Saint John's Eastern Orthodox Church
1101 Bell Street, Amarillo, Texas, 79106
(806) 355-0683
Message from Father David
..."the stone the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone"....
Psalm 18:22
In being in the ministry of
"every other week and major feasts" for St John the Forerunner over
these last 12 years, much has been accomplished in "living the way
of Christ". Although it
may seem that we have reached a difficult low point, we have
actually moved incrementally not dramatically in keeping with what
God has given us to do. Persons who were with us in 2006 have moved
on either to fuller opportunity or in keeping with the natural
demands of "being alive in Christ'.
Our numbers have
diminished yet the quality and quantity of our
giving of ourselves and our treasure have in these, these last 8
months given signs of gradual improvement.
We as well have welcomed many persons, a modest number of
converts...,families; looking for a community that offers friendly
embrace.
As the world around us presents challenges
to all of us we have consistently
presented ourselves to God in celebrating our
thanksgiving to Him for His presence in our lives.
Our study of Scripture on Sundays, when I your priest am
absent, maintains itself as a core of our understanding and our
capacity to understand God's revelation to us. To remind us all: the
study begins with prayer at 11am and follows with conversation and
reflection upon His words and those
of His disciples.
As many of you are aware the parish council in deliberate
action has managed
our resources well over these last 12 years. Yet we
find ourselves as I mentioned above making modest advances in
improving our financial 'bottom line". I would ask each of us to
consider the "unseen benefits" that have appeared and manifested in
our lives. How God through His ministry has allowed us the strength
to meet adverse happenings and a sense of elation and joy for the
"newness of life" that He has offered us in His mercy, In helping us
all.
We can respond by our commitment to to
His Church. Let us all
reflect, as we read this, to increase our giving a modest amount of
$25 or $50 a month, if we are able.
Through Christ we have overcome the fear of death.
With Him we can and do overcome our anxieties, doubts, and
confusion. He answers our prayer and sees our fasting. He resolves
for us and gives us a sense of proper relationship in our families,
for our education, our vocation, our decisions! He grants grace and
balm to our hurt feelings, our moral dilemma, and our weakening
hope. He is the stone
upon which the Church is founded and renewed repeatedly in all ages
as each Church is consecrated in God's time.
Let us in joy and hope and awe......
......Be renewed, be renewed, O Jerusalem because
your Light has shown, and the Glory of the Lord is upon you
This house has been founded by the Father...
This house has been made by the Son....
This house has been renewed by the Holy Spirit...
Which illumines, supports and hallows our Souls..
Blessed are we of St John’s...Glory be Him!
Eritrean/Ethiopian Bible Study is held each Saturday afternoon at 4:00 and
all are invited to come to this special time of worship.
Also, on the Sundays when Fr. David is not present we have Bible
Study at 11:00 am, with the church opening earlier so that we
may all enter and prepare ourselves through prayer and
meditations.
News
Letter
November Calendar
December Calendar
If you have not turned in your 2018 stewardship pledge
card yet, December is the time to do so. We cannot determine a
budget for the year without a proposed income for the year.
Pledges are the only “hard number” that we have to determine our
ability to pay the church’s expenses throughout the year. It is
our generosity in giving that keeps not only St. John’s
operating, but our membership in the Archdiocese and the
Metropolis.
See Carl or Rex to get your card if you need one.
