The spiritual journey is a process of liberation from programs for happiness that cannot possibly work: ones rooted in the gratification of instinctual needs for security, approval, power, and control. The journey is not just a method of mediation or a practice to find personal peace. Rather, it is a total surrender to the human condition, in all its ramifications, including its desperate woundedness. It is a transformative process into the light, life, and love of God. Then we no longer manifest the false self but the image of God within us and the likeness to God which is the assimilation of the mind and heart of Christ into our everyday life (Heartfulness, The Human Condition, Overview).

Lent is the time when we realize that the distractions of the world have kept us from God’s purpose in our lives. This pandemic has given us free time at home, but many of us are consumed with social media, online shows, the weather and all the political nonsense that the networks try to get us addicted to. If we want to be an authentic expression of Christ’s light, we need to pray, study, listen, and make God the center of our world again. Please journey with St. John’s and observe a Holy Lent this year. Take a few quiet moments to re-examine the gifts that God has given you and align yourself again to God’s purpose.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Please use this Lenten season to go into a deeper relationship with Christ. Join us for Morning Prayer at 9:00 AM. Join us on Tuesdays via Zoom for Stations of the Cross at 6:00PM, Evening Prayer at 6:30, and our Adult Christian education program from 7:00-8:00. We will look at racial reconciliation through children’s books this year. Next Sunday, February 21^st at 4:00 PM we will offer a Gospel Concert with our sister parish St. Augustine’s in Brooklyn. On Saturday February 28^th, Fr. John will lead our quiet day via Zoom from 9:30-11:30 AM. This year’s topic is “Eternity & the Public Library.” Monday nights at 6:30PM and Tuesday Mornings at 11:00 AM we will be offering Bible Study. Thursday nights we do compline at 8:15 PM.

Our Mission at St. John’s is to Know Christ and to Make Christ Known. Lent is the perfect opportunity to do this at St. John’s. You are God’s Beloved and God blessed you with gifts that you might a blessing to others. Despite this nightmare that many are facing during this pandemic, we can be a light to others. But first, we must take care of ourselves and one another. We offer extensive opportunities to step out of this confused culture we live in and into the loving arms of our Lord. May all that we do be to the glory of God!

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-22).

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EMAIL VERSION