Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one child like this in my name receives me; and whoever receives me does not receive me, but Him who sent me." (Mark 9:36-37)

At St. John’s, we say that our children are our treasure. Today is Sunday school registration in the Canterbury Corner and next week we will begin our Sunday school program. Christian Education begins every week at 9:40 in the Canterbury Corner with a children’s message from our curate, Fr. James. If anyone is available to assist with Sunday school, we are in need of help. Please let Christine Dore or Fr. James know if you are available. We will also kick off our youth group and young adult ministry this month. Registration for Confirmation and First Communion are also this Sunday. Youth Group is run by Rev. James Reiss and Ford Spilsbury. The first event is the barbeque on September 18th at 12 noon at the Centerport Beach. The first meeting is on September 25th at 6:30 pm in the Guild Room. In January we begin formal Confirmation and First Communion classes. First Communion will be April 16th at the 10:00 service. Confirmation will be held in May at the Cathedral in Garden City. We will also have adult classes for Reception into the Episcopal Church in January. Any children or youth who wish to be Acolytes may sign up with Fr. James. The training will be on October 9th after the 10:00 am service. New acolytes may serve on any Sunday starting on October 16th. Our experienced acolytes are invited to join us and help the new acolytes learn “the ropes.”

I know that parents are extremely busy and I understand that there are constant demands on Sunday morning. In my thirty years’ experience as a Youth Minister and Priest, I have found that Sunday school, acolyte ministry, and youth group are instrumental in developing great young adults. Giving of yourself in ministry, service, and worship has a lifelong effect on young people. I recommend that you invest as much of your precious time as you are able because of the fine women and men that come through the St. John’s youth programs. If you look around the church, you will notice some really fine people that make this parish and our Huntington community as nice as it is.

Today’s Gospel is about the overwhelming abundance of God’s forgiveness and the transforming love of God. Each of us plays the role of the Pharisee when we judge people. The Pharisees were grumbling about the way Jesus welcomes sinners and tax collectors. Like the people of the Old Testament, the people of Israel are portrayed as a complaining, grumbling stiff-necked people. The lawyers grumble about those who do not follow the law. The Pharisees complain that Jesus is healing on the Sabbath, eating with tax collectors and going out to a lower class of people. In today’s story, God’s unmerited love is offered to everyone, including sinners and outcasts. The fact of the matter is that we are forgiven through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is only through grace that we are saved. Perhaps we can learn something from those who are poor and powerless in our society. Perhaps Jesus comes to us when we least expect it in the person of a lost sheep or an immigrant at the border.

Do you remember the thief on the cross who humbly asked for forgiveness? The amazing grace of God is that we are all loved equally. God and heaven rejoice when just one sheep is returned to the flock and when one coin is found. God’s love for us exceeds our ability to understand it. We are called to treat everyone who enters our doors as God’s beloved and we are called to the border to be with those who are lost and hurting.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan 

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 After Pentecost

9:40 am - Sunday School in the Canterbury Corner

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 Day of Pentecost

The Music

Opening: 470 There is a wideness in God's Mercy

Before Gospel: 686 Come, thou fount of every blessing, vs 1-2

Offertory hymn (please list) L124 Give me a clean heart

Communion: Taize Laudate Dominum

Closing: PB 17 Just a closer walk with Thee

CLICK HERE TO READ ST. JOHN'S CURRENT COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS

On September 11th, we will begin the Sunday School year with meet and greet in the Guild Room, then a Blessing of the Backpacks during the Peace at the 10 am service. Please join us in the Canterbury Corner at 9:40 am for group activities and a chance to reconnect after the summer break. Anyone interested in Sunday School, First Holy Communion or Confirmation should register.

First Holy Communion and Confirmation classes will begin in January. First Holy Communion classes are open to 2nd graders. Confirmation classes are open to youth, 7-12 graders, and any adults that would like to be Received into the Episcopal Church. Youth Group is for 7th - 12th graders. St. John's is partnering with the youth groups of Trinity Episcopal, Northport and St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor, to do monthly joint activities starting on September 25th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REGISTRATION FORM & CALENDARS

There will be an ECW Harvest Fair planning meeting this Sunday, September 11th in the Guild Room immediately following the 10 am service.

Please contact Carol Goldbaum with any questions or to send your regrets at carolboomer@yahoo.com.

All are welcome to the Annual Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 18th from 12:00-3:00 pm at the Senior Beach House at Centerport Beach, 239 Little Neck Road, Centerport. This will be a wonderful chance for all of us to meet our newcomers. The Youth Group will organize fun activities for the children and families.

Please bring your food donations as follows:

• Last names beginning A thru M - salad
• Last names beginning N thru Z - dessert

There will be a sign up sheet available at the back of the church and in the Great Hall during coffee hour.

Hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be provided by the Breakfast Group and the ECW. Don’t forget to bring a beach chair and umbrella!

Join St. John's Youth Group! 

Anyone in grades 7 through 12 are welcome to participate in Youth Group activities at St. John's and our youth partner parishes, Trinity, Northport and St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor. Here's what coming up for our youth:

Sunday, September 18th, 12-3pm - Parish Picnic Games & Activities Kick-off Event!

Meetings, 6:30- 8:00pm, location indicated below 

Sunday, September 25th - St. John's, Huntington 

Sunday, October 2nd - St. John's, CSH 

Sunday, October 16th - Trinity, Northport 

Sunday, November 6th - St. John's, Huntington

Sunday, December 11th - St. John's, Huntington 

St. John’s Huntington Youth Group Events

Saturday, October 15th - Drive upstate to pick apples and cheese for Harvest Fair 

Saturday, October 22nd - Harvest Fair 

Saturday, November 19th - Rotary Club Food Drive, 10am - 4pm 

Sunday, November 20th - Rotary Club Food Drive, 10 am - 4pm

Saturday, December 3rd - Youth Group Wreath Making & Selling

Sunday, December 4th - Youth Group Wreath Selling

Please contact Fr. James at jreiss@stjohnshuntington.org or Ford Spilsbury at fordspils@gmail.com for more info about Youth Group.

