"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of
St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
|
Jesus said to them, “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)
The idea of bread coming down from heaven was probably not hard for Jews in Jesus time because they had the stories of manna coming from God during the exodus. The idea that second century Christians ate the body and blood of Jesus would have been very difficult to grasp. As you are probably aware, the very idea of drinking blood runs contrary to Jewish law. The derivation of the Eucharist does come in part from the Jewish family meal. Before the meal, a loaf of bread was blessed, prayers were spoken, and the bread was shared. After the meal, a cup of wine was blessed, more elaborate prayers were spoken, and the cup was passed. The Jewish service at the temple included one reading from Moses and one from the Hebrew Bible. Psalms were read, the shema would be sung, prayers were then given and the teaching of scripture would follow. If you don’t remember the shema it sounds something like this. “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your might." The shema was fairly easy to understand, but Jews were also expected to follow the law, which was difficult to understand.
At the Last Supper, Jesus teaches the disciples a new understanding of this ritual. Jesus was Jewish and therefore would have celebrated the Passover. Jesus simplifies the law to two commandments. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. You all know the words of institution from the Eucharist. Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to the disciples, “Take eat, This is my body which is given for you.” Jesus blood and body are given for our sins. In Jesus suffering, death and resurrection we are offered new life in him. The wine and bread become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
The early Christians shared a meal at their first services and eventually shared just bread and wine. Unfortunately this ritual becomes distorted in the middle ages. Only priests are holy enough to drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ and the public observes a ceremonial ocular communion. The service is very fancy with all the bells and whistles. Certain parts of the service become very important, such as the raising of the chalice. The people can see, but are not allowed to taste the communion.
Priests begin to charge for blessings and the assurance of eternal life. The public feels that the church and the priests have taken too much control of God’s grace. They rebel against the rituals of the church and the reformation is born. In an effort to correct their excesses the true meaning of the Eucharist is lost. Scripture and teaching become the central focus of the Protestant service. The Protestant Church looked distinctly different from the Roman Catholic Church at this time. The Church of England reformed the service into a language that the people could all understand. The prayer book sought to retain many of the rituals of the Roman Catholic Church that Protestants like the Puritans had completely abandoned. Our church was known as the middle way. The Anglican Theologian Hooker said, “Through Christ’s presence in the sacrament, God’s causative presence in the world was transformed into his saving presence in the Church.”
The understanding of the Eucharist was still difficult for our church. Transubstanciation or the changing of the physical elements to actual body and blood was refined to consubstanciation by Luther. This meant the changing of the elements to the body and blood of Christ while retaining the physical elements of bread and wine at the same time. Today, the Holy Eucharist is the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s day in the Episcopal Church (BCP). The bread we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ and likewise the cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. We are talking about the real presence of Christ in the bread and the wine.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
| |
|
The Lessons
1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:1-8
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
Join us for Worship at 8:00 am and 10:00 am in the church or remotely on Zoom and Facebook.
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83803451202
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745
Bulletin: Rite I HE - After Pentecost
10:00 am - Rite II Choral Eucharist - Baptism
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739553648
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745
Bulletin: Rite II HE - After Pentecost
The Music
Opening: 321 My God thy table now is spread
Before Gospel: 343 Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless, vs 1-2
Communion hymn: LEVAS 154 Taste and See
Recessional: LEVAS 148 I'm gonna eat at the welcome table
| |
BELLE VOCI - "YOU DO NOT WALK ALONE" | |
Belle Voci Intergenerational Choral Society presents "You Do Not Walk Alone," a Candlelit Rememberance concert on Friday, August 9th at 8:00 pm at St. John's Church in Huntington.
The program will include works by Carnelia, Esenvalds, Hagenberg, Brahms, and Runestad, directed by Dr. Jennifer Scott Miceli with accompanist, Alex Pryrodny.
Admission at the door is $30, $20 seniors/students with ID. Tickets are also available online at https://donorbox.org/events/640437.
Celebrating 20 years of sisterhood in song for cancer prevention and cure. bellevociny.org
| |
A NEW MISSION STATEMENT FOR ST. JOHN'S | |
Our current mission statement, adopted in the 1980ies and featured at the top of the Chalice and on our website under “Our Mission” is:
“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known…”
As part of the Vestry’s efforts to renew and refresh our shared identity and move with purpose and new direction, we want to invite all who attend St John’s come up with a new mission statement.
We ask you to think deeply about what St John’s is doing right now and what God is calling St. John’s church to do. What are the strengths of this church and how can its presence impact the future?
Your statement doesn’t have to be poetic. We are looking for a sentence or two that will capture the strength of this church and how it might impact and build our church community for the future.
