Worship Services and Parish Events

Sundays:

8:00 am, Holy Communion (occasionally the Prayer Book service of "Morning Prayer")

9:15 am, Bible Study forum for adults and older youth, called "Break Fast with the Rector". Sunday School for ages up through 5th Grade begins at 10am.

10:00 am, Holy Communion (Morning Prayer, the next to last Sunday of each month (unless noted differently below); Every Sunday service includes the laying on of hands for healing and answering of prayers.  Child care in the nursery.

The next to last Sunday of each month has been designated as our "Invite-a-Friend" Sunday. Those Sundays include guest musicians and differing styles of music for our worship, set in a user-friendly Morning Prayer service. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the Episcopal Church, and to bring a new person to church. For specific Sundays, see below.

The Third Sunday of each month we make use of the Litany of Healing, and offer the laying on of hands and anointing for individuals, or sometimes only as intercessors for others; on occasion the entire congregation is led to prayer for each other.

Mondays: 6:00 to 9:00 pm, and Thursdays: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, "Healing Rooms" ministry open at the United Methodist Church education wing at Kern and G in Tulare.

Wednesdays: 10:00am, a standing Morning Bible Study, led by the Rector

Daily Offices: led by licensed Lay Readers and the Rector, at the following times: 

• Morning Prayer, Monday through Saturday: 7:15am  Psalm appointed for morning, One Bible reading (Currently Daily BCP lectionary Year One, OT lesson), and Intercessory prayer (making use of Anglican Cycle of Prayer, and Parish monthly prayer cycle)
•  Evening Prayer, Thursday:  5:30 pm, with Healing Prayer
  

 A Sacrament of Confirmation and Basic Discipleship class will again be offered soon,  starting in the winter, 2011.

Other Typical Calendar and Special  Events Coming Up:

Diocesan Convention, the last weekend of October

Thanksgiving Day:  10:30am, Holy Communion, Rite I

Advent:

ECW Holidays Boutique and Luncheon, Saturday before Thanksgiving (2010)

First Sunday of Advent:

     Family Advent wreath-making pizza party, instruction on Advent, Sunday   afternoon

     Childrens' St. Nicholas Eve service and party, Dec 5

Second Sunday of Advent:

    Congregation dinner and meeting (not the Annual Mtg.) 

Third Sunday of Advent:

Fourth Sunday of Advent:

    usually the Christmas Pageant at 10am

Christmas Eve, 5:30 pm and 10:30 pm services

Christmas Day, 10:30am Holy Communion

Rector's Open House on St. John's Day

Epiphany, January 6

Parish Annual meeting with Epiphany Cake

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Thursday nites Lenten Soup Supper and inter-generational study

Holy Week:

Palm Sunday:  Palm Sunday, with palm procession from the olive tree, dramatic reading of the Passion Narrative (the betrayal, arrest, "trial", crucifixion and death of Jesus).

Wednesday:  First Holy Communion Training, beginning at 10:00 am

Thursday: Maundy Thursday  Holy Communion with Renewal of Ministry for all attending; stripping of the Altar and chancel following the setting of the Altar of Repose (in preparation for 3-day Prayer Vigil).

                  At 6:00 pm, a Seder Meal (a Christian version of the Jewish Passover Meal, bringing to mind the Last Supper).

                  The Holy Week Vigil

Friday: Good Friday Noon reflections and prayers; since 2007, St. John's has joined in with the Tulare Association of Churches to provided these same meditations given based on the Seven Last Words of Christ, mixed with prayers, beginning at Noon and ending around 2:00 pm.  Come and go as you need to.

                  Good Friday Liturgy, beginning at 7:00 pm, including the sung Passion Narrative, Stations of the Cross, hymns of devotion to the cross, and Litany and Prayers.

Saturday:  Special Holy Saturday devotions at sunrise, keeping watch over the tomb of Jesus.

                  8:00 pm, The Great Vigil of Easter, an eastern orthodox inspired service of the lighting of the new paschal (passover lamb) flame for Easter, the singing of the ancient hymn, the "Exsultet", passover Old Testament lessons as reminder, and the first Mass of Easter.  The service begins with candlelight.  This service and Holy Communion serves as a service of "obligation" for those wishing to attend Easter services but cannot attend on Easter morning.

Sunday:   Easter! Alleluia!   Bring bells!

 Easter Egg hunt planned for after the 10 am service.   The children are also invited to bring sturdy cut flowers for the flowering of the Easter cross; a "new life" surprise will also be unveiled for them.

Ascension Day  :  The Thursday 10 days prior to Pentecost

               7:15am Morning Prayer, using BCP Office propers
                    Noon  Holy Communion, using BCP Eucharistic propers 
                          5:30 pm Evening Prayer