The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
In today’s Old Testament lesson, the prophet Ezekiel is sent among a people who are “impudent and stubborn.” Prophets came to the Israelites to show them the way that they should live their lives. There are just a few basic expectations that God has for us. In a world where many seem to be looking out for themselves, God asks us to look out for the weak and the powerless. In a world where people are being mean to one another, God asks us to love our neighbor. In a world where people are very self-centered, God asks us to self-giving. The prophet Micah tells us all we need to know about what God wants from us.
God needs to send his own son to show us the way, the truth, and the life. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus sends the disciples out into the world to proclaim the Good News. Ministry does not have to be complicated. We are called to be followers of the Jesus Movement. “Jesus ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics “ (Mark 6:8-9).
Presiding Bishop Curry said, “My brothers, my sisters, my siblings, we have work to do. To stand for Christianity, a way of being Christian that looks like Jesus of Nazareth. A way of being Christian that is grounded and based on love. A way of being Christian that is not ashamed to be called people of love. So go from this place and be people of the way. Go from this place as people of Jesus. Go from this place as people of love! Go from this place and heal our lands! Go from this place and heal our world! Go from this place until justice rolls down! Go from this place until the nightmare is over! Go from this place until God’s dream is realized!
Pauls tells us, “Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Ernest Hemingway said: "Life breaks all of us, but some of us are strong in the broken places.” This means that God made you just as you are and loves you. Last week I asked you not to be brought low by others negativity. St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Therefore, there is no one on this planet that God loves more than you and no one that he loves less.”. If we can love “the least of these” as we love ourselves, we will do amazing ministry. Please discern where you are called to do ministry at St. John’s. This is no time to be complacent! Perhaps it is to help out in our Thrift Shop on Saturday July 10th for our “Yard Sale.” Perhaps you are called to join in our Education For Ministry class in the fall. Perhaps you would like to go with us on a pilgrimage to Iona, Scotland, to a mission trip to Puerto Rico, to participate in our friendship day with St. Augustine’s on July 11th, to join our racial reconciliation group every third Thursday at 6:30, to be a part of Hilda’s Group or Bible Study on Tuesdays, to check out our Spirituality Group on every second Thursday at 4:00, to be a part of Claire’s border ministry in Arizona, or to help our Episcopal Church Women on our Harvest Fair. Just imagine the possibilities if we can put our faith in God’s grace. All God requires of us is “to do justice, love kindness, and humbly walk with our God.”
In Christ's love,
Fr. Duncan
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Join us for Sunday Worship at 8am and 10am in the church or remotely on Zoom or Facebook. Face masks, social distancing, and contract tracing sign in are required for all in person services. Space is limited.
8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer with Music
10:00 am – Rite II Morning Prayer with Music
The Readings
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SAFE PRACTICES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES |
We are so happy to welcome people into the church for in-person worship. As we increase the number of people allowed in the church, we can all do our part to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy:
- Masks are recommended for everyone and mandatory for unvaccinated individuals. Disposable masks are available at the back of the church;
- Social distancing. Please maintain a 6ft distance between your group/family and others;
- Sanitize hands upon entrance. Dispensers are available at the back of the church;
- Prayer books are available;
- Service bulletins and reading inserts and are available at the back of the church.
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The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day. Morning prayer will meet at the usual time (see below). |
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All are welcome at Morning Prayer. We meet Monday through Friday at 9:00 am via Zoom. Our short prayer service is followed by some fellowship and discussion. Feel free to join us occassionallly to listen and pray, or come more often to participate as a leader or reader, and to start your day with your focus on Christ and a deeper connnection with your friends at St. John's.
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This summer we will be referencing the Sunday reading of Forward Day by Day. Copies are available in the back of the church or through the Parish Office.
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Soothe your soul and revive your spirit with 30-minute performances every Sunday at noon. Join us in our beautiful, historic church or in the sanctuary of your own home via Facebook Live:
The last Sunday of each month will be a Taize prayer service.
Free or make an offering of $10 to support St. John's Music Ministry. Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact the Parish Office for more information.
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The Spirituality Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on July 8th at 4pm. Join us as we focus our minds and hearts on...
Acceptance
If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. Please contact Patti Aliperti ( silverymoon33@yahoo.com) if you would like more information about St. John's Spirituality Group. |
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The thrift shop is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12 to 3 pm.
