The Reverend Jerry L. Miller, Rector

Holy Days & Special Occasions
Services as Announced

See our Calendars page for worship schedule changes.

Holy Communion by Non-Episcopalians

Through most of the Episcopal Church’s life, Holy Communion could only be received by people who had been confirmed in the Episcopal Church. In the 1970's, when the implications of the Ecumenical Movement in the USA began to take hold in local churches, the Episcopal Church passed legislation allowing, under certain circumstances, non-Episcopalians to receive Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church.

The following standards were established by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 1979:

(1) The person desiring to receive Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church shall have been baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit, and shall have previously been admitted to the Holy Communion within the Church to which they belong.

(2) That person shall examine their lives, repent of their sins, and be in love and charity with all people, as the Episcopal Church in its catechism says is required of all those who come to the Eucharist.

(3) That person shall approach the Holy Communion as an expression of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ whose sacrifice once upon the cross was sufficient for all humankind.

(4) That person shall find in this Communion the means to strengthen their life within the Christian family through the forgiveness of theirs sins, the strengthening of their union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

We are planning a float trip on Friday, June 13th and Saturday June 14th. The trip is open to youth (10 years old and over) and their immediate families. We will arrive at Sunburst Ranch on Friday afternoon, camp Friday night, and float down the North Fork River on Saturday. The campground is 15 miles east of Gainesville and about two hours from Springfield.

We need to provide a final count to the campground by Sunday, May 18th, so be sure and sign up before that date. If you would like to arrive on Thursday, please let us know, and we will make arrangements. There will be other activities planned, so be prepared to have some fun in the sun.

The church will be providing meals and the canoes; however, we ask that you cover your own campground fees (ages 12 and up–$4, ages 5-11–$2, and children under five are free).

Children under 18 years of age MUST HAVE a parent or guardian sign a release waiver. If children do not have this signed waiver, they WILL NOT be allowed to float.

Please contact Laura Hughes for more information.

Confirmation, Baptism, Reception Classes

If you would like to be confirmed, baptized or received into the Episcopal Church, please plan on attending the Adult Inquirers’ Classes.

In preparation for Bishop Howe’s visit to St. John’s on June 22, 2008, Father Miller will offer a series of classes about the Episcopal Church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. The sessions will begin on May 7. The last class will meet on June 18.

The classes will consist of short lectures, videos, and reading and workbook assignments. If you think you are interested please let Father Miller know as soon as possible.

 

 

Evangelism Corner

God our heavenly Father, you revealed to us your only Son Jesus Christ who became the reconciler of your people to you through His awful death on the cross. He chose disciples to continue teaching and revealing him as Lord and Saviour. We ask you to open our hearts and let Christ live in us that we would be His present and future disciples for His mission. We pray that the radiant rays of the Holy Spirit may inspire, and strengthen us to preach Christ Jesus as Lord, Saviour and life giver throughout the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Diocese of Central Zambia: Central Africa