The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church |
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“I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:27-31)
What Jesus wants you to hear today is about the love and mercy of God. Let’s not start by thinking about who we despise, but look at ourselves. God is compassionate even when we are undeserving. God’s lovingkindness is called hessed in Hebrew. We know this way of being because we know the grace and mercy that God gives to each of us. We are loved with God’s unconditional agape love.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all people, so that you love everybody, because God loves them. You refuse to do anything that will defeat an individual, because you have agape in your soul. And here you come to the point that you love the individual who does the evil deed while hating the deed that the person does. The key to loving enemies is to resist the urge toward vengeance. When we show kindness, we provide opportunities for redemption. Love has redemptive power. It has the power to transform and to change both the lover and the beloved. This is our path into the Trinitarian life. The love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit, and that same Spirit rests with us, giving us power to love in the face of all kinds of worldly evils.” (A Knock at Midnight p. 49)
Most of us understand the concept of unconditional love. Married couples vow to love one another unconditionally. This understanding of love leads us to the speech of prayer. We pray for those we love and those we don’t love to receive the blessing of God. God asks us to take the radical next step to literally act towards people that hate us with lovingkindness. This is very counterintuitive. Let me approach it in another direction. God’s lovingkindness begins with a deep love of Jesus Christ and the reciprocal love that God gives to us even when we are not deserving at times in our lives. Today’s lesson teaches us that even when we mess up, God loves us deeply. When we walk away, God calls us back and when we come again, God gives us a hero's welcome like the prodigal son received. God is good, all the time.
Love as you are loved by God. Forgive others as you are forgiven. Pray for those that hurt you. Love your enemies and act accordingly. The reward of lovingkindness of those who hate us is that we become the children of the most high. We begin to see the good in all people and in all things. When we love our enemies we possess the redemptive power that can restore individuals and people to the love of God. This power can overcome racism, sexism, and the problems of our day. This power can overcome our divided nation and maybe even our government. Ghandi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany |
Join us for Sunday Worship at 8am and 10am in the church or remotely on Zoom and Facebook.
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist
9:45 am - Sunday School meets in the Guild Room and also on Zoom
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
The Readings
The Hymns
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SAFE PRACTICES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES & EVENTS |
We are so happy to welcome people into the church for in-person worship. As we increase the number of people allowed in the church, we can all do our part to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy:
- Masks are required. Disposable masks are available at the back of the church;
- Social distancing. Please maintain a 6ft distance between your group/family and others;
- Sanitize hands upon entrance. Dispensers are available at the back of the church;
- Prayer books are available at the back of the church;
- Service bulletins and reading inserts are available at the back of the church.
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The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, February 21st in observance of Presidents' Day.
Morning Prayer and Bible Study will meet as scheduled.
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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 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.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am. The topics covered on Monday will also be covered on Tuesday of the same week.
We have begun a new program on Paul's Letter to the Philippians using the writings of N. T. Wright.
More copies of the book, Paul for Everyone: the Prison Letters by N. T. Wright will be available in the Parish Office on Thursday, January 6th. It is also available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle versions:
We are also referencing an online program, "Paul and His Letter to the Philippians" at Udemy.com. Here is the log in information if you would like to review them before we meet:
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FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH |
An exerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail:
But as I continued to think about the matter, I gradually gained a bit of satisfaction from being considered an extremist. Was not Jesus an extremist in love? --"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice? --"Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ? --"I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist? --"Here I stand; I can do no other so help me God." Was not John Bunyan an extremist? --"I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a mockery of my conscience." Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist? --"This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist? --"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." So the question is not whether we will be extremist, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate, or will we be extremists for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice, or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?
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AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN HUNTINGTON |
On Thursday, February 24th at 7 pm, Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, will present " Slavery in the Town of Huntington." St. John's Racial Reconciliation & Social Justice Ministry invites you to join us for this informative event on Zoom.
