From the Rector: A disinterested look at Mary

Dear friends,

The eighteenth-century philosopher Immanuel Kant once coined the term “disinterestedness.” Among his writings on aesthetics, Kant contemplated what it meant to appreciate something that we find to be beautiful. For Kant, when we not only pass a judgment on something but truly appreciate something’s or someone’s beauty, we find ourselves being disinterested. Not uninterested, as in not having any desire or curiosity about something. But dis-interested. In other words, you have an interest, but it is somewhat disassociated from one’s individualistic desire, or, put another way, you are interested in something but not with a fixed agenda that you seek to fulfil, particularly an agenda you had prior to encountering the person or thing you find beautiful. You simply appreciate or perceive beauty in someone or something for the sake of it, for the sake of them. You like them for who they are, not what you would prefer them to be.

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Portrait painted c1790.

I have often thought that the more penitential and reflective seasons in the church’s year help us with precisely this commonly shared conundrum. What does it mean to like or even love someone or something purely for who or what they are? Of course, for many of us, we may already find ourselves in relationships or circumstances where we know the answer to this. Nevertheless, I would hazard a guess that there might still be some areas in our lives where this notion goes unchecked. That’s not to sound judgmental or presumptuous, but simply to say that there are always things in our lives which are unfinished; things which we might want to control, or even let go of, yet where the letting go is itself another means by which we try to control something.

In many respects, this question brings us to Mary. At this time of year, and on the Fourth Sunday of Advent specifically, we are invited to contemplate who Mary is, and the part she plays in the Nativity of Our Lord. At first, this may seem obvious, but a closer inspection of our readings this coming Sunday provokes a particular kind of wondering. As we will hear on Sunday, Mary is someone who we know very little about, if anything. And while some traditions within the church have deeply held beliefs around her early life, her perfections (or imperfections), and the circumstances of her life beyond the pages of scripture, still she is someone who in so many ways captures the essence of what it means to simply be present to God. Regardless of history, circumstance, or desire, Mary appears in the story, she is called by God to do something, and she follows. She is indeed a disciple, and long before others.

This openness to God’s call and how we might embrace this rests at the heart of our worship, and not only in Advent. I am overjoyed at the prospect of gathering with you all this Sunday, and excited to see where our journey leads.

With every prayer and blessing,

Ed.

The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Final St. John’s Stewardship & Budget Status Update

Good Morning, St. John’s.

Thank you to everyone who has responded to the call to submit your 2025 pledge of support to St. John’s. We are very pleased with the progress we have made during this Stewardship Season.

We are reaching out today to update the Parish on Stewardship efforts.

Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on January 26, 2025, in Upper Weld Hall, at which time we’ll vote on the 2025 budget.

Ahead of the Annual Meeting, we are hosting an open budget discussion for parishioners to meet with leaders from our Finance Committee and Vestry, to address questions and hear input from parishioners: Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, at 9 a.m. in Upper Weld Hall (and online). Please attend!

Our Stewardship Season began in October, and during the last ten weeks, we have sought to provide available information to the parish, through three pairs of Stewardship Sermons, four announcements (every three weeks) from our Stewardship Chairs, and weekly email updates. 

We’ve seen such generosity these last few months. It also brings into focus limitations on financial resources.

We want to address a question that many have asked: Will we have enough to fund a second priest in 2025?

Together, we have a chance to answer that question. Throughout the Stewardship Season, we have mentioned that:

  • A budget encompassing our current activity level (with a single full-time Priest) is expected to require pledges of approximately $625,000—compared to last year’s total pledges of $540,000.

  • A full-year of more “programmatic” activities (with two full-time Priests) is expected to require pledges in the range of $750,000.

We believe we will meet or somewhat exceed the initial $625,000 goal. New pledging families or additional increases from existing pledging families are needed to achieve our Program Level goal of $750,000, and fund a second priest in 2025.

We are so pleased that have received 38 pledges from new families this year, and over 95% of last year’s pledgers have pledged again.

  • In total, about 60% of this year’s pledges are from either new pledgers or families who have increased their pledges from last year.

  • As we know, life doesn’t always allow us to increase our pledge each year—about 30% of this year’s pledges remained the same as last year and about 12% declined. Our stewardship campaign reflects what is happening in the broader community and in our own financial lives, and we are grateful to have this continued support.

