Have you ever played the online game where you match pairs of Mahjong tiles? Sometimes, no matter how long you stare at the screen, you can’t find any available matching tiles. You think the game is over. Then you press the “hint” button and discover one or more pairs that you missed, and the game continues.

This week commemorated the conversion of Paul, the great evangelist of the early church whose letters are the oldest writings in the New Testament. He started out persecuting Jesus’ post-Resurrection followers but completely reversed course and began proclaiming the gospel after Jesus appeared to him in a bright light while Paul was traveling to Damascus.
 
Sometimes conversions are like that. We experience a mighty revelation or epiphany in dramatic fashion, as Paul did.
 
More often, we experience smaller insights or “aha” moments in our lives. We suddenly understand something in a new way or feel called to try something new.
 
Sometimes we’re searching for a new direction or understanding or meaning in our lives, without success. That’s when it’s time to hit our spiritual “hint” button – to call on the Holy Spirit for help. Opening our hearts to the guidance of the Spirit can open our eyes to new patterns and possibilities.
 
Where might the Holy Spirit be guiding you this Epiphany season? 

A note from The Rev. Michael Muller, Rector
St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Dear friends,

Our 2nd "Got Faith" series of talks ended last night with a celebration of Holy Eucharist.  We now will go back to the rhythm of a weekly celebration of the Word of God (Bible Study in a liturgical setting) and a monthly Eucharist. The pattern we will follow is:

• 1st Wednesday of the month - presented and hosted by Church of the Saviour, Denville
• 2nd Wednesday of the month - presented and hosted by St. John's, Boonton
• 3rd Wednesday of the month - presented and hosted by St. Peter's, Mountain Lakes 
• 4th Wednesday of the month - Holy Eucharist - held alternately at the 3 parishes
• 5th Wednesday of the month (happens only occasionally) - no meeting

Attached is the proposed schedule for the remainder of the program year.

In my previous call there was a stained glass depicting the Resurrection and it always struck me that it had some message about the future. Perhaps something can be seen in the depiction of the three figures - The Saviour, St. John & St. Peter.  

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped with Saturday’s Celebration of Life service for Elizabeth Van Dine. I ask your continued prayers for Deacon John and his family.
 
This Sunday, our Gospel reading will describe Jesus’ call to some of his first disciples. Jesus continues to call disciples, asking us to discern how we can show God’s love to the world and join God in the work of justice and compassion.
 
Within our church community, how might God be calling you to participate in the work of St. John’s? Perhaps you’d like to use your cooking or baking skills for coffee hour or the Saturday Luncheon Socials. Maybe you’d like to help establish and maintain our new “pledge garden.” Maybe you’d like to serve as an usher or lector or on the vestry or in the choir.
 
For those interested in serving as an acolyte, eucharistic minister (who can serve the consecrated bread and wine during Communion) or eucharistic visitor (who can take the consecrated elements to someone in the hospital or elsewhere), I will lead a training on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1:15 p.m. at the church.
 
Please let me know if you are interested in attending the training or would like to talk about other ways you might serve at St. John’s. 

Happy Epiphany!
 
January 6 marks one of the major celebrations in our church, when we remember how wise men from the East followed a star to locate and pay homage to baby Jesus in Bethlehem. An epiphany is a revelation or manifestation of the divine. On this day, we rejoice at the manifestation of Jesus to the foreign Magi, demonstrating that the incarnate Word came into the world for all people.
 
This Sunday, I hope you will join us as we celebrate Epiphany and welcome Deacon John’s great-granddaughter Phoenix into our congregation through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. We’re also expecting a guest appearance of the three Magi!
 
As we contemplate the divine light that is Jesus, and the starlight that guided the wise men, let us also consider how we might share the light of Christ that is within us. One opportunity comes this Saturday, when St. John’s will provide the meal for the Saturday Luncheon Social. (If you can help, please let Sharon Liparini know at Sharon.Liparini@gmail.com.)

Our light also can shine brighter when we join in ministry with other light-bearers. This Wednesday, I invite you to attend a 7 p.m. prayer at service at St. John's with Bible meditations as we host members of St. Peter’s in Mountain Lakes and Church of our Saviour in Denville as part of the Got Faith? Christian formation program. This year, we also will continue to work with members of these and other congregations in supporting the Afghan refugee families in their resettlement.

I can’t wait to see how else St. John’s will spread light through our community in 2023.
 
