At this months Men’s Breakfast, we read the third chapter of the Epistle of Saint James, wherein James warns us of the power of our words, and the need to master what we say, as it is a window into our soul. Saint James proposes that our words have a tremendous power and we were challenged to examine the words we use and see whether or no the build others up or tear them down. On the most simple level, if we were to say something about another person, would we say it to their face… and if not, are we being who Christ called us to be?
In the Book of the Profit Micah, it is revealed to us what a pure love of God looks like: “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic 6.8RSV)
The beautiful world God has created and given us is polluted by our being ugly to one another. We use our tongues to judge and tear down, to be ugly to one another, and it is wrong… and it damages others, and it damages ourselves. Being kind to others is one of the most basic and foundational showings of our love for God.
No one deserves kindness, no one deserves mercy, but our Lord Jesus Christ pours kindness and mercy upon us all… upon you and me. I challenge you to think carefully about the words you use and the things you say… do they build others up or tear them down? Are the words you use reflecting a kindness? Or do they reflect bitterness and anger and ugliness?
The words we use are very telling of our maturity and of our faith and love for God and others. Let us not tear others down… rather, let us employ kindness and build others up. For in doing so, we rejoice the heart of Jesus.
See you around the parish,
Jeff+
Children’s Sunday school will NOT meet Sunday, November 19th.
Ladies, don’t you need a night out? Let’s get together! Each third Thursday of the month the ladies of the church are meeting to dine, fellowship, and perhaps learn something from each other. We will meet Thursday November 16th at 6pm in the parish hall. Bring your favorite appetizer or dessert and something you would like to sip on and let’s have some fun and fellowship together! See you there!
Keystone Society Forming
Tuesday, November 28 at 10:00am We are excited to announce a new ministry! For the last few years, we have focused much energy on the youngest generation in our parish. It is time we shift some of the focus to the other generations, those who have given so much to make this parish a wonderful shining light in our community. The Keystone Society (for members 60+) will have its first meeting on Tuesday, November 28th at 10:00am and will feature State Auditor Stacey Pickering sharing time with us discussing fraud and sharing information to help keep us financially safe and secure in the modern day. Join us for fellowship, refreshments and enlightening discussion. And as a bonus–EVERYONE attending will be eligible for a ‘delicious’ DOOR PRIZE!!!
Good Samaritan ChristmasST. JOHN’S FAMILY CONNECTIONS
ADOPT-A-FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS 2017
Family Information cards will be in the nave after Thanksgiving Day!
The recipient families have been screened by The Good Samaritan,
a local non-profit agency that St. John’s has supported for many years.
Please choose a family to adopt and write down your name and a number where you can be contacted on the list.
You do not have to purchase every gift on the list and large families can be adopted by multiple people.
Gifts may be wrapped or unwrapped, but please
put the family # and the recipient’s first name on each gift.
The deadline to deliver the gifts to St. John’s or to Becky Jackson is Friday, December 15.
We have 20 families to adopt.
Let’s all participate and spread the joy of Christ’s birth
throughout our community
Good Samaritan staff will deliver to the families.
Contact Becky Jackson @ 601.466.7411 if you have questions.
Wednesday at St. John’s
Advent Concert Series
December 6 – Derrick Meador, organ
December 13 – Laurel High School Concert Choir – Katrina Cox, conductor
December 20 – Dr. Theresa Sanchez, piano (Jones County Junior College)
Visit From St. Nicholas
&
Home Nativity Figurine Blessing
St. Nicholas has scheduled his visit to St. John’s!! He will be arriving Sunday, December 10th during the 10:30 Mass to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas and to hand out gifts to our children. We are also starting a new tradition on that day!!! After the Confession and before the Peace, bring your baby Jesus from your nativity scene up for a blessing. Fr. Jeff will bless the baby Jesus and then you are encouraged to take your baby Jesus home and wrap the baby Jesus and place the wrapped gift under your Christmas tree. When you open your presents on Christmas morning, unwrap your baby Jesus FIRST! This helps us all to remember why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place.
Children’s Choir News
St. Cecilia
St. Gregory
And Youth Ensemble
Rehearsal Schedule
November – December 2017
St. Cecilia and St. Gregory Youth Ensemble
Wednesday – 4:15-5:15 p.m. Sunday – 5:15-6:00 p.m.
November 29 November 26
December 6 December 10, 13
Sunday, December 17 – Combined Rehearsal – 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 20 – Combined Rehearsal – 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 20 – Christmas Pageant and Dinner – Following Greening of the Parish
2017 Flower Chart
 The Altar Flower Chart for 2018 is on the board in the Sacristy hallway and we need the faithful to sign up to take a Sunday in memory or thanksgiving of someone or an event. If you are unable to come to the parish to sign up, you are more than welcome to call the parish office with a date you would like and we will try our best to accommodate you. When a person takes a Sunday, they contact the parish to make known their thanksgiving/memorial wording for the Sunday bulletin. Mr. Randy Jackson of Flowertyme is a communicant, but you may choose which florist you would like to deal with, or you can make the arrangement yourself and place them in the sanctuary.
Sign up to feed our E.Y.C.
We need your help feeding our E.Y.C. members on Sunday evenings. Their meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the parish. There is a sign up sheet located on the board in the sacristy hallway with dates that are available. For more information, contact the Parish Office.
An Easy Way to Help St. John’s Day School
Start clipping BOX TOPS for Education! Hundreds of products participate in the program, and you probably already have several in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator. For every Box Top you clip, St. John’s Day School will receive 10 cents!!! That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly. There are no limitations on the money’s use, so St. John’s can spend it as needed.
Grab your scissors and keep an eye out for the Box Tops for Education logo on the products you use every day. Once you have finished the product, clip the Box Top before you throw it away. Be sure to look over the whole box. There is a container labeled for your Box Tops on the table in the hallway.
We here at Saint John’s love reaching out to others and letting them know that they are loved by God, held in prayer and remembered. Our Pastoral Care Committee, E.Y.C. and Daughters of the King society would love to write notes of encouragement, send small care packages and simply let others know that they are prayed for and remembered. If you have a loved one who is shut-in, a college student or in the military, follow this link to fill out the form and let us stay in touch with them! The form is here: http://stjohnslaurel.com/?page_id=2037
A Tip O’ The Biretta
- To Mark Tucker and Derrick Meador for their help with the 2nd Tuesday Men’s Breakfast and to all those who attended!
- To Phyllis and Cleve Johnson for hosting the annual EYC hayride and bonfire. We all had a wonderful time!
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