For several weeks this fall, Father Malloy has taught us much about our heritage as Episcopalians, beginning with exploring our first Prayer Book.   Following the 10:00 service this week, The Rector and Father Malloy will facilitate a dialogue about our own experiences of our life of common prayer here on the Mountain, with particular consideration given to the placement of furniture and the Rood screen in the front of the room (the chancel).  

 Please join us this Sunday, December 15th for  Advent Arts and Crafts during coffee hour in Parish Hall following the 10:00 worship. 

This Christmas St. John's Youth Group is helping to bring smiles to 30 teenage residents of the Morris County Youth Shelter.  With your generosity, they have raised over $400 to buy each child two gifts off their wish list.  The Youth Group is still collecting through today.  Please drop-off any donations to the Parish Office or place in the offertory plate.

St. John on the Mountain invites you to join our new Intergenerational Christmas Choir.  The vested members of both the Treble Choir and the Adult Choir will sing a simple anthem together during the Offertory at both the Pageant on Sunday, December 22nd and at the 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Eucharist. The choristers are inviting their siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, grown children, and care givers to simply walk up and join them around the piano to sing an anthem together. Visiting singers are not required to vest, sit with the choir or process (unless they want to) and can simply return to their seats after singing.  Visiting Choristers are invited to practice the anthem with the choir at 11:15 am on December 15th, 9:30 am on December 22nd, and at 4:30 pm on Christmas Eve.  Copies of the Anthem can be picked up in advance in the Choir Room piano or in the Parish Office.

Pledge payments for the calendar year 2013 will need to be received in the office or post marked by December 31, 2013 in order to receive tax credit for the current year.

 If you would like to dedicate Christmas Flowers & Special Music, please send your dedications to the Parish Office.  In order that we might publish all names in the Christmas bulletins, we ask that you send in your forms by Monday, December 16th.  Click here to download form  or call the office 908-766-2282 to have one mailed to you.

 Please join the Altar Guild, on Sunday, December 22nd 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 Friday, December 20th at 9:30 am to prepare the decorations for staging on Sunday.

A Holiday Festival for Organ and Brass

'Tis the season for celebration and music, with a concert the whole family will love! Join organist Brian Harlow and the Somerset Hills Brass Ensemble for a delightful program of holiday music by Gabrieli, Praetorius, Bach and others, contrasting the brightness of St. John on the Mountain's Petty Madden pipe organ with the mellow sonorous tone of brass instruments. And come ready to join us in an old-fashioned carol sing-along!  To purchase advance tickets visit http://musicsh.org/concerts/.

Help bring joy to a struggling family's Christmas by providing an uncooked meal for their Christmas Dinner.  It's easy!  Just buy the makings for a meal, and deliver it uncooked to your Adopt-a-Family.  A sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board near Parish Hall.  Please call Sue Kennedy at 908-234-0267 or email with any questions.  If you have a particular family you have been supporting in the past, please let Sue know so that she can inform the Food Bank.

We baptize primarily on those dates set aside for baptism, as listed in the Book of Common Prayer.  Since the presence of the community of faith is essential for welcoming the newly baptized into the church, baptisms take place in the principal service on the appointed Sunday. The next day for Baptism is Sunday, January 12th at 10:00 am.  Questions about baptism?  Please contact Mo. Susan at rector@sjotm.org.