This Week at St. John’s
Summer Worship Begins!
The first Sunday of July we move into the Parish Hall for worship. Why?
- The Parish Hall has air-conditioning. High humidity and heat make worship very difficult for many people so moving into a cooler, drier space for 2 months is a matter of welcome and inclusivity. You’re invited to bring a light sweater if you tend to be cold in air-conditioning.
- Summer is a time of travel. As is true of most worshipping communities, our attendance shifts into a slightly smaller number. The Parish Hall is the right size for our summer worship community.
- The choir does not gather. This means the entire congregation becomes the choir. Worshipping in the round, is better for congregational singing.
What does this look like? Essentially, the worship service is the same as you’re used to having in the Sanctuary. It’s just in a different space.
- We have plenty of white chairs for everyone who comes in the summer. We ask that you be mindful of those who may arrive a little late and leave the chairs closest to the door available for them. In other words, fill up the chairs near the organ and in the middle first, please.
- Our Family Space will be in the back of worship space in the Parish Hall. Please keep this space reserved for those with small children.
- We will still have Bible Study from 8:30-9:30. Please join this group as we launch into our study of the Gospel of Matthew. (NOTE: NO BIBLE STUDY THIS SUNDAY, JULY 2 – Rev. Michelle’s note below).
- Come a little early at 9:30 to help set up chairs. And then, immediately after worship, help to take them down so we can use the space for coffee hour.
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Bible Study Continues
Sundays at 8:30 am in person and Wednesdays at 12:00 noon via Zoom.
NOTE: No Bible Study on July 2. See Rev. Michelle’s note below.
To learn more, click here
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Vestry Notes
- The Vestry discussed the good work being done by our new Kitchen/Office Administrator, Brian Silver. Most of Brian’s time and effort is in managing the rental program and, even though we have been renting out the kitchen for over a year now, this is still a new program to St. John’s. We’re grateful for the expertise and energy that Brian brings to his work as we assess the best ways to continue this program.
- The Columbarium Board oversees the Memorial Garden and the Vestry heard a report from them about the replacement of the green wooden fence, which is deteriorating. The funds will come from the Columbarium Account.
- Continuing the discussion about Events Planning from May, the Vestry is moving forward with plans to support the following this calendar year: Neighborhood Block Party on Sept 17, St. John’s Harvest (through the fall), Game Night and Parents Night Out (both in the fall). There are plans being made to support the following next year: concert series, plant/seedling sale, Junk-in-the-Trunk.
- With the shift in Rev. Michelle’s hours/responsibilities, the Vestry and Rev. Michelle will undergo a Mutual Ministry Review. This review is designed to look at how lay and clergy leadership work together to support the life of the congregation. This will be led by the Rev. Allison Moore on Nov. 4.
- Kathy Burdick offered to chair this year’s Stewardship Campaign and will be seeking the assistance of those who have been actively involved in it in the past.
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Quarantining, but OK
Dear Ones,
I have tested positive for COVID but I’m OK. Here’s the story.
You may have heard my raspy voice last Sunday during worship as I was recovering from a bad cold. Of course, to be sure it was just a cold, I took 2 separate COVID tests last week that were both negative. So it was, in fact, just a bad cold and I was no longer contagious on Sunday when I led worship.
However, this past week I attended a conference (it was GREAT by the way and I’ll talk about it with you another day) and sat down next to someone for dinner on Sunday night. We had a really wonderful conversation. However, through the evening he started feeling feverish. The next morning, he tested positive for COVID.
Immediately, (because I’d had direct and sustained contact with him) I started masking, taking my meals by myself, and generally tried to sit apart. I also tested every day, even knowing that it would take a few days to incubate. Sure enough, Wednesday night I tested positive.
I came home and have been quarantining in our bedroom ever since, but I’ve had no symptoms. Just a few lingering coughs from my cold, which is normal for me. Still, CDC guidelines tell me that I have to remain quarantined for 5 days. This means, I will not be with you on Sunday, I’m sorry to say.
Thankfully, the Rev. Joe Campo is available and will be with you on Sunday. Many of you may remember him from last fall when he supplied for us one Sunday. Please be generous with your welcome and gratitude for jumping in at the last minute!
In the meantime, Ana caught my cold before I left for the conference so if you see her out and about, she does not have COVID (she’s been testing too, to be sure) but she may be coughing. Plus, this smoke makes it very hard on her asthma.
All this to say that… all is well over here at the Rectory. Ana has a cold. I have tested positive for COVID and am quarantining. But we’re all OK.
Have a wonderful holiday this week and I will see you all next week for:
- Bible Study via Zoom on Wednesday July 5 from 12-1
- Centering Prayer via Zoom on Wednesday July 5 at 5:30
- Singing as a Spiritual Practice at Ascension/Holy Trinity on Saturday July 9 from 9-3
- Sunday Worship at 10:00am in the Parish Hall on July 9
In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle
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Announcements for July 2
The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon,
Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.comHave an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.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. Stay tunes: We will announce discussion dates soon!
Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle on Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We are studying the Gospel of Matthew and you can join the conversation any Sunday! Everyone is welcome to pick up a one-page overview of this Gospel on the bulletin board in the Vestibule. Email Rev. Michelle if you’d like to join the Wednesday Bible Study on Zoom.
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.
The Spiritual Practice of Singing: Join Holy Cross Brother Josep Martinez-Cubero for a daylong workshop on the fundamentals of singing – posture, breath, tone, and diction. All are welcome. No registration necessary. Saturday, July 8 from 9am-3pm at Ascension/Holy Trinity in West Park. $20 donation requested.
Save the Date! On July 29, the Episcopal parishes of the Mid-Hudson will gather for a special Eucharist to continue the celebration of our newly consecrated Bishop, Matt Heyd. Bp. Matt will preach that day and there will be other activities. Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.
St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
July 2: Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
July 8: Spiritual Practice of Singing, Ascension/Holy Trinity, 9-3
July 29: Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie
Last Sunday, we were blessed with our guest preacher, the Rev. Richard Witt, who is the Executive Director of Rural and Migrant Ministry. He stayed after worship to talk with us more about this vital organization and what help is currently needed regarding the current situation in our rural counties, in which the mayor of New York City is sending busloads of people to other counties. As Richard reminded us, it’s not unusual for us to be receiving immigrants from NYC. What is unusual is the manner in which this is happening. We need to reach out and assist in their settlement here. Rev. Michelle
June is an auspicious month to begin this feature of our Newsletter because St. John’s in Kingston was named after St. John the Baptist, whose life is celebrated every year on June 24. There is some lore in the verbal history of St. John’s that our parish was named after both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Divine, but the records indicate that it’s more likely John the Baptist because the founding date is listed as June 24, 1832. As such, John the Baptist is our patron saint.
John was what we call an ascetic, someone who is characterized by self-discipline and fasting from indulgence. He lived a life apart from worldly ways and called others to do the same because he preached against the worldly corruption of the current Jewish leadership (which got him killed) and prophesied the coming of the messiah. He is the ultimate “fire and brimstone” preacher, one who pronounces hope through reconciling with God and God’s holy ways.
