The Good News of St. John’s

Preparing for All Souls and All Saints’ Sunday

The celebration of All Saints’ Sunday every year as one of the major feasts in our calendar, is our opportunity to commemorate all of the Christian saints – both known and unknown – recognizing and upholding their presence as witnesses of the saving grace that is Christ Jesus. We renew our baptismal vows on this Sunday to remember our own life in Christ and the gifts that come from our life of faith, using this as a wonderful time to baptize new members into the community of Christ. Alongside this celebration is All Souls’ Day when we honor all “the faithful departed.” On the calendar, All Saints’ Day is November 1 and All Souls’ Day is November 2.

Our tradition at St. John’s is to honor All Souls at the beginning of our All Saints’ worship service every year. Rev. Michelle begins the worship service by asking us to rise in silence while she speaks the names of all those who have died and we wish to honor. It’s a solemn moment during the year that is deeply meaningful to all of us who wish to take time to bring to our minds those who have never left our hearts.

If you would like to honor someone who has died by having their name read aloud during the All Souls’ recitation, please make sure to either:
1) list them on the bulletin board in the Vestibule before Thursday, November 2
OR
2) email Rev. Michelle by Thursday, November 2 at michelle.sjohnskingston@gmail.com

Feeling Grief, Holding Hope

Dear Ones,

I spoke with a friend in Maine earlier today about the shootings that took place this week. After I finished speaking with them, I wrote a note to Rabbi Yael about the war between the Israelis and the Palestinians. There is so much. So, so much.

I wish I had God’s eyes in these moments, so that I could see further ahead and have the certainty that mass shootings will end, that the Israelis and Palestinians will find a way, that we will stop ignoring the the signs of climate change all around us… that we would cease in our violence against one another, against this planet, and against ourselves.

But I don’t have that certainty. Sometimes that drives me to avoidance, admittedly. A poor attempt to “think positively” or lose myself in work. We all have coping mechanisms when things get to be too much.

But on my better days, what I do have is the ability to feel and acknowledge my grief and anger and sadness – to give all of them their due in whatever way seems to work. And once I have, I invite God’s quiet presence in my mind so that the stories and the blame don’t consume me.

I always find that this is when Hope arises again. And this is so incredibly important. It might be the most important thing.

I’m reminded of a quote from writer and activist Arundhati Roy:
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

My beloved, Ana, has written a beautiful tune for this deeply profound sentiment. I invite you to listen here. It just might help in the face of all that’s happening.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

Announcements for October 29
The Twenty-Second Sunday After 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.comHave an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.

NEXT SUNDAY: Stewardship Campaign Begins! with a special coffee hour and a short campaign intro by this year’s Chair, Kathy Burdick.

Outreach Meeting after worship – Sunday, November 5: All are welcome to join the conversation about allocating resources towards Outreach efforts. All this and we’re celebrating the Feast of All Saints’ with All Ages Worship.

Honoring All Souls’: Our tradition at St. John’s is to honor All Souls at the beginning of our All Saints’ worship service every year (next week!). Rev. Michelle begins the worship service by speaking the names of all those who have died and we wish to honor. If you would like to honor someone who has died, please make sure to either: 1) list them on the provided sheet which is posted on the bulletin board in the Vestibule, or 2) email Rev. Michelle by Thursday, November 2 at michelle.sjohnskingston@gmail.com

Interfaith Gathering of Gratitude: Every year the Kingston Interfaith Council brings our congregations together in November so that we can share prayers, songs, food, and fellowship. Tuesday, Nov 14 at 7:00 pm at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley (3 doors down).

Page Turners Book Club meets the first Thursday of the month, at 2 pm, in the parish hall. New members are always welcome! Upcoming selections: Nov. 2: The Trackers, by Charles Frazier, Dec. 7: Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson. Speak to Lynn Dennison, Barbara Johnston, or Claudette Ford for more info.