  • The important work of Stewardship is supported this year by a corps of three dozen “Ambassadors” who have helped us reach out to families for the last 3 months. And so we do expect some additional pledges in the coming days.

We have reviewed these figures, discussed with many of you, and considered our opportunities. We are energized—as you can see—by Father Ed’s arrival, and there is indeed widespread support for being in a position to have two full-time priests.

But, again absent a substantial additional increase from pledges, we do not see an opportunity to fully fund a second priest in 2025.

  • To get to the $750,000 figure (for 1-year of an additional full-time priest), we would need an additional $700 on average from every family that has already pledged, or new pledges.

  • Hiring a junior position (a curate) would be a savings of only $20,000 per year.

  • If we were to bring on a second priest, even if only later in the year, we would also want to be sure that we can sustain giving at the higher level to support the full-year position, without facing the painful choices that come with over-shooting our financial resources.

Whether we pursue an associate rector (a senior position) or a curate (a junior position), there is a long lead time associated with that. Based on the strength of your support so far, and with expectations for strong financial support into 2026 and beyond, we plan to begin the process now of preparing a search process that would conclude with hiring a second priest in the beginning or middle of 2026.

Thank you to each of you who have made our Stewardship Season a success; we look forward to this opportunity in 2026 that your support makes possible.

Every pledge matters, in any amount. All of our pledgers have helped our Vestry and Finance Committee develop a budget that will support our parish next year—and every single pledge contributes to this process.

Our Parish has done what we set out to do at the beginning of the season: to prayerfully consider what we can share together for a vibrant and active parish in 2025.

It is very important to us that you have access to this information, so that you can consider for yourselves what comes next, and discuss that with members of the Vestry if you would like to explore other opportunities.

There is indeed support for a second priest, in time, and all that we have heard is a commitment to continue to grow and be a part of our Church community in the coming year.

We are grateful for your generosity and participation in this process. Thank you!

Thank you.

Faithfully,

Andy Strehle, Stewardship Chair

Jody Jones Turner, Senior Warden

Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn, Junior Warden

Sunday School Update: Pageant time!

Dear St. John’s families,

It’s almost pageant time! We had a great rehearsal this week and the kids are excited to showcase their talents telling the story of our Savior’s birth.

This Sunday we will be in Lower Weld (all together as one group) reviewing the Godly Play Advent lessons, rehearsing the pageant, and enjoying some festive snacks. Please note, we will stay downstairs during communion so we have more time to practice. You may pick up your children in Lower Weld after church.

We are also offering one more quick run-through (20–30 minutes) in the sanctuary after church for those kids who are interested in a little more practice in the actual space. Everyone should have a costume by now; if not, please let me know!

Please plan to arrive in costume and ready to go on Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. They will not need their costumes before then. We can’t wait to share this new pageant with our church family!

Merry Christmas and I hope you all have a wonderful celebration!

Warmly,

Alexis

Alexis MacElhiney

Sunday School Director & Youth Coordinator

From the Rector: Reorienting patterns of prayer

Dear friends,

The Rev. Ed Thornley preaches from the pulpit Dec. 8.

During my sermon on The Second Sunday of Advent, I was reflecting on the words of The Rev. Canon Edie Dolnikowski, who spoke the previous week about how Advent is a season for slowing down, not taking on more, and seeking to adopt new prayerful and reflective practices. During my homily following Edie’s, I found myself thinking about how I have struggled with this more meditative practice myself, and how important it is to try and slow down. Of course, several friends, knowing my sense of humor, remarked afterwards, smiling, “Oh, so if it’s important for me to slow down then I suppose you don’t need me to help you this week with XYZ then …!” Or, “Do you really need the choir this week …?”

I suppose it would be nice if we were all able to continue getting some things done, even in Advent (although I did appreciate the joke!). However, it did genuinely get me thinking: what if we could keep up the pace but find more meditative ways through it? Instead of slowing down as such, what if we considered what it might mean to maintain a certain pitch and purpose in one’s life while still fervently moving forward?

Now, I’m not going back on my sermon right now, nor because I’m afraid people will stop helping me keep this church afloat in one of the busiest seasons of the year … But indeed, as I moved from sermon to announcements during last Sunday’s service, and inevitably started listing all the merry things going on in the parish which are joyful, and of course a major part of this season, I did find myself wondering if my sermon needed to be a little more nuanced. Perhaps it’s not so much about slowing down so as to cut things back, rather readjusting our pace and focus so that we might become more aligned with the way God approaches us.

The Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman

In preparation for our Evenings in Advent study this past week (which was canceled due to the storm), I found myself reading one of Godly Play founder Jerome Berryman’s books, Becoming Like a Child. In the book, Berryman writes about the spirituality of childhood, and how adults, too, might reorient their patterns of prayer and the way they attend to aspects of their mature lives by reflecting on the ways that children perceive reality. In one chapter, Berryman describes what is often referred to as “unitive” or “mystical” knowing. Here, he reflects on an early childhood experience which, at different moments in his adult life, resurfaces in his memory when he encounters experiences which trigger, in his subconscious mind, the recollection of when this type of experience first took place. Berryman writes, “I had experienced a unified kind of knowing. Many have such experiences, especially during childhood. Their significance remains even if the details fade.” (Berryman 2017, 68)

In other words, one of the qualities children have, and which adults sometimes forget they have, is that our minds, and indeed our hearts, carry experiences even when we are not aware of them. And these moments resurface when prompted; sometimes happily, sometimes tragically; sometimes helpfully, and sometimes unhelpfully. But whichever way they manifest, they are with us, and our task, as any therapist or spiritual director knows, is to find ways of navigating our minds and hearts so that we know how to healthily move forward while not ignoring the past; and how to keep on moving while absorbing and reabsorbing information and experience, all the while gaining new insight into our deeper purpose even amidst uncertainty, anxiety, or busyness. This is certainly something children can teach us about, especially at a time of year like this. And perhaps this readjustment rather than removing is the more important spiritual discipline that both Advent and Christmas, at their own heart, can shape within ours.

With every blessing for this third week of Advent,

Ed.

The Rev. Edward Thornley

The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist.

Reference

Jerome Berryman, Becoming Like a Child—The Curiosity of Maturity Beyond the Norm. New York: Church Publishing, 2017.

Sunday School Update: Christmas pageant rehearsal schedule

Dear St. John’s families,

We had a great time visiting with St. Nicholas last week! I think the kids really enjoyed hearing some interesting stories about his life and celebrating his saint day (Dec 6)!

This week we begin rehearsals for the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Pageant! We have found a fun new script that has plenty of speaking roles and some humor sprinkled in. This pageant is open to all children ages 3 and up. Given that this new pageant is inclusive to all children, we have decided to pause the Little Kids Pageant for the time being. We believe that a more streamlined holiday schedule will be less stressful and more joyful for everyone involved.

Here is the rehearsal/costuming schedule:

Dec. 15: Costuming before church; Rehearsal after church (45 min)—Sanctuary

Dec. 17: Costuming and pizza: 5 p.m.; Rehearsal 5:30–7 p.m.

Dec. 22: Costuming before church; Rehearsal during Sunday School

Please note that we will not be able to handle costuming during rehearsal time as we need all of the scheduled time for practice.

Children with larger speaking roles will need to commit to the above rehearsal schedule. Angels and Kings should come to at least one rehearsal. Animals do not need to attend rehearsals.  

I have sent the script to all families who have signed up for a role. If you did not receive the email and your child plans to participate, please let me know asap.

I’m looking forward to spending a wonderful holiday season with your children!

Alexis McElhiney

Warmly,

Alexis

From the Rector: Re-imagining John the Baptist

Painting of young boy with a lamb entitled "Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness" by Joshua Reynolds, 1776.

“Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness” by Joshua Reynolds (1776)

Dear friends,

In the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Advent, we encounter John the Baptist for the first time. John is considered by many to be Jesus’s cousin, a forerunner to Jesus, who preached, prophesied and baptized prior to Jesus’s ministry beginning. John speaks about Jesus’s coming. And when Jesus is about to begin his ministry, John baptizes him, thus making explicit a new relationship between the divine and the human, indeed all of creation, and opening the way for us to relate to God in a new way. In the Gospel for this Sunday (Luke 3:1-6), we encounter John prior to Jesus’s baptism, when he is preaching about future judgment and Christ’s arrival.

I had never spent much time studying John the Baptist until I lived in London ten years ago. One year, while I served at St. Marylebone in Central London, I preached an Advent II sermon about John the Baptist, and on the reading coming up for this Sunday. As I was working with children and youth a great deal, as well as older adults who often found sensory worship helpful, I found myself using a well-known image of John as an illustration during the sermon. The image is at the top of this letter. It is a painting which hangs in The Wallace Collection in London (just down the street from St. Marylebone), and it is an image of the infant John the Baptist in the wilderness. It was painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1776.

