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

The Good News of St. John’s

  1. September 9, 2023

    Coming Up at St. John’s

    THIS SUNDAY! All Ages Worship and Backpack Blessing

    This Sunday is All Ages Worship as we return to the sanctuary. Terry has some fabulous music lined up but most importantly: Don’t forget to bring your backpacks! Rev. Michelle will bless them and we will all pray for everyone starting a new year of school. Be sure to come and celebrate our community and the beginning of the programming year.

    Next week! St. John’s Neighborhood Block Party

    Invite your friends and come meet the people in our neighborhood! And be sure to sign-up for a volunteer slot that day because everyone’s help is needed as we welcome our neighborhood to St. John’s. Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the vestibule.

     

     

    St. John’s Bible Study Continues

    We’re studying the Gospel of Matthew and, this week, we’re finishing up the Sermon on the Mount – chapters 5, 6, and 7. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom. If you’d like to join Wednesday’s session, email Rev. Michelle so she can send you the Zoom link. To learn more, click here

     

    _________________________________________

    From Bishop Co-Adjutor Matt Heyd

    On Tuesday, September 5 the Diocese of New York began weekday online morning prayer at 8 am via Zoom.

    The 30 minute service offers an opportunity for us to join together daily in shared prayer— the foundation of our Anglican tradition and our lives as Christians. We’ll use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer Rite II Morning Prayer liturgy.

    The service includes different leaders as officiants and features diverse voices to offer brief daily reflections. This liturgy offers an additional possibility for connection across the 10 counties and nearly 200 congregations of the Diocese of New York. The Holy Spirit moves at ground level— and connects us to each other.

    You can find the Zoom link for Tuesday here.
    You’ll be invited to register when you join.

    Everyone’s invited! My hope is that Morning Prayer will widely engage voices from across our diocese and will be intercultural in its expression.  

    I’ll support the service along with postulants and candidates preparing for ordination in our Diocese. Thanks to Canon Victor Conrado for helping imagine this new service and to Alito Orsini for coordinating.

    Grace and Peace,
    Bishop Matt

    Matthew Heyd
    Bishop Coadjutor

     

    ___________________________________

    The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC


    Dear Ones,

    Let’s talk about cathedrals… stay with me here.

    The Episcopal Church has a structure that is similar, in some ways, to the Roman Catholic Church – we have bishops (but no archbishops and no pope), we have dioceses, and we have cathedrals. Each congregation is a part of a larger collection of congregations (diocese) and each diocese has a bishop who oversees and supports the mission of that diocese. The cathedral is named as such because the word “cathedra” is Latin for “seat.” The cathedral, then, is the seat of the bishop.

    Our diocese is the Episcopal Diocese of New York which covers Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess, and Putnam counties. Our current bishop is Andy Dietsche who will retire in January and our new bishop is Matt Heyd who will be installed in February at our cathedral.

    So, now we get to talk about our cathedral. On Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world – St. John the Divine, the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. They are a part of our common life as a diocese – a kind of center, if you will. They have a congregation that worships together, just like we do, but they are also our cathedral. They, like the bishop and the bishop’s staff, are here to support our lives as congregations. It’s a stunning place to visit.

    One of the ways they are reaching out to all of us is to collect prayers from us. These prayers will then become an art installation called Divine Pathways. Artist Anne Patterson will install 1,000 ribbons in the nave (sanctuary) of the cathedral for 9 months and on these ribbons will be written all the prayers.

    As the wind blows through these ribbons, it will be a symbol of all our collected prayers being lifted up to God.

    Jocelyn Bergen has volunteered to collect thoughts/words for the prayer from St. John’s Kingston. You don’t have to craft a beautiful prayer – it can just be a word or two or three, something for our common life as St. John’s Kingston. What do we desire? What do we need? For what would we like to offer our thanks? How does God’s glory manifest in our common life?

    From now until Sept 17, please email Jocelyn directly at jocelyn@zephyr-interactive.com with your thoughts/words of prayer for St. John’s. She will collect them and make sure that our collective prayer gets to the cathedral. So, on one of those 1,000 ribbons will be our words, our prayer, our collective heart.

    As a congregation, we will plan a trip to St. John the Divine in the spring, not only to view the installation, but also to experience the beauty and awe of our collective spiritual home as a diocesan family. I look forward to reading our collective prayer and finding ways to include it in our worship life here too.

    I hope you will spend some time considering what our congregational prayer might be and reach out to Jocelyn with your words. Also, please thank her for helping us to participate as a congregation.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    _____________________________________

     

    Announcements for September 10
    The Fifteenth 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.com

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

    Neighborhood Block Party! Sunday, Sept. 17 from 12:00-4:00 pm.  It’s ALL HANDS ON DECK! Clear your schedule and be sure to sign up on the bulletin board in the vestibule for set-up and take-down duties that Sunday. And take some flyers and postcards to help get the word out!

