Dear God,
We ask you to bless all of our Veterans. They have served their country well. Please shine your light on them and comfort them. Inspire them to hold fast to the gifts of faith, hope, and love that you have given each of us. Amen.
This week, we have been remembering our Veterans and giving thanks for the many sacrifices made by our brothers and sisters in the armed forces. At Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day today, the students in grades 2 – 5 honored the veterans in attendance as they sang songs such as, “America the Beautiful,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Unsung Heroes” with gusto and fervor. Thank you to all who came; we had a great turn-out at the event.
We are also thankful for the many families who turned out for the State of the Parish! The presentation described the many ministries of the parish. Did you know that we have over 1,000 registered families? We are a vibrant community because so many of you are involved! Those of you who couldn’t make it will have the opportunity to attend another presentation and pick up your sacrificial giving envelopes at that time. Read on below for more information. Thank you to Mary Wiseman, Sheila Marty, Frank Freeman, and Gretchen Swanson, for sharing all of the good news with us. Also, thank you, fellow parishioners, for donating to the Capital Campaign. We are so very close to our goal!
You are indeed living out the mission of Jesus, which is empowering all of you who have made donations of candy, items for the homeless, and food for those in need. The corridor outside my office is a fitting metaphor for the story of the loaves and fishes with hundreds of canned goods, toiletries, and tubs of candy. Together, we will offer many families the comfort of a few meals. Then, we will do it again on November 16, at 6:30pm, when we gather to make comfort kits for the homeless in our area. God bless you, St. John Community!
Thank you, Mrs. Abby Mansfield, for your well-received presentation on Growth Mindset for Families Tuesday night, and to the Parent Association for facilitating. We all benefit when we remember that it takes practice, effort, and dedication to grow and achieve. Let’s stretch our brains and praise the hard work. Perseverance leads to success.
Peace,
Bernadette
