For several years we have been using three words to describe what we do at St. John’s.  These words are: Pray, Grow and Serve. Not surprisingly, these words are all verbs because the Way of Christ, the path of all Christians, entails movement.  Sometimes the movement occurs only in our hearts and minds as we strive to become more like Jesus.  But for most of us, the movement extends to our bodies as we try to do the things that we believe Jesus would do. This is actually what it means to become a disciple of Jesus: to think and see and feel as Jesus would think and see and feel; and then, to do something, just as Jesus did in his own earthly ministry.

Beginning in September, we will engage in a new program year at St. John’s. The program staff of the church met recently to discuss themes for the 23-24 year.  As a starting point, we used the key words I mentioned above: pray, grow, serve. Launching from these words, we have divided the year into a number of themes, and our programming will be focused on these themes.  The themes are as follows:

September 10: Parish Homecoming and Ministry Fair

September 11-October 28: Feed the Hunger

October 29-December 2: Rejoice and Give Thanks

December 3-24: Prepare the Way

December 25-January 5: Receive the Christ

January 6-February 13: Walk in the Light

February 14-March 23: Embrace the Dark

March 24-April 6: Celebrate New Life

April 7-May 18: Tend the Garden

May 19-September 7: Rest and Recreate

Of course, you will be hearing much about this year’s program as we will be offering many opportunities to pray and to grow and to serve.  Please note that the purpose of our parish programming is not to just stay busy.  Each day of our lives is given to us a pure gift, an opportunity to live into the abundant life that God offers each one of us.  Our program is intended to help us see the Kingdom of God and participate in God’s Kingdom work in the world.  God willing, as we do that, we will become more like Jesus, and God’s Kingdom will come more fully into our lives here on earth as it is in heaven.

So, I invite you to join us as we continue our journey together.  I encourage you to come alongside your siblings at St. John in the Wilderness as we pray and grow and serve and become more like Jesus.

~Father Art