The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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“Life on the surface keeps us judging the circumstances. We look at the circumstances as a picture. If it is pretty, pleasing, and shows us what we want to see then God is good and life is as it should be. When we don’t see what we want then we often look for a new picture. The restless searching, the longing for more, the desire for meaning are not, however, usually answered by changed circumstances. The answer is found in depth, intimacy, and the vulnerability of the interior journey. We do not need to see new things. We need to see the same old things with new eyes. We do not need to hear a different voice. We need to hear the same old voice with different ears. We do not need to escape the circumstances of our life. We need to be more fully present to those circumstances. When this happens life is no longer lived at the surface. These are the transfigured moments, moments when the picture of our life has becomes a window into a new world and we come face to face with the glory of God.” (Michael K. Marsh)
Our presiding bishop asks us to meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. He asks us to join the Jesus Movement. If we are to listen to Jesus, what is the message that he wants us to hear? The Jesus Movement begins with an internal movement of repentance, proceeds with a change of heart, results in a peace that passes all understanding, and moves externally by our finding our place in the world. As we approach Lent, I ask you to change your habits just enough to hear that still, small voice of God. In today’s collect we pray, “O God who before the passion of your Son revealed his glory on the Holy Mount, that we may we be strengthened to bear his cross.” As the world has moved closer to a World War, we need to remember the great toll the previous wars had on humanity. We need to see these wars with new eyes and ears so that they are never repeated. Please pray with me every day for the people of Ukraine and for world peace. Please pray daily as we approach another Lenten season.
Christian discipleship consists of the discipline of self-denial and taking up the cross daily. It is refraining from the narcissistic self-indulgence and from feeding the superficial false ego to self-destruction. It is rather embracing my true self, the true image of God reflected in the depth of my soul. It’s a daily journey of self-discovery as a child of God and a daily walk toward a spiritual union with God (Bishop Allen Shin).
When Jesus came down off the mountain, he loved those who were most in need of love, healed those who were most in need of healing, gave water to those who were the most thirsty and food to the hungry. He taught us about what the Greeks called agape love and what the Jewish people call hessed. Jesus came to teach us a way of loving one another. May we gather together on Ash Wednesday at 7pm at St. John’s or on Zoom. May we attend service regularly during Lent. Please join our bible study, Morning Prayer, Lenten retreat and Tuesday night programs during Lent. May we refrain from letting our anger turn to vengeance in the world and allow the lovingkindness of our Lord to fill our hearts.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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The Last Sunday after the Epiphany |
Join us for Sunday Worship at 8am and 10am in the church or remotely on Zoom and Facebook.
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist
9:45 am - Sunday School meets in the Guild Room and also on Zoom
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
The Readings
The Hymns
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SAFE PRACTICES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES & EVENTS |
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. Disposable masks are available at the back of the church;
- Social distancing. Please maintain a safe distance between your group/family and others;
- Sanitize hands upon entrance. Dispensers are available at the back of the church;
- Service bulletins and reading inserts are available at the back of the church.
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CONFIRMATION CLASSES BEGIN THIS SUNDAY |
Confirmation classes will meet on Sundays at 5:30 pm via Zoom beginning February 27, 2022 for children 7th grade and above. We are planning on a Confirmation date of April 30, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City.
Register in person at the first class or download the registration form using the link below and return it to the parish office with proof of Baptism as soon as possible. Forms are also available at the back of the church. If you have any questions about Confirmation, please reach out to Fr. Duncan or the Parish Office.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES BEGIN MARCH 2ND |
First Holy Communion will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2022 for children 2nd grade and above. First Communion classes will meet on Wednesdays at 5 pm via Zoom beginning March 2, 2022.
If you are interested in First Holy Communion for your child, download the registration form by using the link below. Forms are also available at the back of the church. Please return these to the parish office as soon as possible with proof of Baptism. If you have any questions about First Communion, please feel free to reach out to Fr. Duncan or the Parish Office.
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Ash Wednesday - Imposition of Ashes
March 2, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Morning Prayer
Monday - Friday at 9:00 am via Zoom
Bible Study
Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom
Tuesdays at 11:00 am via Zoom
Lenten Series- "Living Beyond Borders"
Tuesdays in Lent via Zoom
March 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, April 5th - 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm
The Rev. Canon David Ulloa Chavez, Canon for Border Ministries for the Diocese of Arizona, will lead a five-part series referencing the book The US Immigration Crisis by Miquel de la Torre (copies are available in the Parish Office for a suggested contribution of $25). For our 2022 Lenten Series we will partner with St. Francis in the Valley. The program will be offered at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm to accommodate our different time zones. You are welcome to join at either time. At St. John's, we will begin with Stations of the Cross at 6:00 pm and Evening Prayer at 6:30 pm. The program will be from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Lenten Retreat - A Quiet Day with Bishop Wolf
Saturday, March 12, 2022, 9:30 am - 11:30 pm
The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf, Assistant Bishop of Long Island, will lead a Lenten quiet day of reflection on "Forgiveness" at St. John's. We will meet in the Great Hall, there will also be an option to Zoom in. Suggested donation $15. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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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 occassionally 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 on Mondays at 6:30 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am. The topics covered on Monday will also be covered on Tuesday of the same week.
