Presiding Bishop Michael Curry uses the 2nd Inaugural Speech of Abraham Lincoln and the words of Martin Luther King Jr. to ask the question, “Who will we be?” Should we as a nation go forth in chaos or community? Jesus taught us to move towards the Kingdom of God. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then unselfish sacrificial love is the way beyond chaos to community. The Episcopal Church asks us to work together on a path away from chaos to Beloved Community. Please be an agent of God’s love by blessing someone in need this very day.

In today’s Gospel from the first chapter of John Nathanael meets Jesus and says to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Phillip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God!”

In the Gospel of Mark, it is the Roman Centurion that acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God after he dies on the cross for our sins. In John’s Gospel, Nathaniel declares that Jesus is truly the Son of God. Jesus knew us well before we knew him and we are anointed with the Holy Spirit to be the Beloved Community that God calls us to be.

If you are wondering how we will proceed as a nation through all the chaos, I ask you to put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is in our vulnerability and powerlessness against this Covid virus that we need to stay safe and put our faith in God. Together we can make it through this. Once you have faith that God can transform this chaotic mess into community again, you are able to reflect the light of Christ to a dark world. We do that through proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord, seeking to develop our relationship with him in prayer and worship, and loving our neighbor. Please join me in prayer and worship on Sunday in person at 8 and 11 or on zoom for Morning Prayer at 8 and 9:15. I ask you to turn in prayer to the love of God in Jesus Christ. We would also like for you to join us at 9:00 for daily Morning Prayer and on Tuesday evening at 6:30PM for a dramatic Reading of the Gospel of Mark.

Let me end with the question that Presiding Curry asks us,” Who will we be?” Please have trust in God that we can break free in our vulnerability from the chaos and into Beloved Community if we love God and one another.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

Register online: 8AM REGISTRATION FORM

8am Service Bulletin: Epiphany2

9:15 am Service Bulletin: Epiphany2

Register online: 11 AM REGISTRATION FORM

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

PLEASE NOTE: On Wednesday, January 20th, we will join Monring Prayer at the Cathedral of the Incarnation at 8:45am. We will then come together using our Morning Prayer link above for coffee hour & fellowership.

This diocesan-wide day of prayer will begin with Morning Prayer via Zoom with the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

Meeting ID: 380 470 915 Password: 693777

Or dial-in by phone: (646)876-9923

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. 

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.

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

Get ot know Jesus and what it means to follow him through the quick-paced, 16 chapters of the Gospel According to Mark.

If you might like to be a reader, please contact Fr. Duncan.

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:

Please email or call Coral in the Parish Office if you will be wanting givng envelopes this year.

(631) 427-1752, Ext.

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 Evans, Debra, Bill, Amy, Kate, Richard, Barbara, Shannon, Justin

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."