    Change to Centering Prayer Meeting Time: Centering Prayer will now meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm on Zoom. If you’d like to learn more about Centering Prayer, please visit this page on our website.

    Social Hour Sign-up! If you enjoy staying after worship for snacks and socializing, please sign up to host for a week. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Talk to Barbara Johnston if you have any questions.

    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.

    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 Page Turners Book Club will meet on September 14, at 2 p.m., in the parish hall, to discuss ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver. New members are welcome! To learn more about the book group, speak to Lynn Dennison or Barbara Johnston.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
    Check back, more events/dates being added!
    www.stjohnskingston.org/welcome/event-calendar
    Look for updates on children’s programming and occasional adult education forums. Soon we will announce dates for our Stewardship Campaign.

    Sept 10      All Ages Worship and Return to the Sanctuary
    Sept 17      Godly Play, Healing Sunday
    Sept 17      Neighborhood Block Party 12:00 – 4:00 pm
    Sept 18      Vestry Meeting, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall
    Sept 23      Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12 at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz, Kingston
    Sept 29/30   Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Book Sale Plus! Fr 4-8 / Sa 9-2
    Oct 1         All Ages Worship; Blessing of the Animals after worship
    Oct 8         Godly Play for kids
    Oct 15       Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Oct 22       Sunday School Activity Day for kids
    Oct 31       Morning Prayer
    Nov 5        Feast of All Saints’: All Ages Worship
    Nov 12      Godly Play for kids
    Nov 11      247th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
    Nov 19      Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Nov 26      Sunday School Activity Day for kids
    Dec 3         All Ages Worship: Season of Advent begins
    Dec 10       Godly Play for kids
    Dec 17       Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Dec 24       Advent IV worship at 10:00am
    Christmas Eve Worship:
    – Family Service 3:00 pm
    – Choral Eucharist 8:00 pm
    Dec 31       Morning Prayer

  2. September 2, 2013

    Coming Up at St. John’s

    September 10: All Ages Worship and Backpack Blessings!


    ALL AGES WORSHIP MOVES TO SEPT 10!
    Due to Labor Day Weekend, when everyone is enjoying the final hurrahs of summer, we are moving All Ages Worship to September 10 when we return to the sanctuary. And don’t forget to bring your backpacks! Rev. Michelle will bless them and we will all pray for everyone starting a new year of school. Be sure to come and celebrate our community and the beginning of the programming year.

    Three weeks away: St. John’s Neighborhood Block Party

    Invite your friends and come meet the people in our neighborhood!

    _______________________

    A Note From Bishop Co-Adjutor
    Matt Heyd

    On Tuesday, September 5, the Diocese of New York will begin weekday online morning prayer at 8 am via zoom.

    The 30 minute service will offer an opportunity for us to join together daily in shared prayer— the foundation of our Anglican tradition and our lives as Christians. We’ll use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer Rite II Morning Prayer liturgy.

    The service will include different leaders as officiants and feature diverse voices to offer brief daily reflections. Many of our leaders and communities have their own daily office practices—some congregations host morning prayer in person and a number of our congregations host morning prayer online.

    This liturgy will offer an additional possibility for connection across the 10 counties and nearly 200 congregations of the Diocese of New York. The Holy Spirit moves at ground level— and connects us to each other.

    You can find the zoom link for Tuesday here.
    You’ll be invited to register when you join.

    Everyone’s invited! My hope is that Morning Prayer will widely engage voices from across our diocese and will be intercultural in its expression.  

    I’ll support the service along with postulants and candidates preparing for ordination in our Diocese. Thanks to Canon Victor Conrado for helping imagine this new service and to Alito Orsini for coordinating.

    Grace and Peace,

    +Matthew Heyd
    Bishop Coadjutor

    ___________________

    Living Into Change


    Dear Ones,

    I love-love-LOVE this time of year. The garden’s work is starting to slow down as the harvest comes to fruition. The air starts to shift and open up as temperatures drop and humidity lessens. And there is an energy in the air as people prepare for new school adventures after the close of summer.

    And… that’s alot of transition. Alot of change. I’ve spoken with many of you and there are so many things going on in your lives right now. Moving, new family members, shifting abilities, new schools, new jobs… wow!

    And, in the common life of St. John’s, we are also living into change. On June 1, the Rector’s hours (my hours) changed from FT to PT (at 60%). It’s hard to see this change over the summer because so many people are away on vacation and we don’t offer much programming. But now that we are starting our programming year, we will likely begin to see some differences in how much I am able to be available.

