"To know Christ and to make Him known . . . " | |
The Weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church | |
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It’s all about Grace…or is it?
This Sunday, we will hear the parable in Matthew about the workers in the vineyard – and I assume it is one that many of us have heard multiple times in our lives. The Landowner goes out early in the morning to hire laborers to work in his field. After agreeing to pay them the usual daily wage – which in those days was a denarius, they happily set out to work in the vineyard. The landowner then returns four more times to the area where laborers regularly gather: 9:00, 12:00, 3:00 and 5:00 and offers those who are assembled an opportunity to work in the field. All happily report to work. At the end of the day, all of the laborers are paid the same daily wage of one denarius.
Is that Fair?
We can all hear the first hires: “That’s just not fair! We’ve been here all day, doing the brunt of the work in the scorching sun. Those others only worked a portion of the day. We should earn more!” What they wanted – and I think we all get it – is what was right, fair and just. Most of us have internalized this idea of fairness since we were children. We work hard in school, we deserve an “A” for our effort, I have labored hard in my job. Don’t I deserve a promotion? Or even a bonus?
God made us to be productive and to expect a result from the work we do – goes back to the original creation. But our sinful nature has taken that expectation and twisted it – making it ungodly, which is why we were given the 10th commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male slave or his female slave or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17
These first hour hires show their fallenness. Without question they were coveting what the last-hour men received. They wanted justice.
Remember, however, this is a parable, which is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. “Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner….’” We are talking about God’s kingdom. We, as humans, want God to treat us fairly and give us what we deserve….or do we? Perhaps we might want God to give us what we have not earned or deserved – to show us grace and mercy.
How blind can we be to the presence of God’s grace in our world. This is a lesson on God’s generosity and the grace God chooses to lavish on us all.
Grateful for God’s Amazing Generosity,
Deacon Claire
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The Readings
Psalm 145:1-8
Matthew 20:1-16
Join us for 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
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83803451202
Facebook Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns1745
Bulletin: Rite I After Pentecost
9:40 am - Sunday School
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 Baptism
Music
Opening: LEVAS 143 – "Wade in the water"
Offertory anthem: "May the road rise to meet you" by Lori True
Communion anthem: "Baptized in water"
Closing hymn: LEVAS 136 "I have decided to follow Jesus"
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SOMETHING'S FISHY AT ST. JOHN'S! | The children from VBS/Compassion Camp will present the musical "Something's Fishy" here at St. John's Church in Huntington on Sunday, September 24th at the 10am service. | |
ANOINTING PRAYER EACH SUNDAY | Every Sunday, during our regular services, you are welcome to receive an anointing or healing prayer, which is offered at the side altar during communion. As always requests are kept confidential. | |
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St. John's Spirituality Group's fall Labyrinth Walk will be on Saturday, September 30th. We will meet at St John's at 10 am and carpool to LIU CW Post to walk their labyrinth. Afterwards, we will have lunch before heading back to Huntington. There is no cost for this event, however, each person will be responsible for their own lunch.
Please call Patti Aliperti at 631-385-1410, or email silverymoon33@yahoo.com to reserve your spot.
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The next meeting of St. John's ECW will be on Sunday, October 1st immediately following the 10 am service in the Guild Room.
The fair is rapidly approaching. We need everyone's help! Please continue to contribute items for the silent auction, baskets, thrift shop, and crafts to sell. Stop by the ECW table in the Great Hall after each service to sign-up to help with various fair activities.
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Saturday, October 7th at 5:00 pm in the Garden of Blessings
We invite you and your leashed or small caged animal companions (or bring a photo of your pet) for a special blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals. Join us in the Garden of Blessings. All are welcome!
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Our annual Harvest Fair will take place on Saturday, October 21st 10am to 4pm.
Ways you can HELP US TO HELP OTHERS:
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Purchase Raffle Tickets - Raffle tickets went out in the mail last week. More books are available in the Parish Office.
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Invite your friends and family to shop, dine and visit our beautiful, historic church.
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Make a craft – woodworking items, Christmas decorations, homemade soap, sachets or potpourri are just suggestions. Use your creativity!
We need your SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS!
ITEM SUGGESTIONS:
- Use of your vacation home or timeshare
- Golf at a private country club
- Bottles of good to excellent quality wines
- Bottles of premium champagne
- Dried flower arrangements
- NEW electronic items ie: laptops, ipads
- New framed prints
- Personal items such as new designer bags
- Jewelry
DAY DESTINATION SUGGESTIONS:
- Wine tasting
- A day at a private beach club
- Breweries
- Tickets to shows at local venues, ie: Paramount, Engeman Theater, Tiles Center
- Day spa certificates
- Gym\Message certificates
- Restaurant certificates to your favorite places
- Hotel stays for 1 or 2 nights, ie: Marriott, Oheka Castle or other resorts
- Tickets to sporting events: Jets, Yankees, Mets, Giants, Islanders
To volunteer or learn more, contact Carol Goldbaum, ECW President.
