"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian (Isaiah 9:2-4).
Fr. Dan preached last week on the season of Epiphany, The season is not a time for complacency between Christmas and Lent. Jesus calls the disciples out of their comfort zone into the Kingdom of God. In this week’s Gospel Jesus says. “Follow me.” Fr. Dan reminded us that Jesus will draw us out through the beatitudes to places that we may not want to go. There is no better example (in my opinion) of this than this week’s Gospel. Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Jesus asks us to turn from idolatry and selfish desires and follow the path of teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Good News.
As we prepare for our annual meeting on February 5th after the 10:00 service, let us think about how we might follow Jesus Christ in 2023. We have been listening to women’s voices for the past eight weeks. Will God raise up a woman to be our next warden? Will God raise up a deacon in our congregation? What new ministries lay before us? If we refurbish the kitchen, will there be volunteers to help our breakfast committee and will we make meals again for the homeless? Who will represent us in the movement for creation care in Huntington and who will speak up against hate in our town? Will our Thrift Shop continue to flourish? The answer from our Baptismal Covenant is, “I will with God’s help.”
Last week Fr. Dan asked, “What kind of God do you want?” This week I ask the question, “Will you follow Jesus even if he draws you out where we can never return?” Fleming Rutledge asks us to look for God in his Word. The world has become a dark place. Lots of folks see the cross as foolishness. We are a parish in an ever secular, fast moving, polarized, and violent world. Yet there is a small, still voice that asks, “Give us grace, Oh Lord, to answer readily the call.” At St. John’s, we can witness to our faith by coming to church, worshiping and praising God, caring for God’s creation, striving for justice, and being sent out to the community to love and serve Christ. Please be confident that God has the strength to bring us to the Kingdom, that place where heaven and earth intersect, if we will only allow ourselves to see the light of Christ and be drawn out to where we can never return.
"Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return" (Annie Dillard).
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Readings
Isaiah 9:1-4
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23
Psalm 27:1, 5-13
Join us for Sunday Worship at 8:00 am and 10:00 am in the church or remotely on Zoom and Facebook.
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83803451202
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live_videos/
Bulletin: Rite I Epiphany
9:40 am - Sunday School meets in the Canterbury Corner
2022-23 Sunday School Calendar
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739553648
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live_videos
Bulletin: Rite II Epiphany
Music
Processional: 304 I come with joy to meet my Lord
Gradual: 550 Jesus calls us o'er the tumult, vs 1-3
Offerotry Anthem: James Conolly on clarinet
Communion: LEVAS 151 One bread, one body
Recessional: PB 37 This little light of mine
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES |
First Holy Communion will take place on Sunday, April 16, 2023 for children 2nd grade and above. First Communion classes will meet on THURSDAYS at 5 pm in the Guild Room beginning on FEBRUARY 23RD.
If you are interested in First Holy Communion for your child, please register using the link below. Forms are also available at the back of the church. If you have any questions about First Communion, please feel free to reach out to Fr. Duncan or the Parish Office.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION REGISTRATION FORM
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Saturday, February 25th at 4:00 pm
Come and enjoy an evening of uplifting African-American anthems and spirituals!
Featuring Alex Pryrodny, soloists from St. Augustine’s Episcopal church, and others.
Donations to benefit St. John’s Concert Fund
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Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturdays
12 - 3 pm
St. John's Thrift Shop and its ministry are vital to our mission in the community. We are so grateful for our dedicated group of volunteers. If you are looking for a way to serve your parish and community, our Thrift Shop could be the ministry for you.
To volunteer or find our more, please contact Mary Beth Dieterle, (631) 427-1752, ext 106.
Donations welcome. We accept donations of new or gently used clothing, accessories, and household items. Please no books, furniture, out-dated electronics, or damaged items.
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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 occasionally 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 connection with your friends at St. John's.
Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86041146543
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Bible Study meets regularly Mondays at 6:30 pm and on Tuesdays at 11:00 am on Zoom.
Monday Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746
Tuesday Zoom link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82553627635
On Monday, January 2nd at 6:30 pm and Tuesday, Janaury 3rd at 11:00 am, we will begin a new unit referencing Means of Grace: A Year of Weekly Devotions by Fleming Rutledge.
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Our 2023 Puerto Rico mission trip will bring us to Ponce, Puerto Rico, from April 24th to April 29th.
The cost is $800 which includes ground transportation, room and board:
- 1st payment due 2/15/2022 - $400
- 2nd payment due 4/15/2022 - $400
- Individuals are responsible for their own airfare.
ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
Mission work will be determined by the the group. We hope to do children's ministry and outreach to students and young people. There is room for 10 on this trip.
Please contact Coral in the Parish Office or Fr. Duncan if you are interested.
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2023 PILGRIMAGE TO IONA, SCOTLAND |
Pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona, Scotland
September 29-October 8, 2023
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.
Iona 2023 Brochure
Iona 2023 Registration Form
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The Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Great Hall.
All ministry chairs please submit your group’s annual report to the Church Office (cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org) no later than Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 9am. Please sumbit as a Microsoft Word document, Google Doc, or as text in the body of an email.
Nominations are open for 2023 Vestry Elections. At our Annual Meeting we will be voting on one Warden, three Vestry seats including one Clerk of the Vestry. If you would like to run for any of these open roles, please contact the nominating committee of either Fr. Duncan 845-271-9134 or Rob Wheeler at 631-271-8286.
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2023 GIVING ENVELOPES ARE HERE |
2023 Giving envelopes have arrived and are ready for pick up at the back of the church for those who indicated on their pledge cards that they would like a box.
There are still giving numbers available, so if you would like a box of weekly giving envelopes, please reach out Coral in the Parish Office.
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S |
We pray for Richard, Barbara, Edward, Christine, Fred, Ana, Patti, Luke, Cassandra, Valarie, Danielle, Amy, Kate, Cheryl, Anne, Carmen, Lou, Mary Beth, Daniel, Sue, Pedro, Anita, Chaya, Valerie, Hal, Sue, Hortense
Recently departed: Bernetta Kathryn "Bunny" Roberts
Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org or call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
stjohns1745.org
STAY CONNECTED
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