The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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Timothy Keller suggests that if “the meaning of life in the United States is the pursuit of pleasure and personal freedom” then suffering will be devastating for many people. “When pain and suffering come upon us, we finally see not only that we are not in control of our lives but that we never were.” Putting our trust in God and living a life of purpose and meaning can actually make suffering an opportunity for growth and draw us to a deeper relationship with God. Purpose is what brings meaning to our lives. When our purpose is about our own needs, pride, and control we are headed for disaster. Life can become more fulfilling and wonderful when we align our lives with the purpose of God.
In his book, “The Word is Very Near You,” Martin Smith defines prayer as attentiveness to God’s disclosure to us and the heart’s response to that disclosure. Paul prayed that God might dwell in our hearts. In today’s Gospel a person asked Jesus how we find purpose and meaning in our lives. Jesus asks them, "what is written in the law." They reply, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus tells the person if they can do this, they will inherit the Kingdom of God. They ask Jesus, “who is my neighbor?”
Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan who takes care of the man who was beaten and robbed on the road, and who was passed by the religious leader and a priest. The grace in the passage is the compassion and mercy that the Samaritan showed for the injured man. He took care of his wounds, let him ride on his own animal, brought him to an inn, paid in advance for his care and promised to come back and make sure his account was settled. The point of the passage is that Christ calls us to deepen our relationship with God so that we might understand what it means to love our neighbor. This story is not just about helping others, but about the mercy and compassion that can only come from God above. God sent God’s only son to suffer and die on the cross that your sins may be forgiven. This is a crucial understanding because when you realize how much God loves all of us, you can begin to see your neighbor in this light and practice a radical hospitality like the Good Samaritan. This idea of unearned grace turned everything upside down. This event changed the way people saw the world forever. The question is, “Can you accept the love of Christ in your heart and allow that love, mercy and compassion to spill out into the world?”
St. John’s has a wonderful reputation for radical hospitality. Every morning we pray together at 9 am. Fr. James has opened our doors to the community on Wednesdays at noon. Please join him and bring a friend. This week we start the summer book study on “Island of the World” on Monday nights at 6:30 pm. We also begin book study of “Gilead” on Mondays at noon. We are working with our neighbors at St. John’s, Cold Spring Harbor. Please join us on Sundays at 8 am and 10 pm for preaching from four different clergy in July. We know that this past two years has brought suffering and pain to many folks due to sickness, gun violence, and economic stress. God offers us a path of meaning and purpose in the midst of chaos. Please join us and I promise you will inherit the eternal life that our person in today’s Gospel was desperately seeking, but unable to find.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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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
Sunday School will not meet in the summer
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
Music
Opening: 8 Morning Has Broken
Before Gospel: 488 Be Thou My Vision, vs 1-3
Offertory anthem
Communion: PB 54 Be Present Jesus
Closing: 495 Hail, thou once despised Jesus
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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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Summer Bible Study - Mondays at 6:30 pm on Zoom. Fr. John Morrision will lead a summer book club. We will be reading and discussing Michael D. O'Brien's novel, Island of the World. Copies are available in the Parish Office.
Tuesday Bible Study will pause for the summer.
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Wednesdays at 12 noon in the church
To continue to be welcoming neighbors in the village, we will be opening our doors to the community at large.
St. John's Church will open its doors to Huntington for an hour during the week! Noonday Prayer will start at 12:15 for any who are interested in attending this brief in person service.
If any one feels called to join in this ministry and help expand it, please reach out to Fr. James at jreiss@stjohnshuntington.org . All are welcome!
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BOOK STUDY WITH ST. JOHN'S COLD SPRING HARBOR |
In the month of July we are partnering with St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor for a study of Marilynne Robinson's 2004 novel Gilead. There are two opportunities for discussion: We will meet on Sundays at 11:30 in person at St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor, or Mondays at 12 noon on Zoom:
- July 10 & 11 - p. 3-70
- July 17 & 18 - p. 71-131
- July 24 & 25 - p. 132 - 194
- July 31 & Aug 1 - p. 195-247
Note - page numbers are the same in the new addition with a different cover. Copies are available through the Parish Office, (631) 427-1752.
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SPIRITUALITY GROUP MEETING |
St. John's Spirituality Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on July 14th at 4pm on Zoom. This month's topic is...
"Belonging."
If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Patti Aliperti at silverymoon33@yahoo.com.
Join us on Zoom:
Yoga in the Garden - We have stopped offering yoga on Fridays. Keep an eye out for updated schedule.
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The Youth Group will meet on Sunday, July 17th at 3:00 pm at the church.
Do you not know how to change a tire or check your oil? Wish you knew more about your car? Tony Chamorro, St. John's Vestry Member and owner of Trio Auto Repair on New York Ave, is extending an invitation to the high school youth and our college young adults (and any others who are interested) to an individualized session on getting to know your car.
Tony will be at St. John's on Sunday, July 17th at 3:00 pm. He will be available to meet with our older youth who have questions about cars as they prepare to spend more time on the road.
Any questions, please reach out to Tony or Fr. James at (631) 427-1752 ext. 105. |
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Join us on Sunday, July 31st, noon - 6:00 pm for United for Ukraine - a fundraiser with live music and a marketplace at St. John's and films by Ukrainian filmmakers about Ukraine at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington.