New (or new-ish) to the Episcopal Church? If you or your child has not been baptized, we have 3 opportunities for baptism coming up. And, if you have been baptized before but would like to be formally received into the church from another tradition, Bishop Mary Glasspool will be here on December 10 to do just that. Please speak with Rev. Michelle about either baptisms or receptions as soon as possible!

Outreach Project: People’s Place Project Santa – This year People’s Place needs blankets for kids up to age 16 for their Project Santa. We’ll have a collection box next to the Baptismal Font near our ongoing People’s Place Food Pantry Donation Box. Please contribute!

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
Check back, more events/dates being added!
www.stjohnskingston.org/welcome/event-calendar

Nov 2        Page Turners Book Club, 2:00 in Parish Hall
Nov 4        Vestry Reflection Day
Nov 5        Feast of All Saints’: All Ages Worship, Stewardship Sunday, Outreach meeting after worship
Nov 11      247^th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Nov 12      Godly Play for kids during worship
Nov 19      Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
Nov 26      Sunday School Activity Day for kids during worship
Dec 3         All Ages Worship: Season of Advent begins
Dec 4         Advent Quiet Day, Christ the King in Stone Ridge, 10-4
Dec 7         Page Turners Book Club, 2:00 in Parish Hall
Dec 10       Visitation from Bishop Mary Glasspool, Godly Play for kids during worship
Dec 17       Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
Dec 20       Longest Night Service at 6:00 pm
Dec 24       Advent IV worship at 10:00 am
Christmas Eve Worship: Family Service 3:00 pm; Choral Eucharist 8:00 pm
Dec 31       Morning Prayer
Jan 28        St. John’s Annual Meeting
Feb 10       Installation of the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd as Bishop of New York, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Calls Church to Prayer

PLEASE NOTE: The hospital in Gaza that was bombed this past Tuesday is the Al Ahli Arab Hospital and is operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (not the Baptist Church as some news outlets have been reporting). This hospital takes no political stance but is now in desperate need of help. Please donate here: American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (through which one may give to support the Ahli Arab Hospital) and Episcopal Relief and Development. 

We have all been invited in the last few days to join with Archbishop Hosam Naoum and the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, as well as Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby, to pray fervently for all those who have been hurt, harmed, or killed in this conflict. My heart aches when I remember visiting al-Ahli hospital in 2018 during Holy Week to meet the medical teams and all the people of that remarkable ministry. They were passionately committed to anyone who had need.

I know personally how faithful Episcopalians are in praying. During my surgery and recovery, you have prayed for me and for my healing, and I am more grateful and thankful than words can say.

Right now, I ask you to pray fervently for the birthplace of the Abrahamic faiths and for all its people. Pray for those who have been hurt, harmed, or killed—regardless of who they are or who did it.

Pray also for the leaders and people of the entire region, that they will remember God’s mercy, and that they will find the way to a just peace where all may live in safety and security as God intends.

Pray this week for President Biden, that he may be an advocate for immediate humanitarian access for those who desperately need food, water, and medicine—and for comfort and consolation for those who have been displaced and those who are grieving loved ones.

Please join me in praying:

For Peace: Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever. Amen.

The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church

Re-balancing Administration and Leadership

Dear Ones,

Earlier this year, the Vestry of St. John’s voted to reduce the Rector position from full time to part time. This was a necessary step to ensure the financial stability of the congregation. As I said in the months leading up to that decision, I was grateful for that conversation and agreed with the decision. The finances of St. John’s have always pointed to the need to reduce the Rector’s salary.

Since that time, the Vestry and myself have been working to re-balance the workload of the Rector. To assist with this, the Vestry of St. John’s and I will participate in a day of reflection led by the Rev. Allison Moore where she will lead lead us in a Mutual Ministry Review. Because both lay leaders and clergy leaders have ministry when it comes to administering a congregation, our combined leadership, then, must be one of mutuality.

We know that this transition is one that will take time, prayer, and intentional effort by both the leadership and the community. Our ministry in the Episcopal Church isn’t as hierarchical as we would like to think it is. It’s not all on the person wearing the collar or the funny hat. Instead, it’s more of a Venn diagram – overlapping circles of responsibility and oversight.

