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This Sunday's Music: for May 17, 2009, 10am | | This will be the first accompaniment of worship music using guitars with Larry Willey (and Fr. Eaton), an old hand at "praise music" when with another denominational church a while back. Now he and his wife are with us at St. John's now. We were looking for the right timing, and a little more recruiting of other instruments and vocalists, and this wasn't exactly it -- with our regular organist out of the saddle. The music is a compilation of what Larry and Fr. Rob both know (basically), still having the goal of underscoring and highlighting the scripture lessons and theme of the sermon. We had one hour on Saturday to get together, pick the music, decide on acceptable keys and intros, barely run through it all, and make it work. The Lord was with us, that's all I can say. And Larry had quite a bit of homework Saturday nite in preparation. Hallelujah. | Entrance: "Shine, Jesus, Shine!" | | "Gloria" (said) | | Gospel recession (instrumental for procession): "Spirit of the Living God" | | Offertory: "I Come with Joy" (hymnal # 304) | | Sanctus: Bethancourt | Communion: "Let us break bread together"; "In Moments Like These"; "Lord, be glorified" | Mission: "We are One Body" (Aun siendo muchos, somos un Cuerpo) |
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click here for
BOX NOTES, for devotions on daily bible readings, and quotes from the masters of prayer |
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| Sundays | | 8 am Worship | | 9:15 am Break Fast with the Rector (Bible wordstudy for adults and teens) | 10 am Worship (includes Sunday School for kids, and child-care) | | | Monday through Saturday | | 7:15 am, Morning Prayer (open to publick) | | Thursday | | 5:30 pm, Evening Prayer (open to publick) | | (click "Services" for more) |
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GLAD YOU FOUND US!
Are you looking for a Christian church that has a clear focus of ministry, excited about who they are, and not in competition with any other church in town? Are you looking for a congregation that seems to really like each other? And makes a fuss over new folks that show up? Are you looking for a church that's not afraid to boldly proclaim the real “reason for the season?” Jesus?! Or perhaps you just need to figure out what this church business is all about, and the room to do it? We're not perfect, but we like to think that these questions reflect who we are as a working Christian congregation.
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What's Up Now? (as of 5/12/09) "Making Choices" pilot program finally underway St. John's, in cooperation with the Ethics Committee Task Force of the local Tulare Regional Medical Center, officially launched its parish pilot project of education about Advance Directives in two parish and public forums on Thursday, May 7, 2009. The Advance Directive, also known as a healthcare power of attorney document, attempts to deal much more fully and clearly with wishes of a medical patient at that moment in treatment when they are unable to answer and direct medical response themselves. The newly restored Ethics Committee at the hospital, resurrected by Chaplain Bill Busch and Nursing Coordinator Pat Matthewson, which includes the Rev. Robert G Eaton and Mr. William Richmond, both of St. John Episcopal Church, recognized early on in its reconstitution almost 2 years ago that the Ethics Committee response to difficult issues would be greatly lessened if more members of the local Tulare community had current Advance Directives. The statistics showed only 5% had such a document. Bill Richmond, who, as part of his insurance investment and tax consulting business became a licensed ombudsman for nursing home residents, had experience in developing such documents, immediately began doing internet research for successful community and hospital programs which could boast a much higher percentage. In the discussion of where to begin in the community, Fr. Eaton quickly noted one very large community group, that being those who were members and attended local churches, and offered St. John's as a pilot program site. The pilot program would attempt to develop a program and timeline reproducable in every other faith community, with the goal of 100% response by members. The ELCA Lutheran then also offered to be a pilot program site. Phase One of the pilot program plan for St. John's was an open forum for the parish and the wider community. A morning and evening Forum on May 7 included a 15 minute Power Point presentation on the reasons for having an Advance Directive, followed by 10 minute presentations from the hospital Family Services director, a Registered Nurse, and a Doctor, and even a "bonus" outline of how to plan your own funeral. Approximately 20% of what would be the parish's average Sunday attendance attended one of the two Forums presented on that day. Those who attended were very appreciative for the information, especially understanding the many options available to only having a "DNR" statement ("Do Not Resuscitate"). Appointments were made with the trained facilitators available (St. John's now has 4) to sit down privately and complete the Advance Directive. Phase Two toward 100% completion will be personally invited home groups of 6 to 8 people; Phase Three will be unsolicited (but notified) phone calls to individuals to set up private presentations. It is the hope of the parish committee to have their work of gaining 100% completed by the end of July, 2009. To see and read more fully about how to do "Advance Care Planning", please follow this link to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, which is the center from which the Advance Directive training for Tulare was received. Including those from St. John's, 22 members of the hospital community and community members at large completed various degrees of training as facilitators to help complete an individual's Advance Directive by assisting with Advance Care Planning. Any of these facilitators are willing to be contacted to help. Call St. John's office, or Nurse Angie Graziano at Tulare Medical Center. + + + Keep up your intercessions for our parish, for the Diocese of San Joaquin, and for The Episcopal Church, and for the Anglican Communion as a whole.
The collect for the Fourth Sunday before Advent is good all year around :
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Q. How does the Church pursue its mission?
A. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace and love. Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission? A. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members. (Book of Common Prayer, from The Catechism) Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and by thy mercy preserve us, for ever.
Spare us, good Lord. From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us. From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity,
Good Lord, deliver us. From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
Good Lord, deliver us. From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and commandment,
Good Lord, deliver us. Page 148, 149, The Great Litany, Book of Common Prayer
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FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
We've taken a lot of time to be certain of what God wants us to be doing. We'll fill out this page a little more later, but for now, these statements will do:
We believe that the mission of the Christian endeavor, no matter what denomination or congregation, is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
We see our own unique purpose as one congregation among many here in Tulare and Tulare County to be: planting with prayer for the display of God's glory!
And with that in mind, the vision for our church we believe has been given by the Lord through his Holy Spirit, is that we will be: a thousand @ Prayer!
Now what will it take to be a “thousand at prayer”? It will take every talent and every skill we've developed, every spiritual gift that we've been given. We believe that every member of this congregation has a part in fulfilling and implementing this vision. Not all will be on their knees 8 hours a day (although some with the gift of “intercession” may well be!). But it doesn't take much imagination to see that the gifts of service, helps, administration and hospitality will also be necessary to provide a “coffee hour” for a thousand people every Sunday!
Come take your place in this Kingdom adventure!
You can contact us by email at stjohnstulare@yahoo.com if you have any questions or need further travel instructions.
Situated in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley, half-way between Fresno and Bakersfield (about an hour's drive each way) the church is located at the corner of North Laspina and East Prosperity in Tulare, CA. It is three "lights" east of the Prosperity Ave. exit off of HWY 99 (north or south bound). See the "About Us" page for map link, and other contact info. St. John Episcopal Church, 1701 East Prosperity Ave., Tulare, CA, 93274
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