"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . "
The Chalice
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church 
Lord, Teach us to Pray.

This week, as we continue to journey towards Jerusalem with Jesus, one of his disciples, who must have been deeply schooled in prayer from his Jewish roots, now asks Jesus to teach all of the disciples how to pray. Such an intriguing question. One can easily assume that this disciple would have attended services in the synagogue and Temple from childhood. As such, he would have prayed three times each day, morning, afternoon, and evening and would also have been familiar with the spontaneous prayer of blessings. Moses had often reminded the Israelites not to forget the Lord their God in Deuteronomy 8: 10-11: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God…”Always remember to give thanks to God who is the source of every good thing.

What does this disciple see in Jesus that begs the question: Lord teach us to pray?

The Gospel of Luke has more references to prayer than any of the other Gospels. In fact, in a commentary by Alfred Plummer, it is referenced as “the Gospel of Prayer.”  As he makes his way to Jerusalem, teaching, and preaching, it becomes quite obvious just how often Jesus takes time for prayer. The disciples finally notice and have now realized that perhaps Jesus might have something unique to teach them about prayer and its importance in their lives going forward. In fact, Luke helps to pave the way for a foundation of constant communion with God in prayer, which may not have been intuitive for the disciples.

Every Sunday, we come together to pray as a community of believers. Corporate prayer is so powerful! But many of us, like the disciples, feel a certain inadequacy when it comes to our own prayer life. “What are the words I need to say?” or “What if I ask God for something and I do not receive it? Is my faith weak?” or “I’m not sure that I am hearing God.”

So, this Sunday, Jesus has offered us a model for prayer as he teaches the famous prayer that has, over time, been labeled The Lord’s Prayer. He invites each of us into a deeply personal relationship with God and urges us to call upon God – even using the more familiar and intimate name for God: Abba - Daddy. We have been called, as God’s children, to trust that we belong to God and God wants what is good and life giving for each of us – even if we are not able to fully understand or recognize what that is.

Most of all, when we bring our need to God’s love in faith, that is indeed prayer.

Prayerfully yours,
Deacon Claire
SUNDAY WORSHIP THIS WEEK
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: 470 There is a wideness in God's mercy
Before Gospel: PB 5 Seek Ye First
Offertory anthem
Communion: 581 Where Charity and Love Prevail
Closing: LEVAS109 What A Friend We Have in Jesus

QI GONG & DRUMMING CIRCLE IN THE GARDEN
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 (We will move inside in case of rain or extreme heat).

Qi Gong and Drumming Circle with Leslie Martin and Dr. Ric Statler.

Leslie Martin: NYS-LMT, Certified Amma Therapist. After 18 years as Associate Professor of Amma Therapy, European Bodywork, and Wholistic Lifestyle at NY College of Health Professions, I now share all I can with you. All credit for a 39- year longevity in Bodywork and Amma Therapy is given to Tao Qi Gong practices.

Dr. Ric Statler: Native American Drummer Ric Statler has Native American bloodline and over 35 years’ experience in spiritual healing practices. He has mentored under elder drummers, medicine men, & even one of the 13 Grandmothers. Dr. Ric Statler has integrated traditional and spiritual healing principles in working with his patients and others. He is a certified drum circle facilitator and has led drum and fire circles as well as playing drums in Kirtan gatherings.

ALL ARE WELCOME. A free will offering of $20 is suggested to support our Mission trip to Arizona.

Please see attached flyer for more details. CLICK HERE FOR FLYER
MORNING PRAYER
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.
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 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.
BIBLE STUDY
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.
OPERATION: OPEN DOORS
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!
UNITED FOR UKRAINE
Join us on Sunday, July 31st, 11 am - 8:30 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. CLICK HERE FOR A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS.

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. 
 
World Central Kitchen - https://wck.org
 
Direct Relief Ukraine - https://www.directrelief.org
 
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.

HOW TO HELP
  • Bake Sale, drop off homemade baked goods on Sunday, July 31st, 7 - 11 am, in the kitchen
  • Volunteer at the Bake Sale table, 12-6 pm
  • Volunteer at the Thrift Shop, 12-6 pm
  • Help with set up, 9 am - 12 pm
  • Help with clean up, 6 -8 pm
  • Buy raffle tickets, shop the marketplace, attend the film, enjoy the concerts
  • Donate using the links above
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.
LEV MEETING
There will be a Lay Eucharistic Visitors meeting on Sunday, July 24th at 11:15 am in Deacon Claire's Office/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.
EVENSONG IN JULY
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
THRIFT SHOP
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.

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, (631) 427-1752, ext 106.
ECW MEETING
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
  • Wine Tasting - Friday, February 3, 2023
FALL PLANNING MEETING
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.

Please contact Fr. James with any questions.
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.
STEWARDSHIP: 2nd Quarter Pledge Statements
2nd Quarter Stewardship statements went out last week in the mail and via email. We are so grateful for your continued support and commitment to St. John's Episcopal Church in 2022. Your contributions help with the standard day to day operations and maintenance of our beautiful church. Please contact Coral in the Parish Office if you have any questions regarding your statement.
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. Use the button below to make a regular payment or to set up recurring payements.
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.
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."
 
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, Patty, Gabriel

Please send your prayers to prayers@stjohns1745.org or call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.