"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
We are in the season of Epiphany – a season that continues well beyond the Feast Day itself, when we experienced the joy and wonder of the magi who travelled so far from the east. Following a light – a star that aroused their curiosity, that aroused them out of complacency. But God was clearly calling them to move! | |
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If you could see the journey whole
you might never undertake it;
might never dare the first step
that propels you
from the place you have known
toward the place you know not.
Jan Richardson
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Have you ever experienced an epiphany – a moment of recognition – a moment of light and awareness?
Perhaps your epiphany occurred when you recognized a call and you deeply believed and discerned that it was from God. Some may wonder, is that you, God? Nevertheless calls from God can be life changing, like seeking ordained ministry, changing your career, realizing that you need to use your gifts on the Vestry. Calls can lead us into new directions and enable us to meet new people and use new skills, – like volunteering for Hospice, for a local hospital, or for our Thrift shop. You never know who you will meet and how that will change your life. No call from God is too small. A whisper in your ear (that still small voice) tells you that you need to make a meal for your sick neighbor, or to stop to help someone who fell on the sidewalk. But you heard a call and you discerned it to be from God.
Our lectionary this week focuses on “the call.” “Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ…” We know that Mark is a Gospel of action and urgency. Jesus approaches Peter, Andrew, James and John and simply says “follow me.” And, “immediately” they drop what they were doing to follow. Their willingness to respond to the call changed our world.
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God, can I hear the Call
Do I listen?
Raise my head from consuming tasks
To listen for another voice?
Do I recognize your voice when I hear it?
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
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Recognizing God’s call is not always easy or obvious. That is why we spend time reading the scriptures in Bible Study, or come together for Morning prayer – which exposes us to the daily lectionary. In both instances we are in community, learning to hear God’s call. The interesting thing about God’s call is that God is persistent, as we will see in Jonah this week. He returns to Jonah again and again until Jonah responds. The beauty of responding to God’s call is that God is always there to guide and support you in every step of the journey.
Where is God calling you?
See you in church!
Deacon Claire
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The Readings
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Psalm 62:6-14
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
Bulletin: Rite I HE Epiphany
9:40 am No Sunday School this week - Sunday School Calendar
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739553648
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745
Bulletin: Rite II HE Epiphany
Music
Opening: 470 There is a wideness is God's mercy
Before Gospel: 533 How wondrous and great, vs 1-2
Offertory anthem: "What the Lord Has Done in Me" Ken Kress, soloist
Communion anthem: 659 O Master, let me walk with thee
Closing: 537 Christ for the world we sing
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RICHARD ROHR - THE FRANCISCAN SPIRITUAL IMAGINATION |
St. John's Spirituality Group suggests this upcoming online program which is part of the Center for Spiritual Imagination's Spiritual Imagination Speaker Series:
The Franciscan Spiritual Imagination With Fr. Richard Rohr
Saturday, January 20, 2024
9am ET - Online
The program will begin with contemplative practice based on Franciscan spirituality before engaging in conversation with Fr. Richard Rohr, Franciscan friar, ecumenical teacher, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and author of numerous books, including The Universal Christ, The Wisdom Pattern, Just This, and Falling Upward.
Register for this talk here. Suggested donation is $40, but you can contribute part of that or attend for free!
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Join us for our next Young Artist Showcase on Saturday, January 20th at 3pm in our beautiful sanctuary. St. John's Music Ministry in continuing its work in supporting young, upcoming musicians by giving them an opportunity perform. To find our more about our music programming, contact Alex Pryrodny our Music Director. No tickets needed.
Long Island Pride Chorus invites you to "A Light in the Winter," their Annual Winter Cabaret on Saturday, January 20th at 8:00 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church in Huntington.
Early Bird tickets for $25 available until January 6th. Afterwards, $30 online and at the door.
BUY TICKETS ONLINE
For more information email info@lipridechorus.org.
