A FAREWELL FROM: SEAN BUTLER, WARDEN

Fr. Duncan has served St. John’s admirably for nearly 11 years as Rector. In his tenure as rector, he has significantly improved the financial position of St. John’s. With his faithful leadership along with a strong finance committee, we are more financially secure than ever before.

He has been a wonderful steward of the building, often making sure the sidewalks are cleared after a snowfall, conserving the energy of the building, and wiping down the floors in a flooded basement after a rainstorm.

Fr. Duncan epitomizes St. John’s Mission of "To Know Christ and to Make Him Known” through his passion for heading several of our ministries; most notably, the HIHi initiative welcoming and feeding the homeless at our church along with purchasing food vouchers to area food chains. He is a true advocate for marginalized and vulnerable people.

He has led several mission trips to Puerto Rico and other places, spreading love, compassion and the word of Christ by helping communities in both urban and rural areas. He has faithfully led the efforts of our community garden which feeds countless individuals who have food insecurity. He demonstrates compassion and love while providing visitations to our sick parishioners at their home or the hospital as he is often called to perform the last rites.

His steady and prayerful leadership during the pandemic helped guide us through a most difficult and unprecedented time in our lives.

On a personal note, he welcomed my husband Mike and I to St. John’s in October 2016 and has been an advocate against hate and prejudice toward the LGBTQ+ community. He has marched in the Long Island Pride Parade, most recently last weekend. I will miss our conversations about the Dodgers and Yankees.

However, it is now time for Fr. Duncan to enjoy the rewards of years of dedication and sacrifice. We hope that he and his wife Barbara may enjoy a most wonderful, fulfilling and long-lasting retirement with their family and friends with a nice tailwind at their back as they sail the calm seas.

-Sean Butler, Warden

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A FAREWELL FROM: RECTOR, REVEREND DUNCAN A. BURNS

When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-55)

In Luke’s gospel, the disciples are met with apathy by a group of Samaritans. They reject them because Jesus and the disciples are set on Jerusalem. Samaritans are a religious sect that follows the Pentateuch or first five books of the Bible but places the Holy Temple in Mt. Gerizim instead of Jerusalem. This difference caused prejudice and ill feelings. When the disciples James and John saw that the Samaritans were not accepting Christ, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

The bombing of Iran reminds me of another war that was started to destroy weapons of mass destruction. In 2003, when the United States felt threatened by Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction, I was serving as the press secretary’s chaplain. Most of the CIA and national security advisors found no compelling threat in Iraq. At that time three percent of Americans were opposed to invading Iraq. A million lives later and a trillion dollars and now most Americans think it might have been a mistake to reign down fire on the Iraqis. I oppose every war that is not for the preservation of American lives, and I am aware that many of you differ from my perspective. I can only tell you that Jesus offers another choice. Reinhold Niebuhr once said: "Basically love means . . .being responsible, responsible to our family, toward our civilization, and now by the pressures of history, toward the universe of humankind." The Gospel of Jesus allows us to see beyond our own times and through our own biases. Jesus said that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. We have affirmed as a nation that all people are created equal by God. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus breaks down the biases of Samaritans, Gentiles, Women, Lepers, the sick, and the poor. More importantly if we are careful listeners, the gospel can break down the biases of our own day. We cannot let ourselves think for a moment that we don’t have biases. By now, you all know that I am a pacifist and that I oppose entering another war.  So how can we follow this path of love to our neighbor when we have veered in the past?  

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to serve these past eleven years at St. John's. I’m filled with gratitude for the countless moments we’ve shared in this parish. Together, we’ve celebrated joys—baptisms, weddings, and countless services where we’ve encountered God’s grace. We’ve also walked through sorrows, leaning on each other and on God’s strength. You’ve welcomed me into your lives, shared your stories, and allowed me to serve as your priest. That trust has been the greatest privilege of my life. Your generosity, your time, prayers, and support—has sustained me through every challenge and triumph. Whether it was a kind word at coffee hour, a helping hand at a parish event, or your faithful presence in the pews, you’ve made this community a true home. As I step into retirement, I carry with me memories of your faces, your faith, and the ways you’ve shown Christ’s love. I ask for your continued prayers, as you will always have mine. Though my role is changing, my heart remains with you. I trust that God will continue to guide this parish, bringing new shepherds to lead you with wisdom and grace. May God bless each of you abundantly, and may we always remain united in His love. Thank you, again, for everything.

In Christ's love,

Fr. Duncan

One would think that a healing, whether physical or demonic, would be a great and amazing thing to bear witness to, a cause for celebration and joy. Yet, for the villagers who witnessed the healing of the demoniac in this weekend’s Gospel reading from Luke, they ask Jesus to go away. Once they figure out it was Him who healed, they want nothing to do with him. Indeed, “they were filled with great phobos”, that is fear. But why fear when the healing should be something good and joyful?

