Welcome to Saint John's Episcopal Church in Hagerstown, Maryland

We are a lively, active community of faith. We strive to be a loving congregation, committed to welcoming ALL and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Join us Sundays — 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I  ·  10:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II (livestreamed on YouTube)

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

October 11, 2026 · Proper 23, Year A

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. — The Collect of the Day

In this Sunday’s Gospel, a king throws open the doors. The first guests are too busy to come, so the servants are sent into the streets with a simple instruction: invite everyone you find. Good and bad alike, the wedding hall fills up. It is easy to hear this parable as a story about who gets in and who is left out. But notice how wide the invitation becomes. Isaiah sees the same thing from the mountaintop, a feast of rich food prepared for all peoples. And the psalm we sing together puts it in the most familiar words we know: “You spread a table before me.” The harder question is whether we truly come. The guest without a wedding robe was in the room, but he never joined the celebration. Grace, as this week’s Collect reminds us, goes before us and follows us. Our part is to say yes, to take up the gladness of the feast, and to sit down at the table with whoever else has been gathered in. The table is set. There is plenty of room. Welcome the stranger. Welcome one another. Welcome Jesus.

This Sunday’s Music: The choir offers Mendelssohn’s But the Lord Is Mindful of His Own; hymns include “The King of love my shepherd is” and “Rejoice, ye pure in heart.”

Upcoming Events

Autumn at Saint John’s: Commission Sunday, a special guest at the altar, a season of “Plenty Good Room,” and plenty to gather around.

Mid-Week Services

✚ Parish Office Closed Monday, October 12
The parish office is closed on Monday for Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

✚ Tuesday Holy Eucharist
Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. at the High Altar. Please enter at the Prospect Street Tower Door.

✚ Tuesday Night Bible Study with Fr. Rick
Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., online only. Zoom Meeting ID: 827 3456 7853. Passcode: 175639.

✚ Thursday Holy Eucharist
Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel. Please enter at the elevator door.

✚ Friday Holy Eucharist at Homewood Living
Fridays at 11:00 a.m. at Homewood Living, Williamsport.

At Saint John’s

✚ Commission Sunday: Find Your Place at Saint John’s
This Sunday, October 11, our commissions will set up tables in Trimble Hall, with sign-up sheets for everything from greeting to Children’s Chapel. Stop by after either service, enjoy a tasty treat at each table, and talk with members about how you can get involved. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re new to Saint John’s or have been here for years.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

✚ Welcome, Archdeacon Sue!
On Sunday, October 11, the Ven. Sue von Rautenkranz, Archdeacon Emeritus of the Washington National Cathedral and the Diocese of Washington, will serve at the 10:15 a.m. service. Archdeacon Sue is a longtime friend of Fr. Rick and served at Saint John’s for his Celebration of New Ministry last October. Welcome, Archdeacon Sue!

✚ Kinship Singers in Concert, Sunday, October 18
The Kinship Singers present a free concert in our church nave on Sunday, October 18, at 5:00 p.m., as part of our Music at St. John’s Series. They are a community-based ensemble from Montgomery County, Maryland, focused on artistry, access, and acceptance. A reception in Trimble Hall follows. Be sure to invite a friend, family member, neighbor, or colleague!

✚ Sunday Adult Forum Resumes October 18
The Adult Forum returns Sunday, October 18, with a conversation on stewardship led by Bill Abeles, Jr., from 9:10 to 9:55 a.m.

✚ 2027 Stewardship Campaign: “Plenty Good Room”
Over these autumn weeks, members will hear (and share) testimonials in support of this year’s campaign. The Stewardship & Finance Commission invites you to prayerfully consider Saint John’s mission in Hagerstown, and how your financial gift and your faith help that mission and ministry thrive. Last year’s testimonials are posted for you to revisit: stjohnshagerstown.org/online-giving/stewardship-2026

✚ October Book Club, Tuesday, October 20
Book Club meets Tuesday, October 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Next Chapter Cafe and Bookstore, 141 W. Washington Street, to discuss M. L. Stedman’s A Far-Flung Life. All are welcome.

✚ Minister of Music Search
The search for our next Minister of Music continues. Please keep the search committee and our prospective candidates in your prayers as we move into this new chapter.

✚ Mark Your Calendar
Sunday, October 18: Kinship Singers, in the Church
Wednesday, October 21: Moral & Ethical Dilemmas, St. Mary’s Chapel
Sunday, November 1: All Saints’ Evensong, in the Church
Saturday, November 7, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.: All Commission Gathering, Trimble Hall

✚ Updated Parish Email Addresses
Fr. Rick, Rector: Rector@stjohnshagerstown.org; William Abeles, Jr., Senior Warden: SeniorWarden@stjohnshagerstown.org; Carol Cox, Junior Warden: JuniorWarden@stjohnshagerstown.org; Kippar Thang, Parish Administrator: Parishadmin@stjohnshagerstown.org.

Community & Outreach

✚ Thanksgiving Dessert Sale Begins October 11
Order a homemade dessert for your Thanksgiving table! $20: apple, pumpkin, or sweet potato pie. $25: apple-cranberry-walnut, fruits of the forest, or cherry. $30: mincemeat. $40: lemony cheesecake or apple crumble cheesecake. Order by November 8 by calling or texting Bruce Massey at 240-675-4498. All proceeds benefit Service and Outreach projects. Thank you for your support!

✚ Moral & Ethical Dilemmas Returns on a New Day
This year the series meets quarterly on the third Wednesday (instead of Mondays). The first session is Wednesday, October 21, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel. Our speaker, Stuart Harvey, a retired Election Commissioner from Frederick County, will help us examine the topic of free and fair elections. Questions? Ask Kim Halsey or Evvie Williams.

✚ Nonpartisan Voter Information
Local chapters of the League of Women Voters have set up Vote411.org, where candidates’ answers are published exactly as they reply, without edits. HARC and the Washington County League of Women Voters are also hosting candidate forums: the County Commissioner forum is Thursday, October 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the downtown library. Antietam Cable is recording the forums for rebroadcast, and they can also be viewed on the HARC YouTube channel.

Tour Our Church

Tap on the image to walk through our beautiful, historic sanctuary.

Location:

101 S. Prospect St., Hagerstown, MD 21740
Parking is available in the church lot at the corner of Walnut and Antietam Streets.

Contact Us

Phone: (301) 733–2560

Website: stjohnshagerstown.org

Facebook: facebook.com/stjohnshagerstown

Instagram: @st.johnsepiscopal_hagerstown

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