Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Galatians 3:18-29 🔆 Philippians 2:1-13
S E R M O N
🔆 “Have the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus” – The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Prelude in C Major, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
INTROIT … In Love You Summon, John Bell (b. 1949)
HYMN … Baptized in Water
ANTHEM … Wade in the Water, Traditional Spiritual, arr. Mark Hayes (b. 1953)
HYMN … Beautiful Differences
OFFERTORY … Pater Noster, Arthur Foote (1853-1937)
HYMN … We Know That Christ Is Raised
POSTLUDE … Wade in the Water, Trad. Spiritual arr. William Farley Smith (1941-1997)
Join us for Coffee Hour immediately after the service.
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A N N O U N C E M E N T S
Fair Trade Coffee, Chocolates, Olive Oil sales, September 27
Since 2011, St. John’s members have purchased tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of organic, fair-trade coffee, tea, chocolate, and olive oil to support small-scale farmers across the world. This is not a fundraiser; SJ offers these products at the lowest prices possible to our community — by choosing these products, we are participating in a more just economic system. On Sunday, September 27, during coffee hour on the patio, there will an assortment of products to select from. Payments can be paid using cash, checks (made out to St. John’s Presbyterian Church), and now Paypal. – Bill Herwood
World Community Sunday, October 4
Come join the celebration of God’s work across borders and cultures during the regular Sunday worship service at 10am at St. John’s.
Upcoming SJ Sunday Forums
Take a break after worship for 10-15 minutes, then come back for learning and conversation, led by the speakers listed below. Fall Forum Schedule available.
“What is Homer’s Odyssey,” October 4
Led by Polly Coote. This forum is an introduction or refresher on the composition of the epic from the perspective of oral traditional storytelling.
Polly Coote’s academic training in classics (Greek) and in South Slavic (Yugoslav) language and literature with a focus on Serbo-Croatian heroic song first brought her to a position in the Slavic department at UC Berkeley in the 1970s. Polly taught biblical Greek at the San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) and the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) for over 35 years, along with working as the registrar and associate dean for student life.
“Consciousness, Free Will, and God,” October 18
Led by Changin Sohn (Chan). This forum will cover consciousness and metacognition (how do we know ourselves), free will (are we really free?), and where God is in all of this.
Changin Sohn (Chan) is a doctoral candidate at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and a visiting Ph.D. student at the Tsao lab at the University of California, Berkeley, where his research stands at the intersection of theological anthropology, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. His dissertation, “Formed to Be Free: Metacognition, Finitude, and the Developmental Structure of Creaturely Freedom,” argues that the freedom Christianity ascribes to human persons is not a fixed capacity but a developmental achievement – one that forms within finitude, embodied practices, and communal accountability.
“Is there a Lawyer in the House? Creating collaborative opportunities to improve health through public policy and the law,” October 25
Led by Madlyn Morreale. This forum will explore using our gifts to benefit others, inspire others to do the same, and give hope that there are more good people in the world, using Madlyn’s career and experiences in healthcare and government as examples.
For the past 18 years, Madlyn led Legal Aid of North Carolina’s statewide Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) Program, working with health professionals from community-based clinics, hospitals, and health system settings to integrate access to “legal remedies” into team-based efforts to address social drivers of health. Prior to joining Legal Aid of North Carolina, Madlyn co-founded the Center for Adolescent Health & the Law, served on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, was Professional Staff for the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families in the U.S. House of Representatives, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.
Pet Blessing, October 11
Bring your pets (leashed or in a carrier) or pictures of your pets to our regular Sunday worship service, along with a hat and layered clothing.
St. John’s Haunted House and Halloween Party, October 24
It’s that spooky time of year again! Come and enjoy a fun and spooky experience by our community. Bring your friends and family to St. John’s annual Haunted House and Halloween Party on Saturday, October 24, 6:30-8pm. Volunteers needed! Whether you love entertaining and greeting guests, creating creepy scenes or helping behind the scenes, there’s a spot for you. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Manju Noone. We’re looking for volunteers to help with: decorating and set up, 1-5pm; acting and guiding guests, refreshments/hospitality, and clean-up, 5-9pm. Thank you!
QR Code for Giving Money to St. John’s
One can now donate via PayPal for weekly giving and special events. Simply scan the PayPal QR Code in our bulletin or church lobby. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your continued support.
Featured image by Niki Clark