St. John’s Episcopal Church
207 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401

The Good News of St. John’s

  1. November 25, 2022

    People’s Place Project Santa
    SOCK DRIVE!

     

    This Sunday and next Sunday are the final days to bring socks to support the People’s Place Project Santa Sock Drive. We need all the new socks you can bring for all ages… infant through ages 16. If you don’t want to do the shopping, give your money to Deacon Sue and she will be happy to purchase socks on your behalf. Let’s help keep our neighbors warm this winter!

     

    ________________________________________________

    Plenty of fun and meaningful activities are planned for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Come and join in the celebration.
    Sundays are in bold.
    Nov 27, Advent I: Guest Preacher and Deacon, The Rev. Dcn. Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith
    St. John’s Forum – Advent Meanings and Celebrations with Advent Wreath Making after worship

    Dec 3: Diocesan Bishop Electing Convention, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC
    Dec 4, Advent II: All Ages Worship, Pastoral Care Meeting after worship
    Dec 11, Advent III: St. John’s Harvest Sale after worship, Rock Academy Concert and Youth Project from 3:00-5:00 pm
    Dec 18, Advent IV: Godly Play offered for kids during worship and the Greening of the Sanctuary after worship
    Dec 20: Longest Night Service 7:00 pm A space for grief, sorrow, and woundedness. Join us in person or online for a service of quiet prayer, readings, music, and healing.
    Dec 24, Christmas Eve: Family Worship, 3:00 pm; Choral Festival Worship, 8:00 pm
    Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am
    Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service.
    Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!

    __________________________________________

    Current Income and Expenses

    It’s important to keep everyone as informed as possible about parish finances so that we all can have a better picture of what it takes to have a common life together. Below is the Income and Expense Report as of the end of October 2022. If you have questions, please reach out to our Treasurer, Wes Dangler or one of our Wardens, Lynn Dennison or Claudette Ford.

    _____________________________________________________________

    Moving Into Advent

    Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. As Christians, we celebrate this season as a “threshold time,” a time in between when the end has quite taken place and the beginning isn’t quite in sight yet. But we know that both are happening at the same time. And as humans, this makes sense to us. Although, I think we would like for endings and beginnings to be a little more definitive than they really are.

    The truth is that we are always becoming. God created us to live into God’s dream – an existence where the Reign of God is not only possible, but is already on the way, the already-but-not-yet. Hope fills our hearts as we learn to look East – to the sun rising into a new day dawning. And as we live into this this reality, we become changed, awakening to God’s abundant and wild Love that is ours to share.

    This liminal space of Advent is one of transformation, I have come to believe, when our hearts seem to be open to learning more about who we are becoming and what we are being called to bring to the manger as the Light of Christ draws us nearer to God. On Sundays, you will note several ways in which we will incorporate silence into our worship, offering us all a gift that we don’t often offer ourselves in our day-to-day lives. And I hope you will take time during this season away from the busyness of the world to reflect quietly.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    _____________________________________________________

    Announcements for Advent I
    November 27, 2022

    SUNDAY! We welcome the Rev. Dr. Meg Stapleton-Smith as our guest preacher and deacon.
    Advent Wreaths and Advent Spirituality Forum – Stay after worship next Sunday, November 27. There will be supplies to make your own Advent Wreath and Rev. Michelle will offer a forum on Advent Spiritual practices. There are things for all members of the family to do and learn about. If you have an Advent Candle Holder at home from previous years, bring it and redecorate with new supplies and candles.Sock Drive! Next week is the FINAL SUNDAY. Let’s help People’s Place with their Project Santa this year by buying all the socks! We need socks for ages infant through 16 years (adult)… all ages, all genders! Bring them to St. John’s before Dec 10!Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Upcoming books: Dec 1-‘Horse’, by Geraldine Brooks.

