Please welcome

Jane Hayes & Tom Kuzniacki (who were married at St. John’s recently and who are in your directory) and

Missy & Larry Sanchez: 2370 Young Drive, College Park, GA 30337, 404/763-0218

WELCOME!

 

 

“Dear St. John’s Family:

This note is way overdue to a most special group of volunteers and supporters of this ministry of helps. It is so exciting around here when Ray Townsend comes in with a carload of great food from your parish. And we have been blessed to add Whitney Reeves as a new volunteer. She has taken twenty years of records, organized them in our archives closet, and our CPA says “thank you” to her. If there is another one of you that would like to come and help us in our in-take office, any morning, we certainly could use you. The qualifications are a caring spirit and a loving heart. God bless each of you. I personally feel blessed just to know you.” Jane Gunter, Family Life Ministries.

“I thank you and Ruth for the comfort you gave us, and for the beautiful service for dad. The service was a celebration of his life, and acknowledged his service to and love of the church. I also wish to thank all of the parishioners of St. John’s who helped with the service. Your homily was a wonderful tribute. I particularly enjoyed that item you read where dad summed up his guiding principle—that he always tried to do what he thought God wanted him to do. I did not know it, but I have been trying to do that, too, because I have always tried to do what I thought dad would want me to do. I recently read a quote from Margaret Mead. She said “life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.” Bob Whittier got it right the first time. I have always been, and remain, very proud of him.” Sincerely,

Don Whittier

On Sunday, August 24, we will take requests from the congregation for hymns during the 10:30 service. In addition, in lieu of a sermon, Jon Marc will take requests and we’ll sing for about fifteen minutes. What fun! Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! (Ps. 98:4)

“Dear Members of St. John’s: The altar flowers were so pretty and we enjoyed the visit from Ruth. Julian and I appreciated the visit of Jim to the hospital. Mostly I appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers on my behalf. I am improving every day and hope to be back to normal soon. Thank you for your love and concern.”

Sincerely, Mary Louise Brady

(Mary Louise, who is married to our own Julian Brady, had back surgery. She is a member of East Point Christian.)

“Dear St. John’s Members:

We would like to thank you all for the lovely altar flowers, prayers and delicious casserole given to us during the birth of our son last month. Very thoughtful. We look forward to introducing him to the parish very soon. Thanks again.” Karla, John & Oliver Kosar

"Dear Jim & Friends at St. John's: This letter is intended to serve as a humble word of appreciation. We are truly grateful for the hospitality provided to the good folk here at Holy Comforter. We truly enjoyed our evening worshiping at St. John's. Your homily was inspired, the music was brilliant, and the pizza was great. Our parishioners really had a good time and are still talking about that Wednesday evening. We do sincerely appreciate all of the support of time, talent and treasure you all have provided over the years. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Again, thank you so much!"

The Rev. Scott Kidd, a deacon at St. Teresa’s, will be with us as an “aspirant” from August 10-October 12. An aspirant is taking the first steps toward seeking ordination as a priest. Please welcome Scott and his wife, Patty.

“I am grateful for your generous contribution of $250.00 for the rebuilding of the Day Care Center and parish facilities at St. John’s, West Point, in the wake of the recent flooding.

One of the great gifts of being a part of the Episcopal Church is that we do not have to bear such difficult times alone. Our lives and our spirits can be buoyed by the support of our sisters and brothers in Christ from near and far. Your support means that the good folks of St. John’s can get their facilities back in shape in good time and the faithful ministries they provide to their community in the Name of Christ can move forward with renewed strength and energy.

I thank you for your faithfulness to the work of the Gospel of the Jesus.”

The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta

We are each the product of vast inheritance. Our very being is comprised of DNA given to us by a long line of historic and prehistoric ancestors. We will never know most of the individual contributors to our appearance, strength, height, weight, physical and mental abilities.

Most of us live in this nation because of contributions and sacrifices made by those who came before us. Many gave up their homeland, their native language, and their lives to help establish an inheritance for us and to our descendants and to securely maintain “one nation under God with freedom and justice for all.”

Our forbearers have provided us with a nation that permits free worship and provides an economic system in which we may provide ourselves, our families, and our descendants with ample food, shelter, clothing, and the comforts of life. The rest of this world lacks the wealth we take for granted. We never earned these opportunities. We inherited them from those who came before us.

In the Church we are also the beneficiaries of a vast inheritance. Our priests are ordained with the laying on of hands, a procedure used to pass and transfer the office from the time of the apostles.

More immediately, our very Church building, with its stained glass, organ, altar, chalice, altar dressing, oak furniture, landscaping, parking facilities, and the land upon which it stands, has been given to us by those who came before. With rare exception, we who now enjoy this place of worship and call it “our Church”, have never paid for a single brick, pew, pipe or window for the building. We have inherited the whole facility from those who went before us and who made the plans, contributed their time, talent and the money to build a beautiful Church building to the glory of God.

All who have gone before us in this life and in this world have provided us with a legacy of reverence, honor, and faith for which we each benefit and which we should cherish as a gift from God through His faithful Stewards.

In the words of a Randy Travis song, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

The stewards who came before us left treasures. What will you and I leave behind when we go?