What, then, are the most important things for the priest to be doing? What do the lay leaders need to be tending to? What are the responsibilities of leading a congregation and how do we manage those creatively so that no one is overtaxed and all are able to participate fully in the generous life of the community of St. John’s?

And, perhaps most importantly, how do we remember that being “church” is really not about the administration of the congregation – it’s about how we serve the community around us. As Archbishop William Temple once said, “The church is the only organization that exists for the sake of those who are not its members.” (paraphrased, of course). So, if we are only worried about how to “do” church, then what are we doing?

The Vestry and I will be gathering on Saturday, November 4 for our time with Rev. Allison. If you have questions, please reach out to any of the Vestry members or myself. And please offer your prayers for the leadership of St. John’s as we discern the best way forward for the administration of our congregational life.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

Announcements for October 22
The Twenty-first Sunday After Pentecost

Baptism and Reception Into the Episcopal Church

Dear Ones,

I’m back at work this week and diving right back in: meetings, catching up on emails, planning pastoral care visits, and of course getting ready for Sunday. My time away was good and revitalizing and, from the reports I received from Revs. Joe and Joann Campo, you all enjoyed your Sundays with them. But I’m glad to be back with you all as we move more deeply into our fall season.

Speaking of this, we have several important dates coming up on which we will offer Baptisms and Receptions into the Episcopal Church. These aren’t the only dates for these events but these are the ones we are getting ready for. These will be of particular interest for those of you who have been at St. John’s 2 years or less.

Baptism
November 5 (All Saints’ Day)
December 10 (Bishop Mary Glasspool visits)
January 7 (Celebration of the Baptism of our Lord)

Baptism is something with which many people are familiar even though it’s usually associated with baptizing babies. But infant baptism is no longer a widespread a practice. For example, I was baptized when I was 21. And as a priest, I have baptized adults, young children, babies, teens… I even baptized an elderly person in their final days.

So, if baptism is not a ritual for babies, what is it? Simply put, Baptism is a way for us to formally say “yes” to God’s love. We consider it to be a Sacrament in the Episcopal Church which means that it’s an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. In other words, we are making known with a formal declaration what we believe to be already present and alive in us. We do this in a public service with members of our faith community because it is amongst and through these people, who are all committed to God in the same way we are choosing to be, that we will come to know God more deeply. We say “yes” to God’s love in community and our community makes a promise to uphold this spiritual journey in us.

So, it might seem odd that we even think it’s a good idea to baptize a young child. But when we do baptize children, we are making a promise, as a community, to that child that we will uphold them on their spiritual journey. We do so at the request of the child’s parents. When someone is an adult, of course we make this promise to them at their request.

Receptions into the Episcopal Church
December 10 when Bishop Mary Glasspool visits

When we have been baptized in another Christian tradition, but we have chosen to make the Episcopal Church our spiritual home, it’s a good idea for us to consider a formal “Reception” into the Episcopal Church. There is a theological reason and a practical reason.

The practical reason isn’t really that interesting: Some positions of lay leadership require us to be a formal member of the Episcopal Church.

But the theological reason is profound: The choice we make to join a particular Church is an important commitment, both to ourselves and to the members of our faith community. We know that not all churches are the same. You are coming to St. John’s because you have found something here that is important to you. By extension then, the Episcopal Church, and our particular expression of Christianity as one that understands God as Love and earnestly works to embody that Love in the world – this is important to you. Your choice to worship here says something about what you value and how you envision God. By asking to be formally received into the Episcopal Church, you are claiming this for yourself, owning your conviction.

The Episcopal Church doesn’t consider “Reception” to be a sacrament, but we take it seriously because we know it’s an important decision. So seriously, that only a bishop can formally receive new members into the Episcopal Church, which is why we only do this when a bishop visits us.

Please do reach out to me sooner rather than later if you think you might be ready for Baptism or Reception into the Episcopal Church – even if you’re not 100% sure. Let see what God’s Holy Spirit is up to in you!

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

Announcements for October 15
The Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost