This week’s Gospel once again finds us on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus addresses it to a group of people who are identified as confident of their own righteousness and who regarded others with contempt. Jesus has a message for them that involves a Pharisee and a tax collector and their relationship with God

The pharisee represents a group of people who believed they were acceptable and good simply because they observed the law. Acceptability was based on their behavior, their good deeds and their willingness to be obedient to the Law. This might be viewed as living from the outside in. God thinks more highly of me than others because of my good behavior. I fast twice a week and tithe – all outward behaviors. This Pharisee is proud of himself, believes he is respected. 

But I ask us to contemplate: where is his heart?

The tax collector, on the other hand is among the most despised during this time of Roman occupation. As a Jew, he worked for the enemy, viewed as a traitor and beyond that, was known for pocketing the surplus. The tax collector in our story is so remorseful that he is unable to raise his head. He is aware of his sin and begs for mercy.

The error of the Pharisee is that he thinks he can be obedient to God while at the same time have disdain for people like the tax collector. He fulfills what the Torah demands but pays no attention to the command to love.

Jesus used this parable to remind us that we cannot be obedient to God’s Law without first loving one’s neighbor as oneself and he often challenged those who believed they were in good standing with God to rethink their position.

So, what indeed counts as righteousness before God?

Acts without compassion and love are not considered righteous by God. This parable actually shows us two images of God: one supposed by the Pharisee, which is false, and one hoped for but not presumed by the tax collector, which was right. God is not impressed with pious acts and feelings of superiority. God is a God of mercy who in fact, responds to honest prayers. More importantly, however, this week’s Gospel is a lesson on our attitudes towards ourselves and our neighbor.

Sunday is the formal kickoff of our 2023 stewardship campaign, entitled: More than Enough! Such an important time for us to prayerfully consider just how much we have been enriched by our relationship with and experiences as members of this vibrant, Christ-Centered community at St. John’s.  “Stewardship involves all of life. It is our approach to living a God-centered life. It is about our commitment to discipleship, to be more like Jesus. Stewardship is more, much more than deciding how much to ‘put in the plate’ on Sunday. It has to do with our values. It is about a mindset. It is about doing all that we can with all that we have.” Ken Weliever.  This is inside out thinking!

Your pledge is between you and God, but we are all enriched and blessed as we share together in the ministry at St. John’s.

Thank you for returning your pledge in the offering plate or mail it to 12 Prospect Street by November 6^th.

In God’s abundant love and great mercy,

Deacon Claire

Join us for Sunday 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/live_videos/

Bulletin: Rite I After Pentecost

9:40 am - Sunday School meets in the Canterbury Corner

10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739553648

Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live_videos

Bulletin: Rite II After Pentecost - Fall

The Music

Opening Hymn: 546 Awake my soul, stretch every nerve

Sequence Hymn: 656 Blest Are the Pure in Heart, vs 1-3

Offertory Hymn: 517 How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place

Communion Hymn: 314 Humbly I adore thee

Closing Hymn: 686 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Our annual Harvest Fair will take place on Saturday, October 22nd, 10am to 4pm.

Join us for food, fun, live music, crafts, bake sale, vermont cheese, raffles*, silent auction, white elephant, Thrift Shop and Designer Boutiques, and more! 

The purpose of the Harvest Fair is to raise money for the charities as well as to help St. John's Church maintain and continue its presence in the Huntington community.

*Raffles will be drawn on Sunday, October 23rd at 11:15 am, following the 10am service.

ST. JOHN’S HARVEST FAIR SILENT AUCTION 2022

COME TO THE FAIR AND BID ON THESE GREAT ITEMS!

*OPEN FOR BIDDING AT THE FAIR AND ON SUNDAY UNTIL NOON*

• Private Plane Flight for 2 Around Long Island
• Marriott Vacation Club for 6 for 1 week - Your Choice of Location and Dates
• Divine Wines -Case of Premium Wines Red and White
• Cape Cod Cottage for 4 for 1 Week
• Golf for 2 at Huntington Country Club
• Montauk Lighthouse Print
• Designer Bags
• Fancy Shopping Bags
• Day at Westhampton Beach Swordfish Club
• Engeman Theater Tickets
• Paramount Theater Tickets
• Islander Tickets
• 2 Hand and Stone Messages
• Beer Basket 
• SS Basket Weave Earrings
• SS Pearl Drop Earrings
• Necklace of Terra Cotta Coloring, Beading with Earrings
• Necklace, Double Glass Iridescent Grey with Earrings
• Garnet and Diamond Cross
• Gold over Silver necklace w. Swarovski Crystals
• “Sail Away” With Fr. Duncan’s Sail Boat Cruise
• Ryobi Leaf Blower
• Huntington Dine Around at 6 or more Local Restaurants
• Set of 6 Hand Painted Modern Colorful Flower Motifs
• 3 Model Airplane Model Kits
• 2 Paintings

AND MORE ITEMS TO ADD!!!

Help us Help our Friends in Christ

Donations Needed

There will be an open suitcase in the back of the church for the following much needed items which we will bring with us on our journey:

• Toiletries – hotel size – small – we have to carry with us
• Toothpaste/toothbrushes/shampoos/soap/lotions/ deodorant/sunscreen
• Masks
• Socks (all sizes, preferably white)

 MISSION TRIP to Arizona

October 24 – 30 2022

Thank you for keeping the 8 of us who are traveling in your prayers:

Deacon Claire

Fr. James Reiss

Ken Denker

Paula Dodge

Kailee Sievers

Jan Stebbins

Stephanie West

Judy Wohrle 

This year, we are hosting the Huntington Interfaith Thanksgiving Service here at St. John's!

