"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of
St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
The Kingdom of God
Things are not always what they seem!
This week, we will ponder anew what God’s Kingdom looks like. I can only imagine what it might look like to you, but there are certainly times when I wish God’s Kingdom on earth would be a place of total predictability. If I do A and God does B, then every time I do “A” God will do “B.” If I pray for healing, God heals – immediately and in a way that I can totally understand and just as I would expect it to look like.
When I think of God’s Kingdom, I also want to see God as doing impressive and spectacular things – I want to be able to understand what’s going on. When life gets hard, I want to better understand what’s happening. In other words, when life gets hard, God at least provides decent answers to the “why?” questions, instead of leaving me to flounder in the unknown.
But my ideal is not God’s.
The prophet Ezekiel saw that his nation had abandoned the path of God. It’s wealthy rulers showed no compassion for the poor whom they continually oppressed. Ezekiel prophesied that his nation would be destroyed because of its corruption and sure enough that is what happened. While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel told is people that God would preserve a remnant of the tree of Israel and nurture it so it would bear fruit. God would restore the way of justice and mercy so that the nation would become a beloved community. All those formerly oppressed would be lifted high. A kingdom of compassion and love.
By the time we get to Mark’s Gospel – over six hundred years have passed since God restored Judah to a place of compassion and love and it seems as if God’s people have totally forgotten Ezekiel’s prophetic words – which by the way, were pretty radical. And like Ezekiel, Jesus too has a message that is radical – so radical that he resorts to parables to get his point across.
In the first parable Jesus tells in this week’s Gospel, a gardener scatters seed on the ground, and then goes off to sleep. The seeds fend for themselves, and when the grain is ripe, the gardener harvests it. In the second parable, someone sows a tiny mustard seed in the ground, and it grows into a gigantic bush, large enough to offer birds shelter in its branches.
Both parables are meant to show us what the kingdom of God looks like. Parables are intended to stretch our imaginations far beyond any place we’d take them on our own. Not to keep us comfortable and complacent, but to prod and needle us into altogether different ways of perceiving and relating to what is sacred. What’s the kingdom of God? Are you sure you want to know? Okay, get ready for the mystery to unravel: the kingdom of God is like a sleeping gardener, mysterious soil, an invasive weed, and a nuisance flock of birds.
As you prepare for Sunday’s service, take a look at the scriptures in advance. Ponder some of these questions:
- How is the Kingdom of God growing within you?
- How do you see the Kingdom of God growing around you?
- How is the kingdom of God ripening among us at St. John’s? Do you have your sickle?
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In Christ's love,
Deacon Claire | |
The Lessons
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 92:1-4,11-14
2 Corinthians 5:6-17
Mark 4:26-34
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
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739553648
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745
Bulletin: Rite II HE after Pentecost
The Music
Opening: H 525 "The Church’s One Foundation"
Before Gospel: H 623 "O what their joy," vs 1-2
Offertory anthem: LEVAS 1, "Lift every voice and sing"
Communion hymn: H 302 "Father, we thank thee who has planted"
Recessional: LEVAS 226 "Mine eyes have seen the glory"
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JUNETEENTH IN THE DIOCESE |
JUNETEENTH JUBILEE CEREMONY & RECEPTION - Scholars selected for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island’s Barbara C. Harris Scholars Program will be presented with their scholarships by the Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, during a “Juneteenth Jubilee” on June 15th at 11 am at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, NY. The event is open to the public; registration is required (sign up using the link below).
https://www.dioceseli.org/juneteenth24
The Parish Office will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.
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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
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HOPE Ministries, St. John’s Community Outreach Program, is involved in two special programs at this time:
MEN'S SUMMER CLOTHING & TOILETRIES FOR HIHI
Needed: Shorts, tee shirts and other summer clothing – especially for men. We also continue to collect toiletry items for HIHI (Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative). Please deposit your donations in the box located in the back of the church. See Fr. Duncan or Deacon Claire for more information.
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 are collecting non-perishable food in the church to be delivered to Helping Hands Rescue Mission each week. The new bin is set up by the door that you enter from Prospect Street and will be emptied after the final service on Sundays for delivery. Thank you ahead of time for all of your contributions!! See Gail Brady if you have any questions about what to bring.
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Sundays, June 30th & July 28th at 3:00pm
St. John's Music Ministry continues its work of supporting young, upcoming musicians by giving them an opportunity perform. These free mini-concerts take place in our beautiful, historic sanctuary in the intimate St. Mary's chapel.
If you are a young artist and would like to participate or just find out more about our music programming, contact Alex Pryrodny our Music Director.
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FALL CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS |
We are looking to finalize our fall calendar by the first week of August to coordinated our many events and start to spread the word about all the great programs and ministries here at St. John's.
FALL CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 2ND.
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 Tuesdays prior to publication.
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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
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Bible Study meets regularly on Mondays at 6:30 pm on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746) and Tuesdays at 11:00 am in person in the Guild Room. The material covered each Monday evening will be covered on the following Tuesday.
Please reach out to Fr. Zach with any questions, (631) 427-1752, ext. 105.
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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.
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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.
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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
The Perpetual Light is given in memory of Robby Roberts, with love from his daughter, Crystal.
Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org, call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, ext. 101.
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ECW MEETING - Contact Carol Goldbaum, ECW President for more information.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY - No July & August meetings; we will resuime in September. Monthly meetings are on the 1st Thursday of each month 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 - Weekly meetings are on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in the Guild Room. Contact Sue Hartman for more information.
VESTRY MEETING - Tuesday, June 18th at 6:30 pm in the Guild Room and on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87350494837.
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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
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