St. John's will host a marketplace with a silent auction as well as "buy it now" sales of art, jewelry, crafts, goods & services; food and drinks will also be for sale. A concert featuring St. John's Artist-in-Residence, Alex Pryrodny, and other artists from Ukraine and Long Island favorites will occur all afternoon in the church's sanctuary. The film, "Olga" about a Ukrainian gymnast in exile by Ukrainian filmmaker, Elie Grappa, will be screened at the Cinema Arts Centre at 12 pm & 7 pm.
All proceeds from the event will be split between World Central Kitchen, who sets up food distribution and cooks meals for refugees in the border nations as well as in Ukraine; and to Direct Relief which gives medical supplies, equipment and funds to refugees as well as those still in Ukraine. Charity Navigator rates both charities 4 of 4 stars, the highest rating, with 100% going to aid the refugees.
Tickets to the Marketplace and concerts at the church are by a suggested donation of $30, more if possible and less if necessary, and purchased at the door. Tickets for the films are separate and can be purchased at the Cinema Arts Centre: $10 CAC Members/$15 Public.
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EXPANDING OUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE |
The Spirituality Group is sponsoring a special program called "Expanding Our Worship Experience". The first of 3 programs will be on July 23rd from 1-3 in the Garden of Blessings (Great Hall if rain).
Qi Gong and Drumming Circle with Leslie Martin and Dr. Ric Statler.
ALL ARE WELCOME. A free will offering of $20 is suggested to support our Mission trip to Arizona.
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FUNERAL SERVICE FOR REV. JAMES BYRUM |
On July 23rd at 11am there will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of Rev. James E. Byrum. Following the service there will be a luncheon in the Great Hall. All are welcome to attend. Please confirm your attendance with Victoria Byrum via e-mail, at victoria.byrum@gmail.com.
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There will be a Lay Eucharistic Visitors meeting on Sunday, July 31st at 11:15 am in the Canterbury Corner.
If you have any questions or are interested in becoming and LEV or setting up a home visit, please contact Deacon Claire at (631) 427-1752, ext 104. |
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Christmas in July Sale!
Come & Shop our wide selection of Christmas ornaments, decorations and tableware!
St. John's Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, 12-3pm.
The Thrift Shop will be closed on Saturday, July 2nd, Independence Day weekend.
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 teams. If you wish to become a volunteer, please contact Mary Beth Dieterle at mbdieterle@yahoo.com or call (631) 427-1752, ext 106.
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ST. FRANCIS IN THE VALLEY - MISSION TRIP MEETING |
MISSION TRIP to Arizona is a GO!!!!
October 24 – 30 2022
OUTREACH is sharing Christ’s love with all our neighbors!
Next meeting for our group is July 19 at 7:00 p.m. on zoom:
In Special Thanksgiving to:
The Prayer Shawl Ministry for making beautiful prayer hearts tagged with a prayer and message of hope which we will distribute on our journey!
The Spirituality Group for hosting “Expanding Our Worship Experience” in order to raise awareness and funds for our journey (see above message about this program and please tell your friends)!
Please keep the 9 of us who are traveling to the border in your prayers:
Deacon Claire
Fr. James Reiss
Ken Denker
Paula Dodge
Barbara Hinton
Bob McGonagle
Jan Stebbins
Stephanie West
Judy Wohrle
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Please join us at St. John's for Evensong, an ancient traditional Anglican/Episcopal service of evening prayers, psalms, biblical readings and canticles, chanted in a choral setting. In collaboration with Alex Pryrodny and the St. John's Choir, Fr. James will officiate our monthly Service of Evensong on the fourth Thursday of the month. Please join us Thursday, July 28th at 7:00 PM in the church.
Our guest preacher will be The Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran, Curate at St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor, who shares with us about the holy people we remember this day: Mary and Martha.
All are welcome! Join us to pray for our broken world in need of healing, through the gift of music
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The next meeting of St. John's ECW will be on Sunday, August 14th at 11:15 am in the Guild Room.
Upcoming ECW Events:
- Family Picnic - Sunday, September 18th, 12-4pm, Centerport Beach House
- United Thank Offering Ingathering - Sunday, October 2nd
- Harvest Fair - October 22nd, 10am - 4pm
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All are welcome to attend our fall planning meeting on Sunday, August 21st at 11:30 am. We are looking to bring individuals and ministries together to finalize the fall calendar to coordinated our many events and start to spread the word about all the great programs and ministries here at St. John's.
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TAKE HOME COVID TEST AVAILABLE |
Free at home COVID tests are available for pick up at the back of the church on Sundays before and after services and Wednesdays during Operatio Open Doors while supplies last. |
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STEWARDSHIP: PLEDGE ONLINE |
Prayerfully consider setting up recurring automatic payments directly from your bank account or using your credit card. Our secure online system, OnRealm, is an easy way to help to sustain us through the summer. Your regular stewardship payments are vital to the operation and maintenance of our beautiful church. Use the button below to make a regular payment or to set up recurring payements. |
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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 secucre, 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 Susan, Jack, Charise, Spencer, Matt, Ernest, Sue, Wylie, Tom, Debra, Christina, Ursula, Victor, Melissa, Olivia, Annie, Tom, Allison, Chyah, Mary, James, Dylan, Jake, Jeff, Shannon, Kelsey, Justin, Patti, Richard, Barbara, Cole, Edward, Christine, Fred, Patricia, Hal, Carmen, Ignacio, Anita, Jeff, Amy, Katherine, Briton, Cheryl, Edith, George
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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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