The opening hymn "Father eternal, Ruler of creation" is related to the gospel reading from Matthew 22. The Offertory hymn "Earth and all Stars" is related to the 1st reading from Isaiah. This hymn was written for the 90th anniversary of St. Olaf College which accounts for the extraordinary amount of educational references. The Communion hymns "I sought the Lord" and "O for a closer walk with God" are related to the 2nd reading from 1 Thessalonians. The final hymn is a new paraphrase of Psalms 149 & 150 by British hymn writer Michael Parry and fulfills the command in the Psalm 96: "Sing a new song". The Anthem is the setting of the Shaker hymn "Love is Little" by Kevin Siegfried. The Voluntaries are 2 chorale preludes written in his last days by Johannes Brahms. The opening "O blest are Ye whose toils are ended" remembers the saints who've recently "crossed the bar." The closing is the ebullient setting of another old German chorale "My heart is filled with joy."

As part of our Stewardship campaign this year join fellow parishioners as we partake in an evening meal and fellowship, and reflect on all that we are grateful for at St. John's. Please bring food to share. After dinner we will have Poetry Readings by parishioners at 7:30 pm in the church. Continuing the theme, our subject for the readings will be "Gratitude." If you wish to read a poem, email Glo Richardson at glorichardson704@gmail.com or call the church office at 978- 283-1708 to register. Please join us. All are welcome.