The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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Open Unto Me, Lord by Howard Thurman
Open unto me — light for my darkness.
Open unto me — courage for my fear.
Open unto me — hope for my despair.
Open unto me — peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me — joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me — strength for my weakness.
Open unto me — wisdom for my confusion.
Open unto me — forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me — love for my hates.
Open unto me — thy Self for myself.
Lord, Lord, open unto me! Amen.
I was watching 60 minutes this past Sunday. They were doing a story about anxiety among 7th and 8th graders. This Covid pandemic had a profound effect on the mental health of young people. Kids that were "A" students are failing classes because of the stress and difficulties in remote learning. Lots of kids have suffered from mental illness because of these past two years. I think it is safe to say that this pandemic has caused mental health consequences for almost every age group. Jesus said, “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other” (John 13:34-35 The Message).
Howard Thurman’s poem asks God to open unto me hope for despair. This week’s reading tells us that God will live among us and “he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21: 4). The point of these passages is that God can get us through the tough times in our lives. Instead of fighting with one another, we can help each other. Instead of being mad at one another, we can listen to one another. In today’s lesson from Acts, Peter finally understands that God’s love is offered to everyone. We are to love God and love our neighbor.
The solution is not to scream or get angry and frustrated at one another, but to love one another. The solution is to follow Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. We are to steadfastly follow the Way of Love according to our collect this Sunday and our Presiding Bishop Curry. Sometimes God answers your prayers with the help you need.
This week, I ask you to give a warm welcome to Fr. James Reiss, our new curate. I am excited to have him join Deacon Claire and me as members of our St. John’s clergy. We have been hoping and praying for help. The bishop has sent us a newly ordained priest who will help our younger folks and families. His many talents include music ministry, children, youth, and young adult ministry, theater, military chaplaincy, and his abounding energy and love of Christ will be a real asset to our active parish. I am delighted that he will start with us this Sunday, May 15th. We are asked to help him grow into his ministry with kindness and support. Please join him for some treats and coffee after church today in the parish hall.
Lastly, I am teaching bible study in May and June on the resurrection. Jesus came unto us to change our world from darkness to light, from despair to hope, and from turmoil to peace by giving himself for us. As he rose on Easter, we will rise as a congregation through loving and caring for one another. Open your heart to the life changing love of Jesus Christ. If you are feeling a little down, please don’t lose hope. God’s love is all around you in this place.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Readings
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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
9:45 am - Sunday School will meets in the Guild Room and on Zoom
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
Music
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GARDEN SUNDAY SCHOOL MAY 22ND |
On May 22nd at 9:45 am, Sunday School will meet in the Garden of Blessings to learn about good stewarship of God's creation. We will do some planting in the new flower beds, so wear clothes that are ok to get a bit dirty. Bring your favorite gloves and gardening tools! |
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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.
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Bible Study meets in person in the Guild Room and on Zoom, Mondays at 6:30 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am. Material covered on Mondays will also be covered on Tuesdays of the same week.
We have begun a new unit on the Resurrection. We are reading NT Wright's Surprised by Hope. Please contact the Parish Office to get your copy.
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MAY IS ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH |
By William Low, Artist and Professor at Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC
I am honored to be asked to offer my personal experiences, but I fear that this spotlight is misplaced. A month set aside to acknowledge any heritage sometimes has the effect of “checking off boxes” to make us feel that we are doing the right thing by being socially aware and respectful of our differences. But this social awareness should continue throughout the year, just ask anyone who is not Caucasian. We all wear our ethnic differences like our clothing -- it’s outward facing and we cannot hide this fact (nor should we). This goes with us every time we leave our homes.
I am an American, the first in my family to be born in the United States. My father had a Chinese hand laundromat in the Bronx, in a neighborhood with no Chinese families for miles. This made me hypersensitive to my differences, as if I were an observer on the outside looking into a room where everyone else was having fun.
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CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF JOYCE GLICKER |
The family of Joyce Glicker invites you to a celebration of her life.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
3:00 pm - Funeral Service at St. John's Church, Huntington
5:00 pm - Reception/Picnic at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, Oyster Bay
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On Sunday, May 22nd, 3 - 5 pm, QiGong for Vitality & Joy will lead the ancient self-care excercises in the tradition of Taoist QiGong, the foundation of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Join us in the Garden of Blessings as your last stop on Huntington's Art Walk Day. |
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RESCHEDULED - LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS' MEETING |
LEVs, please join Deacon Claire in the Canterbury Corner on Sunday, May 22nd immediately following the 10 am service.
If you are intrested in serving as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor, please contact Deacon Claire.
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ST. FRANCIS IN THE VALLEY |
NEW DATE for MISSION TRIP to Arizona
October 24 – 31 2022
OUTREACH is sharing Christ’s love with all our neighbors!
Save the date:
Meeting for those hoping to go on the mission trip:
Tuesday, May 24th (date change)
7:00 p.m.
All are welcome to attend
Join Zoom Meeting:
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St. John's Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, 12-3pm.
Donations Needed! We accept donations of new or gently used clothing, accessories, and household items. Please no books, furniture, out-dated electronics, or damaged items.
Volunteers continue to be needed - We are still bulding our Thursday and Saturday teams. If you wish to become a volunteer, please contact Lilly Welch.
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STEWARDSHIP: PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT |
First Quarter Stewardship Pledge Statements were sent out last week. Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. Please take this time to review your giving and to catch up on your pledge payments if possible. |
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If you have not yet pledged, pledge cards are available in the pews and at the back of the church. You may also submit your pledge online using our online pledge form. You may send your regular stewardship payments in the mail, leave them in the collection plate on Sundays, or set up automatic, recurring payments online. |
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ALTAR FLOWERS & THE PERPETUAL LIGHT |
If you would like to remember a loved one or give thanks for an important 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: Liz, Harry and Christine, Hal, Richard, Barbara, Fanny, Jackie, Diana, Edward, Christine, Fred, Tom, Allison, Amy, Kate, Cole, Jennifer, Spencer, Sue, Wylie, Matt, Susan, Maggie, Tom, Olivia, Christina, Victor, Melissa, Jack, Ursula, Anita, Nancy, Peter, Patti, Shannon, Kelsey, Justin, Cheryl, Kristin, Patricia, Jeff, Michael, Joseph, James, Sue, Bill, Dylan, Ruth, Kristen
Altar Flowers are a gift of the Hannah Family in loving memory of James Hannah.
To add or remove someone from our prayer list, please email prayers@stjohns1745.org or call Coral in the Parish Office.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
STAY CONNECTED
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