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Click on the SEVEN GOOD REASONS graphic above to read the full text.
TRADITIONAL LITURGICAL WORSHIP for Christians of all denominations...DIVERSE ETHNIC, ECONOMIC & RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS. We do not celebrate any single national culture or heritage ...FANCY DRESS NOT REQUIRED. We do not require formal dressing for services...CORPORATE WORSHIP. Although we come from many backgrounds and conditions of life...ST. CHRYSOSTOM HYMNAL. Our Hymnal was developed within the parish by a committee of clergy and laity....LARGE TYPE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. Our prayer book offers clear instructions...REAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FEELING. We offer not just worship but faith and love...
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Teaching the Bible is a central function our Christian Education program. Join us any Tuesday night at 7:00 P.M. A light meal is served to those present at 6:30 PM. We are currently studying the Book of Job. Following Bible Study, we join together in prayer using the ancient Compline office, which was the last service of the day before bedtime. Read the text of our version of Compline by clicking the BIBLE STUDY & COMPLINE graphic above.
Awesome Prayers to Our Awesome God, the fourth book in our Christian Education Study Publications series, is now available.
Click the picture above for details about this and other books we currently offer.
(Cover design Copyright 2009 Corinne M. Shibley)
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Father Ron Shibley, Rector
Office hours: by appointment
804 306-1190 (New Number)
email: frron.stjohnanglican@earthlink.net
Mr. H. Click Smith, Sr., Lay Reader
804 282-1887 (office)
email: vawgxcc@verizon.net
Learn more about our staff by clicking the MEET OUR STAFF tab at the top or bottom of the page.
Winter Services
(until March 21st, Passion Sunday)
Sundays:
11:00 AM Holy Eucharist
(See Rector's Weekly Message for information about changes coming in the Spring)
Tuesdays:
7:00 PM Bible Study
7:45 PM Compline
Thursdays:
No services until 3/25
(See Rector's Weekly Message for more details)
Learn the details of each of our services, including Advent & Christmas by clicking the SERVICE & STUDY SCHEDULE graphic above.
We need your help
No matter where you live you can help support our work. Please make checks payable to St. Chrysostom Church and mail them to our Treasurer, Corinne H. Shibley, 7162 Soft Wind Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111. Any contribution, no matter what the amount, will be welcome.
We are not affiliated with and receive no financial support from St. Joseph's Villa. We welcome your contributions and invite you to support our parish with your donations and purchases of our publications.
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We are now a parish of the Orthodox Anglican Church, a part of the world-wide Orthodox Anglican Communion. Please visit the OAC site at www.orthodoxanglican.net.
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"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory and upon us mercy and compassion for ever and ever. Amen."
Saturday afternoon, February 6th, A.D. 2010
I sit this afternoon in my study, working on some changes to our Hymnal, and had the thought that I had not seen weather like this since my freshmen year at Virginia Tech in 1960. In Blacksburg we had this kind of great, cold, snowy day without a trace of sunshine fairly often. One doesn't except it in Richmond!
Of course, we won't have service tomorrow and, depending upon how well the Villa maintenance organization cleans the walkways, roads and ramps, we might also have to cancel Tuesday Bible Study, too.
The early Fathers of the Church well understood the concept of dark forces that work on the mind and the imagination at night. In light of the weather, I thought it worthwhile to share with you today the words of a wonderful 17th century hymn from the Lutheran tradition. Christ, Our True and Only Light was composed in 1630 by Johann Heermann. It can be sung to the tune Breslau (Creator of the Stars of Night). Remember, as you read it, that the terms dark, deaf and dumb refer to a spiritual and not a physical condition. So if you have dark thoughts and bad dreams this cold and wintry night keep these words in mind:
1 O Christ, our true and only light, Illumine those who sit in night; Let those afar now hear Thy voice, And in Thy fold with us rejoice.
2. Fill with the radiance of Thy grace The souls now lost in error's maze, And all, O Lord, whose secret minds Some dark delusion hurts and blinds.
3. And all who else have strayed from Thee, O gently seek; Thy healing be To every wounded conscience given; And let them also share Thy heaven.
4. O make the deaf to hear Thy Word, And teach the dumb to speak, dear Lord, Who dare not yet the faith avow, Though secretly they hold it now.
5. Shine on the darkened and the cold, Recall the wanderers to Thy fold, Unite those now who walk apart, Confirm the weak and doubting heart.
6. So they with us may evermore Such grace with wondering thanks adore And endless praise to Thee be given By all Thy Church in earth and heaven.
Glory be to God for all things! Amen.
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