene; the destitute ministered to by the Sisters of Saint Margaret in Haiti; those endangered by armed conflict; the unemployed, the homeless, those travelling; the imprisoned: among them Ted
Your prayers are bidden for those commended for healing in mind, body, or spirit:
+Heather, David, Anne, Joel, Charlotte, Rita, Michael, Anthony, Matthew, Nashelle, Dean; those grieving: Joyce, the Palermo Family
Your prayers are bidden for those in hospital:
Evelyn, Good Samaritan Rehab Center
Your prayers are bidden for + those who have died:
Thomas, Thelma, John, Richard, Katharine; our deceased benefactors; those who have died by violence, battle or murder; and all who have died suddenly and unprepared
Your Thanksgiving is bidden for:
Prayers answered; safe travel completed, beginnings of recovery, our benefactors, our volunteers; and for our Priests Associate
THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY begins on Monday, January 19th, the feast of Saint Peter’s confession of the Christ. During the week which follows special prayer is made that we may end the sinful divisions in which we find ourselves as Christians, within every aspect of “those who profess and call themselves Christians”. The week concludes the following Monday on the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Say some truly earnest prayers.
THE DAILY OFFICES HAVE RESUMED. The Christmas Short Vac being over, Mattins continues M-F at 7.45 AM, and Evensong M-F at 5.45 PM. Join us at the church for the daily prayers whenever you are able. Just a thought: Have you ever actually thanked one of our Lay Readers for offering the prayers for you and on your behalf? You might like to do that. Some of them have been doing it for TWENTY years!
THERE IS STILL A BASKET FOR THE SISTERS of Saint Margaret in Haiti on the table at the back of the church because not enough people contributed during Adven and Christmas-tide. Their work is totally dependent on donations from parishes like ours. Be generous.
HAVE YOU TURNED IN A PLEDGE CARD? We need to have all cards in as soon as possible please. We need every parishioner to do the very best he or she can. Pledge cards are available on the table as you enter the church. You may leave place your card in the Alms Bason or mail it in.