Confirmation – Confirmation is the sacrament when individuals choose to confirm the promises that were made for them at their baptism. The church recognizes one’s full membership and it is the day a bishop seals one with gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Confirmation classes start in January, meeting an hour before Youth Group, and the Rite of Confirmation will take place at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City this May. Anyone interested in Confirmation in the Spring of 2023 should attend Youth Group meetings and activities. For information about Confirmation, please contact the Parish Office, info@stjohns1745.org or sign-up using this link:

https://forms.gle/qUbsrEEDwvxyBzRP6 

This joint ministry with St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor and Trinity, Northport, of fostering relationships amongst young adults within our community is not a simple project, but one we’re willing to take on. We plan on starting slow this Fall with monthly brunches, the first Sunday of the month. This is geared towards young adults who are 21 and older. This will later be accompanied by Spirituality on Tap/Pub Theology events to be released at a later date.

For the Fall, the brunches will be:

• October 2^nd
• November 6^th

They will all start at 12:00pm, at different brunch locations throughout the township. 

Contact Fr. James at jreiss@stjohnshuntington.org to learn more and sign up for notifications.

Sunday, September 18th, beginning at 1 pm at the Family Picnic at Centerport Beach House. Qi Gong with Leslie Martin & Native American Prayer Tie Workshop with Dr. Ric Statler.

Saturday, September 10th, at 11am in the Great Hall

All are invited to join us for yoga and meditation. Practice will be led by Lynn LaBorde, a twice-certified, 200-hour yoga teacher and meditation guide, practicing since 1990. Please bring your yoga mat. Drop-ins welcome. Suggested donation $20.

For more information on this and other Spirituality Group programs, contact Patti Aliperti at 631-385-1410 or silverymoon33@yahoo.com.

Sunday, October 9th at 11:15 am

We are offering Acolyte training for new acolytes. Any child or youth interested in becoming an acolyte please meet Fr. James on October 9th at the front of the church by the piano following the 10 am service.

New acolytes learn by shadowing experienced acolytes at the 10:00 am services. This is a wonderful way for our youth to serve our parish and received community service hours.

MISSION TRIP to Arizona is STILL a GO!!!!

October 24 – 30 2022

OUTREACH is sharing Christ’s love with all our neighbors!  

Help us Help our Friends in Christ

Beginning September 18

Donations Needed

There will be an open suitcase in the back of the church for the following much needed items which we will bring with us on our journey:

• Toiletries – hotel size – small – we have to carry with us
• Toothpaste/toothbrushes/shampoos/soap/lotions/ deodorant/sunscreen
• Masks
• Socks (all sizes, preferably white)

 Thank you for keeping the 9 of us who are traveling in your prayers:

Deacon Claire

Fr. James Reiss

Ken Denker

Paula Dodge

Barbara Hinton

Bob McGonagle

Jan Stebbins

Stephanie West

Judy Wohrle

Saturday, September 24th, 4:30 - 6:30, in the Garden of Blessings, Janice Buckner & Wayne Sayres will play Country, Folk, Rock, Jazz, Traditional & Contemporary Music. In the Garden of Blessings at St. John's Episcopal Church (weather permitting).

Sunday, October 9th at 7:00 pm, pianist Alex Pryrodny teams up with an award-winning tap dancer Alex MacDonald for an evening of piano and tap.  POSTER (please share)

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 St. John's Choir, Fr. James will officiate our monthly Service of Evensong on the fourth Thursday of the month. Please join us Thursday, September 22nd at 7:00 pm in the church.

All are welcome! Join us to pray for our broken world in need of healing, through the gift of music!

Saturday, October 1st at 5:00 pm in the Garden of Blessings

We invite you and your leashed or small caged animal companions (or bring a photo of your pet) for a special blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals. Join us in the Garden of Blessings. All are welcome!

St. John's Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, 12-3pm.

HELP! Volunteers continue to be needed - If you wish to become a volunteer, 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.

We believe that not only does Jesus still heal today, but that healing is one of the most powerful ministries of evangelization. Jesus never preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God without demonstrating the kingdom through signs, wonders, and miracles, with healing as the most frequent demonstration of God’s love.

Healing services at St. John’s will include a time of worship and praise, proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, corporate prayer for healing ending with individual prayer teams for healing. Come prepared for breakthrough!

Please join us for a safe and loving offering of prayer and healing on the following dates. All Services will begin at 7:00 p.m.

October 13

November 10

December 8: Special Blue Christmas Healing Liturgy

Wednesdays & Thursdays at 12 - 1pm

To continue to be welcoming neighbors in the village, St. John's Church opens its doors to Huntington during the week!

On Wednesdays - Noonday Prayer will start at 12:15 for any who are interested in attending this brief in person service.

On Thursdays - The sanctuary will be open for individual prayer and quiet contemplation. Our Music Director and Artist-in-Residence, Alex Pryrodny, will offer a brief interlude of contemplative music.

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!

Just a reminder that all parish events and building use must be submitted to the Parish Office. Notices for events to run in the Chalice, to post on the website and social media must be received by the Parish Administrator by noon on Tuesdays. We are looking 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.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ST. JOHN'S CALENDAR

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, Amy, Katherine, Briton, Cheryl, Edith, George, Patty, Gabriel, Siobhan, Danielle, Matt, Jane, Harry, Denise, Barbara

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