On Sunday, November 4th we begin using new worship prayers and blessings suggested for this month, a time some see as a season-within-a-season. The theme clearly seems to be how the Church gathers all its Saints together and calls them to serve.
Greeting: Beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all. Offering Prayer: God of all creation, all you have made is good…. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ our Lord. Prayer after Communion: Remember us, and all the faithful, when you come into your kingdom, O Lord. As you have fed us with holy food and drink, send us into the world to live as your holy people, until we come to the full vision of your glory, for you are Lord, now and forever. Blessing: The church is surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. May you find strength and courage in their presence. Sending: Go in peace with all the saints to serve the Lord.
November begins with All Saints Sunday, a remembrance of those who have died in Christ, and draws to a close following a special day of Thanksgiving. The texts above, and the entire witness of the Church and its saints, remind us that our lives and all that we have are gifts from a gracious Creator, who gathers us and sends us out to live as holy people, inspired by the presence of those who have gone before us. If we truly wish to thank God, we will go in peace, serving the Lord.
Pr. Parsons
On All Saints’ Day, November 4th, St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel will formally dedicate Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the new hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and celebrate Holy Communion utilizing Setting Eight, one of the 10(!) liturgies contained in ELW.
What will become, you may wonder, of our Lutheran Book of Worship, the “green books?” Mallory Croak and Lynda Anderson have volunteered to make a list of the dedicatory bookplates in our LBW’s, and we shall try to contact each donor to see if they would like the hymnal as a keepsake. Any remaining hymnals will be given a good home in a congregation of this synod that did not have funds to purchase the LBW, and will receive our offering with great joy.
As of press time, more than $3,000 has been raised toward our purchase of new hymnals. You may still make a donation and have a bookplate placed in a hymnal. The price for each ELW hymnal is $20.00. Make checks payable to St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel, and write “hymnal” in the memo line. Enclose a note as to how you would like your dedication to read – “in memory,” “in honor,” etc. – and place it in the offering plate, or mail it to the church office.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever Amen. This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia. Alleluia.
As we dedicate new hymnals this month, it seems “right and salutary” to think about why we sing what we sing. In our liturgy for November, ELW setting 8, we will sing “This is the feast of victory for our God” (above) as our Hymn of Praise. Sundays and Seasons, a worship resource of the ELCA, suggests that, in November, we appreciate the context and history of this liturgical hymn. “This is the Feast” draws its central imagery from Revelation 19, which speaks of a “marriage supper of the Lamb.” This wedding feast is seen as an evocation of our union with Christ at the communion table, when we partake of the bread and cup.
When we join the feast, when we sing praise for the victory, it is important that we remember whose victory, and what that victory means in our lives. The book of Revelation is seen in much of popular culture as ultimately concerned with a final, physical battle where the faithful will triumph over the forces of evil. “This is the Feast” clearly shows us the paradox that God’s victory begins not with triumph, but with the death of Jesus on the cross. This death, followed by resurrection, sets us free - free to be God’s people. Our reward is not the plunder of worldly combat - no, “power and riches and wisdom and strength… and glory” are God’s. God’s victory allows each of us, however flawed, to take our place at the feast. We join the choir, sing with all God’s people, sing a hymn to God’s creation: blessing and honor and glory and might be to God. Alleluia!
The older youth of this congregation are moving into new quarters - the office space formerly occupied by interns and associates. In the last weeks of October, some of the Youth Group helped Pr. Parsons box up many books, moved furniture and other stored materials to the parsonage basement, and made a shopping trip to Ikea in New Jersey courtesy of the Vizzini Van (Jim and Emma, storing up yet more treasures in heaven).
The room is now outfitted with a variety (a pallid word) of pillows, several folding chairs for the less flexible among us, and (yes, the 60’s live on) a shag rug. Regret has been heard that no one thought to get a lava lamp, but hope has been expressed that Christmas is coming.
On a (semi-) serious note, youth leaders Jessica Liese and Daryl Lang are seeking a small TV/DVD combo. The room has been re-formatted in part so that our post-confirmation youth can have a space to meet on Sunday morning before worship. Jessica and Daryl plan to lead an Advent series, and many of the resources are most easily available on DVD. If anyone has a unit in working order that you would like to donate, or would like to donate towards the purchase of a new unit, please contact Pr. Parsons, or talk with Jessica or Daryl at coffee hour.
November 4th
Daniel 7:1–3, 15–18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11–23; Luke 6:20–31
November 11th
Job 19:23–27a; Psalm 17:1–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17; Luke 20:27–38
November 18th
Malachi 4:1–2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–13; Luke 21:5–19
November 25th
Jeremiah 23:1–6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11–20; Luke 23:33–43
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
5 - Alexander Casimir
7 - Michael Renfro
10 - Ella Giddings
11 - Lynda Anderson
14 - Whelan Mahoney
19 - Katherine Dumais
20 - Charisse Hiigel
21 - Steven Robbins
22 - Candace Renfro
23 - Kathryn Jimenez
26 - Andrew Kjoller
29 - Jacquelyn Colgan
30 - Daryl Lang
30 - Carolyn Miller
ANNIVERSARIES
7 - Valmekie & Pool Davi Basil
28 - Robert & Elisabeth Giddings
MEMORIALS
were given in loving memory of
William Green, d. 11/5 by Barbara & Jim Ruggiero
Thanksgiving Memorial by Eleanor Reichert
George Spach, b. 12/1 by Margery Baer
Joseph Spach, b. 12/2 by Margery Baer
On Friday, November 9th, at 6:30 pm, Faithful Folk (www.faithfulfolk.org) a ministry in music that originated in Christ Lutheran Church, Woodstock, will present a concert at St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel to raise funds in support of the ELCA Global Barnyard project. Faithful Folk, founded by members of Katherine Anderson’s family, organizes benefit events to raise awareness and money for important social outreach, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, domestic violence shelters, disaster relief and hunger projects.
In addition to Faithful Folk, there will also be performances by our choir, the younger children of the congregation, Pr. Parsons, and the renowned duo [Pr. Richard] Miller and [David] Dumais. An unconfirmed rumor holds out hope of an appearance by The Minors, a rock trio featuring Eliza Dumais. The performance part of the evening will conclude with a hymn sing led by Faithful Folk.
There will be a time for fellowship in the Social Hall following the concert, with potluck dessert and coffee. Child care will be available throughout the evening. Volunteers are needed for set up, clean up, and to bring desserts—PLEASE contact the office, 718-768-0528, or email stjme@stjme.org, to let us know how you would like to help. Plan to have your entire family attend this special concert.
A program of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Global Barnyard places animals in communities in need around the world, and provides training to new owners so they can raise healthy animals and sell them at a fair price. YOUR support of Global Barnyard brings new hope to struggling families.
On Saturday, November 17th, the Prospect Hill Senior Services center will host a Flea Market in our Social Hall as a fund raiser for the Center activities. Doors are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase, along with “treasures” of all shapes and sizes.
Donations to be sold by the Center are being accepted. If you would like to have a table and sell your own wares, the fee is $20.00. Contact Center Director Carla Zecca at 718-499-9574, ext. 15 for further details, or to arrange to drop off your donated items.
Our prayers are with Donald and Eleanor Smith as they mourn the death of their son, Donald Smith, Jr.
Our prayers are with Gabrieline and Edmund Rakotonjanahary, Noromala and Roger Rakotondrazafy, and Sam Rakotoarivelo, as they mourn the death of Samuel Rakotoarivelo, Gaby and Noro’s father, and grandfather to Sam.