    NEXT WEEK: All Ages Worship! We’re celebrating St. Nicholas next week so be sure to bring shoes and boots to leave by the door (or be prepared to take them off when you come in!). After worship, Terry will lead us in a carol sing in the parish hall. Hot chocolate will be served!

    Have an announcement for the bulletin?
    Please send by Wednesday at noon to
    stjohnskingston@aol.com.

  2. November 18, 2022

    St. John’s Harvest Sale: THIS SUNDAY after worship

    This Sunday be prepared to buy your Christmas gifts AND raise funds for the St. John’s operating budget by purchasing incredible handmade goodness! We have the following items for sale this year that were all made in the St. John’s Kitchen:
    Strawberry-Lime Preserves, Blueberry Conserve, Garlic Honey, Applesauce, Autumn Harvest Soup, Rectory Garden Pickled Green Beans, Rectory Garden Bread-n-Butter Pickles, Spiced Tomato Soup, Peach Jam, Lemon-Pear Marmalade, and Cranberry Conserve.
    Plus: Ana’s Homemade Granola, Cathe’s Desktop Greeting Cards, and Jocelyn’s Studio-made Beeswax Wraps.

    We’ll take credit/debit cards, checks, cash, and paypal!
    Next sale date: December 11 after worship

    Thank you to this year’s St. John’s Harvest Team: Kathy Burdick, Jeannette Baggot, Barbara Johnston, Sara Hutton, Jocelyn Bergen, and Ana Hernandez!

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Plenty of fun and meaningful activities are planned for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Come and join in the celebration.
    Sundays are in bold.

    Nov 27, Advent I: Guest Preacher and Deacon, The Rev. Dcn. Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith
    St. John’s Forum – Advent Meanings and Celebrations with Advent Wreath Making after worship

    Dec 3: Diocesan Bishop Electing Convention, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC
    Dec 4, Advent II: All Ages Worship, Pastoral Care Meeting after worship
    Dec 11, Advent III: St. John’s Harvest Sale after worship, Rock Academy Concert and Youth Project from 3:00-5:00 pm
    Dec 18, Advent IV: Godly Play offered for kids during worship and the Greening of the Sanctuary after worship
    Dec 20: Longest Night Service 7:00 pm A space for grief, sorrow, and woundedness. Join us in person or online for a service of quiet prayer, readings, music, and healing.
    Dec 24, Christmas Eve: Family Worship, 3:00 pm; Choral Festival Worship, 8:00 pm
    Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am
    Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service.
    Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!
    _____________________________________________

    Transgender Awareness Week


    The week before November 20 is Transgender Awareness Week. This time is set aside because nearly 70% of people in the US believe they have never met a transgender person, which means our collective “experience” of transgender people is informed by more than 100 years of media mis-representation and mis-characterization of trans people. In order to raise our awareness and deepen our compassion for all God’s people, it’s important for us at St. John’s to take this time.

    Last year, in 2021, the Human Rights Campaign tracked a record number of violent fatal incidents against transgender and gender non-conforming people, and most of this violence is directed at trans people of color. Christianity has traditionally been either silent about or has been a part of this violence. Yet I believe that Jesus, if he were with us today, living in our context, would recognize this as injustice, as evil.

    As Christians, then, we cannot be silent. We must stand with our trans siblings in public ways and open up the space in our lives, so they know their place at God’s Table is theirs to claim. All are welcome at God’s Table. And “all” literally means “ALL.”

    Here are 2 ways to participate this weekend:

    A Name Greater: A live online workshop on Saturday, November 19 at 1:00 pm geared toward people who want to make their spaces more welcoming to our trans siblings. There is a cost to this so if you decide to attend, please let me know and I will reimburse you. Click here for information. A Name Greater: A Transgender and Christian Training

    Transgender Remembrance Vigil: It’s Transgender Awareness week, and especially important that we show our support and solidarity for our trans neighbors. Come to Christ the King Episcopal Church in Stone Ridge on Sunday, November 20 evening at 7:00 pm for a candlelight vigil as we mourn the precious lives lost to anti-trans violence. 3021 NY-213, Stone Ridge.

