January 14, 2017

My sisters and brothers in Christ:

We worship on the Second Sunday after the Epiphany at 8 and 10 a.m., when, from John’s gospel’s unique perspective, we’ll revisit our LORD and John the Baptist’s meeting at the Jordan River (where your latest batch of St. John’s pilgrims will visit not long after their departure for Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Thursday morning; please pray for us!).

Please remember that our Wednesday noon and Saturday afternoon services are on hiatus in January and February.

We’ll also remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in church on Sunday – and it doesn’t end on Sunday morning. Our presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, will be keynote speaker when members of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America come together at Westchester Lutheran Church at 3 p.m. Sunday for a joint worship service celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy. All are welcome. Westchester Lutheran Church is located at 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. Refreshments and a panel discussion (in which, I just learned, I will have the honor of participating) will follow the service.

Yours in Christ’s love,

 Fr. John

P.S.: Thank you to all past and future “St. John Chrysostom Pilgrims” to Israel and Palestine for coming forward for a pilgrim blessing today at the 10 am service. See the photo attached!

P.P.S.: Please remember: To submit your 2017 pledge if you haven’t yet done so…to give us your instructions for 2017 altar and chapel flowers – birthdays, anniversaries, memorials, and other important dates in your and your family’s lives – by using the special envelope available in the narthex. The suggested donation per date is $50…that we need your gifts of food and gift cards this weekend for Thursday’s Rancho Santa Margarita food pantry. Please let coordinator Roger Bradshaw know at parisbradshaws@me.comif you are able to volunteer anytime between noon and 5 p.m….and that the church office will be closed on Monday in observance of Dr. King’s day.