    But I hope that we all keep this in mind: During transition, I think we sometimes get so focused on the new things we have to do… or missing the things/people/situations we are leaving behind, that it’s easy to miss the abundance that is still present. And it’s also easy to miss that when we are living into new ways of doing things, our creative spirit is invited to open us up to new possibilities. My friends, this is how we miss God.

    Because God is with us. This is Christian Hope! God is always with us.

    We have so much, as a community. We have bread at our Table that everyone is invited to receive. We have one another and we always have God.

    Last week, in my short missive to you I spoke about how excited I am for the program year. I am really looking foward to all we have already planned and all that we will plan together.

    If I don’t see you this Sunday (because it’s Labor Day weekend) then I look forward to seeing you next Sunday, September 10 when we return to the Sanctuary for All Ages Worship and Blessing of the Backpacks!

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________________

    Announcements for September 3
    The Fourteenth 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.com

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

    September 10: All Ages Worship and Backpack Blessing We return to the sanctuary on September 10 with a special All Ages Worship. Don’t forget to bring your backpacks so Rev. Michelle can bless them!

    Neighborhood Block Party! Sunday, Sept. 17 from 12:00-4:00 pm.  It’s all hands on deck to help get the word out and ensure all the people and businesses in our neighborhood are invited. Clear your schedule and be sure to sign up on the bulletin board in the vestibule for set-up and take-down duties that Sunday too!

    Social Hour Sign-up! If you enjoy staying after worship for snacks and socializing, please sign up to host for a week. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Talk to Barbara Johnston if you have any questions.

    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.

    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 Page Turners Book Club will meet on September 14, at 2 p.m., in the parish hall, to discuss ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver. New members are welcome! To learn more about the book group, speak to Lynn Dennison or Barbara Johnston.

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

    Sept 9        Choir Luncheon and Rehearsal, 11:00 am
    Sept 10      All Ages Worship and Backpack Blessing
    Sept 17      Godly Play, Healing Sunday, Neighborhood Block Party 12:00 – 4:00 pm
    Sept 18      Vestry Meeting, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall
    Sept 23      Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12 at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz, Kingston
    Oct 1         All Ages Worship
    Oct 15       Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Oct 31       Morning Prayer
    Nov 5        Feast of All Saints’ All Ages Worship
    Nov 11      247th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
    Nov 19      Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Dec 3         Season of Advent begins
    Dec 17       Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Dec 24       Christmas Eve Worship: Family Service 3:00 pm; Choral Eucharist 8:00 pm
    Dec 31       Morning Prayer

    ____________________________________

    WORSHIP SCHEDULE

    Sunday Worship: Rite II Eucharist 10:00 am
    Join us in-person for Rite II Holy Eucharist in the St. John’s Sanctuary. On “5th Sundays” we offer Morning Prayer.

    Monday Compline 9:00 pm  Click here to join.
    A quiet service of prayer at the end of the day held via Zoom.

    Wednesday Centering Prayer 5:30 pm  Click here to join.
    PLEASE NOTE: No Centering Prayer for the month of August.
    Meditative readings, silence, and reflection over Zoom.
    A prelude of contemplative music is offered by Ana Hernández.

     

  3. August 22, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    Neighborhood Block Party Meeting: THIS SUNDAY!

    This Sunday after worship, join us to continue planning our upcoming Neighborhood Block Party on Sunday, Sept 17. It’s all hands on deck for this event as we welcome our neighbors and area non-profits to our side lawn. You’re help is needed to prepare for the event so come to the meeting and find out more.

    Bible Study

    We’re studying the Gospel of Matthew. This week, we continue our reading of the Sermon on the Mount – chapters 5, 6, and 7. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom. If you’d like to join Wednesday’s session, email Rev. Michelle so she can send you the Zoom link. To learn more, click here

    Family Ministries Meeting

    Thursday, August 31 at 5:45, Parish Hall
    Are you a parent of one of our St. John’s young people? Please come to help us plan ministry and programming with our kids for the coming year. We’ll talk about Godly Play, All Ages Worship, Worship Supplies for Kids, and the possibilities of a playground and a learning project for the winter/spring. See you there!

    ________________________________

    Christian Saints: St. Bartholomew

    With a feast day this past week on August 24, Bartholomew is one of the 12 apostles appearing in the Gospel stories of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He is also a part of the story in the Acts of the Apostles. We don’t often hear much about him though. Who was he? What did he do?

    The name Bartholomew is a Greek transliteration from the Aramaic name bar-Tomay, which simply means “son of Tolmay” or son of the furrows, a furrow meaning a trench dug into the ground. This likely means that Bartholomew and his father were farmers in the region of Galilee.

