The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, page 815)
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus meets a Canaanite woman. The woman cries out to Jesus as he walks by, “Have mercy on me, Lord.” The disciples along with Jesus dismiss her and she kneels before him and says. “Lord, help me.” Jesus tells her that his mission is to bring God’s Love to the children of Israel. The woman says that even dogs get crumbs off the master’s table. It was certainly Matthew’s mission to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the children of Israel. But I want to address the humanity of Jesus and the cultural norms that lead the Son of God to refer to a Canaanite woman and her ailing daughter as “the dogs.”
Jesus is looking to get away from the Jewish authorities by traveling to Tyre and Sidon, which were occupied with mostly non-Jewish folks. He is focused in doing the will of God, but is tired and cranky. Jesus is fully divine, but let us not forget, fully human. It is not his best moment. The cultural context was that Jewish Men in the first century put themselves ahead of women, Canaanites, and Gentiles. While calling her a dog sounds harsh to us, it wouldn’t have been far from the thoughts of the average Jewish Male at that time.
I have preached these past six years that we live in the cultural context of White Christian Males that benefit from the Anglo-Saxon privilege of the past. It is difficult to see cultural norms when they are so ingrained in our everyday life. The Gospel speaks to every culture of every time that we might see our cultural norms over and against the justice and mercy of God. All of humanity (including Jesus) must “maintain justice and do what is right” (Isaiah 56:1). The truth of God’s love will be demonstrated by Jesus, when he gives his life for our sins. I hope the lesson you see today is that we are all subject to cultural norms that blind our vision of God’s grace, love, and mercy. What is the Gospel saying to us at this time and place?
I would like to thank Scott Cooley, Chris Boccia, Jim Sutherland, Mary Ann Hurd, Eileen Boyd Cahill, Barbara Burns, the ECW, and everyone that helped us remodel the Guild Room. St. John’s is a wonderful church because of the dedication, passion, and love of our parishioners. Our Guild Room has new walls, flooring, ceiling, motorized blinds, refrigerator, cabinets, TV, coffee maker, white boards, water, chairs, and tables. Please make an appointment with me to say hello and get a sneak peek at the Guild Room.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer in the Garden of Blessings. We have a new tent and the garden has received some much appreciated TLC. Please note, there will be no outside services on August 23rd and 30th, and on September 6th. Registration is required and limited to 25 parishioners. Please use the follow link to complete the registration form:
8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer
10:00 am – Rite II Holy Eucharist with music
Both online services can be viewed on Facebook Live at 8:00 am and 10:00 am:
https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live/
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Please join us for a ZOOM coffee hour this Sunday at 11:00 am. Grab a cup of your own coffee and a snack, share some time with your friends at St. Johns. This will be an informal remote gathering where we can enjoy each other's company. Join Zoom Coffee Hour:
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"SONGS FOR THE SOUL" - CHRISTINE DORE & LESLIE VALENTINE |
Huntington Summer of Hope Festival
Friday, August 14, 2020 at 8:00 pm
“Songs for the Soul from the Great American Songbook” Mezzo soprano Leslie Valentine and pianist Christine Doré will perform songs that help us cope, bring a smile, a memory, hope.
Pianist Christine Doré has performed all over the U.S., in Canada and Eastern Europe She is a founding member of the ensemble Chamberosity, as well as the long-time accompanist for the Huntington Choral Society. Leslie Valentine has appeared in opera, concert and recital throughout the U.S., Great Britain and Japan. Highlights have included performances with The New York City Opera National Company, the Tokyo City Orchestra, and Sarasota Opera, and as a soloist at both David Koch Hall and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.
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Pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona, Scotland
October 1 - 11, 2021
IONA WELCOMES ALL! Come you of great faith and you who struggle with faith; you who believe and you who doubt; explorers and questioners, adventures and contemplatives! Experience Iona without expectation. Let the sacred isle uncover what you need to see and reveal what you need to hear!
For more information or questions please contact the Pilgrimage Leader, Leslie Valentine: Phone: (516) 815-1169; Email: leslieval@aol.com
Registration in limited and will fill up quickly, so please respond as soon as possible to secure your place.
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The Thrift Shop is having a yard sale in the Garden of Blessings on Saturday, August 15th from 10:30am to 1:30pm.
GREAT BARGAINS! New items brought out each week. Men's, Women's, Shoes, Bags, Designer Items! Stop by and see us. Please wear a mask.
VOLUNTEER! Volunteers are needed to help set up beginning at 9:30 am on Saturday and to help breakdown. Please contact Nancy Feustel (n.feustel@verizon.net) if you are able to help.
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Join us at 9:00 am for Morning Prayer, Monday - Friday, via Zoom (New Meeting #):
Please follow along with Mission St. Clare
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For those who prefer an evening Bible Study, we have added a session on Mondays at 6:30 pm. The Monday sessions will cover what was discussed the Tuesday before. Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83527491169.
