"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
Take Up the Cross: Not for the Faith of Heart | |
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This week’s scriptures take us through some murky water. You may believe, like me, that having a relationship with God would make life easier. Yet this week’s lectionary challenges our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. What does it take to follow Jesus!
In the Old Testament reading, the prophet Jeremiah rails against God. All along he has been doing what God asked of him and it just hasn’t gone well for him. “I have become a laughingstock all day long;everyone mocks me.” He continues to complain saying, “All my close friends are watching for me to stumble.”
Our Psalm is less than comforting – like Jeremiah, another lament, and a plea for God to intervene:
“Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach,
and shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my own kindred,
an alien to my mother's children.
Save me from the mire; do not let me sink;
let me be rescued from those who hate me
and out of the deep waters.”
The “Missionary Discourse” in Matthew’s Gospel is challenging at best. The disciples are near Jesus – there to learn in order to carry his message forward. Some rather confusing words come from Jesus’ mouth:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
Confusion. Cost. Courage is needed. And yet, as we will learn there is hope. Please join me this Sunday as we wrestle with the deeper understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Faithfully yours,
Deacon Claire
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The Readings
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Psalm 69: 8-20
Romans 6:1b-11
Matthew 10:24-39
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
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 After Pentecost
Music
Opening: 372 Praise to the living God
Before Gospel: 654 Day by day
Offertory anthem: L191 His eye is on the sparrow
Communion: L144 Where he leads me I will follow
Closing: 296 We know that Christ is raised and dies no more
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This Sunday at the 10:00 am service, we will recognize and celebrate the following 2023 Education for Ministry graduates:
Jo Ann V. Tosetti
Dr. Johanna Syrjanen
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CONGRATULATIONS 2023 GRADUATES | |
James Conolly
Graduated: Northport High School
Attending: State University of New York at New Paltz, music
Gianni Graham
Graduated:Harding University High School
Attending: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, nursing
Meaghan Mc Innes
Graduated: Holy Trinity High School
Attending: State University of New York at Albany
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On Sundays, the church will be open for prayer and quiet contemplation from 2 to 4 pm, unless otherwise noted, with musical offerings at 3 pm. Check St. John’s website for the most current music schedule.
This Sunday, come listen to soothing, original music for the piano with Bonnie Masi.
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OYSTER BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL CONCERT | |
Oyster Bay Music Festival presents:
"Introverts and Extroverts"
Sunday, June 25th at 7pm
St. John's Episcopal Church, Huntington
With both humor and adoration, this OBMF concert titled "Introverts and Extroverts" will explore the psychological side of a wide range of composers and masterpiece compositions. Included on the program will be works by Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, and and a special improvised performance by Alex Pryrodny. Enjoy favorite arias, Broadway tunes, chamber music, and virtuoso instrumentals - all in one concert! The evening promises to be exciting, moving, and entertaining.
https://oysterbaymusicfestival.org/2022-concerts
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2023 PILGRIMAGE TO IONA, SCOTLAND | |
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JULY 4TH
Pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona, Scotland
September 29-October 8, 2023
IONA WELCOMES ALL! Come you of great faith and you who struggle with faith; you who believe and you who doubt; explorers and questioners, adventures and contemplatives! Experience Iona without expectation. Let the sacred isle uncover what you need to see and reveal what you need to hear!
For more information or questions please contact the Pilgrimage Leader, Leslie Valentine: Phone: (516) 815-1169; Email: leslieval@aol.com.
Iona 2023 Brochure
Iona 2023 Registration Form
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LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITOR TRAINING | |
The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island is offering in-person LEV Training on Saturday, July 15th, 9am-12:30pm at the Mercer School of Theology in Garden City.
This workshop will prepare those nominated by their clergy to act as Lay Eucharistic Visitors to those hospitalized, confined to rehabilitation and nursing institutions, and the homebound. Content will include Eucharistic theology, role-playing for Eucharistic visits, and information about required specific Safe Church training. With their rector/clergy-in-charge's support, those who participate in this workshop can then be licensed by the Bishop's Office as Lay Eucharistic Visitors.
Applications must be submitted by the clergy by July 7th, so the deadline for expressing interest is June 30th. Proof of completion of required Safe Church training from 2020 or later will be required for final licensing.
Please contact Deacon Claire or reach out to the Parish Office if you are interested in becoming a licensed Lay Eucharistic Visitor.
There is no fee for this training. Space is limited.
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SHORTS, SKORTS & SKIRTS are on sale Saturday, June 24th!
The Thrift Shop is open regularly on Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturdays, 12 - 3 pm.
To volunteer or find our more, 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.