    But Bartholomew is not known for being a farmer. He is best known for being an evangelist of Christ and our tradition tells us that he was martyred for this and there are lots of stories about this. Depending on which account you read, he was either kidnapped, beaten, and drowned, or he was crucified upside down, or he was flayed and beheaded. Regardless of the story, Bartholomew remains an especially significant figure in Armenian Christianity and other Eastern Christian Churches because it was in the countries we now know as Turkey and Azerbaijan, that Bartholomew traveled to spread the news of Jesus the Christ.

    What is often true of Christian Saints is that they become significant to us through the stories we tell, some of which may be based on the factual history of their life. These stories we call hagiographies. And the fantastical tale of Bartholomew’s death by flaying has captivated the imaginations of so many who have tried to wrap their minds around the kind of courage and faith that martyrdom requires. This story has led us to identity him as the patron saint of professions such as tanners, bookbinders, leatherworkers, tailors, and butchers. Through the centuries, artists have also been fascinated, depicting Bartholomew’s death in many graphic offerings.

    After his trek in this area of the world, Bartholomew went on to India… or possibly Ethiopia. Scholars are in disagreement about the exact location of this mission trip as they attempt to read the works of 4th century hagiographers, Jerome and Eusebius. 

    The Saint Bartholomew Monastery was founded in the 13th century and it became a prominent part of the Armenian Church, used continuously for centuries. However, during the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900’s, the monastery was abandoned and then destroyed by Turkish military. It still stands in ruin today.

    Here are the scripture verses that talk about the presence of Bartholomew as a disciple and apostle:
    Matthew 10:2-4
    Mark 3:16-19
    Luke 6:14-16
    Acts 1:1-13

    ____________________________

    Church Programming


    Dear Ones,

    Right now, all across the church, clergy and lay leaders are all getting ready to launch our “programming year.” Following the calendar of the traditional American school year, we shift back into our regular schedule.

    What does this mean for us at St. John’s? We have regularly placed programming throughout the month that provides a rhythm of common life and enables us to schedule other things around what is important to us in our life at St. John’s.
    Here is what our typical month will look like:

    • First Sunday: All Ages Worship – the words and music of our liturgy are slightly altered to accommodate younger ears and, instead of a sermon, we have a story that illuminates the lesson of the Gospel for that week. Sometimes there are fun additions to worship. And, most importantly, we have our younger kids helping to lead worship. NOTE: For September (due to Labor Day), this will be moved to Sunday, Sept. 10!
    • Third Sunday: We offer Godly Play for kids during worship and one of our healing ministers is available to offer healing prayers during communion. After worship, the choir gathers for a longer rehearsal.
    • Fourth Sunday: Rector’s Forum – I offer a special teaching or I find someone to come and offer a presentation on a special topic. I’m always open to suggestions so let me know what you’d like to learn more about.
    • Fifth Sunday (if there IS one): Morning Prayer is offered, led by either myself or one of our lay leaders.

    We also have the following events scheduled in the coming year:

    • Neighborhood Block Party – Sunday, September 17
    • Stewardship Campaign – Dates to be announced
    • St. John’s Harvest Sale – dates for cooking and sales to be announced!
    • Christmas Eve – All Ages Worship is mid-afternoon our candlelit choral Eucharist is in the evening followed by a dessert reception (finally coming back after covid!)
    • Annual Parish Meeting – held on the last Sunday in January, reflecting on what we did the past year and elect officers for the coming year.
    • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – the night before Ash Wednesday
    • Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent, 2 services and Ashes to Go are offered out front to the larger Kingston community
    • Holy Week and Easter Sunday – our Christian high holidays that are happening this year in the last week of March
    • More plans in progress!

    We are still finalizing plans as we look toward what we want and need from our common life. You can always find the most up-to-date schedule in your weekly bulletin or here on the St. John’s website.

    Do you have ideas for programming or events? Reach out to our Events Team: Kathy Burdick, Sara Hutton, Paula Wisneski, or Ana Hernandez.

    I’m really looking forward to this year!

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ______________________________________

    Announcements for August 27
    The Thirteenth 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.com

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

    Neighborhood Block Party! Sunday, Sept. 17 from 12:00-4:00 pm.  It’s all hands on deck to help get the word out and ensure all the people and businesses in our neighborhood are invited. Clear your schedule and be sure to sign up on the bulletin board in the vestibule for set-up and take-down duties that Sunday too!

    Social Hour Sign-up! If you enjoy staying after worship for snacks and socializing, please sign up to host for a week. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Talk to Barbara Johnston if you have any questions.

    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.

    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 Page Turners Book Club will meet on September 14, at 2 p.m., in the parish hall, to discuss ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver. New members are welcome! To learn more about the book group, speak to Lynn Dennison or Barbara Johnston.

