From the Rector: Feeling the joy of Christmastide

Dear friends,

Audrey Farrell carries the Christmas Star down the aisle.

A very Happy Christmastide and New Year to you all. I trust that this note finds you well and sharing a good Christmas season as we move into the new year. It has been a good Christmas at St. John’s. Our worship throughout the season so far has been immensely joyful and full of hope; from our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists, from tots and toddlers to pageants, from midnight mass to baptisms, from joyful singing to the holy tarantula … Yes, I finally saw it, and I am very grateful. And for those who may be wondering what I am referring to, please see the photos and video of our pageant and the star which the shepherds and magi followed … It was very special, I must say.

One of the memories that I will take with me following our Christmas Eve worship was the final “scene” of our pageant. Again, if you watch the service again online, you’ll notice that during the hymn the whole “cast” gathers around the manger, featuring one of our parish family’s newborns! And as the characters gathered, the baby smiled, the tarantula-star hovered over, and the singing rang out, I had this wonderful realization of what makes this parish what it is, and what a gift it is to be here. There so much quirky (yet incredibly well controlled!) chaos, with so much laughter, smiles, and over four hundred people all zooming in on this one moment. It was not only one of the most worshipful moments I’ve witnessed in a pageant (that wasn’t a comment on the chaos, by the way), but one of the most delightful I’ve seen in such a service. It was pure joy. And, furthermore, there was hope.

Moments like this are significant for all of us. Indeed, as I’ve said elsewhere in this season, Christmas is not always the happiest or easiest time for everyone. In fact, for some it can be an unbearable season, and for important reasons. Without boring you with my life story (again … you’ve heard my sermons), Christmas isn’t the easiest season for me either. But what caught my attention the other day in church, as the pageant came to an end, was that this moment of jubilation didn’t distract from or water down the importance of the serious side of Christmas. If anything, it was a gentle, quirky sign of hope. Essentially, it helped me stop for a second and think, “Now I can see something new worth striving for.”

Brian Locke

And so, here we are: 2025, a new year, and a lot of joy and change ahead. This Sunday, we will say farewell to Buffy Gray on the occasion of her retirement. On Monday, Brian Locke will begin as our interim organist and choirmaster. Over the next few weeks, we will also prepare for our annual meeting which will take place on Sunday, Jan. 26 after the 10 a.m. Eucharist. And from there, we will launch fully into the new year with a renewed vestry, and many plans and hopes for our future ministry. Wherever you are on your journey, I pray that you will find what you are looking for in this new year, and I hope that you will share your journey as part of this parish’s life.

Devon and I (and the cats!) send you all our greetings, prayers, and blessings for the new year.

With prayers for peace this Christmastide,

Ed.

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The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Advent and Christmas at St. John’s

Evenings in Advent

The season of Advent is a time of preparation; watching and waiting expectantly, as we look to celebrate the light of Christ entering our world. As part of our Advent journey this year, Fr. Edward Thornley and Dr. Devon Abts will be offering a series of opportunities to gather, pray, and share in fellowship during the season.

On Sunday evenings, youth group students will have the opportunity to learn about preparing for confirmation classes amidst their usual activities. Then, students and their families, with all parishioners are invited to experience compline: an ancient, candlelit service of evening prayer. Compline is a beautiful service; sometimes chanted, but mostly simply spoken, and only 15 minutes long. It is one of the oldest services in the church and offered at the end or completion (compline) of the day. Compline will be gently offered in the parish church each Sunday evening, led by Fr. Ed, and then followed by a time for silent prayer and meditation by candlelight until 9 p.m.—a peaceful way to begin one’s week in a busy yet prayerful season. The service is open to all.

Then, on Wednesday evenings during Advent, Fr. Ed and Dr. Abts will be hosting an Advent meditation and discussion at the Rectory, accompanied by a simple meal and compline. When you come to church on the Sundays in Advent, you will notice that we light the Advent Wreath at the beginning of the service. Each candle lit represents a different aspect of the Biblical narrative which prepares for Jesus’s birth. Each Wednesday evening, we will read a poem, a passage of scripture, and then engage in a short discussion around the Advent Wreath and the theme for the week, during which food and drinks will be served, and then a short, spoken compline service will conclude the evening. If you wish to attend, please email Fr. Ed directly at ethornley@stjohns-hingham.org to RSVP. Participants will be sent the readings and poems in advance of the gatherings for discussion. Printed copies will also be provided on the evening.

Below you will find a full list of our Advent gatherings, as well as our Christmas services. We look forward to welcoming you to St. John’s in this joyful season!

Advent

The First Sunday of Advent—December 1

8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II

11 a.m. – Advent Wreath Making

6 p.m. – Middle School and High School Youth Group, with Confirmation Class FAQ

7:30 p.m. – Compline

7:45 p.m. – Silent Meditation

Wednesday Evening in Advent I—December 4

6:30 p.m. – Advent Meditation and Discussion with Compline at the Rectory

The Second Sunday of Advent—December 8

8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II

11 a.m. – St. Nicholas visits Coffee Hour

5 p.m. – Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols, followed by reception

7:30 p.m. – Compline

7:45 p.m. – Silent Meditation (until 9 p.m.)

Wednesday Evening in Advent II—December 11

6:30 p.m. – Advent Meditation and Discussion with Compline at the Rectory

The Third Sunday of Advent—December 15

8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II

6 p.m. – Middle School and High School Youth Group, with Confirmation Class FAQ

7:30 p.m. – Compline

7:45 p.m. – Silent Meditation (until 9 p.m.)

Wednesday Evening in Advent III—December 18

6:30 p.m. – Advent Meditation and Discussion with Compline at the Rectory

The Fourth Sunday of Advent—December 22

8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II

7:30 p.m. – Compline

7:45 p.m. – Silent Meditation (until 9 p.m.)

Christmas at St. John’s

Christmas Eve—Tuesday, December 24

2 p.m. – Tots and Toddlers Eucharist, Rite II

4 p.m. – Christmas Pageant and Eucharist, Rite II

9:30 p.m. – Midnight Mass

Choral prelude begins at 9:30 p.m.

Eucharist, Rite II, begins at 10 p.m.

Christmas Day—Wednesday, December 25

10 a.m. – Christmas Day Eucharist, Rite II

The First Sunday after Christmas—December 29

8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with Baptism