    I know it’s a busy week of Thanksgiving preparation. But I hope that our gratitude for all that God has given us can be channeled into standing with those who are marginalized in such violent ways.

    You can learn more about Transgender Awareness Week here.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________________________________

    Announcements for Reign of Christ Sunday
    November 20, 2022

    THIS SUNDAY: St. John’s Harvest: Feeding people is our jam! The cooking is done so join us for our fundraising sale dates. All proceeds go to the St. John’s operating fund. Sale dates: Nov 20 and Dec 11

    NEXT WEEK: Advent Wreaths and Advent Spirituality Forum – Stay after worship next Sunday, November 27. There will be supplies to make your own Advent Wreath and Rev. Michelle will offer a forum on Advent Spiritual practices. There are things for all members of the family to do and learn about. If you have a Advent Candle Holder at home from previous years, bring it and redecorate with new supplies and candles.

    NEXT WEEK: Guest preacher and deacon The Rev. Deacon Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith will be with us to preach and be our deacon for the day. Meg is a faculty member at Fordham University in the Bronx.

    Sock Drive! Let’s help People’s Place with their Project Santa this year by buying all the socks! We need socks for ages infant through 16 years (adult)… all ages, all genders! Bring them to St. John’s before Dec 10!

    Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Upcoming books: Dec 1-‘Horse’, by Geraldine Brooks.

    Have an announcement for the bulletin?
    Please send by Wednesday at noon to
    stjohnskingston@aol.com.

  3. November 5, 2022

    This Week: All Saints Sunday

    This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Sunday with All Ages Worship, designed with elements for younger worshippers. We’ll begin our worship by honoring those who have died and continue with a celebration of the lives of all the saints, honoring their company in a renewal of our Baptismal Vows.After worship, you’ll have the opportunity to decorate a candle in honor of your loved ones who have died to light in your home.

    And don’t forget: It’s time to turn your clock back on Sunday!

    ________________________________________________

    Upcoming Events this Month

    November 11-12: Diocesan Convention
    Rev. Michelle and our parish delegate, Paula Wisneski, will travel to Tarrytown on November 11-12 to meet with all the other congregational delegates from the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Every year the larger diocese meets to discuss, discern, learn, and then vote on important aspects of our common life together. Please offer your prayers for their work this year and stay tuned for future newsletters for more information about how to view these proceedings online.

     

    November 13: Commitment Sunday and Stephen Blauweiss Form
    Stay after worship for brunch and our next St. John’s Forum. Local author and producer Stephen Blauweiss will come and talk about his latest work – The Story of Historic Kingston. Learn more about our amazing community and buy one of his books for a Christmas gift!

    Commitment Sunday marks the official end of our Pledge Campaign so we will gather pledges and offer a special blessing. The Stewardship Committee will continue to accept pledge cards at any time.

    November 15: Q&A with the Bishop Candidates
    The Diocese of New York is electing a new bishop this year on December 3. Come and meet the candidates in person at a Q&A Session at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Newburgh at 7:00 pm. Pay attention to your email for more details from Rev. Michelle.

     

    November 20: St. John’s Harvest Sale and Godly Play

    We give thanks for the members of our St. John’s Harvest Team – Jeannette Baggot, Sara Hutton, Kathy Burdick, Barbara Johnston, and Ana Hernandez. They have cooked up some amazing things that will be available for sale after worship on Sunday, Nov. 20 in the parish hall. All proceeds go to the operating fund of St. John’s. And don’t forget! Godly Play will be offered during worship for our younger members.

    November 21-23: Angel Food East Thanksgiving Meal Prep and Delivery
    The clients of Angel Food East are homebound due to ongoing illness of some kind. We want to make sure they have a good Thanksgiving meal so during this week, turkey and all the fixins will be prepared, packed, and delivered for our clients. Come and help! Stay tuned to your email to learn more about days/times when more help is needed.