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

    Aug 28-Spt 1   Creation Care Camp for Kids, 9-12 Monday-Friday
    Aug 28      Vestry Meeting, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall
    Sept 9        Choir Luncheon and Rehearsal, 11:00 am
    Sept 10      All Ages Worship and Return to the Sanctuary
    Sept 17      Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Sept 17      Neighborhood Block Party 12:00 – 4:00 pm
    Sept 18      Vestry Meeting, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall
    Sept 23      Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12 at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz, Kingston
    Oct 1         All Ages Worship
    Oct 15       Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Oct 31       Morning Prayer
    Nov 5        Feast of All Saints’ All Ages Worship
    Nov 11      247th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
    Nov 19      Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Dec 3         Season of Advent begins
    Dec 17       Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Dec 24       Christmas Eve Worship: Family Service 3:00 pm; Choral Eucharist 8:00 pm
    Dec 31       Morning Prayer

  4. August 18, 2023

    Coming Up at St. John’s

    Bible Study! 

    We’re studying the Gospel of Matthew. This week, we continue our reading of the Sermon on the Mount – chapters 5, 6, and 7. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom. If you’d like to join Wednesday’s session, email Rev. Michelle so she can send you the Zoom link. To learn more, click here

    Creation Care Camp for Kids:
    Registration Still Available! 

    August 28-September 1
    A week of summer camp centered around loving the earth, exploring the idea of environmental justice, and engaging our responsibility to care for God’s creation. We’ll use Bible stories, experiential activities, and reflection time to help us connect our spirituality with the wonder of creation. All kids Pre-K-5th grade are invited to be campers! Rev. Michelle of St. John’s and Rev. Marcella of Christ the King will lead activities.

    • The camp will be held at Christ the King in Stone Ridge. Transportation from St. John’s Kingston is available – talk to Rev. Michelle.
    • Cost: $75 for first child, $50 for each additional child. Scholarships are available. Cost should not be a barrier to participation!
    • Sample Daily Schedule:
      9:00-10:00 – Gathering, Music, Opening Prayer
      10:00 -11:30 – Workshops: Movement, Arts/Crafts, Bible Study, Snack Time
      11:30-12:00 – Closing Reflection, Music, and Prayer

    To register your child: Email Rev. Michelle at michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

    _________________________________

    St. John’s Buildings and Grounds

    Do you like to help out with odd jobs?
    Do you watch Youtube videos of do-it-yourself projects?
    Do you want to help out more at church?

    Our wardens Claudette and Leah would like you to be a part of the Buildings and Grounds Ministry Team.
    The larger jobs (plumbing, electrical, mowing the lawn) are all outsourced to contractors. What we need your help with are the smaller jobs, the things you probably do around your own home – changing out light bulbs that are hard to reach, taking down exterior signs, helping to clean out the shed, installing a new door stop, meeting a contractor to let them in, etc.

    Claudette and Leah would like to have a list of 5-8 people that they can call up and say, “Would you be able to head over to the church this week and ____________ ?” And if you need help, they will find someone to help you out.

    Taking care of the building, the gardens, and the land we’ve been given is not only an act of ministry, but an act of gratitude. The projects are piling up and your help is needed.

    Please reach out directly to either Claudette or Leah:
    Leah Siuta:  jolejola4@msn.com
    Claudette Ford:  crford1@gmail.com

     

    ____________________________________

    Harvesting What Is Ready


    Dear Ones,

    In the Rectory Garden, as in most gardens, harvest happens at different times depending upon the plant. Cold crops, such as lettuce, peas, beets, and spinach grow better in the cooler months of April/May and September/October. They come to maturity pretty fast so they are harvested in those months, for the most part.

    But, for most people who grow vegetables in this area, we are beginning the real harvest season – tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatillos, beans – all coming in now. The squash plants will be ready in another month or so. This means that August and September are important harvest-centered months.

    Now, I know that not all of you are gardeners. But I do think the patterns of what grows in an area have an impact on all of us, not just the gardeners. This means that everyone who lives in this part of the Hudson Valley is influenced by this rhythm, effected by the release of various molecules as the plant life around us moves through all its stages – spouting, seedling, maturing, flowering, fruiting, ripening, and death.

    And here we are at the beginning of harvest. What is in need of harvesting so that it can be savored and give nourishment? I think this is the big question of harvest. It’s easy to grow plants and let them mature and re-seed. But to live as God wants us to live, I think, asks us to pay attention to what needs to be harvested. What is ready?

    Maybe there is a task that is ready for your attention. Maybe there is a relationship that is ready to become deeper. Maybe there is something that is ready to be finished and enjoyed.