On Saturday July 10th, the thrift shop is holding a Yard Sale from 12 to 3 pm. The shop will be highlighting great buys and bring in extra money for the church. If you can help in set up, during great the sale or prepping for the sale during the week of July 6th to 9th, please contact Nancy Feustel at n.feustel@verizon.net.
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Sunday, July 11th at 4pm, the choirs of St. Augustine's Brooklyn and St. John's Huntington present our 3rd Annual Friendship Day, a virtual concert of
"Unfiltered Grace."
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RACIAL RECONCILIATION & SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY |
Tom Petriano will present "There is a Balm in Gilead: Prophets of Racial Reconiclaitaion" at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, 53 Prospect Rd, Centerport, on Monday, July 19 to Thursday, July 22nd, 9:30 - 11:30 am.
The struggle to achieve what Martin Luther King called “the beloved community” has been a long and arduous one. Religion has often had a mixed role in relationship to race. During this week we will explore what King meant by the beloved community and look at some of the faith-filled prophets of racial reconciliation whose life and message can be a helpful guide to all of us as Christians as we work toward the realization of the beloved community. Some of the voices we will consider are those of Thomas Merton, Sr. Thea Bowman, Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King, John Lewis, John Howard Griffin, and the writers of the African American Spirituals.
All are welcome. No registration necessary. Free will offering accepted.
The next meeting of the St. John's Racial Reconciliation & Social Justice Ministry will be on Thursday, July 15th at 6:30pm. Please contact Heather Kress at hkress44@gmail.com for more information about other RR&SJM initiatives. |
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ST. FRANCIS OF THE VALLEY |
We are excited to share a new outreach ministry. Several of us have been communicating on zoom with Fr. Warren Leibovitch and his parishioners at St. Francis in the Valley (Episcopal) in Green Valley, AZ. We have been learning about the humanitarian work they have been doing at Nogales, on the border of Mexico. It is our hope to find ways to support their ministries, which may include a future mission trip to Arizona. The attached link will give you some pictures and information about St. Francis and the good work they have been doing.
If you are interested in joining our monthly conversation, please get in touch with Coral, Fr. Duncan or Claire Mis.
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The Parish Office (Coral) is in need of a volunteer or two to help with membership. We are looking to better utilize Realm online to update our membership roster with the most current information. Help could be at the church or at home. While internet access is a plus, we could also use help with phone calls and in person updating. Please email, cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org or call the Parish Office at (631) 427-1752 ext. 101 to find out more. Youth volunteers welcome. |
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If you have not already pledged, please consider making a Stewardship commitment in 2021 in support of the ministry of St. John’s. Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward.
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 our secure payment platform Realm. Please click on the link below to make a payment:
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
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UPCOMING FUNERALS & MEMORIAL SERVICES |
Robert W. Boise will be interred on Saturday, July 10th in a private ceremony in New Jersey. We will be having a memorial service for Bob in the fall, details will follow. In the meantime, Elisabeth has asked that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to St. John's Memorial Fund in Bob's name.
On Saturday, July 24th at 1pm there will be a memorial service for Katherine "Kay" Fisher at St. John's. Kay was an integral part of our Thrift Shop for many years. Please join her family in celebrating her life. A memorial fund has been set up in Kay's name at St. John's.
To make a donation to the Memorial Fund, please send a check payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" with the name of the person you wish to memorialize written in the memo. To make a donation online using our secure online system, click on the following link:
Please be sure to write the name of the person you are remembering with your gift in the memo.
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ALTAR FLOWERS & PERPETUAL LIGHT |
If you would like to remember a loved one or give thanks for an imporant event with altar flowers or Perpetual Light, Please complete an Altar Flower Form and return it to the Parish Office with your check made payable to "St. John's Altar Guild."
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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, David & Irene, Linda, Danica, Lori, Leslie, Hope, Mike, Michael, Elizabeth, Patti, Bob, Christian, Gladys, Lynn, Fred, Jim & Irene, Debra, Alex, Michelle, Pauline, Richard, Barbara, Cory, Allassadra, Ellen, Lucille, Frank, Theresa, Spencer, Sue, Wylie, Matt, Cheryl, Tom, Stephanie, Lisa, Gary, Maggie, Tyler, Ursula, Christine, Samantha, Edward, Alan, Tali, Bill, Kate, Amy, Jean, Pat, Joanie, Sueann, Karen, Dermot, Jill. Jenna, Walter, Evelyn
Recently Departed: Margaret, niece of Gladys Waldman
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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