This Week at St. John’s
The Feast of Pentecost
Pentecost is called the “birthday of the church” by some people because it is on the Day of Pentecost, as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles, that God’s Holy Spirit came to live inside of us, giving us the ability to prophesy and call upon the name of Christ for our salvation. We celebrate this with the fiery color of red because God’s Holy Spirit is often experienced as a flame that becomes lit inside of us, a passion that leads us more deeply into God’s mission in the world. But how do we know it’s God’s Holy Spirit that is leading us and not our own whims and desires? A good question for this auspicious celebration. We hope to see you there.
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Announcing: St. John’s Bible Study
Meeting Times
Beginning June 18, St. John’s will have 2 times available for Weekly Bible Study with Rev. Michelle. Our first study will be the Gospel of Matthew.
- Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 pm via Zoom.
- Sundays from 8:30-9:30 am in person.
How To Participate
1. Email Rev. Michelle. If you wish to register for either meeting time, email Rev. Michelle at michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com. Check your email each week for the assigned text and zoom link, if applicable.
2. Purchase your own Bible. You will need your own Bible. If possible, select one that is annotated and has the apocrypha. There are online and audio options available, if you prefer. Talk to Rev. Michelle if you would like to use one of the St. John’s Bible.
Any of these translations will work for our study:
- New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
- New International Version (NIV)
- Common English Bible (CEB)
The following resources are not required, but you may find them helpful for your study:
- The Inclusive Bible
- The Message by Eugene Peterson
- The First Nations Version of the New Testament
- Harper Collins Bible Dictionary
- Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament by John Walton
- Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament by H. Wayne House
3. Prepare by reading the assigned scripture. Each week, Rev. Michelle will assign scripture reading. Read through the passage 1-2 times before coming whenever possible but if you cannot, please don’t let that prevent you from attending.
4. Come to every gathering. Of course, you will miss from time to time. But consider how much it means to you when others show up to class. Your presence is just as important as everyone else’s. We all learn as a community. You can attend either gathering each week – Wednesday OR Sunday.
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Upcoming Events and Programs
St. John’s joins our neighbors at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley and other members of the Kingston Interfaith Council in marking national Gun Violence Awareness Day. Park at St. John’s and join the gathering at CEHV for a vigil. Afterwards, we will return to St. John’s to create an installation on our front lawn. If you’d like to help with materials, contact Deacon Sue Bonsteel. #wearorange
First Sunday is always All Ages Worship and this month we will be telling the Creation Story from Genesis so be ready to participate!
Our beloved Game Night returns! Bring your favorite game and your favorite “Friday-night-food.” And bring a friend! Contact Sara Hutton if you have questions or would like to help: shutton324@gmail.com
Richard is the Executive Director of Rural and Migrant Ministries, traveling all across the state to advocate for and support migrant farmworkers and their families. After worship, stay for a special forum to learn more about the work of RMM. All monies given in the plate that day (that are not identified as pledges) will be given to RMM.
The Episcopal congregations in Ulster County all meet regularly for learning, support and to plan events. If you’re interested in joining the St. John’s contingent, talk with Rev. Michelle.
It’s a busy Sunday at St. John’s, including a special Father’s Day prayer. Be sure to join us!
Join us for weekly Bible Study – Wednesdays at 12 noon via Zoom or Sundays at 8:30 am in person.
Join Rev. Michelle for a special learning opportunity. Our regular Sunday worship will be an “instructed Eucharist.” So, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the symbols and actions in our Eucharist, this is your chance. Then, after worship, she will offer a forum on the differences between Eucharist and Morning Prayer. This will be an opportunity for us all to begin learning and re-learning this form of prayer as we incorporate it into our regular worship pattern at St. John’s.
Every summer, we take advantage of the air-conditioning and move our worship to the Parish Hall. We will gather for worship this way until September 10.
Our newest bishop, the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd, will join this special gathering of the Mid-Hudson congregations for Eucharistic worship, potluck reception, and a conversation with the bishops. More information coming.
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Dear Ones,
If you’ve never walked through our beautiful Memorial Garden, you really need to do so soon. Late May through June is the perfect time of year to experience the garden in all its glory. It’s not only St. John’s members who benefit from this outdoor sanctuary, I see people sitting in this peaceful space all the time. It’s a lovely ministry for our neighborhood.