    Whatever is ready in your life, I pray that you have the time and space to enjoy it and be nourished by its goodness. And let us all praise God for the harvest.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

     

    ___________________________________

     

    Announcements for August 20
    The Twelfth 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.comAnchor.Neighborhood Block Party! Sunday, Sept. 17 from 12:00-4:00 pm.
    It’s all hands on deck to help get the word out and ensure all the people and businesses in our neighborhood are invited. Clear your schedule and be sure to sign up on the bulletin board in the vestibule for set-up and take-down duties that Sunday too!

    Creation Care Camp for Kids: August 28-September 1
    A week of summer camp centered around loving the earth, exploring the idea of environmental justice, and engaging our responsibility to care for God’s creation. We’ll use Bible stories, experiential activities, and reflection time to help us connect our spirituality with the wonder of creation. All kids Pre-K-5th grade are invited to be campers! Rev. Michelle of St. John’s and Rev. Marcella of Christ the King will lead activities.

    • The camp will be held at Christ the King in Stone Ridge. Transportation from St. John’s Kingston is available – talk to Rev. Michelle.
    • Cost: $75 for first child, $50 for each additional child. Scholarships are available. Cost should not be a barrier to participation!
    • Sample Daily Schedule
    • 9:00-10:00 – Gathering, Music, Opening Prayer
    • 10:00 -11:30 – Workshops: Movement, Arts/Crafts, Bible Study, Snack Time
    • 11:30-12:00 – Closing Reflection, Music, and Prayer

    To register: Email Rev. Michelle at michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

    Social Hour Sign-up! If you enjoy staying after worship for snacks and socializing, please sign up to host for a week. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Talk to Barbara Johnston if you have any questions.

    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.

    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.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
    Aug 21      Vestry Meeting, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall
    Aug 28-Spt 1   Creation Care Camp for Kids, 9-12 Monday-Friday
    Sept 9        Choir Luncheon and Rehearsal, 11:00 am
    Sept 10      Return to the Sanctuary and All Ages Worship
    Sept 17      Godly Play, Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
    Sept 17      Neighborhood Block Party 12:00 – 4:00 pm
    Sept 23      Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12 at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz

  5. July 21, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering
    Saturday, July 29: Eucharist begins at 11:00 am

    Let’s have a strong showing from St. John’s Kingston!
    Contact Rev. Michelle to carpool: michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

    Episcopalians from across the Hudson Valley region are invited to join our Bishop and Bishop Coadjutor for a special celebration and worship service on Saturday, July 29th at 11:00 am at Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie.

    Bishop Andrew ML Dietsche will celebrate Holy Eucharist; Bishop Coadjutor Matthew Heyd will preach, and a regional choir, led by our own Ana Hernandez and Sr. Helena Marie, will provide festive music. An outdoor picnic reception and conversation with the two bishops will follow.

    You can sign up to:

    • Sing in the regional choir (sign up)
    • Bring a side dish or dessert (sign up)
    • Help with setup or cleanup (sign up)

    Bible Study

    We continue reading the Gospel of Matthew. This week, we continue our reading of the Sermon on the Mount – chapters 5, 6, and 7. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom. If you’d like to join Wednesdays session, email Rev. Michelle so she can send you the Zoom link.

    __________________________

    Christian Saints: St. Mary Magdalene

    A regular Newsletter feature about the lives of the saints.


    Every summer, on July 22, the church celebrates one of its major saints – Mary of Magdala, or as many people know her, Mary Magdalene. What we know from scripture is that Mary was a follower of Jesus and is identified in all four of the Gospel accounts as being among the first to witness the Resurrection. Many Christians, therefore, call her the Apostle to the Apostles – the one who first proclaimed the risen Christ to those who would later come to be known as apostles.

    St Mary of Magdala and Jesus’ mother Mary have both been used as foils for church/society’s teaching on the so-called “role of women” for centuries. In particular, Mary of Magdala has been labeled through the years as a mystic, a celibate nun, a prostitute, and most recently, as the matriarch of Jesus’ secret family. But Pope Gregory I made perhaps one of the most egregious errors of scriptural interpretation in 591 CE when, in an Easter sermon, he conflated the character of Mary Magdalene with the “unnamed sinful woman” in Luke chapter 7. And thus, her unearned reputation as a repentant prostitute began.

    Most recently, scholars believe that Mary was the author of one of the documents found in 1896 that have collectively come to be known as the Nag Hammadi Library or the Gnostic Gospels. Officially named the Gospel of Mary, this text demonstrates a deep knowledge and familiarity of Jesus. She is also named in other texts from Nag Hammadi, namely the Gospels of Philip and Thomas.

