The Relationship of Prayer

by the Reverend Mary Mackin When I was a child, my family gathered together each morning around the table for breakfast. But before we ate, my mother always read a passage of scripture and prayed. I can’t say I didn’t fidget during that five minutes, but nonetheless we all listened and prayed as well. My…

All Things Come of Thee

A reflection on giving back, by Gates DeHart As a single man endowed with a modicum of wealth and few financial responsibilities or burdens, it has always been my pleasure to pledge at least a tithe of my income to the church each year. As my sister, Betty Stanley, says, “Gates, it’s all God’s money.”…

Becoming Beloved Community: How You Can Help Rebuild

The Reverend Richard Fife has shared this with us, and we encourage you to find a way to be involved in this growing project! Building on Bishop Curry’s visit and the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, members of a multiracial community group born out of the Becoming Beloved Community initiative in…

Easter: Coming Home Again

Friends, A few weeks ago in worship we heard the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32). This most famous of Jesus’ stories tells of a son who does the unthinkable – basically wishing his father dead by asking for his premature inheritance, only to waste every bit of it in a foreign land…

Holy Week at St. John’s Episcopal Church

Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019 8 a.m. Liturgy of Palms & Holy Eucharist, Rite I *9 a.m. Adult Christian Education *10 a.m. Liturgy of Palms & Holy Eucharist, Rite II *5 p.m. The Gathering Eucharist *5:45 p.m. Sunday Supper Maundy Thursday, April 18, 2019 *6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar 7:00 p.m.…

Addiction: Finding Hope, Love, Transformation

Drs. Dave and Cheri Hartman (pictured below) spoke at our Sunday services on March 17 about addiction and recovery. They each have more than three decades’ experience working with individuals in addiction and recovery including work in private practice and at Carilion and the Bradley Free Clinic. David: “I have the honor to work with…

Different Stories, Same Home

A Lenten reflection from the Reverend David Olson I’m sitting in the middle of a long table, and looking around, I see all kinds of different faces looking back at me. They are all men, as this is a meeting of my St. John’s men’s group, but beyond that each face represents a totally unique…

Listening for the Voice of God

Eloise Chandler, a senior at Roanoke Catholic, gave this sermon for Youth Sunday this year, on March 24. A bush on fire but not burning? God calling a shepherd to save the Israelites, an entire population of people? It makes sense that Moses was confused and frightened by the will of God. Moses was afraid…

A Prayer for our Muslim Family

As so many are, I have read with sadness of the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. I share this prayer with the recognition that it is an explicitly Christian prayer offered on a day when those suffering are Muslims, victimized by sectarian, tribal hate. But I do so, as a Christian, because…

The St. Francis Food Drive is Back!

The St. Francis House Food Pantry needs to be restocked, and St. John’s is committed to making that happen. Fill an extra bag when you go shopping, and make a difference in the lives of our neighbors. Fill a bag, and change a life! St. Francis House needs household-size packages of the following items: • Canned…