We are studying the New Testament, referencing N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird's The New Testament in Its World. Please join Rev. Duncan Burns and Rev. John Morrison "on a 'magic carpet ride' through the New Testament, on a breathtaking sojourn from the base of a mountain to the highest heavens and on the way unfolds new glories in the course of the ascent, on a dizzying pilgrimage that will transform your mind and nourish your spirit."
The New Testament in Its World is available at Amazon.com:
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St. Hilda’s Guild will begin to meet again on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon via Zoom. Join us using the link below, and make sure to bring your latest project and a snack:
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St. John's Spirituality Group has some upcoming events that all are welcome to attend. Save the dates!
Thursday, August 27th at 4:00 pm via Zoom - We will discuss and reflect on the word "Gifts."
Saturday, September 26th, 9:30-11:30 am - Tom Petriano will discuss Julian of Norwich and how she survived 3 plagues.
If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. To find out more about SJSG, contact Patti Aliperti (silverymoon33@yahoo.com).
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In September 2019 St John's began a new ministry, Laundry Love. Working together with Family Service League and YAM Community Resources Inc. we helped a number of families each month do their own laundry. From September to February approximately 5 volunteers from our St. John's met up monthly at the Laundry Basket in Greenlawn. With detergent and funds provided by generous individuals of our church, grant money from the EMLI,and the ECW we funded 186 loads of laundry in that time.
When COVID 19 shut down most activities in March St. John's managed to keep the program running at arms length. Given the relationships we had built with Penny Antonio of Manor Field Family Center, the local Family Service League Branch and with Ginette Rows of YAM Community Resources we were able to provide the funds and detergent ensuring those families most in need received funds to do their own laundry. For the past 6 months (March to August) Manor Field Family Center received $200 each month while YAM Community Resources received $100.
As we move forward we realize there is limited funding.... not only for this ministry.... but for so many other needs. We are asking, if you are able, would you like to support this ministry? Perhaps you are able to sponsor one load of laundry each month? The cost of one average load of laundry is $7.00 ($5.50 for washer, $1.50 for the drier).
Donations of money or laundry detergent in the form of laundry pods would be gratefully accepted. Thank you to all who have supported Laundry Love over the past year.
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INTERFAITH SOCIAL JUSTICE MEETING |
Thursday, August 20th at 7:30 pm
Faith and community leaders from Huntington will come together for this town-wide forum on Social Justice. This meeting will take place via Zoom and all St. John's parishioners are invited to attend. Please save the date. Meeting log in details will follow.
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Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 6:00 pm.
Rural & Migrant Ministries invites you to attend "Cultivating Justice: Knowing Your Neighbor." This virtual event will feature Special Video Updates from Farmworkers, Messages of Hope from our Honorees, Exciting Musical Guests and a Visual Kaleidoscope of Photos and Artwork from the RMM family.
Change the world from the comfort of your own home! Eat your own food! Still get to meet a lot of interesting people!
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We are beginning a new Sacred Ground series on Saturday, September 19th at 9:00 am.
Sacred Ground is a film-based dialogue series on race and faith led by Billy Kiley presented by St. John's Racial Reconciliation & Social Justice Ministry.
Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect European American histories.
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"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:4-7).
During this time, we ask that if you are financially able to keep making your Stewardship Pledge payments. We have set up online giving. Using your credit card or a direct payment from your checking account, you will be able to make a one-time payment or set up recurring payments.
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
To text your contribution (standard text message rates do apply):
Text SJEC1745 STEWARDSHIP $[Amount] to 73256.
Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. Thank you for your continuing support!
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You have not pledged but would still like to give? Make a Plate Offering.
We have set up online giving. Using your credit card or a direct payment from your checking account, you will be able to make a one-time payment or set up recurring payments.
Using the below form, you can choose the types of contributions you would like to make a Plate Offering online:
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
To text your contribution (standard text message rates do apply):
Text SJEC1745 PLATE $[Amount] to 73256.
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S |
We pray for all our doctors, nurses, and medical staff who put themselves at risk to care for us during this corona virus epidemic.
We pray for all our men and women serving in the armed services and all first responders who put themselves at risk every day, especially during this time. May God keep them safe and healthy, and return them home to their loved ones.
We pray for those who work for justice. May God give us all strength and wisdom to act for change when it is needed.
We pray for the sick: Tom, Kelly, Anna, Margaret, Martha, Juana, Carmen, Joel, Peter, Joan, Kathy, Scott, Sue, Kim, Janine, Jody, David, Danica, Linda, Bette Lee, Irene, Leslie, Roger, Tom, Patrick, Jim, Irene, Nelly, Colleen, Rick, Shannon, Kelsey, Patti, Hagai, Justin, Tom, Amy, Bill, Kate, Fern, Flor, Patricia, Bill, Lynn, Cory, Frank, Pat, Christopher, Richard, Christian, Gladys, Anthony, Betty, Joseph, John, Carol, Terry, Carol, Roelie, James, Peter, Don, Richard, Barbara, Crystal, Fred, Manuel, Ollie, Don, Norma, Aaron
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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