    In icons of Mary Magdalene, we often see her depicted with a jar of perfume to recall her anointing of Jesus. Otherwise, we see her depicted with an egg and, contrary to what you might find when you search about this on the internet, this has nothing to do with Easter eggs. Very simply, the egg is a symbol of the Resurrection. All other stories about Mary and eggs are fables. A word of caution, thanks to the novels of Dan Brown (which are fantastic fictional reads!), there is a significant amount of conjecture and outright fallacy about Mary Magdalene on many websites. Please be mindful when you read up on her.

    Regardless of how we characterize Mary Magdalene, she is a formidable character in the Gospel witness. In addition to her witness to the Resurrection, she provides an example of profound, unquestioning devotion to Jesus and his teachings, offering us a glimpse of what it would be like to fully live our lives in Christ. As a person of the world, Mary comes to her faith earnestly and, in turn, is given her life’s work. She shows us how grace functions in our lives as we learn to leave the ways of the world behind and resume our true identity as the beloved of God.

    It is said that she is buried in the south of France in the Provence-Alps-Cote d’Azur. Pilgrims from all over the world flock to the Basilica named for her there, the Basilique Sainte Marie Madeleine.

    You can learn more about Mary Magdalene in these scripture passages:
    Matthew 27:45-61; 28:1-20
    Mark 15:33-47; 16:1-8
    Luke 8:1-3; 24:1-12
    John 19:16-27; 20:1-18

    _________________________________

    Developing Contemplative Practice


    Dear Ones,

    As many of you know, we host a weekly online Centering Prayer session on Wednesdays at 5:30. We started this group in 2018 but moved it online during the pandemic, keeping it on Zoom because we grew to include people from several parts of the Hudson Valley and a few, even beyond that.

    There is a correlation between a contemplative spiritual practice and our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Neuroscience tells us that by practicing meditation on a regular basis, we are able to literally rewire our brains. What does this mean? It means that we can learn to develop a more measured response to the things in our world that trigger us in some way. We spend less time being angry, offering judgment, stewing in fearful or anxious thoughts, and we spend more time developing our capacity for compassion – both for ourselves and others.

    Developing a contemplative practice for yourself is such a gift. And it doesn’t have to mean that you are a mystic or a touchy-feely kind of person. It does mean that you are taking time to center yourself and reconnect to God.

    I recently found a book called Practicing the Pause by Caroline Oakes, in which she talks about the importance of having a contemplative practice and demonstrates how Jesus embodies such a practice in the Gospel narrative. I haven’t read through too much of it yet because I’m busy reading our parish read – No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted, but so far, what I’ve read tells me that this is a helpful guide to developing a practice for yourself.

    Of course, all are welcome to join us on Wednesdays at 5:30. You can always find the link on the St. John’s website: Online Prayer Services – St. John’s Kingston (stjohnskingston.org). Or, if you’d like to talk to me individually about developing your own practice, I’m happy to do so.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________

    Announcements for July 23
    The Eighth 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.com

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

    ANNOUNCING! Creation Care Camp for Kids: August 28-September 1
    A week of summer camp centered around loving the earth, exploring the idea of environmental justice, and engaging our responsibility to care for God’s creation. We’ll use Bible stories, experiential activities, and reflection time to help us connect our spirituality with the wonder of creation. All kids Pre-K-5th grade are invited to be campers! Rev. Michelle of St. John’s and Rev. Marcella of Christ the King will lead activities.

    • The camp will be held at Christ the King in Stone Ridge. Transportation from St. John’s Kingston is available – talk to Rev. Michelle.
    • Cost: $75 for first child, $50 for each additional child. Scholarships are available. Cost should not be a barrier to participation!
    • Sample Daily Schedule:
      9:00-10:00 – Gathering, Music, Opening Prayer
      10:00 -11:30 – Workshops: Movement, Arts/Crafts, Bible Study, Snack Time
      11:30-12:00 – Closing Reflection, Music, and Prayer

    To register your child: Email Rev. Michelle at michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

    Summer Book Read: Join us over Zoom as we read through No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan, a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia and is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family.
    When? Thursdays from 11:00-12:15 (July 20, Aug. 3, Aug. 17).
    Email Rev. Michelle if you’re interested in attending!

    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.

    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.

    Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering 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, who will preach that day. Plan to bring items for the potluck afterwards and/or come early at 9:45 to join the festival choir! Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.

  6. July 14, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

     

    St. John’s Zoom Summer Parish Read Begins
    Thursday, July 20… see all dates below

    No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted offers a realistic picture of all types of dementia and how to care for those living with its effects. The chances of us having someone close to us with a form of dementia is high because 5.8 million people in the US suffer from some form of dementia. Only decades ago, people were still writing off dementia-related behaviors to senility. Now, researchers have an ever-increasing understanding of the brain, which has allowed them to better diagnose different forms of dementia.As the community of St. John’s, we will not only discuss the content of the book, but we will also use this as an opportunity to take a look at pastoral care with the elderly and how we might respond to the growing need for care in Ulster County.

