The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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Next week, we will be in Advent, where we wait and prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus, our King. But, just who is this Jesus, the King?
Daniel Clendenin tells us that the birth of Jesus signaled that God would "bring down rulers from their thrones" (Luke 1:52). In Mark's gospel the very first words that Jesus spoke announced that "the kingdom of God is at hand" (1:15). John's gospel takes us to the death of Jesus, and the political theme is the same. Jesus was dragged to the Roman governor's palace for three reasons, all political: "We found this fellow subverting the nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King" (Luke 23:1–2).
Jesus announced that He is King and that the rulers of the world are not. We know that as humans we are prone to sin and under those circumstances our own human leadership would be filled with endless political strife and rebellions, which, in fact, is what we see in today’s world. The Israelites yearned for God to provide kings to lead and protect them, and maybe just make things easier for them, but those leaders, always ended up falling short of the goal of bringing peace and justice to their world.
The visions that Daniel has in this week’s reading trace the rise and fall of some of the greatest political kingdoms known throughout history: Babylon, Persia, Greece and finally Rome. But Daniel foretells of a king whose kingdom is not ethnically, spatially, or temporally limited. God’s kingdom is an everlasting dominion, not destined to pass away. Daniel goes on to say in verse 14 that peoples of all nations and of every language are welcome to worship the one true ruler of all the kings of the earth.
Christ, our King taught the disciples how to pray in the Lord’s prayer when he said. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." People who live and pray this way have a very different agenda than Caesar's. They enter a kingdom, pledge their allegiance to a ruler, and submit to the reign of Christ the King.
Jesus is a prophet, priest, and king. When he walked this earth, he didn’t look like a powerful ruler, yet he modeled a much more meaningful and effective kind of leadership as a servant king – one who welcomes, loves, and cares for all people. May we, at St. John’s continuing to walk in faith, love, and service side by side all those we meet in our community, persevere in modeling our lives after Christ our Servant King.
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Join us for Sunday Worship at 8am and 10am in the church or remotely on Zoom and Facebook. Face masks and social distancing are required for all in person services.
8:00 am - Morning Prayer
9:45 am - Sunday School in the Guild Room and on Zoom
10:00 am – Morning Prayer with Music
The Readings
The Hymns*
*Not all songs are available to download. If you would like a hard copy of the Hymnal and Praise Book for at home worship, please contact the Parish Office. |
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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 and Hymnals are available;
- Service bulletins and reading inserts are available at the back of the church.
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Wishing you a blessed, joyful and safe Thanksgiving Day with your loved ones near and far!
Parish Office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th.
Morning Prayer will not meet on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th, and Friday, November 26th. We will resume on Monday, November 29th.
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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 occassionally 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.
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Bible Study meets Mondays at 6:30 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am on Zoom. Tuesday sessions will cover the material discussed on the Monday before.
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NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH |
The Muscogee (Creek) people are descendants of a remarkable culture that, before 1500 AD, spanned the entire region known today as the Southeastern United States. Early ancestors of the Muscogee constructed magnificent earthen pyramids along the rivers of this region as part of their elaborate ceremonial complexes. The historic Muscogee, known as Mound builders, later built expansive towns within these same broad river valleys in the present states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
The Muscogee were not one tribe but a union of several. This union evolved into a confederacy that, in the Euro-American described “historic period,” was the most sophisticated political organization north of Mexico. Member tribes were called tribal towns. Within this political structure, each tribal town maintained political autonomy and distinct land holdings.
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Tuesdays, THURSDAYS, & Saturdays!
12:00 to 3:00 pm
Volunteers are needed - We are still bulding our Thursday and Saturday teams. If you wish to become a volunteer, please contact Nancy Feustel at n.feustel@verizon.net.
We accept donations of new or gently used seasonal clothing, household items and accessories. Please no books, out-dated electronics or damaged items.
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YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS WREATH & FLOWER SALE |
The annual Christmas wreath and flower sale is December 4th and 5th. You can pick up your order that Saturday from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm or on Sunday from 8:30 am to 12 noon.
Order forms are available using the link below or online at stjohns1745.org. Please return your order to a Youth Group member or the Parish Office by Tuesday, November 30th.
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ALTAR GUILD CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS |
This Christmas remember your Loved Ones, or offer Special Thanksgivings, by making a donation for this year’s Christmas Poinsettias. Order forms can be found in the back of the church, as well as on our website. Order forms and payment are due Wednesday, December 15th.
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Sing Noel! - Sunday, December 19th at 7:30 pm. Take a joyous break from the holiday rush and join us for “Sing Noel!”, our annual concert of Christmas song, carols and stories featuring an amazing vocal quartet and special guests. $20. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
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Three Tuesdays in Advent via Zoom
Evening Prayer: 6:30 pm
Program: 7:00 – 8:00 pm
November 30: The Rev. Marie Tatro: Vicar for Community Justice Ministry, Diocese of Long Island: Preparing our Hearts for the Journey: What can we learn from occupying the liminal space of the Borderlands? How does our faith provide insights into how we connect with the “Other?” Are the borders we create even real? How do we bridge the space where “I” end, and “YOU” begin? How might we receive the gifts that the “Other” has to offer?
