The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
|
“Some years ago in the last century George McLeod, returned from fighting in the First World War; a war that he came to realize was fought for no good reason. He eventually became ordained, and founded the Iona Community, and at one point he said this about this faith that we hold as followers of Jesus: I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves, on the town garbage dump, at a crossroads so cosmopolitan that they had to write his title in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. It was the kind of place where cynics talk smut, thieves curse, soldiers gamble. That’s where he died. And that’s where we as Christians ought to be and what we as Christians ought to be about” (Presiding Bishop Curry).
It has been a full year since many of our parishioners have been at church at St. John’s. This has been very bittersweet. Some folks have been unable to connect to the virtual services and have fallen away from church. Some folks were already in the process of falling away before the pandemic. The experts say that between 20 percent and 30 percent of the members will not return to your church.
Yet at St. John’s, I get the sense that our community has gotten stronger during this pandemic. Morning Prayer, Bible Study, Spirituality Group, outreach, zoom services, streaming, Prayer shawl ministry, and in person services are all trending up. In addition, many parishioners have increased their giving to those in need. Our bulletin board is loaded with thank you letters and cards from grateful folks in our community. We have also worked really hard on racial reconciliation and have attracted many newcomers through our Sacred Ground program.
I attribute our success with the love we have for Jesus Christ and our willingness to share what we have with others. I see the most important trends so far at St. John’s to be increased bonds between parishioners, deeper relationships with Jesus Christ, a greater hunger and thirst for justice, and a willingness to go out into the community. As we celebrate Easter this Sunday and move towards the celebration of Pentecost on May 23rd, I ask you to ponder the words of our Presiding Bishop and look for Jesus in the poor, naked, thirsty, hungry folks in our streets.
My sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to Holy Week services by giving your time, talent, and treasure. In the weeks and months ahead we will begin to assemble again in person as one body in Christ. Many of us have a pent up desire to be together in church and at coffee hour. Nelly mentioned the other day at Morning Prayer that Jesus is with us even in the darkest of times. Jesus will be with us as we get back together in church and he will be with us when we go out into the community. May you have a blessed Easter and meet our Lord on your journey, so that you may say, like Mary, “I have seen the Lord.”
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
|
|
Good Friday
12 to 3 pm - The Seven Last Words of Christ (Zoom only)
7:00 pm - Stations of the Cross (Zoom only)
7:30 pm - Good Friday Service with music (Church, Zoom, Facebook Live)
|
|
Easter Vigil
Saturday, April 3rd beginning at 7:30 pm
Remote with the Cathedral of the Incarnation
Join us for the first service of Easter! This Mass will feature the Cathedral Choirs and Bishop Provenzano will preside.
Join the Easter Vigil online via Zoom
Dial-in: +16468769923
Meeting ID: 872 2177 2922
Password: 184460
|
|
Easter Sunday
7:30 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist (Church only)
9:15 am - Rite II Holy Eucharist with music (Church, Zoom, Facebook Live)
11:00 am - Rite II Holy Eucharist with music (Church, Facebook Live)
|
|
Please note: All services in the church require sign in upon entry for contact tracing purposes, face masks, and social distancing. No pre-registration required. |
|
PROTOCOLS FOR IN PERSON SERVICES |
- Mask requirement (box available in back of church)
- Social distancing
- Hand sanitizing upon entrance
- No singing
- Prayer Books available to borrow.
- Reading inserts available
- Roping remains same except for some pews on the chapel side (as this becomes needed)
- Traffic flow – to follow arrows.
|
|
Happy Easter! The Sunday School and Youth Group will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, April 4th immediately after the 9:15am service in the Garden of Blessings. To keep everyone safe, all attendees must wear masks.
It will be great to see your children again in person but for those who do not wish to attend in person, we will provide your children with an Easter bag with candy-filled eggs.
|
|
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 occassionallly 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 connnection with your friends at St. John's.
|
|
Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm and on Tuesdays at 11:00 am. |
|
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is actively making shawls and beginning a new outreach initiative!
In the month of February, the Prayer Shawl Ministry donated a total of 16 shawls to hospice and Family Service League! We are hoping to donate to Family Service League on a regular basis while continuing to serve our congregational community.
Please help us! Do you have extra yarn or can you donate financially so we can purchase yarn? We would appreciate your help! You are also welcome to make a shawl and donate the shawl to the ministry.
We are currently meeting via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of the month. These are short check-ins to keep our group connected.
Please contact Noelle DeLorenzo at ndelorenzo217@gmail.com with any inquiries on donations, receiving prayer shawls, or joining our ministry. Thank you! |
|
The St. John's Scholarship committee is now accepting applications for the 2021 Florence and Robert Scott Scholarship.
A scholarship will be awarded to one or two graduating High School senior(s). Your application must be received by the Parish Office by Friday, May 14, 2021. You may submit your application and supporting documents via email to cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org or by mail to: St. John's Church, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 12 Prospect St, Huntington, NY 11743.
|
|
The Thrift shop is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12-3 pm. Huge Sales will offer great buys with select clothes as low as $2 each, Jewelry and Nic Nacs 50% off and games/toys $1. The Thrift Shop will begin to accept donations of clothes only as of March 6th. If you wish to become a volunteer in the ministry of the Thrift Shop, please contact Nancy Feustel at n.feustel@verizon.net.
Come and Shop!
|
|
If you have not already pledged, please consider making a Stewardship commitment in 2021 in support of the ministry of St. John’s. Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward.
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 using our secure payment platform Realm. Please click on the link below to make a payment:
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
|
|
PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S |
We pray for all our doctors, nurses, and medical staff who put themselves at risk to care for us during this corona virus epidemic.
We pray for all our men and women serving in the armed services and all first responders who put themselves at risk every day, especially during this time. May God keep them safe and healthy, and return them home to their loved ones.
We pray for those who work for justice. May God give us all strength and wisdom to act for change when it is needed.
We pray for the sick: Bob, Christian, Gladys, Lynn, Fred, Ellen. Lucille, Frank, Theresa, Spencer, Sue, Tom, Stephanie, Madeline, Gary, Allison, Maggie, Susan, Tyler, Ursula, Jim and Irene, Debra, Bill, Amy, Kate, Richard, Barbara, Shannon, Justin, Ogueira, Tom, John and Debra, Janice, Patti, Cheryl, Sylvia, Sue and Fr. John, Diane, Allison, Bill, Mary Ann, Cory, Alessandra, Stephanie, Michelle, Bill, Pat, Grace
Please note: We will begin a new prayer list beginning the 2nd Sunday of Easter, please send your updated prayers for the Easter season to Coral in the Parish Office, cfreas@stjohnshuntington.org.
|
|
St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
STAY CONNECTED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