Join us and our partners in faith on Sunday, November 20th at 7:00 pm in our sanctuary for beautiful music by St. John's Choir, as well as the combined choirs, children's choirs and musicians from our local houses of worship. 

Join St. John's Youth Group! 

Our next meeting will be on Sunday, November 6th, 6:30-8:00 pm at St. John's Huntington.

Anyone in grades 7 through 12 are welcome to participate in Youth Group activities at St. John's and our youth partner parishes, Trinity, Northport and St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor.

Please contact Fr. James at jreiss@stjohnshuntington.org or Ford Spilsbury at fordspils@gmail.com for more info about Youth Group.

Sign-up for Youth Group using this link:

https://forms.gle/qUbsrEEDwvxyBzRP6 

YOUTH GROUP CALENDAR

St. John's Children's Choir sings for special services during the year. If your child enjoys singing with others or solo, plays an instrument, or just loves to worship through song, please reach out to our music director, Alex Pryrodny at rurikbird@gmail.com, stop by the piano after the 10 am service,  or use the following link to sign up:

SIGN UP FOR CHILDREN'S CHOIR

Upcoming Spirituality Group Events:

Next Monthly Meeting - Thursday, November 10th at 5:00 pm in the Guild Room

Yoga & Meditation - Saturday, Novmeber 12th at 12 noon in the Great Hall

Advent Retreat with Fr. Anthony Jones - Saturday, December 10th at 9:00 am

If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. For more information please contact Patti Aliperti at silverymoon33@yahoo.com. All are welcome! 

We believe that not only does Jesus still heal today, but that healing is one of the most powerful ministries of evangelization. Jesus never preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God without demonstrating the kingdom through signs, wonders, and miracles, with healing as the most frequent demonstration of God’s love.

Healing services at St. John’s will include a time of worship and praise, proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, corporate prayer for healing ending with individual prayer teams for healing. Come prepared for breakthrough!

Please join us for a safe and loving offering of prayer and healing on the following dates. All Services will begin at 7:00 p.m.

November 10

December 8: Special Blue Christmas Healing Liturgy

Please join us at St. John's for Evensong, an ancient traditional Anglican/Episcopal service of evening prayers, psalms, biblical readings and canticles, chanted in a choral setting. In collaboration with Alex Pryrodny and St. John's Choir, Fr. James will officiate our monthly Service of Evensong on the fourth Thursday of the month. Please join us Thursday, November 17th 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!

Bible Study meets Mondays at 6:30 pm and on Tuesdays at 11:00 am on Zoom with Fr. Duncan and Fr. John.

Monday Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746

Tuesday Zoom link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82553627635

Knowing God in the Created World - For hundreds of years, people have wondered what we can know about God based on the evidence of the world in which we live. Prof. N.T. Wright asserts that to answer this question with fidelity requires putting Jesus back in the middle of the question. The line of thought explored in this course seeks to do just that.

To preview to the course go to:

https://www.udemy.com/course/knowing-god-in-the-created-world

Login: dbu632@gmail.com

Password: GodsLove12

This joint ministry with St. John's, Cold Spring Harbor and Trinity, Northport, of fostering relationships amongst young adults within our community is not a simple project, but one we’re willing to take on. We plan on starting slow this Fall with monthly brunches, the first Sunday of the month. This is geared towards young adults who are 21 and older. This will later be accompanied by Spirituality on Tap/Pub Theology events to be released at a later date.

Our next brunch will be on Sunday, November 6^th

They will all start at 12:00pm, at different brunch locations throughout the township. 

Contact Fr. James at jreiss@stjohnshuntington.org to learn more and sign up for notifications.

Wednesdays & Thursdays at 12 - 1pm

To continue to be welcoming neighbors in the village, St. John's Church opens its doors to Huntington during the week!

On Wednesdays - Noonday Prayer will start at 12:15 for any who are interested in attending this brief in person service.

On Thursdays - The sanctuary will be open for individual prayer and quiet contemplation.

If any one feels called to join in this ministry and help expand it, please reach out to Fr. James at jreiss@stjohnshuntington.org . All are welcome!

St. John's Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, 12-3pm.

HELP! Volunteers continue to be needed - If you wish to become a volunteer, 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.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is actively making shawls!

We meet in person on the 1st Thursday of each month. Our next meeting is November 3rd.

If you have interest in joining or have yarn to provide, please contact Noelle at ndelorenzo217@gmail.com

Just a reminder that all parish events and building use must be submitted to the Parish Office. Notices for events to run in the Chalice, to post on the website and social media must be received by the Parish Administrator by noon on Tuesdays. We are looking to finalize the fall calendar to coordinated our many events and start to spread the word about all the great programs and ministries here at St. John's.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ST. JOHN'S CALENDAR

We pray for Susan, Jack, Charise, Spencer, Matt, Ernest, Sue, Wylie, Tom, Debra, Christina, Ursula, Victor, Melissa, Olivia, Annie, Tom, Allison, Chyah, Mary, James, Dylan, Jake, Jeff, Shannon, Kelsey, Justin, Patti, Richard, Cole, Edward, Christine, Fred, Patricia, Hal, Carmen, Ignacio, Anita, Amy, Katherine, Briton, Cheryl, Edith, George, Patty, Gabriel, Siobhan, Danielle, Matt, Jane, Harry, Denise, Barbara, Edith, Ana, Angel, Gladys, Richard, Christian, Anthony, Barbara, Bodhi, Tom, Melvin, Greg, Kiersten

Altar Flowers are given in loving memory of Beverly Heckelmann by the Seymour and Webster Families.

Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org or call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.