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 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 I will 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 past week the clergy of the Diocese of Long Island met for a clergy day. The bishop mentioned that many clergy were retiring and that several had taken ill this past week. This pandemic has taken its toll on all of us. We are weary of the threat of catching Covid and the divisions that have been amplified during the pandemic. I heard on the news that a whistleblower accused Facebook of profiting from creating division on its platform. At times like these, I love to refer to Thomas Merton’s famous quote. It reminds us that Christ is with us and it is all right to move ahead (even if our path is unclear). Bishop Provenzano reminded us to help our parishioners deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. This is essential for our spiritual and physical health.
As Jesus is setting out for a journey, a man kneels before him and asks, “What must I do to have eternal life?” The Greek word for eternal is aionion. The definition for eternal in this week’s Gospel message is life from God. Jesus Christ who was, is, and will come again helps us to understand what a life in God means. Eternal life comes through the grace of God and not through our own effort. We are asked to believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. We pray to God and follow the example of Jesus Christ the best we can. We come to church to hear the Word of God and to be in communion with Jesus through a continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. When we give of ourselves for the sake of others, we feel the peace that passes all understanding. This is a foretaste of the eternal life that we will experience in the next life.
At St. John’s our mission is to know Christ and to make him known. Our priorities are our children, hospitality, mission, outreach, stewardship, and pastoral care. Every year we have our entire congregation work together on the ECW Harvest Fair. We will raise a substantial amount of money that will be distributed by the ECW (women of the parish) to local charities. A donation will also be made for the continued ministry at St. John’s. I ask each of you to fully participate in this year’s Harvest Fair on October 23rd. I would especially encourage our newcomers to volunteer. There is a sense family at St. John’s that you will be a part of when you volunteer at the Harvest Fair. When we try and align ourselves with the purpose of God, we can experience this feeling of purpose and good will.
Our Harvest Fair gives each of us the opportunity to use everything we have to benefit the ministry of St. John’s and charities in our community. I believe that when we give a little of ourselves, our gifts, and our money to benefit those who are less fortunate than ourselves, we are following Jesus Christ. If we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we too will be inheritors of eternal life, both now and in the Kingdom to come.
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan
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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.
8:00 am - Rite I Holy Eucharist
10:00 am – Rite II Choral Eucharist
The Readings
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SAFE PRACTICES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES |
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;
- Service bulletins and reading inserts are available at the back of the church.
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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 Mondays at 6:30 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am on Zoom. Tuesday sessions will cover the material discussed on the Monday before.
The unit on the Dead Sea Scrolls will begin on October 11th and 12th. Copies of "The Dead Sea Scrolls TODAY" may be found in the office mailbox, in the back of the church, or will be mailed to you upon request.
We will be looking at "Chapter 1, "Discoveries" on October 11th and 12th.
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GARDEN CLEAN UP FOR THE HARVEST FAIR |
Many hands are needed to get our Garden of Blessings looking great for the Harvest Fair.
On Saturday, October 16th from 9 am to 12 noon, meet in the Garden of Blessings with your favorite pair of gloves and garden tool: hedge trimmer, weed trimmer, trowel, etc.
If you are unable to make the scheduled clean up day, we could still use your help, just reach out to Fr. Duncan (845-271-9134), and he will give you something you can do on your own time.
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SPIRITUALITY GROUP MEETING |
The Spirituality Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on October 14th at 4pm. Join us as we focus our minds and hearts on...
Prayer
If you are interested in exploring your spirituality and deepening your connection to others, consider joining us. Please contact Patti Aliperti ([email protected]) if you would like more information about St. John's Spirituality Group.
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St. John’s Racial Reconciliation & Social Justice Ministry presents "Anxious to Talk About It" with Rev. Dr. Carolyn B. Helsel on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 2:00 pm.
Carolyn B. Helsel, PhD, is a professor of preaching at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she has taught since 2015. Helsel grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and has moved across the country for education and work, and in every setting, she noticed that the white people in her communities (including herself) remained silent on racism. As she became more aware of racism, beginning in seminary in the early 2000's, she felt called to help white communities better understand racism and deepen their capacity to hear the painful stories of others, and join people of color to work against racism.
For more information on this and other RR&SJM initiatives, please contact RR&SJM chairperson, Heather Kress, at [email protected]. |
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HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATIONS |
October is Italian Heritage Month
There can be no doubt that Italians have integrated fully into the life and culture of America and that America has adopted some of their culture as its own.
Italians came here in two major waves of immigration. Northern Italians came first during the 17th century. Italians from the south, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, came in the second wave in the late 19th century. In the former, Italian craftsmen, renowned the world over, came and helped to build our American institutions. Thomas Jefferson had a particular affinity for Italian culture, recruiting Italian stonemasons to work on his home at Monticello and bringing musicians from Italy to form the core of the Marine Band. The second group were farmers and laborers seeking to escape the dire poverty and hardships in their own country, recently brought under one flag but by no means unified or in any condition to aid its people. At the same time, transatlantic travel was becoming more affordable and word of American prosperity from returning immigrants and U.S. recruiters lured them to America in search of steady jobs to earn money and send to their families back home. Many hoped to stay only for a short time.