Please consider participating. Write alone or with a group. There is no limit to how many times you can submit. Click on this link to sumbit your mission statement online:
NEW MISSION STATEMENT ONLINE FORM
OR you dowload the form by clicking the link below and place in the box marked “MISSION STATEMENT” at the back of the church.
DOWNLOAD NEW MISSION STATEMENT SUBMISSION FORM
| |
STEP RIGHT UP! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL & CHOIR CAMP | |
August 12-16 & 19-23 at St. John's Church in Cold Spring Harbor. Camp promises to be two awesome weeks full of fun activities, tons of arts and crafts projects, and musical excitement. St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor and St. John's, Huntington are collaborating for double the fun!
Camp is two weeks. You can participate in 1 or both, although it may influence which roles you can be cast in. Campers can also participate without being cast in a role if they don't want to perform.
Location: St. John's Church, 1670 Rte 25A, Cold Spring Harbor
Hours: 10am-2pm
Ages: Open to grades K-6
Cost for 2 weeks: $150/child, $300/family (scholarships available)
Food: Lunch provided
REGISTER
SAVE THE DATE: On Sunday, September 15th at the 10 am service, the VBS campers will perform the musical, Seekers in Sneakers Discover Jesus! at St. John's Huntington.
| |
|
Anyone interested in helping with St. John's organic garden outreach ministry, The Garden of Grace, there will be a meeting on Sunday, August 18th in Deacon Claire's office (the Canterbury Corner) immediately following the 10:00 am service.
For more information about the Garden of Grace organic garden, please reach out to Fr. Duncan or Deacon Claire.
| |
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REGISTRATION | |
SUNDAY SCHOOL WELCOME BACK! - On September 8th, we will begin the Christian Education school year with our annual Meet & Greet and in-person registration. Please join us in the Canterbury Corner at 9:40 am for group activities and a chance to reconnect after the summer break.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION - First Communion will be on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the 10:00 am service. All those interested in First Holy Communion in the spring must attend Sunday School beginning in the fall. First Holy Communion classes will begin in January.
CONFIRMATION - This year, Confirmation class will meet once a month on Sundays at 12:00 pm beginning October 20th. Those interested in Confirmation should attend our Confirmation Retreat Day on Saturday, September 21st, 10:30 am to 4:00 pm at St. John’s Church, Cold Spring Harbor. Confirmation is planned for the spring of 2025. Classes are open to youth, 7-12 graders.
YOUTH GROUP - Our Youth Group will meet every other Sunday at 6:30-8:30 pm. St. John's is partnering with St. John’s, Cold Spring Harbor and Trinity, Northport for regular meetings and joint activities. Our first meeting will be on September 8th at St. John’s, Huntington. There are also community service opportunities throughout the year.
REGISTRATION PACKET & CALENDAR
| |
BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS | |
Sunday, September 15th at the 10 am service
Blessing of the Backpacks will take place service during the Peace when the Sunday School children rejoin the congregation.
Don't forget your backpack!
| |
|
St. John's Cemetery Committee has been hard at work revitalizing St. John's Cemetery on Park Avenue in Huntington (across from Huntington Hospital).
We have installed a beautiful, new sign which will be dedicated on Sunday, September 8th at 11:45 am. We invite all parishioners and any family that has a loved one buried in our historic cemetery to join us for this dedication.
Please reach out to Patti Aliperti for more information.
| |
|
Evensong is an ancient traditional Anglican/Episcopal service of evening prayers, psalms, biblical readings and canticles, chanted in a choral setting. Please join us Thursday, September 12th at 7:00 pm in the church.
All are welcome! Join us to pray for our broken world in need of healing, through the gift of music!
| |
|
Our annual Harvest Fair will take place on Saturday, October 19th 10am to 4pm.
Ways you can HELP US TO HELP OTHERS:
- Make a craft – woodworking items, Christmas decorations, homemade soap, sachets or potpourri are just suggestions. Use your creativity!
- Offer your vacation home\timeshare week for the Silent Auction.
- Donate new unused gifts you have received for the Silent Auction.
- Request a donation for a Corporate Sponsorship from the place where you work.
- Ask stores, restaurants, etc. for gift certificates for a gift basket or donate $$ to create one.
- Give your gently used clothing or bric-a-brac a second life at the Thrift Shop and White Elephant.
- Volunteer to work a table, or help before and after to set up/clean up.
- Purchase Raffle Tickets - available in September.
- Invite your friends and family to shop, dine and visit our beautiful, historic church.
