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What Does It Mean to Share?
By the time we were in kindergarten, most of us had learned to share. Or at least we had learned that we were supposed to share; when it came to actually sharing,
some of us had to be forced. I was one of these. And I had to be forced to share because relinquishing anything to which I felt attached did not come naturally to
me. What came most naturally to me was hoarding the things I liked. Toys, candy, plenty of elbow room in the sandbox, and the undivided attention of my best friends-to share these things, it seemed to me, was to lose these things, or at least to lose my control of these things. Precocious in every way, I was a fully-developed control freak at the age of four.
I am very proud to say that I have since dramatically matured. Instead of childishly hoarding things like squirt guns and tricycles, I now jealously guard my time. Instead of hiding my candy, I hide my money. Instead of fending off intruders in the sandbox, I now artfully avoid the people who intrude upon my personal space, especially those who tax my patience.
Why? Because to share these things is to lose these things, or at least to lose control of them.
As many of you know, we have been sharing our buildings with another congregation since 2008. Agape Apostolic Church of Deliverance pays us a modest rent, and cleans our buildings each week, in exchange for the use of our facilities. Last winter, with the blessing of our vestry, I renewed our relationship with Agape, and with their pastor, Elder David Camp, redefined our relationship as that of partners in mission.
That redefinition, along with many friendships that have spontaneously formed between members of Agape and members of St. John's, is beginning to bear good fruit in the lives of both congregations. One visible token of this is that Agape Church and St. John's chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King now share the ministry of our Food Pantry.
Relocated to the larger closet just inside the handicapped entrance by the gym, the DOK-Agape food pantry is a place where things are shared. It's a place where two congregations share space. It's a place where two congregations share responsibility. It's a place where the one holy catholic and apostolic Church in Troy shares food with the hungry. It's a place where Christians share their faith with each other and with others.
The food pantry, now named the Shepherd's Storehouse, is a place where many things are shared. Which is to say that the food pantry is a place where we lose a certain amount of control. Which is to say that the food pantry is a place where Christians grow in their faith.
If we want to see where God is leading St. John's, then we look to see what God is growing at St. John's. Visit the Shepherd's Storehouse and see what is growing in our midst.
Fr. Steve
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A MESSAGE FROM VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Thank you so much to all the individuals who gave so much of their time, talents and treasures. It is because of your gifts we again had a successful and safe
Vacation BibleSchool!
God bless you."
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KEEPING LITTLE HANDS BUSY
attention busy kids! In the Narthex there are bags of goodies to keep little hands occupied during the service. They are age appropriate and complete with the Children's Worship bulletin.
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From The Deacons Den
By Deacon Sandy
"I came across this article recently, and as we are back into the "swing of things" at St. John's, I wish to share the Benefits of Worship our readers":
"THE BENEFITS OF WORSHIP"
The Westminster Shorter Catechism of Faith states, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever". To glorify God - that's worship! To enjoy Him forever - that's the all-encompassing reward that includes specific benefits:
Forgiveness: True worshipers recognize God's holiness and accept His forgiveness (Rom. 5:1; 1 John 1:9). Through worship they are purified.
Guidance: Those who honor the Lord will be given wisdom and will receive His guidance day by day (Ps. 25:4-12; Prov. 1:7; 3:5-6).
Provision: Jesus said that God will meet our material needs if we give Him first place in our lives (Matt. 6:33; Ps. 23; 37:3-6).
Love: The love of God is experienced in the hearts of all those who are true worshipers (Ps. 63:3; John 14:21,23; Rom. 5:5).
Power: To all who give God the glory He deserves, He gives the enablement to do the things He requires of them (2 Cor.12:7-10; Eph. 3:14-21; Phil. 4:13).
Protection: He faithfully watches over all who acknowledge Him, and He keeps them in all life's changing circumstances (Ps. 5:11-12; 1 Peter 1:5).
Glory: All true worshipers will one day be glorified. They will inherit a new heaven and a new earth and join a company of believers and angels in perfect, uninterupted worship (2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 19:1-10).
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THRIFT SHOP NEWS!
The Thrift Shop is very busy this time of year, changing for summer to winter clothing. This year we took all our left over summer clothing and donated them to Jezreel in Albany. This means we have none for next year so I hope that means we will all clean out our closets. Unfortunately we had to dispose of quite a bit of children's winter clothing because of mildew, so if anyone feels the need to clean out the kids closets now would be the time.
I would like to say thank you to all who stepped up and filled in for the summer schedule. It was much appreciated.
Sue Palmer
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News from the St. John's Vestry
If you would like to keep up to date with parish news please read the minutes from our vestry meetings.
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INN FROM THE COLD
The INN is the overflow shelter program begun by Joseph's House Shelter several years ago. It has been a collaborative effort that includes several of downtown Troy's churches... St. Paul's Episcopal Church, St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Christ Church United Methodist, First United Presbyterian, Terra Nova and St John's.
After a year off, St. John's is delighted to again be a part of this important ministry.
From mid November through mid April up to ten male guests are invited to find overnight shelter (from 10:00 PM to 7:30 AM) at the designated host facility. The participating churches take turns hosting. This year St. John's will be the first location to welcome the overnight guests. We will be hosting from Monday night, November 19, through Sunday night, December 2.
We will again host at the end of this season's program from April 1st through April 14th.
A Joseph's House staff person and two volunteers oversee each night. For those of us who have participated it has been a worthwhile and fulfilling experience. Please consider becoming a volunteer. The accommodations are quite comfortable...the work is easy (you sleep)...the rewards are priceless (discovering that we're all "the same kind of different")!
Please ask we'd love to tell you more...
or
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ST JOHN'S FOOD PANTRY
The Food Pantry has a new home AND a new partner!