Jazz Connections - Sunday, March 3rd at 5:00pm Sound Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Jennifer Miceli featuring pianist Alex Pryrodny. Join us for an evening of contemporary arrangements of your favorite jazz standards and paying homage to legendary vocal jazz ensembles like Manhattan Transfer; Lambert, Hendricks and Ross; and New York Voices. Inaugural concert of the new Jazz concert series at St. John's Huntington. Tickets $20 Pre-sale/$15 Seniors, Students, Veterans/$30 General Admission on March 3rd. PRE-SALE TICKETS
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HIHI is the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative. St. John's partners with other local houses of worship to provide food, clothing and shelter during the winter months.
HIHI MEALS - Fr. Duncan invites anyone who feels called to minister to the unhoused in our community to join him in the kitchen to cook a hot meal to be delivered to those in need. Our next HIHI meal prep will be on Friday, January 26th. Fr. Duncan will be in the kitchen preparing the meal from 3:00 - 5:00. Please reach out to him if you would like to help, (631) 427-1752, ext. 102, or dbu632@gmail.com.
MEAL CARDS - This winter, St. John's is supporting HIHI by collecting gift cards to local fast food restaurants of $5 or $10 amounts to distribute to homeless in Huntington. If you would like to contribute, you may drop your Dunkin Donut, Burger King, McDonalds, or other gift cards off at St. John's, 12 Propect St, Huntington.
CLOTHING - We are also collecting men's jeans, sweatshirts, work boots, and winter coats which may be dropped off at St. John's.
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HOPE Ministries is continuing to collect toiletries as well as other needed items for HIHI. Please place your items in the box in the rear of the church. Here is a list of what is most needed: | |
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Soap
Deodorant
Shampoo
Sanitary Wipes
Toilet Paper
Lotion
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Chapstick
Feminine Hygiene products
Socks
Underwear
Coats
Gloves
Bandages
Sunscreen
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ST. JOHN'S NURSERY SCHOOL BABY BLESSINGS DRIVE - Let’s join with our Nursery School to collect baby and toddler supplies for Helping Hand Rescue Mission’s Baby Blessings event. Items needed are listed below. They can also be left in the back of the church in the designated box. | |
Clothing and shoes
(boy and girl, size NB-5T)
Strollers
Swings
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Cribs
Baby blankets
Bedding
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To learn more about HOPE Ministries, please contact Deacon Claire, (631) 427-1752, ext 104, or cmis@hotmail.com. | |
The next meeting of St. John's ECW will be on Sunday, January 28th in the Guild Room immediately following the 10:00 am service.
Please contact ECW President, Carol Goldbaum with any questions.
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ANNUAL MEETING & MINISTRY REPORTS |
The Annual Meeting of St. John's Church in Huntington will take place on Sunday, February 4th at 11:00 am in the Great Hall.
VESTRY ELECTIONS - Nominations are open for 2 empty vestry seats. Also, 1 vestry position and 1 warden position are up for reelection. If you are interested in serving on the vestry, please reach out to Sean Butler, Patti Aliperti, or Fr. Duncan.
ANNUAL REPORT - All ministry reports from committee chairs are due by Wednesday, January 24th. Please sumbit your report to Coral in the Parish Office as a Word document, Goolge doc, or as text in an email. No PDFs or Pages, please.
Reports will be presented in written form only in the Annual Report. The meeting will focus on the business of vestry elections and a presentation by the St. John's History Project, "Slavery in the Early Church of St. John's."
POTLUCK - We are organizing a potluck brunch please sign up to bring your favorite dish. Sign-up sheets will be at the back of the church and in the Great Hall during coffee hour. You may also sign up using the link below:
POTLUCK SIGN-UP
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Evensong is an ancient traditional Anglican/Episcopal service of evening prayers, psalms, biblical readings and canticles, chanted in a choral setting. Please join us Thursday, February 8th 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!
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A LENTEN JOURNEY TO PEACE & WELL-BEING |
Come with us this Lent as we will take advantage of this time to refocus on our own physical, mental, and spiritual care, mindfully using the resources available to us here at St. John's, in the diocese, and beyond.
Ash Wednesday Eucharist and the Imposition of Ashes
February 14th
12:00 pm - Rite II
7:00 pm - Rite II with music
Tuesday Lenten Series at St. John's
Our Tuesday evening Lenten program, will be on February 20 and March 5th.
