News - St. John's Eucharistic Fellowship

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St. John's Feast Celebrated

The Feast of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist, was celebrated at St. John's Chapel in Royston, Ga. on Saturday, Dec. 27. The Most Rev. W. David Epps, Bishop serving the Mid-South Diocese of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, was the Celebrant. Bp. Epps graced the occaision by being with the small congregation. He consecrated the Chapel, the altar, the font, and the instruments used at St. John's. The Rev. Canon Randall E. Allen, rector of St. Andrew's CEC, served as the bishop's chaplain for the service. St. John's is a mission of St. Andrew's CEC, Covington, Ga. The Rev. Father John Shinall, vicar of St. Peter's CEC, read the Gospel. Jonathan Allen served as the thurifer, John Samuel as the acolyte assistant. Other Scripture readings were done by Jessica Samuel and Sabrina Samuel. Mr. Earl T. Hillis prayed as a representative for the congregation, while his wife, Sadie played the organ. The Rev. Father Stanley Samuel, the vicar of the mission of St. John, led the music and singing. St. John's Feast is marked annually on Dec. 27 during the Christmas season, which extends for 12 days from Christmas Eve to Jan. 06, the Epiphany.

Ash Wednesday was observed at St. John's Chapel on Feb. 17, 2010, which began the Season of Lent that is observed for 40 days till Easter.

Fr. Stanley marked the forehead of each attendee with black ashes in the shape of a cross as a reminder of his/her mortality with the words, "Dust you are and to dust you will return." These ashes were made by burning palm leaves (from last year’s Palm Sunday celebrations) and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative. The penitential psalms and other Scripture portions were read. The crucifix and other icons were shrouded in cloth.

Fr. Stanley spoke of the need to rededicate lives to the truth of the gospel of Christ by paying attention to those things that are essential to obey rather than tirivial disagreeable matters. He encouraged all to take care of spiritual needs more than being concerned with physical and temporal ones.

The focus of the message was on having a true spiritual renewal, not just an outward appearance of it. This has to do with our attitude toward the people around us. How do we treat them? With the love of Christ or with contempt and disrespect?

Fr. Stanley encouraged communicants to observe a spiritual fast; a fast from being contemptuous, hateful, and dismissive of people around us; a fast that is not burdensome on others, but brings out true Christian living.