Reynolds was famous for two distinctive forms of painting: he was known for his landscapes, and also his images of children. He had a gift for capturing certain qualities of childhood. Reynolds was often recruited to paint famous London residents’ portraits. Interestingly, he would also often be asked to paint Biblical figures, and when he did so, he would often portray them as children. Scholars have mused as to why Reynolds did this. One theory is that he was especially strong at capturing the somewhat “traditional,” innocent, wondering qualities of childhood, yet when portrayed upon a Biblical character who is known for a more fiery, adult personality, enabled the viewer to contemplate what this character may have been like in another stage of life. Indeed, when contemplating someone as fierce a preacher as John, one might wonder how this person came to be the way they are as an adult. By contemplating such a figure as if they were back in their childhood, requires the viewer to re-imagine this person’s character, purpose, and vocation; and possibly re-think their perspective of them. In the case of John, we are presented with someone who, now, thanks to Reynolds, is not only a fire and brimstone preacher and prophet, but someone who from their youngest days was called by God to serve in his name, and to usher in the Kingdom of God in the most beautiful yet striking way. Indeed, we see this in the image, with the child John, surrounded by wilderness and a lamb representing Christ, pointing to the sky, powerfully yet gently.

When we focus in on a Biblical figure, or indeed any aspect of the Bible, we are invited to consider not only them but how they impact our own lives. When I preached about John that time in London, an older woman who would often visit our parish was in the congregation. She took a copy of the picture home, and a year later, during Advent, brought the image at right, to me in a frame. It is a replica of Reynolds’s painting, but in cross-stitch, made by hand, and she presented it to me as a gift. I don’t know how long it took her to make this, especially something so startlingly accurate and clearly painstakingly created over a long time. I didn’t get the chance to ask as she dropped it off at the church quickly, and I never saw her again. Yet this image remains in Devon’s and my home (it’s in the Rectory study if you ever visit and want to see it), as a reminder as I pray daily for God’s grace amidst uncertainty; God’s patience amidst an unfolding and complex history; God’s power amidst weakness and frailty; and God’s love amidst imperfection and consequence. Engaging in such prayerful, penitent, yet joyful reflection is very much our purpose in Advent, as we look again for the one who will make all things new.

With every prayer and blessing,

Ed.

The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Holiday Boutique—That’s a Wrap

The 2024 Holiday Boutique was a great success thanks to the many hands, and generous hearts that contributed to the Church’s largest fundraiser.

A huge thank you to the 170+ volunteers who offered their time to plant bulbs, donate items for the Café, set-up, drop yard signs, and staff events.

We could not do it without you!

Some exciting numbers to share for this year’s Boutique include:

  • 1,000 Shoppers through the Church doors on Saturday

  • 60 Yard signs planted

  • 170+ Volunteers

  • 37 Leaders who brought their enthusiasm, ideas, and can-do spirit

  • 15+ St. John’s Youth who were instrumental in running the Boutique

  • 27 Vendor participants

  • $45,000 fundraising profit to St. John’s, including our best Auction ever!

  • Countless Prayers of Thanksgiving for all who contributed!

Save the Date!

2025 Holiday Boutique

Silver Jubilee 25th Anniversary

November 22 & 23, 2025

Sunday School Update: Christmas Pageant preparations

Dear St. John’s families,

This Sunday, the kids are learning about St. Nicholas during Sunday School and then will be treated to a surprise visit from him at coffee hour. He will share a story from his life and hand out some special treats!

This week, we’re also gearing up for the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Pageant and beginning costuming. We have found a fun new script that has plenty of speaking roles and some humor sprinkled in. This pageant will be open to all children ages 3 and up. Given that this new pageant is inclusive to all children, we have decided to pause the Little Kids Pageant for the time being. We believe that a more streamlined holiday schedule will be less stressful and more joyful for everyone involved.

We are currently looking for children/youth to fill the roles of Narrator, Innkeepers, Wife of Innkeeper, Shepherds, Kings, Angels, and Animals (including Mary’s donkey). Please let me know if your child is interested. While every child may not receive their first choice, there is a role for everyone! Please indicate your interest here.

