The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).This statement is crucial to our faith because Jesus Christ came down from heaven to show us the will of the father. In Jesus time many complained that they knew Jesus’ mother and father. How could this man say that he is the bread of heaven? After he feeds the five thousand and walks on water, some people just can’t rationalize that something that is greater than us is going on. Jesus replies that “whoever believes has eternal life for I am the bread of life.” We are asked to see Jesus Christ as the top priority in our life.
At the 10:00 service on Sunday and at the 11:30 service, I will ask if you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, if you will continue in the apostles’ teachings and the breaking of bread, if will you repent and turn to the Lord when you sin, if will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, if you will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself and if will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? If you earnestly answer, I will with God’s help, The water that these children will be baptized in is the very same water through which God led the people out of their bondage in Egypt, the very same water Jesus turned into wine, the exact water that John poured over Jesus’ head at his Baptism when he was anointed as the Messiah and the heavens tore open.
We are drawn in by the grace of God, forgiven of our sins by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and have been given the promise of eternal life. In the letter to the church at Ephesus, we are challenged to live our lives in the Kingdom of God. "Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice for God." We are beloved children of God who witness the mystery of God’s love right here at St. John’s. Those of us who have glimpsed of the eternal and live in faith have a responsibility to let our light shine to our own children and to the next generations. I remember one visit home while in college. After church, I went with my father delivering sandwiches to the homeless in Bay Shore. At a time that I was drifting away from the Lord, it absolutely blew me away that my dad knew these people by name. My faith was restored and I began doing service work at school. We must persevere in our faith and witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ by giving of ourselves for the sake of others. There was a day when faith in Jesus Christ and living in the life of the church was the norm. Herbert O’Driscoll remembers it well and maybe you do too, but we can’t just hold on to memories, we must be vigilant about how we live and how we witness to the love of Christ.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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Join us for Sunday Worship at 8am and 10am in the church or remotely on Zoom or Facebook. Face masks, social distancing, and contract tracing sign in are required for all in person services. Space is limited.
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
The Readings
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SAFE PRACTICES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES |
We are so happy to welcome people into the church for in-person worship. As we increase the number of people allowed in the church, we can all do our part to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy:
- Masks are required. Disposable masks are available at the back of the church;
- Social distancing. Please maintain a 6ft distance between your group/family and others;
- Sanitize hands upon entrance. Dispensers are available at the back of the church;
- Prayer books are available;
- Service bulletins and reading inserts and are available at the back of the church.
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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.
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This summer we will be referencing the Sunday reading of Forward Day by Day. Copies are available in the back of the church or through the Parish Office.
On August 17th, 24th, and 31st, Fr. John will lead Bible study referencing the book, Father Elijah. He will cover the material discussed in the prior Monday evening session.
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Join us for the final concert in our Sanctuary Music at Noon series! Soothe your soul and revive your spirit with 30-minute performances on Sundays at noon:
- Sunday, August 8th, will be our 2nd Young Musicians concert featuring young, local vocalists.
Please support us in person, in our beautiful, historic church or in the sanctuary of your own home via Facebook Live:
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SPIRITUALITY GROUP MEETING |
The Spirituality Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on August 12th at 4pm. Join us as we focus our minds and hearts on...
"Broadway Re-imagined" with Fr. John
If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. Please contact Patti Aliperti (silverymoon33@yahoo.com) if you would like more information about St. John's Spirituality Group.
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ELIJAH BOOK STUDY WITH FR. JOHN |
Mondays - August 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 6:30 pm &
Tuesdays - August 17th, 24th, and 31st at 11:00 am
via Zoom:
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SACRED GROUND - NEW SERIES |
We are beginning a new Sacred Ground series on Saturday, September 23rd at 6:30 pm.
Sacred Ground is a film-based dialogue series on race and faith led by Billy Kiley presented by St. John's Racial Reconciliation & Social Justice Ministry.
Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect European American histories.
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ST. FRANCIS OF THE VALLEY |
We continue in conversation with members of St. Francis in the Valley in Green Valley, Arizona, (https://www.stfrancisgvaz.org/) and our awareness of the acute human need is growing. Our own Rev. Marie Tatro, Vicar for Community Justice Ministry has joined the conversation.
We also contacted Fr. David Chavez, the Arizona Diocesan Bishop’s border missioner, who will assist us, both before, during and after our mission trip. As part of our pre-trip planning, he has offered to facilitate a five part program that will serve to strengthen our understanding of border issues. It will be offered to all – to St. John’s and friends. We know there are “borders” everywhere – and especially right here on Long Island.
“While the border divides, the land unites.”
Pedacito de la Tierra / A Little Piece of Home film aims to amplify unity through the joy, resilience, belonging, and community experienced throughout life’s journey. Alight and Burners Without Borders are kicking off a global movement to create sustainable spaces of hope and refuge for migrant communities, beginning at the US/Mexico border.
Also, you might be interested in looking at the following website: “Cruzando Fronteras” which is hosted by Diocese of Arizona in partnership with the Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA and the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ: https://fronteras.azdiocese.org/
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Quarterly Stewardship statements went out via email recently. If you did not receive your statement, please contact the Parish Office to have it resent or to receive a printed copy.
Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. Thank you for supporting our work with your regular contribution.
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.
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ALTAR FLOWERS & PERPETUAL LIGHT |
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."
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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: Tom, David & Irene, Linda, Danica, Lori, Leslie, Hope, Mike, Michael, Elizabeth, Patti, Bob, Christian, Gladys, Lynn, Fred, Jim & Irene, Debra, Alex, Michelle, Pauline, Richard, Barbara, Cory, Allassadra, Ellen, Lucille, Frank, Theresa, Spencer, Sue, Wylie, Matt, Cheryl, Tom, Stephanie, Lisa, Gary, Maggie, Tyler, Ursula, Christine, Samantha, Edward, Alan, Tali, Bill, Kate, Amy, Jean, Pat, Joanie, Sueann, Karen, Dermot, Jill. Jenna, Walter, Evelyn, John, Liam, Charlie, Barney Lois, John, Matthew, Gail
Altar flowers are a given in loving memory of Clara and Frank Elliot by Linda, Joshua and Amelia.
Altar Flowers are a gift of George and Nancy Feustel in thanksgiving for their 40th wedding anniversary.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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