December 7: Jeanne Provenzano, Attorney. Walking with God and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ: What it is like to walk side by side with families seeking asylum. How does their witness and faith in Christ change me?
December 14: Vivian Doremus, LMSW. Listening for God in Tiny Sneakers and Endless PB and J sandwiches: How my life changed by serving for two weeks on the border of Mexico in 2019. When we recognize that those from a non-dominant group also bring God to us, how might we too change?
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SPIRITUALITY GROUP ADVENT RETREAT |
"Four Advent Words from the Giver of the Gift" with Rev. Dr. John McGinty on Saturday, December 4th, 9:30 to 11:30 am on Zoom. Suggested donation $10.
Each year the weeks of Advent invite us to begin again, to be new again, to listen and hear and rejoice again. We will spend our time together receiving four words from our God, taken from the Scriptures of the season, which individually and together invite our hearts to move to a season of renewal, toward a time and place beyond sickness and death, a time marked by God’s saving presence.
Here are the four . . .
- “Surely coming”
- “Constantly praying with joy”
- “What should we do?”
- “Blessed are you”
Two reflections will present these four words, allowing time for personal prayer, conversation together, and music of the season. You are most welcome to begin again.
About Fr. John McGinty - The people of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Worcester, called the Rev. Dr. John P. McGinty to serve as rector, effective March 1, 2020. John was the rector of the Church of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Shoreham, NY since 2016. He served as Dean of the George Mercer Jr. School of Theology, Garden City, NY, and Canon for Formation, Diocese of Long Island from 2012-2016.
Ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church in 1983, John was received into the Episcopal Church in 2011 by the Rt. Rev. Larry Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island. He holds the S.T.D., Doctor of Sacred Theology, from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
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ECW MEETING ON DECEMBER 12TH |
The ECW will hold it's last meeting of the year on Sunday, December 12th in the Guild Room immediately following the 10am service.
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As you joyously consider your stewardship for 2022, please write your "Joy Thoughts" on the poster in the back of the church!
Our Joy will increase exponentially as we give of our time, treasure, and talent!
Please turn in your 2022 pledge card if you have not done so already. We will begin preparing our 2022 Budget, and pledges are vital in that process.
You may also submit your pledge online using our online pledge form. Then beginning in January of 2022 you may send your regular stewardship payments in the mail, leave them in the collection plate on Sundays, or set up automatic, recurring payments online.
Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. We are so grateful for your pledge.
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St. John's Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Please contact Noelle DeLorenzo ( ndelorenzo217@gmail.com) for the Zoom link to join this group. |
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ST. FRANCIS IN THE VALLEY |
Mission Trip to Arizona: April 25- May 2, 2022
OUTREACH is sharing Christ’s love with all our neighbors!
To learn more about this trip, as well as all the outreach we are doing, please join us in one of the following zoom meetings:
If you are interested in participating in the mission trip, please contact Claire Mis or Fr. Duncan by January 15, 2022.
The monthly meetings with St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church help us get to know each other better and offer opportunities to get updates on the Christian outreach that is going on at our border, as well as within the wider area.
We are excited to have support from the Diocese of Arizona as we move forward. The Rev. David Chavez, the Missioner for Border Ministries. Fr. David will be leading us in an exciting and informative Lenten program here at St. John’s. Also attending that program will be the people from St. Francis in the Valley!
Arizona is rich with opportunities to serve underrepresented groups and we hope to be able to meet with The Rev. Canon Debbie Royals, their Canon for Native American Ministries.
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ALTAR FLOWERS & PERPETUAL LIGHT |
If you would like to remember a loved one or give thanks for an important 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."
Reminder – Altar Flowers may not be given during weeks of Advent, November 28th thru December 19th. The Perpetual Light may be still be given.
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S |
We pray for the sick: Tom, David & Irene, Linda, Danica, Lori, Leslie, Hope, Mike, Michael, Elizabeth, Patti, Bob, Christian, Anthony, Gladys, Lynn, Fred, Jim & Irene, Debra, Alex, Michelle, Pauline, Richard, Barbara, Cory, Allassadra, Ellen, Frank, Theresa, Spencer, Sue, Wylie, Matt, Cheryl, Tom, Stephanie, Lisa, Gary, Maggie, Tyler, Ursula, Christine, Samantha, Edward, Tali, Bill, Kate, Amy, Jean, Pat, Joanie, Sueann, Dermot, Jill. Jenna, Walter, Evelyn, John, Liam, Charlie, John, Matthew, Gail, Frank, Gabriel, Karen, Lucy, Richie, Kenny, Aliison, Kyle, Robert, James, Joanne, Greg, Gabe, Joann, Harry, Christine
Altar flowers are given in loving memory of Kathleen Vacco Aunkst by the Matchett Family and the Corbett Family.
We will be starting a new prayer list in Advent. Please send your updated prayers for the Advent season to Coral in the Parish Office, prayers@stjohns1745.org.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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