Our collect for the third Sunday in Advent begins, “Stir up thy power, and with great might come among us.” In this week’s Old Testament reading from Zephaniah, we hear the words, “The Lord is in your midst.” In the letter to the Philippians Paul tells us, “The Lord is near.” John the Baptist says in Luke, “One who is more powerful than I is coming…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

All our readings point to the one who is coming from the realm of the eternal to the realm of the temporal. We are asked to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Last week we set the story in its historical setting that you might believe.

This week, the crowds in Luke’s Gospel ask, “What then should we do?”

I want to jump ahead a bit in the Gospel readings to use Mary as an example of the answer to this question. Mary was told that nothing is impossible with God. Although she cannot wrap her mind around the incarnation, she is willing to be a part of God’s plan. This is the key to spiritual development. It is natural to question what we cannot understand intellectually. Mary asks, “How can this be?” More and more folks today are spiritual and not religious. They do not understand the incarnation and close their mind to the possibility that Jesus came from the realm of the eternal to be near to us. We are asked to be part of God's “plan” (or Word). We need to be at least open to the possibility that Jesus is God incarnate. God asks us to be part of his “plan” (or Word). We only need to be open to the possibility that Jesus is God incarnate.

Today’s readings not only point to the existence of God, they point to God coming near to us. Jesus comes again and again that we might be in personal relationship with him. Timothy Keller helps us understand this in our December bible study book, Hidden Christmas. “What are the elements of a genuine, personal relationship with Jesus? It requires, as does any close relationship, that you communicate with him regularly, candidly, lovingly. That means not simply saying your prayers, but having a prayer life that leads to real communion with God, a sense of his presence in your heart and life. On the other hand, being in close relationship means he communicates with you. That comes from a deep acquaintance with the bible.” (Hidden Christmas p. 55)

John the Baptist helps us with the next step, “In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise’” (Luke 3:7). On Sunday, December 12th, we will share with the Huntington community, the fruits of the Harvest Fair. Fran and Chris will meet after the 10:00 service in the St. Hilda’s Guild Room and decide how we will support nonprofit organizations in our community. Please join us.

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.

Zoom (NEW LINK): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83803451202

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

Bulletin: Rite I HE Advent Bulletin

Zoom (NEW LINK): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739553648

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

Bulletin: Rite II HE Advent Bulletin

*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.

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.

Join us via Zoom (NEW LINK): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86041146543

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.

Zoom Link for Mondays - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83373971746

NEW Zoom Link for Tuesdays - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88183382184

Please contact the Parish Office if you need a copy of Hidden Christmas by Timothy Keller.

The ECW will hold it's last meeting of the year on Sunday, December 12th in the Guild Room immediately following the 10am service.

Please contact Fran Gorman (gormport@aol.com) with any questions.

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.

Home for the Holiday Special - Sunday, Decmeber 12th at 7:00 pm. The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus is thrilled to begin their 2021-22 concert season with a fun new program featuring time-honored favorites from an array of yuletide TV classics. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased through the LIGMC website: https://www.longislandgaymenschorus.org/concerts. COVID protocols remain in effect.

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. COVID protocols remain in effect. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Tuesdays in Advent via Zoom

Evening Prayer: 6:30 pm

Program: 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85725852448

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?

As you joyously consider your stewardship for 2022, please write your "Joy Thoughts" on the poster in the back of the church!

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.

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.

Mission Trip to Arizona: April 25- May 2, 2022 

  

OUTREACH is sharing Christ’s love with all our neighbors! 

  Upcoming Meeting with all hoping to travel to Arizona: January 7, 2022, at 4 p.m. on Zoom!

To learn more about this trip, as well as all the outreach we are doing, please join us at our monthly Zoom meeting. 

If you are interested in participating in the mission trip, please contact Claire Mis or Fr. Duncan by January 15, 2022.

For those of us present at the second Advent program, Jeanne Provenzano shared her effort to assist two young children in getting asylum through the court system. She was very disappointed that her efforts failed and we learned that it is extremely difficult for asylum to be granted in the United States.  The following newsletter shows the efforts of many to bring hope to asylum seekers.

The November Newsletter pays homage to the months of dedicated work by volunteers who have brought education, hope for many new possibilities for families seeking asylum. Teachers have been trained and are present at many of the local shelters. Please check out this newsletter. The picture shown in the first article is the façade of La Casa de la Misericordia – a shelter we are hoping to visit when we travel to Arizona at the end of April.

(Closed on 12/23, 12/25, 12/30 & 1/1)

Volunteers are needed - We are still bulding our Thursday and Saturday teams. If you wish to become a volunteer, please contact Lilly Welch (welchr@optonline.net).

Donations - We accept donations of new or gently used seasonal clothing, household items and accessories. Please no books, out-dated electronics or damaged items. Please contact Mary Beth Dieterle (mbdieterle@yahoo.com) with any questions about donations.

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. Please consider donating a poinsettia for Christmas in lieu of Advent flowers. The Perpetual Light may be still be given.

We pray for the sick: Fred, Lynn, Jackie, Manny, Cory, Richard, Barbara, Edward, Christine, Patricia, Alberta, Patti, Tom, Allison, Mike, Gabe, Joann, Patti, Christian, Anthony, Joanne, Harry, Christine, Gabriel, George, Frank, Theresa, Sue, Spencer, Tom, Stephanie, Matt, Wylie, Susan, Maggie, Ursula, Christina, Bill, Amy, Kate, Cheryl, John Michael, Lauren, Mikey, Marie, Dianne, Ryan, Rich, Preston, Lucy, Irene, Jim, Debra, Rhys, David, Denise, William, Walter, Belle

We have started a new prayer list in Advent. Please send your updated prayers for the Advent season to Coral in the Parish Office, prayers@stjohns1745.org.

For pastoral care and prayer, please contact Fr. Duncan or Claire Mis, directly.