We have begun a new program on Paul's Letter to the Philippians using the writings of N. T. Wright.
More copies of the book, Paul for Everyone: the Prison Letters by N. T. Wright will be available in the Parish Office on Thursday, January 6th. It is also available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle versions:
We are also referencing an online program, "Paul and His Letter to the Philippians" at Udemy.com. Here is the log in information if you would like to review them before we meet:
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FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH |
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Institutional Resistance and Work That Remains to be Done
The prior three pieces on Black History Month introduced individuals who conquered almost insurmountable obstacles just because they were black living in a white mainstream culture in America to accomplish amazing things and inspire generations to follow. There are many more.
But, first, what role did our social institutions play in the lives of African Americans emerging from slavery and searching for identity and acceptance? Let’s look at our Episcopal Church.
The story of St. Philip’s Church in downtown New York City is illustrative. Beginning in 1809, the black congregation attending separate services at Trinity Church on Wall Street decided to become independent. It took ten years for them to build a church, have it consecrated and incorporated as an Episcopal congregation and ordain one of their own members, Peter Williams Jr., as their liturgical and spiritual leader. The fledgling church overcame many struggles along the way. A fire burned the building to the ground; it was ransacked and nearly destroyed during the 1834 anti-abolitionist riots; but the humiliation of its rector at every turn by the diocesan leaders and their refusal to grant the church full membership for over 35 years may have been its worst tragedy. These (white) leaders treated every request from St. Philip’s for full inclusion with patronizing contempt, culminating in the public response by one convention that, because of their color, the people of St. Philip’s were “socially degraded, and . . . not regarded as proper associates for the class of persons who attend our Convention”. St. Philip’s, however, persevered. And, on a Thursday afternoon in September of 1853, the second day of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, three black men, the delegation from St. Philip’s, walked into St. John’s Chapel, an Episcopal parish operating under the auspices of Trinity Church, and took their seats among some five hundred wealthy and powerful white men. The question of the delegation’s admission had come to a vote finally that afternoon and the convention could no longer deny them the right to attend.
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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!
Upcoming Meeting with St. Francis in the Valley
March 18, 2022, at 4 p.m. on Zoom
All are welcome to attend
Join Zoom Meeting:
Save the dates for the
Tuesdays in Lent
March 8, 15, 22, 29, & April 5
Times: Either 1:00 pm or 7:00 pm
Copies are available in the Parish Office for a suggested contribution of $25.
My Name is Jose Luis Cabrera
Here’s a link to his story
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St. John's Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Please contact Noelle DeLorenzo ( ndelorenzo217@gmail.com) for the Zoom link to join this group. |
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ST. JOHN'S CHOIR REHEARSALS |
St. John's Adult Choir will meet on Thursdays at 7:30 pm in the church to prepare for Holy Week.
If you are interested in joining our choir, please contact Alex Pryrodny, Music Director, for more information at rurikbird@gmail.com. |
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Giving envolopes are here! They are available for pick up at the back of the church for those who have requested them. If you are unable to pick up your envelopes, we can make arrangements to have them delivered, just let us know.
Giving numbers are still available, so if you would like 2022 envelopes or have any questions, please contact Coral in the Parish Office.
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STEWARDSHIP: PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT |
Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward.
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 & 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 the sick: Fred, Lynn, Jackie, Manny, Cory, Richard, Barbara, Edward, Christine, Patricia, Alberta, Patti, Tom, Allison, Mike, Joann, Patti, Christian, Anthony, Joanne, Harry, Christine, Frank, Theresa, Sue, Spencer, Tom, Stephanie, Matt, Wylie, Susan, Maggie, Ursula, Christina, Bill, Amy, Kate, Cheryl, John Michael, Lauren, Mikey, Marie, Dianne, Ryan, Rich, Preston, Lucy, Irene, Jim, Debra, Rhys, David, Denise, William, Walter, Belle, Jackie, Hal, Ann, Gus, Peter, Diane, David, Irene, Hope, Mike, Michael, Leslie, Jill, Patricia, Doug, Amelia, Dan, Linda, Georgine, Gabe, Janet
We are starting a new prayer list in Lent. 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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