The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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Thomas
Isolated
Confused
Afraid
Doubting
Sadness
Emptiness
Loneliness
Pain
Devastation
Alone
without community
Alone
what made sense then
seems ridiculous now.
Desolation.
A dark night.
He asks,
How then shall I live?
Out of the darkness,
an optimistic note,
a ray of light.
There comes encounter.
A hand extended,
A side plunged into.
And with encounter,
An invitation.
To let go of
disappointment
anger
shame
fear
pain.
To be free of
sadness
emptiness
loneliness
guilt
And be reconciled.
An invitation to
Mercy
and to
Trust.
To Thomas,
He says,
“Do not be afraid.
I did not leave you!
I still love you.
Do not be afraid.
You are not alone.
I am with you.
Do not fear
opening your heart again.
I am here.
You are safe.
You are forgiven.
You are loved.”
In His hands, His side,
An invitation to Hope.
An invitation to Love.
An invitation to Joy.
This is your Easter, Thomas.
By: Rebecca Ruiz
This poem by Rebecca Ruiz, entitled "This is Your Easter, Thomas" captures humanity wrestling with the dichotomy of doubt and faith, despair and hope, darkness and light. Every year, the Sunday following Easter, the church recites this gospel recounting the events of the only apostle to have a nickname such as this: Doubting Thomas. The reason this story is told every year, eight days after the Resurrection of Jesus, is because the story takes place approximately a few days after Christ was raised from the dead and appeared to the disciples in the locked upper room. Ruiz's poem calls us to recognize our own human experience: isolation, confusion, fear, doubt, sadness, emptiness, loneliness, pain, devastation. These are all experiences related to the human condition. The reality is that, like Thomas, we're never alone in our doubts. We all struggle with aspects of humanity and faith.
It's the three italicized lines from the poem I want to bring to your attention to: How then shall I live?, There comes encounter, and An Invitation. How then shall I live: It is usually at our lowest lows that we start to have bouts of doubt, not at our highest highs. It's the moments when we ask God how to move on from the low where we are, to a safe space. There comes encounter: After we find the safe space comes the encounter with Jesus and ourselves. It is usually a moment when we have to meet our own wounds and recognize them. It's here that we see our own brokenness, and acknowledge that we are a sinful people. An invitation: the invitation that Jesus gives Thomas to feel his wounds is an invitation for us as well. If we encounter our own brokenness, we can (as our poet says) let go of disappointment, anger, shame, fear, and pain. We can be free of sadness, emptiness, loneliness, guilt, and be reconciled.
For all of us Thomas' out there, may this Easter season be a moment of resurrection and new life for us. The resurrected Jesus is here with us. Remember: You are safe. You are forgiven. You are loved.
Peace be with you,
Fr. James
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Second Sunday of Easter
The Readings
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Join us for Easter Sunday 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
9:45 am - Sunday School in the Guild Room and on Zoom
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
The Music
Opening: 184 Christ the Lord is risen again
Sequence: 209 We Walk by Faith, vs 1-3
Offertory anthem: 206 O sons and daughters, let us sing!
Communion: 606 Where true charity
Closing: 460 Alleluia, sing to Jesus
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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 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.
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Bible Study will not meet on Monday, April 25th. We will finish up our study of Paul's Letter to the Phillippians on Tuesday, April 26th.
We will begin a new topic on Monday, May 9th at 6:30 pm and Tuesday, May 10th at 11:00 am. We will be using N.T. Wright's "The Resurrection of the Son of God: The Easter story in the light of contemporary beliefs."
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CONFIRMATION AT ST. JOHN'S |
We are so pleased to welcome the Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, to St. John's on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 11:00 am for the Confirmation and Reception of the following individuals:
Sean Patrick Butler
John Thomas Furlong
Stephanie Leigh Goldbaum
Walter Denali Kusterbeck
Cole Monroe Lima
Akiko Anne Matrisciano
Violet Idalee Molinaro
Keiana Louise Wetsell
James Chilton Wylie
All are welcome! Please join us in congratulating and celebrating those to be Confirmed and Received.
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Saturday, April 30, 2022
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
In the Garden of Blessings
Have fun enjoying the benefits of ancient meditative self-care exercises while being part of the Global Wave to cultivate peace, wellness, and calm. No experience necessary, just follow along. All are welcome including people of all mobility levels. Benches and chairs will be available.
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The Thrift Shop will be having an open house on Sunday, May 1st, from 11 am - 1:30 pm, for all St. John's parishioners and the general public. There will be Chanel Raffle Basket.
Donations Needed! We accept donations of new or gently used clothing, accessories, and household items. Please no books, furniture, out-dated electronics, or damaged items.
Volunteers continue to be needed - We are still bulding our Thursday and Saturday teams. If you wish to become a volunteer, please contact Lilly Welch.
St. John's Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, 12-3pm.
Thank you for your support!
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LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS' MEETING |
LEVs, please join Deacon Claire in the Canterbury Corner on Sunday, May 15th immediately following the 10 am service.
If you are intrested in serving as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor, please contact Deacon Claire. |
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ST. FRANCIS IN THE VALLEY |
NEW DATE for MISSION TRIP to Arizona
October 24 – 31 2022
OUTREACH is sharing Christ’s love with all our neighbors!