Costuming begins this Sunday before and after church! Please note that we will not be able to handle costuming during rehearsal time as we need all of the scheduled time for practice.

Here is the rehearsal/costuming schedule:

Dec. 8: Costuming before and after church

Dec. 15: Costuming before church, Rehearsal after church (45 min.)

Dec. 17: Costuming 5 p.m., Rehearsal 5:30–7 p.m.

Dec. 22: Costuming before church, Rehearsal during Sunday School

Children with speaking roles (All roles except Angels, Animals, and Kings) will need to commit to the above rehearsal schedule. Children with other roles need to come to at least one rehearsal (more is better).

I’m looking forward to spending a wonderful holiday season with your children!

Warmly,

Alexis

Returning to the Common Cup in Advent

Dear friends,

As we enter the season of Advent we begin a new Church year which always brings changes to our liturgy and worship patterns (see my e-newsletter this week). One “not-quite-so-Advent” yet still necessary liturgical change on the horizon for us regards our practice of the common cup. As we discussed back in the summer, St. John’s is one of the few parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts which still uses intinction cups during the Eucharist. These were instituted during the pandemic as an additional health precaution which was appropriate for that time. However, as we are no longer in that time, almost all parishes have returned to the traditional practice of receiving communion by sharing a common cup.

We attempted this return to regular practice in the summer. However, amidst many other changes at that time—including some British bloke turning up at one point—we decided to shelve that change for a more appropriate season. During our recent visitation from Bishop Julia, she recommended to our Vergers and Worship Committee that we return to the common cup in the new liturgical year. Bishop Julia prefers a common cup theology, as indeed do I—among numerous others both in the wider Church and among our own parish—and especially given our new Bishop’s suggestion, I am naturally inclined to follow her lead.

Of course, intinction is included in this. The common cup is not about excluding intinction. Rather, it is about enabling everyone, however we receive communion, to share one cup. Both theologically and practically, the common cup is central to Episcopal, indeed Christian identity. For, as we physically receive the bread and wine from the same vessels, we also liturgically and spiritually participate in that same pattern of shared grace and prayerfulness which Jesus shared with his disciples and has been practiced throughout the ages. Furthermore, there are other practical reasons for returning to a shared cup. In the coming months, we will continue to experience a clergy shortage, and, given our children and youth members’ wider commitments we will also encounter a shortage of acolytes and servers at various points. Our altar space is also becoming increasingly cluttered with multiple vessels with fewer people to administer them.

Indeed, if you have questions about health concerns, please do look at the links below to a few widely available sources which hopefully provide some clarity here. They detail not only previous Diocesan recommendations and guidance, but also provide reference to research and policy throughout the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion which explain how the common cup has been proven to be a safe practice again for some time.

We will return to our former practice of the common cup this Sunday, The First Sunday of Advent. When you come for communion, you may receive the bread by opening your hands before you. When the cup comes to you, please either guide the chalice to your lips, or you may intinct the bread in the chalice. And again, intinction is allowed, as always. Also, if you wish to receive communion in one kind only (i.e. receiving only the bread or only the wine) then this is full communion as well. If you have questions, then please do not hesitate to reach out to me or one of our Vergers.

With every blessing,

The Rev. Edward Thornley, Rector

and

Tom Daley, Verger

Some helpful links

From The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts:

Bishop’s Expanded Remarks on Holy Communion Protocols

From The Diocese of Europe:

Note about receiving Holy Communion by Intinction

From The Rev. Dr. Joshua Daniel, Senior Associate Rector, St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, Washington D.C.:

The Common Cup

An early research paper on the common cup during the pandemic:

COVID-19 and Holy Communion

From the Rector: A change of season

Dear friends,

This week, we begin the season of Advent, the beginning of a new church year. As with all faith communities, the Christian Church has its own calendar which, while bearing similarities to others, also holds many differences. The Church’s year begins at the start of December, from which point we journey through the story of Jesus’s life and ministry. As we move through each season—Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and so on—we recount a particular aspect of Jesus’s life and how God is transforming our lives through him. During Advent, we return to the beginning of Jesus’s life, charting the prophecies and the lives of those who immediately paved the way for Christ to enter the world, through to our celebration of his birth at Christmas.

