My sisters and brothers in Christ:
Nearly 50 St. John’s youth and young adults and their leaders and facilitators returned safely and joyfully yesterday from our annual retreat near Santa Barbara. Here’s our group picture at El Capitan State Beach.
Our theme for the weekend was “Keep Calm and Trust Jesus“: The presence and peace of Christ as an antidote to discouragement, anxiety, and poor choices.
Especially if you do your homework! Which brings me to this brief mid-week reminder about:
— Tuesday Tuneups today: Lectio Divina at 5:30 p.m. in the Bride’s Room, fellowship at Starbucks at about 6:15 p.m., and our Bible Fellowship at 7 p.m. in the Bishop’s Room as we continue our in-depth study of John’s gospel. Please join us!
— The St. John’s caregivers tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 20) at 7 p.m. in the Bishop’s Room, an ongoing support and resource ministry for those caring for a loved one at home or in convalescent care. Being a caregiver can be even more exhausting and isolating that being sick. Come meet friends who understand and care.
— “An Epiphany Search for God at the Movies” continues on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in the Bishop’s Room, when Daniele Struppa, chancellor of Chapman University, will lead a conversation about “The Seventh Seal,” written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and released in 1957. Returning from the Crusades, a knight begins a chess game with death personified. As we watch this classic film, mindful of the moves we make in our own lives, we grapple with themes of mortality, doubt, and faith. You can watch “The Seventh Seal” on Amazon.com for $3.99 by going to this link:
http://www.amazon.com/Seventh-Seal-Max-von-Sydow/dp/B004D7EOX0/ref=sr_1_1/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&keywords=the%20seventh%20seal&qid=1453213676&sr=8-1
Fr. John
P.S.: Don’t forget our patronal celebration a week from this coming Sunday. The weekend of January 31, we’ll have one service only at 10 a.m. as we remember St. John Chrysostom, conduct our annual meeting, and gather in the Cardinal Gym for our Ministry Fair and festive chili lunch. Please look for the pot luck signup table this weekend.