St. John’s News and Notes for June 25, 2023
ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE EPISCOPAL CHURCH  Dear Friends:A lonely, abused, single mother and slave girl who encounters God so intimately that she is the only person in the entire Bible who gives God a name – that is the story of the amazing woman we learn about in Genesis: She is Hagar. I love the story of Hagar. Don’t we all want God to see us? To take notice of us? Don’t we all want God to speak to us so that we hear Him directly? Of course we do! But it doesn’t always work this way. Sometimes for us God is silent, and He seems very far away. We must remember that God is never distant, and he never ignores our plight. Maybe we simply need to be at our lowest point, in a spiritual desert where we are bereft of everything, a place where the silence is deafening, to be able to perceive God’s compassionate and loving presence. Hagar’s story is timeless and eternal. Hagar symbolizes the various conditions of all people, and how they will attain greatness by trusting in God’s faithfulness. But of course, there is more to Hagar’s story. Come on Sunday and learn why Hagar’s name for God is El Roi. In Christ, The Rev. Dr. Marci Pounders+Rector  SCRIPTURES FOR THE FORTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Genesis 21:8-21 Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 Romans6:1b-11 Matthew 10:24-39 WATCH US ON FACEBOOK AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STJOHNSTEXOMA EMAIL US!STJOHNSTEXOMA@GMAIL.COM WEBSITE:WWW.STJOHNSTEXOMA.ORGTEXOMA.CHURCH PHONE:903-786-4339 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FIRST SUNDAYJULY POTLUCK SUNDAY, JULY 2ND! PATRIOTIC THEME! A SPECIAL APPEARANCE WILL BE MADE BY OUR OWN RESIDENT REVOLUTIONARY GENERAL, TRACY POUNDERS, WHO WILL READ PORTIONS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALLING ALL QUILTERS, SEWERS, CROCHET-ERS AND KNITTERS! ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO QUILT, CROCHET, SEW OR KNIT? WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN FORMING AGROUP TO MAKE PRAYER SHAWLS, QUILTS, BABY BLANKETS, BOOTIES AND HATS FOR PATIENTS AT TMC AND/OR SENIOR CENTERS IN OUR AREA? THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL WAY TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION. LET MOTHER MARCI KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.   VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER(S) SINGERS (PARTS) AUDIO/VISUAL TECH ACOLYTES USHERS GREETERS SECURITY TEAM ALTAR GUILD CONTACT MOTHER MARCI IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE THE CHURCH IN THESE VERY SPECIAL WAYS! * * * * * * * * * * * *INTERESTED IN BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION OR REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH? PLEASE LET MOTHER MARCI KNOW OF YOUR INTEREST SO THAT SHE CAN CONTACT YOU ABOUT YOUR FAITH JOURNEY. INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSES WILL BE SCHEDULED ACCORDINGLY. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEW! MEN’S MONTHLY DINNER FEATURING GUEST SPEAKERS FROM THE COMMUNITY! BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 5TH AT 6:00 P.M. GUYS WILL BE LARGE AND IN CHARGE OF THE COOKING AND COODINATION OF THIS SPECIAL MONTHLY NIGHT OUT FOR OUR ST. JOHN’S MEN. PLAN TO COME AND BRING A FRIEND FOR WHAT PROMISES TO BE A FUN AND INFORMATIVE EVENING! WANT TO HELP OR NEED MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT SENIOR WARDEN, ROGER PECKENPAUGH AT 903-814-2924.   |