6:00 pm - Stations of the Cross
6:30 pm - Supper
7:00 pm - Guest speaker
8:00 pm - Closing Prayer
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HOLY CROSS LENTEN RETREAT |
Registration is now open for our 2024 Lenten Retreat to Holy Cross Monastery, March 19th to 21st.
Our program will be "A Lenten Journey to Peace and Well-Being" in keeping with our theme for the season. There will also be quiet, reflective time on the beautful grounds which overlook the Hudson River in West Park, New York.
We will meet at St. John’s on the morning of March 19th and carpool. We will return in the afternoon of March 21st. The cost of the retreat is $220 per person. Space is limited. Registration closes on March 13th. Contact the Parish Office or Fr. Duncan with any questions.
REGISTER ONLINE
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Join us for a Celtic Service is on Sunday, March 17th at 5:00 pm. All are welcome at this contemplative, life-affirming mass with beautiful Celtic music in observance of the Feast of Patrick of Ireland. | |
On Wednesdays, the church is open from noon to 1 pm for noonday prayer which starts at 12:15 pm. All are welcome. | |
First Holy Communion will take place on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at the 10:00 am service. Classes will begin on January 31, 2024 for children 2nd grade and above. First Communion classes will meet on Wednesdays at 5 pm in the Guild Room.
If you are interested in First Holy Communion for your child, please register using the link below. Forms are also available at the back of the church. If you have any questions about First Communion, please feel free to reach out to Fr. Duncan or the Parish Office.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION REGISTRATION FORM
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ADULT CONFIRMATION & RECEPTION |
There are many folks that come to our church from different denominations. Have you ever wanted to ask the clergy questions that you might have about the Episcopal Church? Our clergy will be teaching Adult Confirmation and Reception Classes on Sundays in Lent from 11:15-11:45 AM. Youth and Adult Confirmation and Reception to the Episcopal Church will be held on June 6th at 11:00. Please register online below or let Fr. Zach, Deacon Claire or Fr. Duncan know that you are interested.
REGISTER FOR ADULT CONFIRMATION & RECEPTION CLASSES
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In Bible Study we are studying the Gospel of Mark. Participants are encouraged (but not required!) to select just one of the supplemental books for this study: Tim Keller's Jesus is King, N.T. Wright's Mark for Everyone, or Donald English's The Message of Mark. All can be found inexpensively on Amazon or Thriftbooks.
Bible Study meets regularly on Mondays at 6:30 pm on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746) and Tuesdays at 11:00 am in person in the Guild Room. The material covered each Monday evening will be covered on the following Tuesday morning.
Please reach out to Fr. Zach with any questions, (631) 427-1752, ext. 105.
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The Thrift Shop is open 12 - 3 pm, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
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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2024 GIVING ENVELOPES ARE HERE |
2024 Giving Envelopes have arrived and are ready for pick up at the back of the church for those who indicated on their pledge cards that they would like a box.
There are still giving numbers available, so if you would like a box of weekly giving envelopes, please reach out Coral in the Parish Office.
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Morning Prayer meets at 9:00 am, Monday through Friday on 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.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8604114654
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S | |
We pray for: Jim, Irene, Amy, Kate, Cheryl, Jenni, John, Sue, Nancy, Sue, Kim, Annetta, Gladys, Richard, Anthony, Christian, Joanne, Betty, Johnny, Richard, Barbara, Christine, Amy, Kara, Geralynn, Diane, Melissa, Marie, Jonas, Sylvia, Tom, Suzy, Diane, Carol, Barry, Carmen, Ebony, April, Kim, Ray
Recently Departed: Chancey Dennis
The Perpetual Light is given in loving memory of Robby Roberts, by his daughter, Crystal Roberts
We have begun a new prayer list in Advent. Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org, call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, option 1, or click on the link below and complete the online form:
PRAYER LIST FORM
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Thank you for volunteering to serve. | |
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ST. JOHN'S CALENDAR
Notices for events to run in the Chalice, to post on the website and social media must be received by the Parish Administrator by 9:00 am on Tuesdays prior to publication.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
stjohns1745.org
STAY CONNECTED
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