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UNCOVERING OUR PARISH HISTORY | |
ADDITIONAL RESEARCHERS NEEDED NOW THROUGH DECEMBER FOR ‘UNCOVERING OUR PARISH HISTORY’ PROJECT
You may remember hearing Fr. Duncan talk about this project in which the Diocese is seeking to uncover its history in relation to slavery. As one of the churches with a colonial past, St. John’s was invited to be part of it. The research spans the period from our founding circa 1745 to the end of the Civil War in the Spring of 1865 (perhaps a little earlier since New York abolished slavery in 1827 and gradually emancipated its enslaved residents 28 years later). Our task is to discover the ways in which St. John’s was involved -- parishioners who owned slaves or were opposed to slavery, and also those who benefitted from the slavery economy in any way, including whether St. John’s itself was a beneficiary. The goal is to complete a draft report by year-end.
Whether you enjoy history or like playing detective or are just curious, those are the skills for the task at hand. OR, if you are looking for community service credit, this certainly qualifies. This project was undertaken by the Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice Ministry but is open to the entire parish and some parishioners who are not members of our RR&SJM have joined the history project already. Please contact Heather Kress at hkress44@gmail.com or 631-549-5186 to learn more or to sign up. Six of us have begun the work but we definitely can use more help to get through the amount of research that is needed to complete the task on time.
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Dear parishioners, we want to thank you for your stewardship contributions year-to-date. As we are drawing to the close of the second quarter and approach mid-year, we ask you to review your contributions and try to become current if you are a bit behind. If you need to know your current balance, please reach out to Coral in the Parish Office.
Thank you,
John West and Sean Butler
MAKE YOUR STEWARDSHIP PAYMENT ONLINE
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL & CHOIR CAMP | |
Compassion Camp is coming and we are putting on a Musical!
Compassion Camp is a program where we explore what it means to have compassion for ourselves, others, and the world. Camp promises to be two awesome weeks full of fun activities, tons of arts and crafts projects, and musical excitement. St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor and St. John's, Huntington are collaborating to double the fun!
This year, camp is two weeks. You can participate in 1 or both, although it may influence which roles you can be cast in. Campers can also participate without being cast in a role if they don't want to perform.
Week 1: August 14 - 18
Week 2: August 21 - 25
Location: St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor
Hours: 10am-2pm
Ages: Open to grades K-6
Cost per week: $50/child, $100/family (scholarships available)
Food: Lunch provided
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Bible Study meets regularly Mondays at 6:30 pm on Zoom.
Monday Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746
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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.
Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86041146543
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On Wednesdays, the church is open from noon to 1 pm for noonday prayer which starts at 12:15 pm. All are welcome. | |
JULY BOOK STUDY WITH THE REV. MARY BETH MILLS-CURRAN | The Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran, Curate of St. John's Cold Spring Harbor, invites you to join them in reading and discussing Robin Wall Kimmerer's 2013 book Braiding Sweetgrass. Some of you may have read this beautiful reflection of indigenous spirituality and wisdom, and how it relates to our care for the earth. There are two opportunities for discussion: They will meet on Sundays at 11:30 in person at St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor or Mondays at 12 noon on Zoom. More info. | |
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Bill Kiley announces his next book in the "Hope and Freckles" series of books.
Hope and Freckles: Learning to Live in a New Land
After fleeing from their home because of danger and hunger, Hope and Freckles are now living in the Big Pine Forest. Read about how these refugees adjust to a new home with a different language, customs, food and where life is so very different.
BOOK RELEASE IS AUGUST 8TH, 2023
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY HERE
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REGULAR MINISTRY MEETINGS | |
Prayer Shawl Ministry - On summer break. Meetings will resume in September.
Racial Reconcilitation & Social Justice Minsitry - 4th Wednesday of each month on Zoom. Contact Heather Kress.
Spirituality Group - 2nd Thursday of each month at 5 pm in the Guild Room. Contact Patti Aliperti.
St. Hilda's Guild (Sewing & Crafting) - Weekly on Tuesdays, 12:30 - 3 pm in the Guild Room. Contact Sue Hartman.
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S | |
We pray for Patrick, Eric, Chaya, Valerie, Anna, Denise, Dan, Gladys, Richard, Barbara, Christine, Brooke, Cassandra, Valerie, Edith, Cole, Luke, Danielle, Steve, Amy, Kate, David, Irene, Leslie, Brandon, Shelley, Melissa, Caitlin, Patti, Sandra, Hal, Helga, Thomas, Marilyn, Dudley, Fred, Juanita, Cheryl
Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org or call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
stjohns1745.org
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