Feast of St. John Apostle and Evangelist

I admit it.
Sometimes I post out of order.
But I didn't want to leave out this one.

The parish I serve in Asheville is St. John's,
named after the Apostle and Evangelist.
St. John's feast day is December 27th.
Let's face it.
That is not a great day to celebrate a patron saint--
right after multiple Christmas eve services, a Christmas day service
plus folks being out of town
or just worn out from the holidays.

But this year was such an exception.
I did not preach.
Instead, St. John showed up at church
and he preached.
Oh my! Did he ever preach!
With words and without words.

Using a monologue from Katerina Whitley's
magnificent LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS,
St. John walked into the church,
made his way to the pulpit
and had every one of us in the congregation
spell-bound.

Little children, love one another.
That is really the message of St. John.

We deeply felt those words that Sunday morning.
John arrived filled with the Spirit
and Spirit was abundantly shared.

St. John,
come back any time.