Save the date:
Meeting for those hoping to go on the mission trip:
Tuesday, May 17th
7:00 p.m.
All are welcome to attend
Join Zoom Meeting:
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What One Couple Learned from Their Border Experience: Who is Teaching Who?
WHO IS TEACHING WHO?
Leonard and Kathy Rodenberg - Spring 2022
My husband, Leonard and I have had several careers but our passion was teaching English as a Second Language. We were fortunate to teach many years before retiring in 2017. We taught ESL for 15 years overseas in the International School System and ten years teaching English to refugees and immigrants at Highline College near our home in Seattle. When we retired, we were looking for a way to “give back”, a common thread among the boomers, and were lucky enough to be introduced to the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans. We were quite impressed with the work they were doing in Arizona and decided to volunteer for a couple of months. We were not sure how we could help so started thinking about the skills we might offer and of course fell back on teaching. We had seen how the gift of language can dramatically change someone's life. We packed our Honda SUV with school supplies and headed for Nogales, Arizona. Nogales was chosen simply because we couldn’t find an Airbnb rental in any other city that could accommodate us for the two and a half months we would be away. So we didn’t choose Nogales, Nogales chose us. We were excited and anxious. We didn’t know where we were going to teach we just knew that was our dream. About two weeks after arriving we were lucky enough to meet with a GVS volunteer who took us to visit a migrant shelter across the border in Nogales, Mexico. Yes, there are two cities named Nogales…one in Arizona, USA and the other in Sonora, Mexico. The shelter houses 120 men, women and children, all waiting for papers from the U.S granting them legal passage into the USA under an asylum provision. This shelter provided security, food, clothes and hope for the residents. It was beautifully run by a wonderful woman who loved all who entered. It was a community…. the residents provided the work whether building a new dorm, tending the vegetable garden or cooking meals. We knew, just knew, that this was our place and that we could offer English to the residents. I mean we were the experts, weren’t we? We could give them a head start into their new country. Even a little English would offer them a better opportunity for a good job, an easier time in school and therefore a better life. We met with the headmistress and she graciously accepted our offer as volunteer English teachers. I would be teaching the kids and Leonard would be teaching the adults. We were ready.
I noticed that my students were not focused. They were disruptive, they were hostile, not to me necessarily, but to each other and appeared to be disinterested regardless of what was being taught. This had never happened before…what was going on? I didn’t understand. Why weren’t they engaging? What was I doing wrong? I started observing the classes and noticed the only time the students were content was during the creative moments. If they were painting or singing or getting their hands dirty, they were much calmer. Then I realized the sad truth…..this class was full of traumatized kids.
You cannot walk up to U.S. Immigration and say, let me enter the United States under an asylum provision without solid evidence that your life was in danger in your home country and will be in danger if you return. Everyone in the shelter had experienced unimaginable challenges. Of course, they couldn’t concentrate, they were basically suffering from what we would refer to as PTSD. After some research, I realized, they didn’t need English, they needed a space to heal. I tossed the English books and replaced them with art projects. I forgot the grammar lessons and substituted songs, I limited the conversation drills and added smiles and hugs. It made all the difference. A few weeks passed. Yes, the class learned a couple English phrases but what I really noticed was how much calmer they were, how much kinder. They had started to trust me but more importantly they had started to trust themselves and each other. They were making friends. Magic markers that were once fought over were now shared. Scissors and glue sticks, once hoarded, rested in common areas. A difference was made.
So do you have what it takes to come to the border and volunteer? Yes, you do. Everyone has skills and talents. I thought my strongest skill was teaching a little English but realized that it was adaptation. These darling kids taught me that everyone has something to offer…but sometimes you need to look a little closer. One of the GVS volunteers told me, " always do what’s best for the migrants." She was right. If you follow that sage advice you will find your talents….and they just may be different than the ones you thought you were offering.
I will end with this, my favorite quote. I don’t know who wrote it but love it:
“If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
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STEWARDSHIP: PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT |
First Quarter Stewardship Pledge Statements were sent out last week. Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. Please take this time to review your giving and to catch up on your pledge payments if possible. |
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If you have not yet pledged, pledge cards are available in the pews and at the back of the church. You may also submit your pledge online using our online pledge form. 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. |
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ALTAR FLOWERS & THE 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."
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S |
We pray for: Liz, Harry and Christine, Hal, Richard, Barbara, Fanny, Jackie, Diana, Edward, Christine, Fred, Tom, Allison, Amy, Kate, Cole, Jennifer, Spencer, Sue, Wylie, Matt, Susan, Maggie, Tom, Olivia, Christina, Victor, Melissa, Jack, Ursula, Anita, Nancy, Peter, Patti, Shannon, Kelsey, Justin, Cheryl, Kristin, Patricia, Jeff, Michael, Joseph, James, Sue, Bill, Dylan, Ruth, Kristen
The Perpetual Light is given in loving memory of Bertha and Frank Lasek, and Natividad and Modesto Roman, the gift of Dave and Nelly Lasek.
To add or remove someone from our prayer list, please email prayers@stjohns1745.org or call Coral in the Parish Office.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
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