Each week, we will light the Advent Wreath at the beginning of our Parish Eucharist. On each Sunday in Advent, a different candle will represent one of the people or communities who opened the way for Jesus to come among us. The order follows: (1) the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Moses and the early forefathers of the children of Israel, the communities who first encountered God; (2) the prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, who predicted the Messiah would one day come to us; (3) John the Baptist, Jesus’s cousin, who baptized and preached in Jesus’s name prior to Jesus’s own ministry; and (4) the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. Indeed, Advent itself is a journey; a season where we follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us, until finally, at Christmas, we light the central candle which represents Christ as the true light of the world.

Alongside the Wreath, you will also notice other liturgical changes. The Eucharistic Prayer will be different, for example, where we will follow one which reflects more specifically on the incarnation and the overarching Biblical narrative. The colors in church will shift to purple, which represents royalty, depth, and, like the season of Lent, a degree of penitence, making space, and a reimagining of priorities. After all, Advent is a season of preparation as much as joyful expectation. The collects, prayers of the people, sermons, and other liturgical practices offered throughout the season will also reflect this spirituality, as will also several opportunities for spiritual formation which will be offered throughout the season.

Devon and I hope that you will consider joining us for theological discussion and/or compline during the season (see the separate advert). Indeed, there will be many other opportunities to gather for worship and fellowship throughout the season in addition to Sunday worship, so do keep an eye out for the weekly announcements. I also hope you will join us for Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m.! In the meantime, I trust that you all have a good Thanksgiving and let us pray together for our parish community as we enter this wonderful new year and a new chapter together.

With every blessing,

Ed.

The Rev. Ed Thornley

The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Sunday School Update: Entering Advent

Dear St. John’s families,

This week we enter into Advent, a season of waiting, expectation, and excitement to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

As we turn the page into this new season we have much to look forward to at church, some time-honored traditions and some new ones!

This week we will host the inter-generational Advent Wreath Workshop during coffee hour. This is a wonderful opportunity for your family to make an Advent wreath together to enjoy for the whole season at home. Candles and at-home prayers for each week are included. This is an event not to be missed!

On Dec. 8, St. Nicholas will be joining us at coffee hour for a special visit. This is always a hit with the kids, especially since treats are involved!

Lastly, I’m excited to announce that we have a brand new pageant that will take place at the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service! We have found a fun new script that has plenty of speaking roles and some humor sprinkled in. This pageant will be open to all children ages 3 and up. Given that this new pageant is inclusive to all children, we have decided to pause the Little Kids Pageant for the time being. We believe that a more streamlined holiday schedule will be less stressful and more joyful for everyone involved.

Calling all budding actors and narrators!

We need children/youth to serve as narrators, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, Innkeepers, Wife of Innkeeper, Shepherds, Kings, Angels, and Animals (including Mary’s donkey). Please let me know if your child is interested. While every child may not receive their first choice, there is a role for everyone! Please indicate your interest here.

Here is the preliminary schedule:

Dec. 8: Costuming after church

Dec. 15: Rehearsal after church

Dec. 18: Evening rehearsal

Dec. 22: Rehearsal during Sunday School

Children with speaking roles (all roles except Angels and Animals) will need to commit to the above rehearsal schedule. Non-speaking roles will need to commit to at least two rehearsals.

Warmly,

Alexis

Youth group to make Advent Wreaths

The next meeting for both Middle and High School Youth Group is Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. for Advent wreath making and dinner.

Our group of South Africa travelers is selling some great items at the Boutique! Please stop by our table in Lower Weld. We are offering custom wrapping paper, wreath décor to make your own beautiful wreath or planter, and ornaments from South Africa. All proceeds will go towards funding the cost of travel for our trip leader and chaplain, as well as donations to organizations in South Africa.

Have any questions or need to get added to the Sunday School or Youth Group newsletter?

Please email Alexis

Advent Lessons and Carols

Please join the St. John’s Choir for the annual service of Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. Through a series of Scripture readings emphasizing the loving purposes of God, interspersed with choir anthems and congregational hymns, this unique service draws us ever closer to the saving event of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Held during the season of anticipation, this is not a Christmas liturgy but one that points us toward the coming of the Prince of Peace. This long-standing parish tradition is followed by a candlelight reception in Upper Weld Hall.

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

Note from the Wardens—A Special Thank You

Thank you to all who joined us for a beautiful evening Tuesday to celebrate Fr. Ed's Institution as our ninth Rector! On behalf of the Vestry, we wish to share our immense gratitude to our Rector Search Committee and Transition Team.

