"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of
St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
My dear family in Christ,
It is with deep and conflicting emotion that I find myself writing this message to you. We have just navigated through Advent 2024 – a season of expectation and hope. And now, our hope is with us, as we once again celebrate and welcome with joy the ever coming of Christ into our world.
But the moment has now arrived for me to share with you my departure from St. John’s. Bishop Provenzano and I have discerned that it is time for me to move on. The Spirit is stirring in me to grow and serve in new ministries within our vineyard. The diocese is large, the needs are great, and the deacons are few. I will preach my last sermon on December 29th and my last Sunday at St. John’s will be January 12th. I hope to see many of you on those two dates so we can celebrate our time together – 5 years, in fact! While this departure is earlier than planned, it will afford me the opportunity to spend much needed time with my family before venturing into new outreach work.
I am grateful to our Rector, Fr. Duncan for his encouragement and leadership – giving me the latitude to discover my own ministry – which, in fact is not one ministry but many. And no ministry is done in a silo. You, the parishioners have been open and receptive to new ideas and are always ready to hop on board!
I thank God for the work that Coral puts in to keep us all organized as well as to Alex, whose musical gifts are beyond amazing – and always profoundly touching and healing. Thanking God also for all the creative and vibrant ministries at St. John’s!
So, I leave with sadness and joy. Sadness because I love you all – so deeply have you become engrained in my heart. The opportunity to accompany you on your personal journeys has been your gift to me. And I will miss you. But there is joy, because I know that you are a strong church and that you will thrive and continue to grow through the leadership of Fr. Duncan, Fr. Zach, and your Vestry – which has been so generous to me, and so creative in its forward thinking.
May our loving God be with us all as we continue to serve wherever we are being called. God never abandons us, but at the same time, God does not stand still, and neither must we!
Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia!
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The Lessons
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
John 1:1-18
Psalm 147
Join us for 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 - After Christmas
9:40 am - Sunday School
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 - After Christmas
The Music
Christmas Carols
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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.
This winter, St. John's preparing hot meals for those in the local shelter. Anyone who would like to help cook and serve, please meet in the kitchen on the following days:
Friday, December 27th at 3pm
Friday, January 10th at 3pm
We are also 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.
Please reach out to Fr. Duncan with any questions, dbu632@gmail.com, or (631) 427-1752, ext. 102.
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January 19th at 9:15 am
Fr. Duncan will be meeting with all ministers for both Rite I and Rite II services, including MCs, LEMs, and Acolytes.
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The Annual Meeting of St. John's Church in Huntington will take place on Sunday, February 2nd at 11:15 am in the Great Hall.
VESTRY ELECTIONS - Nominations are open for 1 empty vestry seats. Also, 2 vestry positions 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 9 am on Friday, 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.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES |
First Holy Communion will take place on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at the 10:00 am service.
Classes will begin on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 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 download the form 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.
FHC REGISTRATION FORM
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FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY |
Please bring a nonperishable food or toiletry item to church with you each Sunday, and place them in the basket at the back of the church. Your items will be received and blessed at the offertory.
Specific needs include:
• Canned tuna
• Canned chicken
• Canned Beef stews
• Canned salmon
• Bean soups
• Canned or dried beans
• Baked beans
• Canned chili
• Peanut Butter
• Canned nuts
• Personal Care items
Thank you to Gayle Brady and Paula Dodge who faithfully deliver to Helping Hands --- where the need is great!
Many thanks to all who support HOPE Ministries at St. John’s!
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Monday Bible Study will not meet on December 30th. We will meet again on January 6th 6:30 pm on Zoom.
Monday Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study will not meet on January 1st. We will begin again on January 8th. Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 11:00 am in person in the Guild Room.
Please reach out to Fr. Zach with any questions, (631) 427-1752, ext. 105.
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The Thrift Shop is closed until January 2nd.
The Thrift Shop is regularly 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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Morning Prayer will not meet on January 1st.
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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Wednesday Noonday Prayer will not meet on January 1st. We will resume on January 8th.
On Wednesdays, the church is open from noon to 1 pm for noonday prayer which starts at 12:15 pm. All are welcome.
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ECW MEETING - Help us to help others! Our next meeting will be on Sunday, January 12th immediately following the 10 am service. Contact Carol Goldbaum, ECW President for more information.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY - Learn how to crochet a prayer shawl in this loving, supportive group. We meet on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Guild Room. Please contact Lynn Hansen for more information.
RACIAL RECONCILIATION & SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY - For meeting days and times or more information contact Heather Kress.
SPIRITUALITY GROUP - Monthly meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:00 pm in the Canterbury Corner. Contact Patti Aliperti for more information.
ST. HILDA'S GUILD - Join us for crafts, sewing, and friendship. Weekly meetings are on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in the Guild Room. Contact Sue Hartman for more information.
VESTRY MEETING - Tuesday, December 17th at 6:30 pm in the Guild Room and on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87350494837.
YOUTH GROUP - For all who are those in 7 - 12th grade. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, January 12th at 6:30 pm at St. John's Huntington. We meet every other Sunday at 6:30 - 8:30 rotating between St. John's Huntington, Trinity Northport, and St. John's Cold Spring Harbor. Contact Fr. Zach or Noelle DeLorenzo for more information. View Schedule.
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S | |
We prayer for: Sandy, Richard, Lynn, Amy, Kim, Christine, Cole, Luke, Geralynn, Lori, Noa, Jim, Irene, Debra, James, Linda, Ken, Larry, Mary, Cheryl, Amy, Kate, Nils, Betty, Gabby, Kaye, Coralis, Tony, Denise, Andrea, Gladys, Christian, Kaitlyn, Anthony, Richard
Altar Flowers are given the Thanksgiving for Deacon Claire Mis.
The Perpetual Light is gift of Evelyn McCarthy, given in loving memory of Walter McCarthy.
Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org, call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.
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Anyone interested in joining the Sunday service ministers' roster, please reach out to Fr. Zach or Fr. Duncan. | |
CHALICE UPDATES & PARISH 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.
All parish events and building use must be submitted to the Parish Office and approved by the rector.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ST. JOHN'S CALENDAR
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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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