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ST. FRANCIS OF THE VALLEY |
Mission Trip to Arizona: April 25- May 2, 2022
We LOVE to do OUTREACH as we share Christ’s love with all our neighbors!
To learn more about this trip, as well as all of the outreach we are doing, please join us in one of the following zoom meetings:
If you are interested in participating in the mission trip, please contact Claire Mis or Fr. Duncan by January 15, 2022. (Hyperlink for email info)
The monthly meetings with St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church help us get to know each other better and offer opportunities to get updates on the Christian outreach that is going on at our border, as well as within the wider area.
We are excited to have support from the Diocese of Arizona as we move forward. The Rev. David Chavez, the Missioner for Border Ministries. Fr. David will be leading us in an exciting and informative Lenten program here at St. John’s. Also attending that program will be the people from St. Francis in the Valley!
Arizona is rich with opportunities to serve underrepresented groups and we hope to be able to meet with The Rev. Canon Debbie Royals, their Canon for Native American Ministries.
Are you excited yet???? St. Francis lives out its mission to be the hearts and hands of Jesus.
Check out these sites to learn more!!!
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NO SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS WEEK |
Sunday School will not meet this Sunday, October 10th. We will see the children again on Sunday, September 17th at 9:45am in the Guild Room or on Zoom. Make sure you register your child to receive the weekly "Little Chalice" email blast with the Zoom meeting code. |
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Our annual Harvest Fair will take place on Saturday, October 23rd, 10am to 4pm.
Other ways you can HELP US TO HELP OTHERS:
- 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.
- Donate items for the White Elephant or Christmas Sale.
- 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.
- 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 and visit our beautiful, historic church.
LAWN SIGNS are available for pick up in the Parish Office or on Sundays before and after services.
THE KITCHEN will be available by appointment for those wanting to cook or bake for the Harvest Fair. Please contact the Parish Office schedule a time.
RAFFLE TICKETS are available in the Parish Office if you need extras for yourself or to share with others.
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TAYLOR ACKLEY & THE DEEP ROOTS ENSEMBLE |
Saturday, October 23rd at 1pm in the church. The Deep Roots Ensemble is a chamber music group which focuses on studying and performing Traditional American Music as well as contemporary works which draw upon American roots music. They will perform old time folk, country and bluegrass favorites and original music from their new album "Hard Tellin’.” The concert includes a Q&A session and be sure to stop by our Harvest Fair outside! Free. |
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St. John's ECW is continuing it's holiday tradition of supporting St. John's Episcopal Hospital's Adopt-A-Family! This year, we are collection monetary donations only. All funds collected will go to St. John's Hospital Adopt-A-Family program to purchase gifts for families in need.
Please send your donations to the Parish Office in the form of a check written out to "St. John's ECW" with "Adopt-A-Family" written in the memo. You may also give cash in an envelope marked with "Adopt-A-Family." We are collecting until November 15th.
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QUARTERLY PLEDGE STATEMENTS |
Quarterly Pledge Statements were sent via email this week. Please check your inbox or spam to make sure you received yours. Those without an email on file will receive a printed statement in the mail.
If you have any questions about your giving statements or need help accessing your statement online, please contact Coral in the Parish Office, (631) 427-1752, ext. 101 or [email protected]. |
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Your stewardship is a commitment to sustaining St. John’s ministry today and going forward. Thank you for supporting our work with your regular contribution.
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 payment platform Realm. Please click on the link below to make a payment:
Or send a check made payable to "St. John's Episcopal Church" to 12 Prospect Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
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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 all our doctors, nurses, and medical staff who put themselves at risk to care for us during this corona virus epidemic.
For all our men and women in the armed services and all first responders. May God keep them safe and return them home to their loved ones.
Especially those on our prayer list.
We pray for the sick: Tom, David & Irene, Linda, Danica, Lori, Leslie, Hope, Mike, Michael, Elizabeth, Patti, Bob, Christian, Gladys, Lynn, Fred, Jim & Irene, Debra, Alex, Michelle, Pauline, Richard, Barbara, Cory, Allassadra, Ellen, Frank, Theresa, Spencer, Sue, Wylie, Matt, Cheryl, Tom, Stephanie, Lisa, Gary, Maggie, Tyler, Ursula, Christine, Samantha, Edward, Tali, Bill, Kate, Amy, Jean, Pat, Joanie, Sueann, Dermot, Jill. Jenna, Walter, Evelyn, John, Liam, Charlie, John, Matthew, Gail, Frank, Gabriel, Karen, Deacon Jennifer, Lucy, Richie, Kenny, Aliison, Kyle
Recently departed: John Gilbert
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St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect Street
Huntington, New York 11743
(631) 427-1752
STAY CONNECTED
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