     

    November 27: Advent I Guest Preacher and Advent Spirituality

    On the First Sunday of Advent, we welcome guest preacher and Deacon Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith as we celebrate the beginning of our new church year on Advent I.
    St. John’s Forum – Then, stay after worship for a special St. John’s Forum where we will make Advent Wreaths and discuss Advent spiritual practices.

    __________________________________________________________

    Vote This Tuesday!


    This coming Tuesday it’s time to vote. While I will not advise you on who to vote for, I will say that our responsibilities as disciples of Jesus the Christ do, in fact, lead us to take part in our public responsibilities to one another. One of these, as citizens of the United States, is to participate in elections. I hope you will vote and I hope that your Baptismal Vows and the lessons given to us in the ministry of Jesus Christ will inform your choice.

    If you cannot make it on Tuesday, early voting is available this weekend at the Midtown Neighborhood Center at 467 Broadway in Kingston. If you’re not in Kingston, you can find other Ulster County locations by clicking here.

    If you’ve voted in New York before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote. If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail and didn’t provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show ID to vote. Acceptable forms include:

    • current and valid photo ID
    • copy of a current utility bill
    • bank statement
    • government check
    • paycheck
    • other government document that shows your name and address

    If you’re a first-time voter and unable to provide ID: You will be able to vote an affidavit ballot.

    Thank you for participating!

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Announcements for All Saints Sunday
    November 6, 2022

    THIS SUNDAY! Pastoral Care Meeting  Join the Pastoral Care Committee after worship to discuss pastoral care needs for the congregation.

    Angel Food East Thanksgiving Meal:
    Sign up in the Vestibule on the bulletin board to help our feeding ministry with this year’s Thanksgiving meal. We need all kinds of help – chopping, cooking, prepping, packing, delivery. Sign up for a shift or two and help people in need this Thanksgiving!

    Stewardship Campaign: October 23 – November 13
    Recommitment, Renewal, and Reconciliation. These are the words on our Stewardship banner at the back of the Sanctuary. For the past year, we have been using these themes to look at our lives in the Gospel. Now, this coming year, we will be Continuing the Journey of Recommitment, Renewal, and Reconciliation by revisiting our Mission Statement and the Stewardship of our Mission. During these 4 weeks, we will listen to people talk about the Mission of St. John’s and their reasons for pledging to support it. If you’re new to St. John’s or would like information about pledging, pick up a Stewardship flyer along with your bulletin.

    Page Turners Book Club At their recent meeting the book club decided to move their meetings to the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Upcoming books: Dec 1-‘Horse’, by Geraldine Brooks.

    St. John’s Forum – Nov 13: The Story of Historic Kingston, with Stephen Blauweiss. Join us after worship for a presentation by local author and producer Stephen Blauweiss whose passion for telling the story of Kingston led him to publish his most recent book, The Story of Historic Kingston. Stephen will be selling books at this event too!

    St. John’s Harvest: Feeding people is our jam! The cooking is done so join us for our fundraising sale dates. All proceeds go to the St. John’s operating fund. Sale dates: Nov 20 and Dec 11

    Social Hour Hosting: You are invited to sign up on the bulletin board in the Vestibule to be a social hour host! Talk with our Hospitality Coordinator, Barbara Johnston for more information.

    Ulster Housing Coalition: Do you care about housing in Ulster Country and are you willing to work to make a difference? The various housing organizations in Ulster County are coming together to look at the problem and determine how we can work together. All are welcome. This month’s meeting is Wednesday, November 16 from 8:30-10 at St. John’s.

    Ulster Deanery Youth Event – Join us for a Rock Academy Concert on December 11 from 3-6. We will be raising awareness about homelessness in Ulster County. All are invited! More to come.

    Have an announcement for the bulletin?
    Please send by Wednesday at noon to
    stjohnskingston@aol.com.