“HOLIDAY DEPRESSION”
Earlier this week, in our Church Leadership Council, our practical lesson was about “Holiday Depression.” Because many shared how needed and helpful the lesson was, I am inspired to share the same lesson with each of you. A lot of people experience Holiday Depression (Holiday Blues) during this season of the year. Some common feelings associated with Holiday Depression are as follows: frustration, sadness, fatigue, tension, sense of loss, and isolation or loneliness. Here’s what people can do to manage Holiday Depression: pray, give thanks, read and meditate on the word, self-care, eat properly, rest sufficiently, exercise daily, enjoy nature, stay safe, develop a spending limit (regarding Christmas shopping), and share your blessings with others.
Holiday Depression (Holiday Blues) is a common problem that can be resolved with the help of God. Psalm 121:1-8 says:
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore.
CHRISTMAS GALA
At St. John, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, especially in our forthcoming Worship Celebrations in December. Since we are still amidst a pandemic, we are being cautious (not fearful) by not having our traditional in-person Christmas Gala, but this year we will have a virtual Christmas Gala. A special ensemble (chosen St. John voices rather than our Mass Choir) will be singing in our virtual Christmas Gala on December 19, 2021, at 6 p.m., and everyone will be able to view our Christmas Gala via live streaming (YouTube and Facebook) on this date and time and thereafter.
CHRISTMAS PLAY
A special Christmas Play, “A Delicate Matter,” (written and directed by Sis. Pamela Harrison) will premier virtually on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2021), and everyone will be able to view it via YouTube and Facebook on this date and thereafter. Both (Christmas Gala and Christmas Play) will be prodigious and greatly publicized, so let’s make sure we view them and encourage many to do likewise.
CHRISTMAS SPEECHES
The children and youth of St. John will be uttering Christmas speeches on Saturday, December 25, 2021, and thereafter. We love our children, and we are very proud of them; therefore, let’s support them by viewing them online. If you are on our website mailing list, you should receive an email enabling you to view them online. You will also be able to view them by visiting our website at sjmbc.org or our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/sjmbctv.
OUR DAILY BREAD
If God is willing, we plan to begin Thursday, December 29, 2021, listing Scriptures to be read daily that will enable us to read the Bible in its entirety in a year. These Scriptures will be listed each Thursday in this venue From The Pastor’s Desk. I encourage everyone to participate with a goal to read through the Bible in a year and with a goal to learn more about God and His word; hence, plan to begin 2022 (if God permits) on the right track by reading Our Daily Bread.
THANK YOU
I joyfully express my gratitude to so many of you who have already blessed me with Christmas gifts. I do not take this lightly because people do not have to be nice and generous, so please know that I am very appreciative. May God bless you with even more than what you have blessed me with, and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year.
MEMORANDUM
Building Fund Pledges: We still desire to construct a multimillion-dollar Family Life Center, adjacent to our current sanctuary at the North Campus, which will consist of a gymnasium, game room (for the youth), and weight room. Many of us made a pledge that we fulfilled, but some have not. I personally thank those of us who have already fulfilled our pledge and others who have made “Building Fund” contributions this month. I encourage everyone (if you have not already done so) to participate financially as soon as possible in this building project by choosing one of the following tiers:
1) $10,000.00 or more
2) $5,000.00 to $9,999.00
3) $1,000.00 to $4,999.00
4) $500.00 to $999.00
5) Below $500.00
Every Dollar Counts: We need to close our year better than what we are averaging. From now to the end of the year, each of us is needed to give generously in our Tithes and Offerings because we are on course currently to fall far from our yearly average. Let’s demonstrate our love for God and St. John (at least for the remainder of this year) by being generous with your Tithes and Offerings. Moreover, if you desire to reap a harvest, allow God to lead you to sow a special Seed Offering. Giving is God’s way for us to receive more, for He promised to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings leaving us with no room to store them (Mal 3:10). We currently give in person during Sunday Morning Worship Celebrations, by mailing or dropping off our Tithes and Offerings at our Administration Building or South Campus, or by giving online through our website (sjmbc.org).
A New Way To Grow: For 34 years, I have taught, as a Pastor, ways for a church to grow in person, but a new way to grow is now necessary due to the existing pandemic. In order to be safe, St. John is currently utilizing 30-40% of our seating capacity (social distancing) in the sanctuaries of our North Campus and South Campus. Consequently, we are now seeking ways to build our Virtual Audience through live streaming (YouTube and Facebook/Meta) and podcasts. I encourage everyone to subscribe to our YouTube platform and encourage others (St. John parishioners and friends) to subscribe also. The larger our YouTube subscription the greater benefits we can receive.
Safety Protocol: We currently have two Worship Celebrations (each is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes) every Sunday: 9 a.m. at the North Campus and 11 a.m. at the South Campus. We encourage everyone, especially people who are physically disabled, to arrive at least 10 minutes beforehand to be seated safely and comfortably. Temperatures are checked, hand sanitizing is urged, social distancing is applied regarding where people shall sit and walk, wearing a mask is still mandatory (even though exceptions are now made in our county which began November 1st), utilization of restrooms is restricted to 2-4 people at a time (depending on the size of the restroom), and congregating before and after Services is prohibited.
Weekly Activities: I strongly encourage everyone to participate in the St. John activities that benefit you. In regards to each of the following activities, visit our website at sjmbc.org if you need more information. What’s forthcoming?
Sundays:
- Worship Celebrations at 9:00 a.m. (North Campus) and 11:00 a.m. (South Campus)
- Online Church School at 2:00 p.m.
- Online J.A.M. (Sessions For Children) at 4:00 p.m. (2nd and 4th Sundays).
- Online Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m. (1st Sundays). To participate, each believer will need bread or a cracker and grape juice (or something similar).
Mondays:
- Preparation For Grocery Giveaway at 10:00 a.m. (South Campus)
- Online Women Missionary Ministry (General Mission) at 6:00 p.m. (4th Mondays)
Tuesdays:
- Grocery Giveaway at 12:00 p.m. (North Campus and South Campus)
- Online Church Leadership Council at 6:30 p.m. (Tuesdays before 3rd Sundays)
Wednesdays:
- Online Prayer at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Online Church School at 7:00 p.m.
BIBLICAL RECAPITULATION
Let us look unto the hills where we can find our help, for our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Ps. 121:1-8).
May God bless and sustain each of us.
Your Servant In Christ,
Dr. Kevin B. Hall, Pastor