I wish you all the joy of the Magi and look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
 
Rev. Sharon

Christmas greetings from Rev. Sharon
             The wait is almost over!
             The last hours of Advent and holiday preparations are slipping away. Some of us may already have the decorations hung and the presents wrapped. Many of us may still be rushing around making last-minute purchases, trimming the tree or baking Christmas cookies.
             Wherever you are in your preparations, I urge you to pause for a few moments to appreciate the season and remember the joy of the Christmas miracle that underlies it: that somehow, against all logic, the creator of the universe loved us enough to come to earth to experience and share life on earth as a human being.
             Take time to worship with us, whether in person or via Zoom on Christmas Eve or in person on Christmas Day. We’ll sing familiar carols, listen to stories, share holy food and enjoy each other’s company as we give thanks and celebrate the feast of Jesus’ incarnation.
 
            O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! Come and behold him, born the king of angels! Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

             Wishing all a merry and blessed Christmas! Our service times are listed below.
  
CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY SERVICES

• Christmas Eve musical prelude at 9:45 p.m. followed by Holy Eucharist with choir at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24. 
• Christmas Day Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 25. New Year’s Day Morning Prayer service, 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, on Zoom only. 
• Epiphany service with baptism & Holy Eucharist with choir at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8 

Got faith?

Some days we may answer with an enthusiastic “yes,” but other days we feel less certain. Like the father who brings his sick child to Jesus for healing in the Gospel of Mark, we may cry, “I believe; help my unbelief.”
 
Faith development doesn’t just happen in Sunday school or stop after confirmation. It is a lifelong endeavor. As we age and mature, new knowledge and experiences inform, challenge and strengthen our faith.  
 
For the past two years, some members of St. John’s have explored their faith with other Christians and those interested in learning more about Christianity in a program called “Got Faith,” co-sponsored by St. John’s, St. Peter’s in Mountain Lakes and Church of the Saviour in Denville.
 
On Wednesday, December 14, at 7 p.m., St. John’s will host the Got Faith program. We’ll gather for the Liturgy of the Word (the first part of Holy Eucharist) and have an opportunity to offer our personal reflections on the evening’s readings.
 
No preregistration or prerequisites are required, just a desire to gather with others to explore our faith. I hope you will join us!

A message from Rev. Sharon
 
Where am I going? What am I doing?
 
These sound like great, existential questions. Unfortunately, as we reach middle age and beyond, they all too often are very practical questions. How often do we walk into a room only to forget why we went there!
 
In our busy lives, it’s easy to forget things – including to pray, or to spend time in reflection during this season of Advent as we anticipate the glorious celebration of God’s incarnation in Jesus at Christmas.
 
Advent calendars are one tool people use to count down the days to Christmas – often with the bonus of a daily piece of chocolate or other treat. Online Advent calendars provide short daily messages to help us along our spiritual journey.
 
Here are some websites where you can sign up to receive a daily e-mailed Advent message to help you remember to observe this holy season of waiting. (And there’s nothing wrong with buying one of those chocolate-filled ones, for a sweet reminder of the season’s joys as well!).
 
https://adventword.org/en/home/ (daily meditations)
 
https://afedj.org/resources/advent/ (inspirational messages from the Holy Land)
 
https://gdcrecordings.com/musical-advent-calendar-sign-up/ (musical Advent calendar)
 
You also can visit this site for a daily Advent meditation with musical selections: https://soundboard.giamusic.com/audiocalendar-advent/

What are we waiting for?
   This time of year, children are making wish lists and eagerly anticipating Santa’s arrival. College students are counting the days until finals end and winter break begins. Holiday shoppers may have waited for the Black Friday shopping bonanza, or be waiting for even better pre-Christmas sales.
   On a deeper level, we’re all waiting for something more meaningful and lasting. We long for an end to hatred and violence; for a day when we no longer are bitterly divided along political lines; for everyone to have shelter and food and health care. We long for the lion to lie down with the lamb and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
   On Sunday, we begin the season of Advent, a time of holy waiting. We wait for the yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus – God come to live among us in human form. And we anticipate Jesus’ return, the day when all are united in the kin-dom of God.
Advent provides time to pause and reflect on the meaning of God’s arrival as one of us, and of what we can do to continue Jesus’ work of healing, peace, justice and service. We can find ways to share God’s love and joy with others, whether by praying for them or providing gifts for local families through our “giving tree” or feeding our neighbors at the Saturday luncheons or offering a smile and kind word to weary holiday sales clerks.
   Taking time to reflect during this busy season brings peace to our souls. And spreading joy and love to others brings greater joy and love and meaning into our own lives. These are the gifts of Advent, as we await our God Incarnate.