Paul’s finest letter, in my opinion, is his letter to the Romans. Written at about 57 BCE, Paul writes to the church in Rome to establish them in the true Gospel. The theme of the book is the righteousness of God. Righteousness (dikaiosune in Greek) is given by the mercy of God through faith. In this week’s lessons, we observe that Abraham was given the free gift of righteousness long before God gave the law to Moses through the Ten Commandments. Abraham did not earn the righteousness of God through the law. Salvation comes through the mercy and love of God simply because we are God’s beloved. When we were baptized, we were sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.

We were all created in God’s likeness and image. We are called to move and live and grow, me in you and you in me. We need to have faith in God’s ability to call us into relationship. God’s grace is unearned. We cannot earn salvation through any work of our own. All of us have committed sins, but because God loves us, God gave Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, to die on a cross for our sins. Many people worry about sins that we have committed. Those sins were washed away like the ocean washes away a sand castle at high tide. We are asked to repent or turn to God in Lent.

Our response to the love, mercy, and grace of God is to give God praise, develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, and to love our neighbor. A perfect example of that was last week’s Gospel Concert. Our relationship with St. Augustine’s has created a bond that is palpable. Several members messaged me that they cried as the youth sang last Sunday. The music went beyond this temporal world, through the bones and muscles in our bodies, and into our souls. The deep faith of our congregation meets the deep faith of St. Augustine’s and creates a bond much stronger than our cultural norms that would divide us.

In today’s Gospel Jesus asks, “Who do they say I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:27-27). The Messiah by definition is the Savior of the people. Christian’s believe that Christ is the anointed Messiah, who came to save us. I ask you to put your trust in God. Have faith that your sins are forgiven and respond by listening to God, loving God and loving your neighbor. The Hebrew word Shema means to listen, but also to obey God’s will for our lives. We are children of Abraham because he modeled what Shema means. Shema is that bond that we create through racial reconciliation.     

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

Register online: 8AM REGISTRATION FORM

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83750939744

8am Service Bulletin: Lent2_02-28-2021

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85013336358

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live/

9:15 am Service Bulletin: Lent2_02-28-2021

Register online: 11 AM REGISTRATION FORM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live/

Please join us for a ZOOM coffee hour each Sunday immediately following the 8:00am (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83750939744) & 9:15am (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85013336358) services. Grab a cup of your own coffee and a snack, share some time with your friends at St. Johns.

Recommended Reading: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82901271575

To Register: LENTEN RETREAT REGISTRATION

Our 2021 Lenten Series using children's books selected by our Racial Reconciliation & Social Justice Ministry will take place on Tuesdays in Lent via Zoom. We will begin with Stations of the Cross at 6:00 pm, Evening Prayer at 6:30 pm. The program will be from 7:00-8:00 pm. Each week will feature a different speaker:

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86884282615

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83527491169.

On March 2nd The Thrift shop is re-opening on Tuesday and Saturday 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 [email protected].

This winter, St. John's is supporting HIHI by collecting Dunkin Donuts gfit cards of $5 or $10 amounts to distribute to homeless in Huntington. If you would like to contribute, you may drop your Dunkin Donuts gift cards off at St. John's, 12 Propect St, Huntington or send them directly to Family Service League, Attn: Peggy,/HIHI,790 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743.

We are also collecting men's jeans, sweatshirts, work boots, and winter coats which may be dropped off at St. John's.

Please stop by the church office at 12 Prospect St. and pick up a copy of "Jesus and the Disinherited" by Howard Thurman in the mailbox. You may also pick this up at church on Sunday. St. John's Liturgical calendars, Annual Meeting Booklets, and Day-by-Day pamphlets are also available to pick up. Fr. Duncan has put a number these items in the mailbox outside the Parish Office on Prospect Street and on the table in the back of the church. Please feel free to take one for yourself and for a friend..

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:

Thank you so much for your generous spirit and continued support of the ministry of St. John’s. Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward.

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. Please send an email to [email protected] or call 631-427-1752, ext 101.

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, Fran, Patti, Cheryl, Sylvia, Sue and Fr. John, Diane, Allison, Bill, Mary Ann

Recently Departed: Billy Cook

Please submit your prayers to [email protected].

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

While we do not have Altar Flower in Lent, if you would like to remember a loved one or give thanks for an imporant event with the Perpetual Light, Please complete the Perpetual Light portion of the Altar Flower Form and return it to the Parish Office with your check made payable to "St. John's Altar Guild."