>>>CLICK HERE FOR FULL EMAIL VERSION

Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:22-24).

Last Sunday Fr. Zach spoke about the hope of putting God first in our lives. It is only through a relationship with Jesus Christ that we can become the folks that God calls us to be. We are not heading towards the outcome of a political race, but to the Kingdom of God. In today’s lesson we are asked to encourage one another to pray together, to love each other, and to help those in need. These are three goals that bring us to a place of purpose and meaning in our life. In my experience, bickering with one another brings only heartache. Imagining worst outcomes is not healthy. Put your trust in the Lord! Micah asks, “O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”

Being a Christian is rooted in our relationship with Christ. My biggest goal for next year is that you will strengthen your relationship with Christ. The bishop has requested that every member of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island pray for one hour per day. Maybe you could start with a small prayer for your loved ones. A group of us meets for Morning Prayer at 9 AM every weekday on zoom. We pray for the sick and our loved ones by name. Pray at meals in thanksgiving for all you have received. End your day with a prayer to keep your loved ones safe. My great grandmother taught her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to talk to Jesus in our prayers like Jesus is your closest friend. When troubles and fear come in your life, you will have an advocate to lean your head on.

Please join us in offering our hospitality and community to our guests. In the Episcopal Church, we say that all are welcome. Please reach out to new members and invite them to participate in your small group ministry. On December 3^rd and 10^th we will offer the Alpha Program. We request that you invite someone to deepen their faith through this program. You can also invite non-Christians to learn about our faith.

The bond that we form in groups like EFM, the ECW, the Thrift Shop, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, HIHI, and St. Hilda’s Guild create an atmosphere of faith and love. We grow together in the love of Christ by sharing our love with one another. Join us for HIHI every other week from 3 PM to 5PM starting Friday December 13^th. We will make 30 meals for the homeless and bring them to the Roadway Inn, where they are housed for the winter. Please sign up for a child to support in the Adopt-a-Family program during our coffee hour.

Thank you to all members of our congregation who have already pledged. Your generosity allows us to continue the faith and love that have been shared for the past 280 years. Finally, I ask you to attend this Sunday’s concert, Mass in Blue. Bring family or friends with you to enjoy a spectacular jazz concert featuring the Sound Vocal Jazz Choir and the Alex Pryrodny Quartet.

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan

>>>CLICK HERE FOR FULL EMAIL VERSION

It’s been reported that we are entering into drought conditions across the New York metro area. I’ve been missing a damp fall, but it’s been nice not to have to worry about too much water for now. I know that it’s not going to last and eventually we’ll get some rain.

This weekend’s Old Testament reading takes place in the middle of a drought. Chapter 17 introduces the Prophet Elijah into the Biblical story. Preceding this were the stories of Kings David and Solomon, among other kings. Now we start to hear more about prophets rather than history. “The word of the Lord” came to Elijah and warned him of a drought.

What comes next is this week’s reading. A curious story of a widow and her cake meal. She is about to use up the last of her meal for her and her son and then, frightfully, starve due to famine. Recently, I’ve been watching an older HBO show from the 2000s, Carnivale. Set during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, it tells of a travelling carnival show and a young man who is a healer of sorts. It casts a deep, visionary imagery of religious sentiment during that time, one that is sticking with me. Because at the same time, through the other main character, a zealous minister, truly a charismatic Calvinist if I’ve ever seen one, we see the total depravity of man. At times in our lives we are spiritually inept. Blocked. Angsty. Think about times in your life where you feel spiritually dry. Physically you felt fine, in fact maybe life in the eyes of others was seemingly going well for you. But you knew you lacked something.

Who is there to feed us during our spiritual droughts, I wonder? Jesus Christ to be sure. But how does that sound sometimes? Like he’s a sort of technique? The word of the Lord is an ever-living and ever-refreshing source of life. How are we making sure to feed and drink on He who gives us life?

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Zachary

>>>CLICK HERE OF FULL EMAIL VERSION

Have you ever felt the weight of a love so profoundly and so encompassing that it simply makes your heart ache with its sheer beauty? That is the love Christ offers us – a love that sees beyond our flaws, embraces our brokenness and fills us to overflowing. This is a love that surpasses our ability to even find the right words – no words are adequate. It is the love that is always with us, even as we remember with sadness those who no longer walk this earth by our sides.

Our stewardship theme this year is Walk In Love – We walk together in the strength of God’s love for us individually and as a community. We are collectively bound– strong, perhaps like a chain link fence, or even like one of the knit prayer shawls that comfort us in times of loss or illness. When we walk together, we have a tangible experience of God’s love. We feel safe and protected. God’s got us!

This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints Day – a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known and unknown. When we pray the Apostles’ Creed, we say, “I believe in…the communion of saints.” The communion of saints is made up of men and women who have placed their hope in Jesus Christ and through Baptism, are his adopted children and united in Christ’s love. This is a day where we remember our departed brothers and sisters whom we believe are already with God. For some of us, it can be a day of sadness as we reminisce about those who no longer have a physical presence in our lives.

Yes, we are a communion of saints here at St. John’s – a community of faithful followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are knit together in Christ’s love and are stronger because of that love. Knowing that Christ loves us and never abandons us strengthens our trust. It frees us to be generous in our giving – because our God will never abandon us. We will always have enough – we will never be without because our Lord loves us and God will always make a way. In the words of Don Moen:

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Our Stewardship campaign is coming to an end this Sunday. Please search your heart – how much could ever be enough when we have been loved and cared for by Christ? Trust that our Lord, who loves you beyond your imagination, will always make a way.

Thank you for returning your stewardship promise of support for St. John’s!!

In God’s abundance and love,
Deacon Claire