Greetings to the St. John’s parish family! In the next few weeks, you are going to be asked to consider: “What do you love about St. John’s Church?” This question is a first step in your consideration of how you will support the church in the coming year with a financial pledge.

When I answer the question “What do I love about St. John’s?”, I remember the qualities of this community that excited me during the priest-in-charge interview process. I was so inspired by the church’s pandemic perseverance. Not only did the number of total pledging units increase during 2020, but the commitment to continue corporate worship, Christian formation, and outreach to our neighbors revealed a parish energized by faith, hope, and creativity. In everything I learned about St. John’s and its people, I saw gratitude for God’s gifts and a desire to share those gifts with others.

The most visible of God’s gifts at St. John’s is a rich tradition of corporate worship that is meticulously planned and reverently executed. At every service, St. John’s shows a commitment to give praise to God, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the pandemic, the church’s leaders were determined to share our vibrant worship through creative use of our livestream and outdoor spaces. For many years, St. John’s has also shared the gift of corporate worship at Hughes Home, a rehabilitation center just 1000 feet north of the church on Highland Street. Taking the message of God’s love to the residents at Hughes is a tangible example of this community’s determination to share the gift of worship that we have received from God.

Whether attending in-person or online, it is immediately apparent that music is vital to the life of St. John’s Church. Week after week, adult and youth choirs elevate our praise to Almighty God with liturgical leadership, choral support, and inspiring anthems. And yet, the music program does not only enrich St. John’s worship, but also builds bridges between the church and the larger community. From free organ concerts to the kids community music camp, St. John’s music programs embody our gratitude to God for the gift of majestic music, and our commitment to share that gift with others.

As disciples of Jesus committed to seeking and serving Christ in all persons, St. John’s leaders identified three areas where our neighbors are struggling: food insecurity, inadequate housing, and unequal education. To address these vital issues, St. John’s financially supports programs including Journey Home, Loaves and Fishes, and several independent schools. Moreover, we have sought additional opportunities to interact with vulnerable people as an expression of God’s love, through making sandwiches for Loaves and Fishes, passing out vegetables after Sunday worship, and providing Blessing Bags for anyone who comes to the church seeking assistance.

In each of these areas—extraordinary worship in an historic sanctuary, excellent music from the best of the Anglican tradition, and support for people in need—St. John’s members connect our gratitude for God’s many gifts that we enjoy here with a commitment to share those gifts with others. This coupling of gratitude and sharing is eloquently expressed in the letter to James: “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (1:17) May God bless us with grateful hearts for the gifts we have received, and with discerning hearts as we strive to share those gifts with others.