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January 1 - 31, 2003 St. John’s Episcopal Church 404-761-8402
SPECIAL EVENTS
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
LOOKING AHEAD AT CHRISTIAN ED Here is the lineup for the coming months (see you at 9:15):
God willing and the People consenting The Right Reverend John Neil Alexander Bishop of Atlanta will ordain
Anne Elrod Meroney
to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Sunday, the fifth of January Two Thousand and Three at four o’clock in the afternoon.
Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church 3098 Saint Anne’s Lane Atlanta, Georgia.
Your prayers and presence are requested. The festal color is white. A reception will follow.
DOCC ANYONE? Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC) is a 20-session course on Christian beliefs that includes both teaching and sharing in small groups. We’ve had two DOCC courses at St. John’s, and I am trying to determine whether there is sufficient interest in organizing another. We would meet Mondays or Tuesdays from 7 – 9 p.m. and have Saturday retreats (from 9-4:00) on February 22 and April 26. A "Q & A" sheet and enrollment form is in the back of the Church and in Bott Hall. You are welcome to call me with any questions. DOCC is a big commitment, but is well worth it and will change your life if you allow it. Please learn, ask, consider, pray, and let me know before January 13. Thanks! Jim FROM ROY BRADY "I was naked While I was working the counter at the Bargain Shop December 4th, a middle aged gentleman walked in. His appearance was not that of the typical shopper. He stood erect, sported a neatly trimmed mustache and wore a London Fog raincoat. He didn’t go straight to the clothing section as most shoppers do; instead he stood looking around the shop until his attention turned to me. He told me his name, Bill Cody, and stated that not too many years ago he was homeless, was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and in general was living a life of hopelessness and despair. But he persisted in trying to better himself, and with the help of others, succeeded. He is presently a minister, has recently married, and I could tell by the look on his face that he was a man who had turned his life around. His purpose in coming to the Bargain Shop was to tell us -- all of the volunteers -- how much he appreciated the work that the shop had been doing and was continuing to do. He remembered the many times the workers at the shop had been so kind to him and provided him with clothing. Now that he had reclaimed his life, he wanted to thank all of those who had helped him along the way, especially St. John’s Bargain Shop. Mr. Cody made the trip to the shop solely for the purpose of thanking all of the volunteers. To all Bargain Shop volunteers: The next time you feel that your hard work and generosity might be going unnoticed, please be reminded of how much you helped a fellow child of Christ. I’m sure that there are many more like Bill Cody who may not have been quite as vocal in their praise, but there are legions of them and their silent blessings are no less sincere. FROM PERE BRUNO We received the following note on a Christmas card from Pere Bruno: Brother Jim, May the Lord continue to bless your ministry. It was a real pleasure to have you at the ceremony in Terrier Rouge. Your support means a lot to us. Thank you for spreading the work about the ministry there. Please give my best to the congregation of St. John’s. You are always in my prayers and in my heart. Peace, love, health blessings are my wishes for the holy season. Yours, Jean Monique+ St. John’s supports Bethlehem Ministries, which provides for the work Fr. Bruno oversees in Haiti.
FROM THE ATLANTA CITY DETENTION Dear Rev. Pritchett and all our friends at St. John’s: This brief note serves in a very small way to express our sincere appreciation for your very generous support this past year for our ministry here at the Atlanta City Detention Center. That support truly encourages our local Advisory Board and me at a time in the life of this new ministry when we are struggling to become financially self-sufficient. We will include you in our prayers as you do the same for this ministry. It is great to have you "prayerfully" in jail where you belong. It’s a Christian tradition that goes all the way back to the first century. Don’t hesitate to give me a call if I can answer any further questions about our work here or assist you in any manner. Your brother in jail. The Rev. Mark Moline Chaplain Mark Moline, a former County Sheriff, is an Episcopal priest and chaplain at the Atlanta City Jail. St. John’s includes his ministry in our outreach budget.
A MORNING PRAYER Prayer at the beginning of the episcopate of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (19th cent.). FROM THE RECTOR "Be it resolved . . . ." Most of us laugh at New Year’s resolutions. After all, who can’t cite a string of New Year’s resolutions which were earnestly made and quickly broken? But that’s not always the case. Last year, I resolved to go on the Atkins diet, and this year, I’m over thirty pounds lighter. So sometimes, New Year’s resolutions are a good thing. I would like to commend one to you now. The 96th Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta was held in Columbus November 8 & 9. The over 400 members of Council consist of the priests of the diocese as well as delegates from each of our 92 parishes. This year, Council passed a resolution that "urges the U.S. government to follow the elements of the "just war" doctrine and further urges that when a conflict begins, Episcopalians in the diocese fast for the sake of peace one day a week for the duration of the conflict." Fasting can be any type of voluntary deprivation intended to be a form of prayer and a reminder to pray. You can fast from all foods, some foods, TV, etc. So here’s my proposal for a New Year’s resolution during these perilous times: "Be it resolved, that we will pray for peace every day, and if war breaks out, we will fast once a week until hostilities cease." I hope you have a happy new year, and I pray that the world does too.
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Eagle Notes
