Hope and Good News are in the Air!

This has been such a difficult year for most of us and recent events have added to our continued angst and feelings of hopelessness. But it is important for us to remember that there is always hope for Christians. With the change in our government along with clearer ways that we may receive our vaccinations, we may begin to see a brighter future ahead.

All of the scripture for Sunday is pointing toward that hope. The Psalm is so comforting – reminding us that God is our rock, our salvation and our stronghold. We can indeed trust God and lean on him. He is undeniably powerful and steadfast, and promises never to abandon us, even in the midst of turmoil and confusion.

The Gospel message has asked us to be available – to be ready to respond to Jesus’ call to ministry. That call for all of us at St. Johns is to deepen our knowledge of Christ and to make Christ known in our world. That, dear friends, is what evangelism is all about. How we spread the good news may depend on our unique personalities, our gifts and our temperaments, but there are as many ways to spread the Gospel as there are parishioners here at St. Johns. Of course, the easiest way is to know who Christ is and to live out his message in your daily actions. Perhaps taking a meal to one of our fellow-parishioners in need, or helping to transport a friend who is unable to drive to a medical appointment. It may be as simple as picking up the phone and reaching out to someone from whom you haven’t heard in awhile. This is not hard…we can all share the Gospel message of love and charity through our actions.

Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians that the “present form of this world is passing away.” We are being instructed to make the most of our time before Christ’s return. There is an urgency about answering the call. Let us not wait, like Jonah, for God to call us twice. We have been given the Good News. Now we too have been called, just like Jesus’ disciples to spread that good news – whether it be in words or actions, but please, let’s make our words and actions reflect the heart of who Jesus is.

Faithfully yours,

Claire Mis

Seminarian

8am Service Bulletin: Epiphany3

9:15 am Service Bulletin: Epiphany3

Please join us for a ZOOM coffee hour this Sunday at 10:00 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:

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 a session on Mondays at 6:30 pm. 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. 

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83693287915

Join us for part 2 of our Dramatic Reading of Mark! Get to know Jesus and what it means to follow him through the quick-paced, 16 chapters of the Gospel According to Mark.

St. John's Llturgical calendars and Day-by-Day pamphlets are available to pick up. Fr. Duncan has put a number these items in the mailbox outside the Parish Office on Prospect Street. Please feel free to take one for yourself and for a friend.

If you are homebound and unable come to the church, please reach out the Parish Office at

631-427-1752 or [email protected]. We will make arrangements to have them delivered.

Nominations are open for 2021 Vestry Elections. At our Annual Meeting we will be voting on one Warden, three Vestry seats and one Clerk of the Vestry. If you would like to run for any of these open roles, please contact the nominating committee of either Fr. Duncan 845-271-9134 or Scott Cooley at 631- 896-1064.

All ministry chairs please submit your group’s annual report to the Church Office ([email protected]) no later than Monday, February 1, 2020 at 9am.

Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83935163346

To purchase Bill Kiley's Hope and Freckles folks should go to: www.HopeAndFreckles.com and click on the Winter Special Sale’s “Click here to order.” A personalized, signed copy of the book will be shipped to the purchaser.  

This Lent, St. John's Spirituality Group's presents "Eternity & the Public Library" with Rev. John Morrison.

St. John’s has been actively providing food staples to the many food pantries within our community – especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. There continues to be a significant food insecurity need, however, many of us may not realize that individuals who receive benefits, from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cannot use those benefits for a large list of items that most of us consider essential.

Take a look at the following list and you will see that all items are essential for daily living and for overall health benefits.  As you continue to drop off other essential items in the bins outside the church office on Prospect Street, please consider including the following items. Of particular need are items found in #7:

These are a couple of questions you can answer for yourself by setting up your On Realm membership account with St. John's. Using either your desktop computer or your smart phone, you may update your contact information, sign up for the virtual Parish Directory, sign up for events and services, and update your online giving.

If you are interested in setting up your On Realm St. John's membership account, please contact Coral in the Parish Office to receive an account invite and sign up for a training session. Click on the link below to send an email:

Thank you so much for your generous spirit and continued support of the ministry of St. John’s. 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:

Text SJEC1745 STEWARDSHIP $[Amount] to 73256.

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, Stan, Fran,

Please submit your prayers to [email protected].

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

If you would like to remember a loved one or give thanks for an imporant event with altar flowers or Perpetual Light, Please complete an Altar Flower Form and return it to the Parish Office with your check made payable to "St. John's Altar Guild."