Of course, the caretaking of any garden doesn’t happen by itself. I remember when I got here over 7years ago, the front end of the garden was just as beautiful as it is now – lush greenery surrounding the St. Francis fountain, inviting all to take a seat and relax. But the back end of the garden was another story. Weeds had taken over the pergola area and the paint was chipped in several places. It’s was very uninviting.
Today, the welcoming beauty of the entire Memorial Garden is sustained by the efforts of many people.
The Columbarium Board (Lynn Dennison, George Mine, and Sarah Corrigan) oversee the entire space and ensures that the maintenance of all the greenery occurs – trees, bushes, and lawn. In addition, of course, they oversee the Columbarium itself, where many members of St. John’s have found their final resting place. Right now, the Board is looking to replace the front gate of the Memorial Garden, which has aged due to time and weather. If you’d like to make a contribution, to this effort, please speak directly with either Lynn or George.
And, as many of us know, the pergola area of the Memorial Garden has been cared for by our own Director of Music, Terry Earles, for the past four years. Terry has experimented with various plantings and added some new features to deepen the peaceful beauty we can now all find there. He also raises money for his plantings so if you would like to contribute, please speak with him.
If you would like to join any of the gardeners in this ministry of care and beauty, please do speak with them. But I hope you will take the time to thank them. They all give so much for so many.
In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle
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Announcements for May 28
The Feast of Pentecost
St. John’s Office Hours
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon, Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com
Have an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com
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Gun Violence Awareness Day Event: On Friday, June 2 at 5:30. Join members of St. John’s and Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley for an event in support of the National Gun Violence Awareness Day, sponsored Everytown for Gun Safety, Sandy Hook Promise, and others.
St. John’s Game Night is back! Our beloved Game Night returns on Friday, June 9 at 6:00 pm. Bring your favorite game and your favorite “Friday-night-food.” And bring a friend! Contact Sara Hutton if you have questions or would like to help: shutton324@gmail.com
Summer Book Read: Join us for the St. John’s Summer Book Read. We will meet over Zoom so you don’t have to worry about missing a meeting due to travel! The book is No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan. It’s a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia but is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family. Discussion dates announced soon, in the meantime, go ahead and buy the book. Want to learn more? Talk to Lynn Dennison, Sue Bonsteel, or Rev. Michelle.
Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle. Beginning June 18, we will have two opportunities to join in a weekly Bible Study – Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We begin our study with the Gospel of Matthew.
Email Rev. Michelle if you’d like to join either group.
Grief Support Group: Hudson Valley Hospice comes to St. John’s for the summer to offer a Family Grief Support Group, Monday afternoons 2x a month, June 5 through Sept 25. Prior registration is required – call 845-240-7579 for more information and to register.
Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Here’s what we selected for June 1, These Precious Days by Anne Patchett. Our next meeting after that will be September 7 when we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. No meetings in July or August. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.
St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the Font.
As Episcopalians, scripture has a central place in our worship and is foundational to our Christian faith. As such, we are called to take the reading of scripture seriously, to open it up and explore its meaning. A Weekly Bible Study is an opportunity to interrogate scripture alongside others while developing relationships and community. What can we learn from scripture for our lives today?
We continue our two-part primer on reading scripture as a part of the Inquirer’s Class Series from 1:00-3:30 pm on May 7: How We Read Scripture in the Episcopal Church. We begin with the Hebrew Scriptures or as they are often called, the Old Testament. In the second session, we delve into the Greek Scriptures, or the New Testament. Why spend 2 sessions talking about scripture? To put it into perspective, we claim that Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation. And “perspective” is one of the important things to discuss as we take a look at scripture. So, what lens are we using? Where did all these writings come from? What are some helpful resources/guides? We will discuss these questions and more, and also spend time reading scripture together.
Matt was voted into office last December by representatives from every congregation in the Diocese of New York which contains the following counties: Staten Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Ulster. This represents approximately 180 congregations and thousands of Episcopalians who live along the Hudson River. The consecration will be a rather spectacular event and it will be held in the largest Gothic cathedral in the world – St. John the Divine in NYC.