This Week on the Mountain for Sunday, December 23rd

This Week on the Mountain

Sunday, December 23rd

The fourth Sunday of Advent

St. John on the Mountain

Christmas Pageant this Sunday, December 23rd

Please join us this Sunday for the Annual Christmas Pageant at 10 am.

Greening of the Church for Christmas

Please join the Altar Guild, on Sunday, December 23rd after the 10 am pageant as they prepare the church for Christmas. Help decorate trees, hang wreaths, and stay for refreshments. Altar Guild members should plan to gather on Saturday, December 22nd at 9:30 am to prepare the decorations for staging on Sunday.

Christmas Services

Monday, December 24th ~ Eve of the Nativity

Father Malloy will be assisting at the 5 pm service and

presiding at the 11 pm service

5 pm Christmas Eve Family Service with Building of the Crèche

The Festive Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist with the Treble Choir will include the Building of the Crèche. Families with young children are invited and encouraged to celebrate the Nativity with us. Children who would like to participate in the Procession should arrive by 4:40pm and gather in the chapel. Childcare is available.

10:30 pm Carols by Candlelight

11 pm Christmas Eve Festival Holy Eucharist

Please join us in the church beginning at 10:30pm with Carols by Candlelight, followed by a Christmas Eve Festival Holy Eucharist.

2013 Stewardship

As of Thursday, December 20th, we have 96 pledges totaling $297,297 for the 2013 EMC campaign, which includes a few new members. But we still have a ways to go to surpass last year (115 pledges for $355,622) and achieve this year's goal of $370,000 in pledges.

Extra pledge cards can be found in the narthex or click here to download or email the office to have one sent to you.

Don't forget that you can donate your Stocks to SJOTM. The tax advantages of giving stock, instead of cash, to church can make doing so very worthwhile. To learn more, please contact Lisa Keenan in the office at 908-766-2282 ext 13 or by email at L.Keenan@SJOTM.org. We would be happy to accept stock donations for 2013 as form of pledge payment.

2013 Lectors

The 2013 schedule is being created for Lectors. If you would like to be added to our list of readers, kindly email Louise Vivona-Miller lvivonamiller@gmail.com to let her know.

Food Bank Supplies are Low

The Food Bank Network of Somerset County supplies are low due to the strain from Hurricane Sandy. Please bring in donations to help fill their pantry. A basket for your items can be found in the narthex.

2013 Flower Dedications

St. John on the Mountain continues the tradition of having fresh flowers on the altars. The arrangements enhance the sanctuary and are shared afterwards with the sick or divided to use again the following week in the chapel. Donations of flowers are made as memorials or in thanksgiving for special occasions. A date can be shared by more than one donor. The 2013 flower sign-up charts are now posted on the bulletin board in the hallway of the church building, opposite the entrance to the Chapel sacristy. For dedications and specific floral requests contact Jane Mercer jpmercer@comcast.net or the office 908-766-2282 office@sjotm.org. The cost is $100 for church altar flowers and $70 for chapel altar flowers.

2013 Celtic Fundraiser

If your name is Thomas, Jones, Evans, Williams, or begins with a Mc, Mac, or O' then you are a Celt and you are needed. And if you are not a Celt by heritage we need you, too. Our parishioner, Dan Thomas, has created a series of 50 water color paintings titled "A Journey Through Britain" which will be featured in a Celtic Fortnight of events to be held in February/March 2013. We hope to have enough volunteers to offer the following:

Celtic Concert and Art Reception with Bagpipe music, choir, food
Rugby Breakfast - streamed games from the UK and English breakfast
St. David's Day celebration hosted by the Welsh Society
Spiritual Journey through Britain - Art and Religious sites talk
Tea and Crafts - outside crafters rent space - tea and lunch
Scotch tasting - possibly Scottish dancing - We are in need of a Scotch "expert"

Please contact Debbie Hennel at dhennel@aol.com as soon as possible to offer your time, talent, and ideas.

This Week at a Glance

December 24, The Eve of the Nativity

4:30 pm Nursery Care, Room 2 Lower Level

5:00 pm Family Service with Building of the Crèche, Church

10:30 pm Carols by Candlelight, Church

11:00 pm Christmas Eve Festival Holy Eucharist, Church

December 25 - December 28th

Parish Office Closed

December 28th, Friday

10:00 am Grace's Soup Kitchen, Plainfield

December 30, The First Sunday after Christmas