We have moved out of our cramped storeroom in the library closet and into the newly refurbished, painted and reorganized old "coatroom"... (the room outside of the gym and just inside the garden ramp entrance). We'd love to show it off, so come check us out!!!!
The bigger news is that Agape Apostolic Church is joining us in a collaborative food pantry effort. Working together we can better serve our community. Working together we will be able to share God's provision with more families and individuals. Working together we will be able to share God's love for us all...bringing us a little closer to His heavenly kingdom here on earth.
On Saturday, November 3, we will be celebrating this ministry with a community breakfast and a dedication of our new pantry and partnership. Please plan to join everyone at 9:00 AM.
Thank you to everyone who has so generously supported this outreach. It is a gift that is very much valued and appreciated by the folks we serve. Your donations continue to make a huge difference as we all work together as partners in this ministry.
We are moving into another fall/winter season, and as we do so the need not only continues, but also increases. Food donations and monetary donations are welcomed.
All gifts are welcomed, but we especially appreciate these items:
Toilet Paper Toothpaste/Soap
Coffee/teabags Soup/crackers
Peanut Butter/Jelly Small juices
Cereal Pancake Mix/Syrup
Canned Tuna Canned Chicken
Mayonnaise Salad Oil
Pasta/Pasta Sauce Rice Mixes/Pasta/Mixes
"Ready to Eat" Meals Canned Fruit/Canned Vegetables
Price Chopper Gift Cards
Cash Donations
(checks payable to St. John's Food Pantry)
"Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor."
Proverbs 22:9
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Sunday, September 16, 2012, St John's Daughters of the Holy Spirit were honored to admit three new members: Ann Parker, Linda Muller and Robin Prout. The group meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00 pm. Please join us!
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BREAD AND PANTRY MINISTRY
SATURDAY MORNING BREAD AND HOSPITALITY MINISTRY
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Hebrews 13:2
Nearly five years ago the St. John's Daughters of the King initiated a ministry of welcome to Saturday morning shoppers who frequented our thrift shop on cold winter mornings. Our friendly offering of hot coffee, bread and pastries (donated to us by the East Greenbush Panera's), was happily and gratefully received. No longer just a ministry of our DOK, it is one shared by all members of St. John's.
Over the years we have evolved and grown into a caring outreach that has been met with increasing appreciation. People who were once strangers to us we now know by name. Some of our guests have become valued members of the St. John's family.
Others we have prayed with, cried with and celebrated with. With some we have studied God's word through the scriptures. We have listened to stories of struggle and stories of accomplishment. We've witnessed the growth of children and shared the stories of child rearing. But of greater significance is witnessing our own growth into better servants of our Lord, Jesus Christ. As we have striven to let God's light shine out of us...to let it fall on those we serve...we, too, have been illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
Join us on Saturday morning...come share a cup of coffee, you just might be surprised!
You might even meet an angel.
Saturday Mornings
9:00 AM to 12:00 noon
Father Steve's Community Bible Study at 10:00AM
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Brighten the Beauty of our Gorgeous Church!
Fall clean-up day, Saturday, October 27, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
For more information, contact Deacon Sandy, Deacon Paul
or any other member of the Evangelism Committee.
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Apartment for Rent
154 First St. adjacent to St. John's Garden
2nd floor
3 bdrms
1 bath
updated kitchen appliances and cabinetry.
Off street parking, no yard, no pets, no smoking.
Heat and hot water included.
$800 per month.
Call St. John's Church 274-5884 for details.
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St. John's is St. Giovanni's!
Italian Night, Friday, October 12, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Antipasto, spaghetti & world-famous meatballs, salad, bread & butter, dessert & beverages (beer and wine at a small additional cost).
$7 per person, children 12 and under $5, under 5 years free!
Reservations at 274-4994 or on the sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall.
Italian music and all the fixings! Come enjoy this fellowship event and bring friends!
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Stewardship:
To begin the Stewardship Campaign for the coming year, the committee has designated Sunday, October 28th as Stewardship Sunday. During the coffee hour, we will have a presentation about how we can contribute to the mission of St. John's Church through our time, talent and treasure. Hope to see you all there for this important gathering.
Elissa Prout-Chair
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J.A.M. will meet Wednesday October 10th and October 24th 6-7:30.!
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Renewal of St. John's pioneering partnership with the
Church of the Holy Spirit in Lascahobas, Haiti
In response to a video of Holy Spirit vestry members greeting their counterparts at St. John's in Troy and asking for some help in leadership training, our vestry is planning to send a box of useful items to our colleagues in Lascahobas. Cindy Schmehl will deliver the box that will include executive notebooks, pens and pencils, toiletries, etc. when she travels to Haiti in November. Plans are also underway for Cindy to deliver a check that will upgrade the church's sound system, key to attracting even larger numbers to the congregation, key to bringing more resources to the church and school.
The vestry noted that there are areas of mutual support and fellowship for other groups in both parishes to pursue, such as the Sunday Schools, the womens' organizations, etc. More initiatives will be described in upcoming Newsletters.
St. John's was the first parish in the Albany Diocese to join the Partnership of Episcopal Schools in its very early days, in 1988. In recent years the Empire Haiti Coalition has established partnerships between Albany area churches and all the satellite parishes of Holy Spirit. Note: the dioceses of Albany and Haiti are both in the same province of the Episcopal Church.
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Morning Prayer and Healing Prayer
Wednesdays at 7:30 am
in the Thompson Room
Join us in the Thompson Room every Wednesday morning for a most unique service to pray, share, learn and laugh. The service is led by Deacon Sandy and includes Eucharist and Healing. A light breakfast is also enjoyed. The menu is provided on a rotating basis by the members of the group.
Please Join us.
It will start you day in a most uplifting way!
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