We thank the incredible Rector Search Committee—Chairs Rob Hess and Elizabeth Moulds and their team Matthew Ginn, Sara Dickison Taylor, Barbie Dwyer, Bill Carter, Dan Fickes, Caitlin Slodden, Jane Carr, Molly Powers, and Cathy Torrey—who after months of prayerful discernment, recommended Fr. Ed as our next Rector. It was wonderful to see them all in attendance on Tuesday evening, enjoying a well-deserved celebration together.

We are also very grateful to Sara Dickison Taylor, Jenn Gay-Smith and Elizabeth Moulds for their dedicated service as Fr. Ed’s Transition Team. For the past several months, they have worked tirelessly to welcome Ed and Devon to St. John’s—arranging meet and greets with parishioners, ensuring that the Rectory was comfortable for their arrival, and organizing the Institution and reception. Thank you Sara, Jenn and Elizabeth for your thoughtfulness, your time, and your faithful service!

Brian Locke introduced as Interim Organist

Dear friends,

Brian Locke

I am delighted to announce our Interim Organist and Choirmaster for the New Year! Upon the retirement of Elisabeth “Buffy” Gray on Jan. 5, 2025, we will be welcoming Brian Locke as our new parish musician. In recent months, as we begin to celebrate and give thanks for Buffy’s music ministry among us, I have been working with several organizations to help us following our beloved Buffy’s departure. Brian’s name was immediately and enthusiastically recommended by numerous musicians and scholars in the church music world. Having met with Brian, and indeed witnessed several members of our parish getting to speak with him and hear him play, it was clear that he should be joining us. Following the Wardens’ and Vestry’s blessing, I am enormously grateful to Brian for him accepting this position.

Brian maintains a widely varied musical career as an organist, pianist, chamber musician, conductor, and vocal coach in addition to his daytime work in building operations and commercial real estate. Before his recent move to Boston last spring, Brian spent 10 years in Chicago and was Director of Music and Organist at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Park Ridge, Ill. (2018-2024), where he grew choral participation by 60% and introduced cross-diocesan parish partnerships with other music programs to stem larger musical ventures from combined small parish choirs. Before serving St. Mary’s Church, he was assisting organist at St. James’ Cathedral, Chicago and previously served at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta and Trinity Cathedral, Columbia S.C. among others. Brian holds degrees from the University of South Carolina (B.M.) and the University of Michigan (M.M.), the latter granting him the prestigious collaborative piano degree with Martin Katz.

Brian will begin his tenure with us on Jan. 6, 2025. He will be visiting the parish at various points in the coming months to connect with our glorious choir and choristers, our wonderful choir librarian John Lanza, and to also work with me in planning our musical offerings for the remainder of the program year. Please join me in warmly welcoming Brian. We are extremely blessed to have a musician of such caliber and, as you will soon experience, such kindness and humor join us!

With every prayer and blessing,

Fr. Ed.

A Note from Brian:

To the good people of St. John’s, Hingham—I am honored and excited to join you as your interim Organist & Choirmaster in January 2025. The fine reputation of your active and loving parish is widely known, and I hope to lead you all musically with Godly love, with liturgical good taste, with a bit of humor, and with efforts to highlight and grow your already wonderful musical heritage. Special thanks to Fr. Ed and to Buffy, who have both been tremendously kind and helpful in the beginning stages of this new chapter. I’ll look forward to meeting all of you in the new year.

Humbly yours,

Brian.

From the Rector: Thanks be to God for you.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

The Rev. Edward Thornley kneels before Bishop Whitworth Nov. 19 as he is instituted as the ninth Rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham.

On Tuesday, many in our community gathered at our parish church for my official Service of Institution with The Rt. Rev. Julia Whitworth, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Members of our parish, wardens, vestry, staff, search committee, transition committee, friends and family, and clergy from the deanery and diocese all came together to pray with me as we “officially” began this new chapter of St. John’s life together. It was wonderful to welcome so many new and familiar faces, and to have my dear friend Fr. Sammy Wood, from The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square, preach at our service. Although Devon and I have been here since July, this was the formal moment at which point we now begin our time in this community. It was also very special to have the Bishop here for what was her first parish visitation and her first installation service as a Bishop.