Please contact Heather Kress ( hkress44@gmail.com) if you have any questions about this event or St. John's RR&SJM many initiatives. |
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First Holy Communion will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2022 for children 2nd grade and above. First Communion classes will meet on Wednesdays at 5 pm via Zoom beginning March 2, 2022.
If you are interested in First Holy Communion for your child, download the registration form by using the link below. Forms are also available at the back of the church. Please return these to the parish office as soon as possible with proof of Baptism. If you have any questions about First Communion, please feel free to reach out to Fr. Duncan or the Parish Office.
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Confirmation classes will meet on Sundays at 5:30 pm via Zoom beginning February 27, 2022 for children 7th grade and above. We are planning on a Confirmation date of April 30, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City.
If your child is interested in Confirmation, download the registration form using the link below and return it to the parish office with proof of Baptism as soon as possible. Forms are also available at the back of the church. If you have any questions about Confirmation, please reach out to Fr. Duncan or the Parish Office.
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Ash Wednesday - Imposition of Ashes
March 2, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Morning Prayer
Monday - Friday at 9:00 am via Zoom
Bible Study
Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom
Tuesdays at 11:00 am via Zoom
Lenten Series- "Living Beyond the Borders"
Tuesdays in Lent via Zoom
March 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, April 5th - 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm
The Rev. Canon David Ulloa Chavez, Canon for Border Ministries for the Diocese of Arizona, will lead a five-part series referencing the book The US Immigration Crisis by Miquel de la Torre (copies are available in the Parish Office for a suggested contribution of $25). For our 2022 Lenten Series we will partner with St. Francis in the Valley. The program will be offered at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm to accommodate our different time zones. You are welcome to join at either time. At St. John's, we will begin with Stations of the Cross at 6:00 pm and Evening Prayer at 6:30 pm. The program will be from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Lenten Retreat - A Quiet Day with Bishop Wolf
Saturday, March 12, 2022, 9:30 am - 11:30 pm
The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf, Assistant Bishop of Long Island, will lead a Lenten quiet day of reflection on "Forgiveness" at St. John's. We will meet in the Great Hall, there will also be an option to Zoom in. Suggested donation $15. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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This winter, St. John's is supporting HIHI by collecting Dunkin Donuts gift cards of $5 or $10 amounts to distribute to homeless in Huntington. If you would like to contribute, you may drop your Dunkin Donuts gift cards off at St. John's, 12 Propect St, Huntington.
We are also collecting men's jeans, sweatshirts, work boots, and winter coats which may be dropped off at St. John's.
HIHI is the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative. In a pre-COVID year, St. John's and other local churches would provide a meal and shelter for homeless in the area on a rotating basis in the winter months.
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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!
Upcoming Meeting with St. Francis in the Valley: February 18, 2022 at 4 p.m. on Zoom
All are welcome to attend
Join Zoom Meeting:
Save the dates for the
Lenten Series with Fr. David Chavez: Border Missioner for the Diocese of Arizona
Tuesdays in Lent
March 8, 15, 22, 29, & April 5
Times: Either 1:00 pm or 7:00 pm
Book: The US Immigration Crisis by Miguel de la Torre
Copies are available in the Parish Office for a suggested contribution of $25.
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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. |
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Giving envolopes are here! They are available for pick up at the back of the church for those who have requested them. If you are unable to pick up your envelopes, we can make arrangements to have them delivered, just let us know.
Giving numbers are still available, so if you would like 2022 envelopes or have any questions, please contact Coral in the Parish Office.
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STEWARDSHIP: PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT |
Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward.
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 & 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 the sick: Fred, Lynn, Jackie, Manny, Cory, Richard, Barbara, Edward, Christine, Patricia, Alberta, Patti, Tom, Allison, Mike, Joann, Patti, Christian, Anthony, Joanne, Harry, Christine, 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, Jackie, Hal, Ann, Gus, Peter, Diane, David, Irene, Hope, Mike, Michael, Leslie, Jill, Patricia, Doug, Amelia, Dan, Linda, Georgine, Gabe, Janet, Emma
Recently departed: Ezulieli Nafuna Wanzunula, mother of Christine Kibirige
Please 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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