The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” Thomas Merton
This week at Morning Prayer, several people were praying for each other. These times are uncertain and stressful and we do not know what is in our immediate future. We worry about our children, our parents, our friends, and ourselves. Mary said that everything would be ok because no matter what happens, God will be with us. God comes to us in our deepest need. In the story of Joseph and his brothers we hear, “So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them (Gen. 50:21). This will be a difficult few months for many of us at St. John’s. Jesus tells us that we can get through this if we focus our attention on him. Jesus is turning the world upside down by helping those who are persecuted, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and dining with tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:3-9). Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love for all creation.
In today’s Gospel, God planted a vineyard and leased it to some tenants. Then God sent prophets to collect the produce. The tenants treated them very poorly. God then sent his own son. The tenants threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. The landowner then leases the vineyard to other tenants. Jesus said to those who were listening, “Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’” (Matt. 21:42).
Please pray for one another, be kind to one another, visit one another, strive for racial reconciliation, work together on the Harvest Fair, and help those in need in our community. We are called to embody Jesus Christ to the community around us. The Kingdom of God is ushered in when we witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ. Be a calming presence to those who are anxious, support those in need, be empathetic to those who are in crisis, and love your neighbor as Christ loves us.
While 190 million folks follow Kim Kardashian on Instagram to see what she is wearing and who she is with, she has amassed almost a billion dollars. Sharp entrepreneurs have used social media to avert our attention and money away from what matters to the completely irrelevant. Does the reality TV that so many watch today help us in times of trouble? Do we experience the peace that passes all understanding through Kim? Does she help us achieve a purpose filled life? Will she help us in the time of need? Jesus calls us to look in another direction. He asks us to see him as the chief cornerstone. I pray to God that during this pandemic, all who are lost might find the grace, love, peace, and joy of Jesus Christ.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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UPCOMING SERVICE SCHEDULES |
Oct 4, 11
8:00 am - Zoom and Facebook Live Morning Prayer
8:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer Outside/In Church (weather depending)
9:15 am - Zoom and Facebook Live Morning Prayer with Music
10:15 am - Zoom Sunday School
11:00 am - Rite II Morning Prayer in Church
Beginning October 18th
8:00 am - Zoom and Facebook Live Morning Prayer
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist in Church
9:15 am - Zoom and Facebook Live Morning Prayer with Music
10:15 am - Zoom Sunday School
11:00 am - Rite II Holy Eucharist in Church
All services which take place at the church require pre-registration and are limited to 25 people. All must follow safety protocols, wear a face mask, and practice social distancing.
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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.
5:30 pm - Taize Prayer Service via Zoom
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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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This Sunday, October 4th at 5:30 pm, our Taize prayer service will focus on St. Francis of Assisi in our meditations and music. All are welcome to join us for this candlelit, contemplative prayer service with beautiful music.
To prepare your own sacred space, find a quiet space where you can a comfortably sit on a chair or on the floor, light candles to create an atmosphere for contemplative prayer. Give yourself time and space to listen, meditate, sing and be silent.
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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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This year’s ECW Harvest Fair will be on Saturday, October 24th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Your time, talent and treasure are needed! Annual Harvest Fair plays such a vital part in our outreach in the community. While we cannot expect to hold our usual crowds in the building, we are looking for new, creative ways to offer some of our favorite highlights in person and remotely.
Ways you can donate/help:
- Make a craft, woodworking items, Christmas decorations, homemade soap, sachets and potpourri are just suggestions. Use your creativity!
- Offer your vacation home/timeshare week for the Silent Auction.
- Donate new, unused gifts you have received to the Silent Auction.
- Request a donation for Corporate Sponsorship from your place of work.
- Design a gift basket, give items or gift certificates for a gift basket, or donate $ to create one.
- Bake cookies, pies, cakes or muffins for our bake sale.
- Give your gently used clothing or bric-a-brac a second life at the White Elephant sale.
- Plan on spending the day working a table or helping before or after with set up/clean up.
- Invite your friends and families to shop, dine and visit our beautiful, historic church.
Raffle books will be mailed out this week. Please purchase those raffle books as they are a very important fundraiser for the fair. Additional books are available. Just contact the Parish Office ([email protected] or 631-427-1752) to receive more.
Also consider becoming a Harvest Fair Patron with an added donation. Or make a donation of any amount to Help Us to Help Others!
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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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ST. JOHN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP MEETING |
St. John's Spirituality Group will meet next on Thursday, October 8th at 4:00 pm. The word we will discuss and reflect on is "BELIEVE."
If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. To find out more about SJSG, contact Patti Aliperti ([email protected]).
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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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"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 and Carol, Bette, Justin, Hagai, Cassie
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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