I am extremely grateful (here come the “thank yous” again …) to everyone who took part; which means all of the people mentioned above! And I want to offer a particular thanks to the transition committee: Sara Taylor, Elizabeth Moulds, and Jenn GaySmith, for all their work in orchestrating the whole event, the food, and the beer … I cannot begin to tell you how much Devon and I, and our families appreciated not only the evening itself, but are thrilled at the sheer fact that you, the parish, called us to this new journey with you.

During the service, one of the most poignant moments for me was where members of our community presented a series of gifts: objects which represent aspects of our life together which are significant for our shared ministry. As well as being grateful to those who took part in this moment, it was a gift in itself to be reminded in that moment of something which shapes our life as a parish. And that is the very fact that this is a shared ministry. Everything we do here we do together. And even though this was the institution of a rector, it is just as much, if not more so, the institution and celebration of what it means for our whole community to be what it is, and for us to be who we are with one another.

When each person held up their gift—from a Bible to a Prayer Book, from a stole to a Godly Play parable, to Eucharistic vessels—I was helpfully reminded that, in the end, a priest is no more special, holy, or important than anyone else. We’re a pretty useless bunch, really, because the whole point of a priest’s role (as far as I see it, anyway) is simply to be a person who is asked by a community to remind them that they already have all the gifts they need to be the church. While I may have spent some time reading the Bible, learning how to preach, hanging around an altar, and praying in public, these are obviously forms of spiritual engagement that we all share in. As with any other vocation, there are specific gifts however they are always that which inspire others in their own gifts. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

Thank you for a wonderful celebration. And, on this eve of the twenty-fourth annual Holiday Boutique, remember what you, as a parish, are already capable of. This is all because of you, because God has already given you the gifts with which to build his kingdom. Thanks be to God for you.

The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Sunday School Update: Last Sunday School session before Advent season

Dear St. John’s families,

This Sunday we return to regularly scheduled programming and our last Sunday before Advent begins.

In our Godly Play classrooms, we will learn about the Ten Best Ways (otherwise known as the Commandments). We always make sure to emphasize the commandment of honoring your parents!

In the 3/4/5 classroom, the kids will continue learning about the period in Israel’s history when it was ruled by three great kings (Saul, David, and Solomon), the building of the Ark of the Covenant (where Moses’ commandments were kept), and the subsequent division in Israel following Solomon’s rule.

Our struggle today to be true to God and fit in with our peers is not unlike the struggles of the Hebrew people.

At coffee hour this week, we’ll be presenting a beautiful gift to Fr. Ed, made by Karen Slodden and the Sunday School kids. We were all so excited to formally welcome him last night with his institution service. We have much to look forward to!

Next week I’ll begin communicating the plans for the holidays, which are briefly outlined below. Please do save the date for our popular advent wreath making workshop which takes place at coffee hour on Dec. 1!

Warmly,

Alexis

Coming up:

  • Dec. 1

    • Advent wreath making at coffee hour

  • Dec. 8

    • St. Nicholas visits at coffee hour

    • Pageant costuming

  • Dec. 15

    • Pageant rehearsal after 10 a.m. service

  • Dec. 19

    • Pageant rehearsal (evening)

  • Dec. 22:

    • Pageant rehearsal during Sunday School

A Special Week for St. John’s

Good Evening, St. John’s.

Today marks the first day in a very special week at St. John’s. On Tuesday evening, The Right Reverend Julia E. Whitworth will visit St. John’s where one of her first acts as Bishop will be to Celebrate the New Ministry and Institution of The Reverend Edward Thornley, St. John’s Ninth Rector.

St. John’s Parishioners had a vital hand in carrying the Church through the transition period. We would not be here without you. We hope you will join us to celebrate our community, our dedicated Rector Search and Transition teams, and this most joyous occasion. The Institution promises to be a meaningful service, a moment to recognize what we have been through, and to look forward together to our next chapter under the leadership of Father Ed. A celebratory reception will follow. We hope to see you there.

We also invite you to return to St. John’s Friday evening for the 2024 Holiday Boutique Cocktail Party—a beloved tradition and festive evening to shop, sip, and socialize. The Holiday Boutique is the Church’s largest annual fundraiser, and a wonderful opportunity to open St. Johns’ doors to the community and kick-off the holiday season. We are still looking to fill important volunteer slots. Please sign-up here. Every shift helps!

We are so grateful for our Church home, and all of you.

Faithfully,

Jody Jones Turner & Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn

On behalf of the St. John's Vestry