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The Ecclesiastes study will begin October 16th. We will be using Jacques Ellul's Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes as a background guide. Purchase is not required but recommended and supplements from it will be provided. Participants are asked to have read over Ecclesiastes beforehand and personal notes and meditations on it are highly encouraged. We will have a few copies of the book for purchase in the Parish Office for $25.
Beginning October 16th & 17th, Bible Study will meet regularly on Mondays at 6:30 pm on Zoom 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 morning.
Please reach out to Zach with any questions, (631) 427-1752, ext. 104.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH | |
Sunday School meets in Canterbury Corner at 9:40 am. The children will then separate by age group into their respective classrooms until it is time to join the congregation at the Peace.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Holy Communion will take place in April. Classes begin in January. Anyone with a 2nd grader or above interested in First Holy Communion for their child should enroll in Sunday School in the fall.
Confirmation will take place in the late spring. Any youth, 7th through 12th grade, interested in Confirmation should enroll in Christian Education and begin attending Youth Group meetings in the fall.
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Anyone ready to serve can be an acolyte. We recommend that an acolyte have received First Holy Communion, but anyone intrested is welcome to shadow the older acolytes on any Sunday.
Please contact Fr. Duncan, Deacon Zach or Deacon Claire if you are interested in providing this wonderful service.
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Youth Group for 7th to 12th graders. In addition to our annually scheduled events, we will meet regularly with our youth neighbors at St. John’s in Cold Spring Harbor and Trinity in Northport. There will be service opportunities throughout the year.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 27th at 6:30 pm at St. John's Huntington.
YOUTH GROUP CALENDAR
If you have any questions about Youth Group, please contact our Curate, Rev. Zach Baker at zbaker@stjohnshuntington.org.
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"Sing to him, sing praises to him,
and speak of all his marvelous works."
(Psalm 105:2)
Lift your voice and sing with St. John's Choir! We are looking for singers of all vocal types and levels who want to enhance our worship experience through music. We meet on Sundays in the choir room at 9:15 am to robe and warm up for the 10 am service. Rehearsals are usually on Sunday afternoons and two Thursday evening each month. There are also opportunities to sing at our Healing and Evensong services.
If you are interested please reach out to our Music Director, Alex Pryrodny, or feel free to join us on Sunday morning at 9:15 am in the choir room.
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HEALING SERVICE IN OCTOBER | |
Please join us for a safe and loving offering of prayer and healing on Thursday, October 12th at 7:00 pm.
We believe that not only does Jesus still heal today, but that healing is one of the most powerful ministries of evangelization. Jesus never preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God without demonstrating the kingdom through signs, wonders, and miracles, with healing as the most frequent demonstration of God’s love.
Healing services at St. John’s will include a time of worship and praise, proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, corporate prayer for healing ending with individual prayer teams for healing. Come prepared for breakthrough!
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Please join us at St. John's for Evensong, an ancient traditional Anglican/Episcopal service of evening prayers, psalms, biblical readings and canticles, chanted in a choral setting. Please join us Thursday, October 26th at 7:00 pm in the church.
All are welcome! Join us to pray for our broken world in need of healing, through the gift of music!
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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.
Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86041146543
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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. | |
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The Thrift Shop is open regularly on Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturdays, 12 - 3 pm.
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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HOPE MINISTRY COLLECTIONS | |
HOPE Ministry at St. John’s Huntington
Hearts Offering Passionate Encouragement
Outreach for Our Community Friends in Need
Please join me (Deacon Claire) in collecting personal care and toiletry items for those in need in our community.
There is a box in the back of the church for your donations.
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REGULAR MINISTRY MEETINGS | |
Prayer Shawl Ministry - Monthly meetings are on the 1st Thursday of each month in the Guild Room. Please contact Noelle DeLorenzo for more information.
Racial Reconcilitation & Social Justice Minsitry - For more information contact Heather Kress.
Spirituality Group - Next meeting will be on Thursday, October 5th at 5pm in the Guild Room. Contact Patti Aliperti.
St. Hilda's Guild (Sewing & Crafting) - Weekly on Tuesdays, 12:30 - 3 pm in the Guild Room. Contact Sue Hartman.
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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."
ALTAR FLOWER ORDER FORM
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN'S | |
We pray for those going on the Iona, Scotland pilgrimage:
Annina
Cathy
Claire
Duncan
Evan
James
Jaime
Jane
Jo Ann
Johanna
Leslie
Liz
Liz
Lois
Mary Beth
Mary Beth
Michele
Noelle
Rob
Sean
Sue
We pray for: Amy, Kate, Cheryl, Caitlin, Patti, Gladys, Anthony, Christian, Richard, Jim, Irene, Sean, Richard, Barbara, Christine, Amy, Kim, Suzanne, Cole, Luke, Leslie, Edith
We join The Episcopal Church in prayer for the health of our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
Altar flowers are given this week in loving memory of Theresa Lawrence, beloved sister of the Rev. Zachary Baker.
Please send your prayers or updates to prayers@stjohns1745.org, call Coral in the Parish Office, 631-427-1752, option 1, or click on the link below and complete the online form:
PRAYER LIST FORM
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Thank you for volunteering to serve. | |
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
stjohns1745.org
STAY CONNECTED
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