-
Become a Harvest Fair Patron. Contact Chris Boccia for more info.
To volunteer or learn more, contact Carol Goldbaum, ECW President.
| |
|
Monday Bible Study meets at 6:30 pm on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746. In August, we will be discussing Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away, a classic example of the Southern Gothic genre with heavy Christian themes. Hope you can join us!
Tuesday Bible Study meets at 11:00 am in person in the Guild Room and continue our study of the upcoming Sunday's lectionary readings. The readings can be found on The Lectionary Page:https://www.lectionarypage.net/.
Please reach out to Fr. Zach with any questions, (631) 427-1752, ext. 105.
| |
|
HOPE Ministries, St. John’s community outreach program, is involved in two special programs at this time:
FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION FOR HELPING HANDS RESCUE MISSION
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink..."
-Matthew 25:35
We continue to collect the following items for Helping Hands Rescue Mission each week. The bin is set up by the Prospect Street entrance to the church and will be emptied after the final service on Sundays for delivery. Thank you ahead of time for all of your contributions!!
- Non-perishable food items
- Toiletry items
- Eventually as it becomes ready: Produce from our very own Garden of Grace
Thank you to Gayle Brady for making regular deliveries to Helping Hands. Any questions, please see Gayle or Deacon Claire.
MEN'S SUMMER CLOTHING FOR HIHI (Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative).
Needed:
- Shorts, tee shirts and other summer clothing – especially for men.
Please deposit your donations in the box located in the back of the church. See Fr. Duncan or Deacon Claire for more information.
| |
|
The Thrift Shop is open 12 - 3 pm, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
To volunteer or find our more, please contact Mary Beth Dieterle, (631) 427-1752, ext 106.
Donations welcome. We accept donations of new or gently used clothing, accessories, and household items. Please, no books, furniture, out-dated electronics, or damaged items.
| |
|
Morning Prayer meets at 9:00 am, Monday through Friday on Zoom.
Our short prayer service is followed by some fellowship and discussion. Feel free to join us occasionally 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 connection with your friends at St. John's.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8604114654
| |
On Wednesdays, the church is open from noon to 1 pm for noonday prayer which starts at 12:15 pm. All are welcome. | |
ST. JOHN'S WADDLERS WALK ON WEDNESDAYS | |
Wednesdays at 4 pm & 6 pm
Meet us by the Heckscher Museum of Art in Heckscher Park in Huntington for a walk in the park. Movement is a key component of "Whole Health," a way of self-care, and a chance to take steps towards your personal sense of peace and well-being.
| |
PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S | |
|
We prayer for: Jim, Irene, Debra, Amy, Kate, Cheryl, Richard, Barbara, Lynn, Cole, Luke, Brooke, Christine, Amy, Kim, Suzanne, Geralynn, Raymond, Eileen, Kristin, Coralis, David, Irene, Leslie, Brandon, Shelley, Regan, Spring, Brindi, Scott, Jenny, Mary, Susan, Marie, Muriel, Hortense, Bob, Jean, Hal
The Perpetual Light is given in loving memory of Frank and Clara Elliot by their daughter, Linda Elliot.
Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org, call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.
| |
|
Just a reminder that all parish events and building use must be submitted to the Parish Office and be approved by the rector.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ST. JOHN'S CALENDAR
Notices for events to run in the Chalice, to post on the website and social media must be received by the Parish Administrator by 9:00 am on the Tuesday prior to publication.
| |
|
ECW MEETING - Help us to help others! The next meeting will be on Sunday, August 25th at 11:15 am in the Guild Room. We are preparing for the upcoming Harvest Fair! Contact Carol Goldbaum, ECW President for more information.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY - Learn how to knit or crochet a prayer shawl in this loving, supportive group. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, September 5th at 6:30 pm in the Guild Room. Please contact Lynn Hansen for more information.
RACIAL RECONCILIATION & SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY - For meeting days and times or more information contact Heather Kress.
SPIRITUALITY GROUP - Monthly meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:00 pm in the Canterbury Corner. Contact Patti Aliperti for more information.
ST. HILDA'S GUILD - Join us for crafts, sewing, and friendship. Weekly meetings are on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in the Guild Room. Contact Sue Hartman for more information.
VESTRY MEETING - Monday, September 16th at 6:30 pm in the Guild Room and on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87350494837.
| |
SUNDAY MINISTERS' SCHEDULE | Thank you for volunteering to serve! | |
Anyone interested in joining the Sunday service ministers' roster, please reach out to Fr. Duncan or Fr. Zach. | |
|
St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
stjohns1745.org
STAY CONNECTED
| | | | |