I wonder how often we might be struck with such fear or nervousness because of a change. We are often scared of change. Denying that it's actually happening or self-medicating ourselves to numb any feelings we might have with distractions. Fear can be such a strong emotion that leads to us becoming tense or despairing. But it can also be a good tool as fuel in order to get done or move through the reality that is confronting us. In many stories in the Gospel, it’s obvious that fear is what is driving any one of the particular characters. Peter is a prime example of this. Peter falls into the water because the fear of the moment overcomes his belief in Jesus Christ. He denies Jesus because he is afraid of the consequences. Yet, Peter becomes the first Christian preacher who on Pentecost declares the truth about God and Jesus Christ and our need for Him.

Fear, like any emotion, does not define who you are. When we are confronted with fear as an emotion that arises within us, we should take stock about what is truly happening. In our faith and spiritual life, change might lead us to feel fear but as believers in a God of peace and security, such fears should always be given back to Him, trusting that He will see us through. In the weeks and months ahead, I pray that you all at St. John’s will recognize fear as it comes and then turn to God, in prayer, in community, in Scripture, and remember how much God has done and see the faith, love, and courage you all have because of God to make Him more known in this community. God bless!

In Christ,

Fr. Zach

On Trinity Sunday, we are asked to follow the Holy Spirit in our diversity, to unity in the love of God as portrayed by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and sustained in the power of the Holy spirit. Creator, God bring us into a new life of peace, hope and love. Jesus, Redeemer, renew us through your Gospel. Holy Spirit, Sustainer, strengthen and guide us in unity through our diversity. Jesus tells the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:12-13).

Jesus will show that it is only through self-giving love that they will understand the peace of God and that all people are loved and forgiven. The Trinity is steeped in theology that is too much for most of us to bear, but the idea of unity in diversity is the key to understanding three in one. “The first person of the trinity is God the Father, creator, the unoriginated origin, source, Father of the only begotten Son, breathing out the Holy Spirit. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father, receives the divine nature, essence and substance from the Father, consubstantial with the Father, the Word, image and sacrament. Holy Spirit, proceeds, consubstantial with the Father and the Son, breathed out.”

In today’s lesson, we are promised the Holy Spirit to guide is into all truth. Jesus did not leave us as orphans but left us with the Gospel. God the Father leaves us with the Holy Spirit. In today’s reading from Proverbs we hear, “Does not wisdom call and does not understanding raise her voice…On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand.” Elizabeth A. Johnson said, “Another, even more explicit way of speaking of the mystery of God in female symbol is the biblical figure of Wisdom. This is the most developed personification of God’s presence and activity in Hebrew scriptures. The word for Wisdom is feminine and Hokmah in Hebrew, Sophia in Greek. Sophia has knowledge, insight, and strength that she wishes to impart; her words are truth. She loves those who love her and promises that those who seek her will find her.” Does this not sound like God? When we say God the Father we speak of the unknowable except through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Wisdom was created before the heavens and the earth and helps us to unravel the mystery of God in feminist theological discourse. The word Sophia is used to understand truth that has stood for all time. It is past, present, and future like the words of John. As you go forward from the crossroads, I use this example of looking at God from a new perspective. Perhaps Sophia will help us to move in new directions that will bring the love of God at St. Johns to new generations. Please preserve the best of what we do at St. John’s but be open to new ways of looking at God, the Trinity, and the church.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

50 days past Easter. 10 days after the Feast of the Ascension. We have come to Pentecost. The commemoration and celebration of the Holy Spirit being sent among the early disciples and apostles and first ignition of the work of the Church. It was the spark needed, as promised by Christ Himself, for the early followers of Jesus in order to proclaim the Good News of God’s salvation. And it is still the spark needed in our Christian life and faith.

Yet, for many, that spark doesn’t seem to be there. Maybe it was there and now it is not. Maybe we feel like we’ve never had the spark. Indeed, for many Christians the Holy Spirit seems like a mystery (which isn’t exactly wrong), when, in fact, it is the gift God has given us and is meant to be accessible to all who proclaim Christ crucified. The gift of the Holy Spirit isn’t one-dimensional either. It includes many more gifts within its interior life. The fruits of the Spirit, the peace of God, the conviction and forgiveness of sin, and more. Without the Holy Spirit to direct and guide the church and our lives, then we would be “back and forth by the waves”, as Paul describes our lives without God.

In our life, we must discern the Holy Spirit and where He is leading us. Yet, too, is our own self a place in which the Holy Spirit takes up residence, as shown in the Scripture above. The Holy Spirit is supposed to dwell within us. Our bodies are temples and our lives are the fruits of this residency. While the Scripture is not one of the readings this weekend, it is important to understand the role the Holy Spirit plays in our life.

This week, my prayer is that you at St. John’s continue well to discern where the Holy Spirit is both leading this church and your very self in whatever you are dealing with in life, in order that God’s glory and love can shine through us here and you wherever you are at. Amen.

In Christ,

Fr. Zach