Happening This Sunday

Who's Preaching Where on Shine Forth Sunday

• Traditional Services | 9 am & 11:15 am in the Church – The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill
• Awesome Worship Service for Families | 9:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Reagan Cocke
• Traditional Service | 8 am & 5 pm in the Chapel – The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill (8 am) & The Rev. Louise Samuelson (5 pm)

Worship Online

• Traditional Service in the Church (9 am - with Order of Service & Announcements)

NOTE: There is no Sunday School and no nursery care today. Classes will resume on February 15.

Happening Today

Shine Forth Sunday
Join us at 10:15 am in the Hall Life Center for Shine Forth Sunday as St. John the Divine launches our capital campaign and celebrates this exciting moment in our shared life! The morning includes our regular 9 am traditional services, Awesome Worship at 9:15 am, the Annual Meeting and campaign kickoff, and a joyful all-parish buffet lunch. The 11:15 am service will not meet, but the 8 am and 5 pm Chapel services will be held as usual. Come be part of the celebration as we shine forth together. If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the livestream.

The Collect of the Day

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Matthew 5:13-20

5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Musical Offering in the Church

Today we celebrate The Light of the World, Jesus Christ, and embrace our calling to let that light shine forth  in all that we do. Our worship begins with Leo Sowerby’s “Eternal Light,” taken from a prayer by Alcuin, an 8th Century monk, and later expanded by an Anglican priest in 1977. The prayer calls us into discipleship with this light.

Although the popular children’s song “This Little Light of Mine” is often thought of as an African- American Spiritual, it was penned by composer and teacher Harry Dixon Loes (1892-1965). It has entered the folk tradition since its creation in the 1920’s and has been arranged in choral versions by numerous composers. At the Offertory, the Chorale sings an a cappella arrangement in the spiritual tradition by the late American composer and conductor Moses Hogan (1957-2003). 

During the ministration the choir sings Paul Halley’s 2001 setting of “The Lord’s Prayer.”  Halley was born in Romford, England in 1952 and received his early musical training in Ottawa Canada. He is a Grammy Award-winning composer, choral conductor, and organist. Halley is currently the Director of Music of The Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax. Listen to the jazz influences of his harmonies.

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What to Expect