I just finished reading N.T. Wright’s book, God and the Pandemic. N. T. Wright asks us to lament what has happened to us this year. The Psalms are full of prayers of lamentation. We can talk about signs of the end of the age, but N.T. Wright tells us that Christians have faced pandemics before. We can blame God, but N.T. Wright tells us in the Gospel that Jesus comes to us in our suffering. Maybe we don’t understand why we have pandemics, but we can use the example of Christ to see what to do in a pandemic. He suggests that Christians have always taken care of one another in pandemics while many have just opted out. A good start is to pray for those who are lonely, sick, anxious, and suffering. In fact, please pray for all of us.

In today’s Gospel, the disciples are struggling in their boat because of a storm. They attempt to cross the Sea of Galilee without Jesus, who is praying on a mountain. Jesus comes to the disciples and they fear that it is a ghost. Jesus says, “It is I.” Jesus identifies himself as the Son of God. Matthew asks us to believe that God comes into the boat with us as we struggle through the wind and waves. This past week, five full-sized oak trees fell across streets and on houses in my neighborhood. It was amazing to see the power of the wind and the damage that it caused. We were without power and wi-fi for an extended period of time. As I walked through the village this week, I wondered if any of the new businesses would make it through this pandemic. Parents and teachers wonder if school will be virtual or in person this fall and what affect that will have on their children's education. Democrats and Republicans wrestle with aid packages and how they will be perceived by the voters. People all over our nation are dying alone and being buried without a proper funeral. Black Lives Matter protesters try to get the attention of our nation in order to get racial reconciliation. Let’s face it; we are all in a storm. We need God and we need one another.

   

Jesus Christ teaches us to care for the sick, feed the hungry, cloth the naked and give Living Water to the thirsty. At St. John’s we will continue to collect food every day for the Long Island Cares Food Pantry, pray each morning together at 9AM, give assistance to those in trouble with rent assistance, offer inexpensive clothing at our yard sales on Saturdays, commit to racial reconciliation and justice, study the bible on Monday nights and Tuesday mornings, gather with Hilda’s Guild, study in EfM, draw closer to Christ through the Spirituality Group, give benefit concerts on Sundays at 11:30, sing praise to the Lord through Alex and our choir, and worship on Sundays at 8 & 10 on zoom and in the Garden of Blessings at 8:00.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer in the Garden of Blessings. The grass has been cut and the sprinklers have been adjusted, so the Garden is ready to welcome you. Please note, there will be no outside services on August 23rd and 30th, and on September 6th. Registration is required and limited to 25 parishioners. Please use the follow link to complete the registration form:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83750939744 (Note: New Zoom Meeting #)

8am Service Bulletin: Pentecost10_8am Bulletin

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85013336358 (Note: New Zoom Meeting #)

10 am Service Bulletin: Pentecost10_10am Bulletin

Please join us for a ZOOM coffee hour this Sunday at 11:00 am. Grab a cup of your own coffee and a snack, share some time with your friends at St. Johns. This will be an informal remote gathering where we can enjoy each other's company. Join Zoom Coffee Hour:

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

Registration in limited and will fill up quickly, so please respond as soon as possible to secure your place.

VOLUNTEER! Volunteers are needed to help set up beginning at 9:30 am on Saturday and to help breakdown. Please contact Nancy Feustel (n.feustel@verizon.net) if you are able to help.

There will be a Thrift Shop meeting on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Please join us:

Please contact Nancy Feustel with any questions (n.feustel@verizon.net).

Meeting #: 83021762936

Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 11:00 am via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84448323853

For those who prefer an evening Bible Study, we have added a session on Mondays at 6:30 pm. The Monday sessions will cover what was discussed the Tuesday before. Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83527491169.

We are studying the New Testament, referencing N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird's The New Testament in Its World. Please join Rev. Duncan Burns and Rev. John Morrison "on a 'magic carpet ride' through the New Testament, on a breathtaking sojourn from the base of a mountain to the highest heavens and on the way unfolds new glories in the course of the ascent, on a dizzying pilgrimage that will transform your mind and nourish your spirit."

The New Testament in Its World is available at Amazon.com:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07PR87G2K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_WzwkFbBD2AZ9H 

If you need help ordering a copy, please contact the Parish Office at cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org or (631) 427-1752.

Thursday, August 13th at 4 pm via Zoom - Alice Weiser will guide us in a meditation for deeper breathing with an inspirational reading for us to reflect on.

Thursday, August 27th at 4 pm via Zoom - We will discuss and reflect on the word "Gifts."

Saturday, September 26th, 9:30-11:30 am - Tom Petriano will discuss Julian of Norwich and how she survived 3 plagues.

If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. To find out more about SJSG, contact Patti Aliperti (silverymoon33@yahoo.com).

Faith and community leaders from Huntington will come together for this town-wide forum on Social Justice. This meeting will take place via Zoom and all St. John's parishioners are invited to attend. Please save the date. Meeting log in details will follow.

We are beginning a new Sacred Ground series on Saturday, September 19th at 9:00am.

To register, contact the Parish Office at (631) 427-1752 or cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org.

During this time, we ask that if you are financially able to keep making your Stewardship Pledge payments. We have set up online giving. Using your credit card or a direct payment from your checking account, you will be able to make a one-time payment or set up recurring payments.

Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.

Text SJEC1745 STEWARDSHIP $[Amount] to 73256.

We have set up online giving. Using your credit card or a direct payment from your checking account, you will be able to make a one-time payment or set up recurring payments. 

Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.

Text SJEC1745 PLATE $[Amount] to 73256.

We pray for the sick: Tom, Kelly, Anna, Margaret, Martha, Juana, Carmen, Joel, Peter, Joan, Kathy, Scott, Sue, Kim, Janine, Jody, David, Danica, Linda, Bette Lee, Irene, Leslie, Roger, Tom, Patrick, Jim, Irene, Nelly, Colleen, Rick, Shannon, Kelsey, Patti, Hagai, Justin, Tom, Amy, Bill, Kate, Fern, Flor, Patricia, Bill, Lynn, Cory, Frank, Pat, Christopher, Richard, Christian, Gladys, Anthony, Betty, Joseph, John, Carol, Terry, Carol, Roelie, James, Peter, Don, Richard, Barbara, Crystal, Fred, Manuel, Ollie, Don, Norma, Aaron

To add a name to the prayer list, please email cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org.

For pastoral care and prayer, please contact Fr. Duncan or Claire Mis, directly.