The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians10-13)
In bible study this week, we studied the profile and praxis of a prophet. N.T. Wright tells us that “if we are to follow Jesus as Lord, we must know more about the one we are to follow.” Jesus says in the temple, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus explains the coming of the Kingdom of God through parables and more importantly, shows us what the Kingdom of God looks like by his actions. N.T. Wright says, “What Jesus was to Israel, the church must now be for the world.”
In today’s Gospel, we hear, “a man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go” (Matthew 21:28-30). Like the second son in the Gospel, many of us in the church want to do the right thing, but often we just get distracted. There are many factors to distract us today. If only one good thing comes out of this pandemic for you, I hope it is a rekindling of your faith in Jesus Christ. God brings us from bondage into freedom, from sin into righteousness, and from death into life.
You can bring the Good News to others by proclaiming that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Our church can bind up the brokenhearted by visiting one another or calling each other on the phone. Invite those you do not see on Sunday back to church again either on zoom, Facebook Live, or in person. We can proclaim liberty and release by letting our friends know that they are loved by God and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can clothe the naked by sending items from our Thrift Shop to Central Islip. We can feed the hungry by donating rice, beans, pasta, and other items to the local food pantry. We are bringing racial reconciliation and social justice through our Sacred Ground Program. Most of all, we can work together for our Harvest Fair on October 24, 2020. Please participate in any way you can. Buy raffle tickets, make a raffle basket, donate an auction item, volunteer to mark some white elephant items, or just pray that we will be able to support local charities and this church’s ministries as we have in the past. This COVID pandemic has made life and business very difficult for many of us in our community. Let us each do what we can to help one another get through it. Jesus taught us that if we share a little of what we have, there will be plenty for everyone. Jesus also taught us to love God and our neighbor. Loving everyone is difficult, but possible through the grace of God.
I give thanksgiving for Jesus Christ, who taught us to love one another as God loves us. I give thanksgiving for Coral, Claire, Fr. John, Jen, Alex, our nursery school teachers, and all our parishioners at St. John’s. I give thanks to all our parishioners, thanks to the ECW and Chris Boccia, thanks to Spirituality and Patti Aliperti, thanks to the Thrift Shop and Nancy Feustel, thanks for Laundry Love and Sue Cronje, thanks to Huntington Rapid Response, thanks to Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice and Heather Kress and Pat Ahmad, thanks to Sacred Ground and Bill Kiley, thanks for EFM and Leslie Valentine, thanks for Bible Study and Fr. John Morrison, thanks for St. Hilda’s Guild and Janice Burnett, thanks for Morning Prayer and Earl Matchett and Claire, thanks to the vestry and wardens, and thanks to Samantha Burns and Barbara Burns.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer in the Garden of Blessings (weather permitting).
Face masks, social distancing, and registration required. Limited to 25 people.
8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer
https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live/
9:15 am – Rite II Morning Prayer with Music
https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745/live/
10:15 am - Sunday School via Zoom
11:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer in the Church
Face masks, social distancing, and registration required. Limited to 25 people.
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Please join us for a ZOOM coffee hour this Sunday at 10:00 am. Grab a cup of your own coffee and a snack, share some time with your friends at St. Johns. This will be an informal remote gathering where we can enjoy each other's company. Join Zoom Coffee Hour:
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Join us at 9:00 am for Morning Prayer, Monday - Friday, via Zoom (New Meeting #):
Please follow along with Mission St. Clare
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ST. JULIAN OF NORWICH & THE 3 PLAGUES |
Saturday, September 26th, 9:30-11:30am via Zoom. St. John's Spirituality Group welcomes Thomas Petriano, Ph.D., to present a program and reflection on Saint Julian of Norwich and her survival through 3 plagues, highly relevant during this time of COVID-19.
Thomas Petriano, Ph.D is Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at St. Joseph's College. He teaches courses on World Religions, Faith and Film, and Belief in the Modern World.
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For those who prefer an evening Bible Study, we have added a session on Mondays at 6:30 pm. The Monday sessions will cover what was discussed the Tuesday before. Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83527491169.
We are studying the New Testament, referencing N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird's The New Testament in Its World.
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Our annual Blessing of the Animals in recognition of St. Francis Day will take place at the church on Saturday, October 3rd at 5:00 pm in the Garden of Blessings. All are welcome with animals appropriately leashed, crated or caged.
Face masks, social distancing, and registration required. Limited to 25 people.
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Are you tech savvy and interested in serving your parish and community? We are looking to expand our tech team with people who can work with our Technical Producer, Samantha Burns on Sundays to manage our online services.
If you are interested in supporting this growing part of St. John's ministry, and would like to gain some experience in webcasting and production, all while helping others, please contact Fr. Duncan at [email protected]. |
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FIND YOUR MINISTRY - VOLUTEERS NEEDED |
As we begin to reopen the church, please prayerfully consider volunteering for one of the following ministries:
Sunday Greeters & Ushers - contact Fr. Duncan
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St. Hilda’s Guild will begin to meet again on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon via Zoom. Join us using the link below, and make sure to bring your latest project and a snack:
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In September, help us recognize the first anniversary of Laundry Love at St. John's with a donation!
Donations of money or laundry detergent in the form of laundry pods would be gratefully accepted. To make a donation by check, please send it to St. John's Church, 12 Prospect St., Huntington, NY 11743 with "Laundry Love" written in the memo.
Thank you to all who have supported Laundry Love over the past year.
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"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:4-7).
During this time, we ask that if you are financially able to keep making your Stewardship Pledge payments. We have set up online giving. 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.
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
To text your contribution (standard text message rates do apply):
Text SJEC1745 STEWARDSHIP $[Amount] to 73256.
Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. Thank you for your continuing support!
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You have not pledged but would still like to give? Make a Plate Offering.
We have set up online giving. 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 online syste.
Using the below form, you can choose the types of contributions you would like to make a Plate Offering online:
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
To text your contribution (standard text message rates do apply):
Text SJEC1745 PLATE $[Amount] to 73256.
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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: Kathy, Lynn, Fred, Ellen, Lucille, Frank and Theresa, Spencer and Sue, Tom and Stephanie, Peter, David, Nils, Margaret, Cheryl, Carol, CJ, George, Nichole, Roelie, Tom, Nelly, Irene and Jim, Debra
Recently departed: Carlos Collazo, nephew of Nelly Lasek
We have begun a prayer list for the sick. Please submit your new prayers to [email protected].
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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