Christmas Greetings from the Pastor

SJG_Christmas2_s.jpg

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I miss you all very much and I am saddened that I will not see you in person to share the Holy Eucharist at St. John’s-Grace this Christmas.  I’m sure that we will all miss being with many of our loved ones.

I do have some good news to share! 

  • 3rd Annual Blue-jeans Drive.  We delivered over 100 pairs of jeans + hats, gloves, and boots to The Friends of Night People last week.  Many will feel more warm, secure, and loved!  Praise God.

Deb delivers blue-jeans to Friends of Night People

Deb delivers blue-jeans to Friends of Night People

  • We are also providing a meal and blessings for the homeless through the Garden of Love initiative at St. Paul’s Cathedral.  Our SJG team prepares and distributes a lunch at the Cathedral Park and Fireman’s Park on the first Sunday of each month.  Your generous donations to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund are used to purchase the food.

  • We held our Children’s Manger Service online this past Sunday. More than 40 kids of all ages joined us to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We used Joan Mangano’s manger figures to tell the story of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, the shepherds & angels, and the magi.  Our Director of Music, Brian Hilton and three cantors treated us with Christmas Carols.  Tom Lochner baked cookies for the children.  Janet Dolce knit mittens and made a snowman craft.  Mary Joy Murphy arranged ornament crafts and gifts.  I had all the fun, delivering these gift bags to the kids ahead of time.  The children were so excited and many came running out in the cold in bare feet and pajamas as I said hello from outside in the snow!

Janet employs her artistic skills to put together gift bags for the kiddies.

Janet employs her artistic skills to put together gift bags for the kiddies.

  • Our 2021 Stewardship Campaign is a great success!  The people of SJG have pledged over $83,000 to support the church and its ministry.  Pledges are still being accepted.  We are most grateful to Mark Babcock and Rob Petersen for serving on the Stewardship Committee.

  • The Christmas Memorials rolled in this year and Donna Doyle of the Altar Guild and Rob Petersen, Warden, greened the sanctuary for our online services.

Our beautiful Christmas Decorations in the sanctuary.

Our beautiful Christmas Decorations in the sanctuary.

I close with words of hope from the Prophet Isaiah:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.  Isaiah 9: 2

As we await an end to the current epidemic and a return to normalcy, let us reflect on the hope and promise of Christmas.  The vaccine is coming!  Nothing can separate us from the love of God and one another.

Love and Christmas Blessings,

Fr. Jon Lavelle

Web Team