    Zoom Discussion Dates:
    Thursday, July 20 11:00-12:15
    Thursday, Aug 3   11:00-12:15
    Thursday, Aug 17 11:00-12:15

    All sessions are over Zoom. You do not need to attend every session. Email Rev. Michelle to receive the Zoom link: michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

    __________________________________________

    Bible Study Continues

    We continue reading the Gospel of Matthew. This week, we begin the Sermon on the Mount – chapters 5, 6, and 7. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom.

    To learn more, click here

     

    _________________________________

    Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering
    Saturday, July 29: Eucharist begins at 11:00 am

    Let’s have a strong showing from St. John’s Kingston!
    Contact Rev. Michelle to carpool: michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

    Episcopalians from across the Hudson Valley region are invited to join our Bishop and Bishop Coadjutor for a special celebration and worship service on Saturday, July 29th at 11:00 am at Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie.

    Bishop Andrew ML Dietsche will celebrate Holy Eucharist; Bishop Coadjutor Matthew Heyd will preach, and a regional choir, led by our own Ana Hernandez, will provide festive music. An outdoor picnic reception and conversation with the two bishops will follow.
    You can sign up to:

    • Sing in the regional choir (sign up)
    • Bring a side dish or dessert (sign up)
    • Help with setup or cleanup (sign up)

    ______________________________

    Ordinary Time


    Dear Ones,So teach us to number our days
    that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
    – Psalm 90, verse 12

     

    One of the things I love about the Anglican tradition, that is, the Episcopal Church, is that it helps us to mark time through the year by giving us liturgical seasons. And we are deep into the Season After Pentecost or, what we call, the long green season, after the meaningful revelations of Easter and Pentecost.

    As Christians we call this Ordinary Time. And I think it’s easy to dismiss this time of year because we don’t have any feasts or holidays to celebrate anytime soon. But the truth is that Ordinary Time is, perhaps, more important than any feast day because it is the season during which the mystery of Christ moves closer and becomes more real for us.

    It is in the everyday-ness of life that we are most capable of living into our faith. The decisions we make about how to spend our time and money, how to respond to the people in our lives, what to do about something that has been troubling us… this is human life. And we can choose to live this life without being aware of Christ. Or we can choose to give Christ space in our lives.

    And this is when it happens. This is when we build new habits and re-form our neural nets. This is what Ordinary Time is about.

    As you move through this summer season of long days, may you find your deep desire for God and may that inspire you to invite Christ closer. Every day.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    __________________________________

    Announcements for July 16
    The Seventh 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.comAnchor.Summer Book Read: Join us over Zoom as we read through No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan, a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia and is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family.
    When? Thursdays from 11:00-12:15 (July 20, Aug. 3, Aug. 17).
    Email Rev. Michelle if you’re interested in attending!
    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.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.Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering 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, who will preach that day. Plan to bring items for the potluck afterwards and/or come early at 9:45 to join the festival choir! Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
    July 20       Summer Book Read via Zoom, 11:00-12:15
    July 29       Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie
    Aug 3        Summer Book Read via Zoom, 11:00-12:15
    Aug 17      Summer Book Read via Zoom, 11:00-12:15
    Sept 17      Neighborhood Block Party SAVE THE DATE!

  7. July 7, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    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.

    Bible Study Continues

    We continue reading the Gospel of Matthew! This week, we finish the birth narrative in chapters 1-2 and then move to chapter 4 to discuss the calling of the first disciples. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom.

    To learn more, click here

     

    _________________________

    Christianity and Christian Nationalism


    Dear Ones,

    Politics is politics. There will always be one faction trying to gain leverage over another faction. This is a part of the human story, a part of the worldliness of our lives.

    And… there are moments when politics ceases to be just about politics because those in power are stripping away the rights of citizens. These are the moments when the church cannot and should not remain silent.

    The past two weeks, for the second year in a row, we have seen the justices of the Supreme Court do significant damage to the rights of people in this country. Last June, we watched in disbelief as the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and since then have witnessed extreme abortion laws be put into place in many US states putting women’s health in danger. This year in June, we found ourselves, once again, watching the Supreme Court make painfully bigoted rulings as they removed the requirement of affirmative action in college admissions and removed gay rights protection in business dealings.

    These decisions demonstrate a marked movement in our elected officials – and now in those appointed to the Supreme Court – towards Christian Nationalism. And to be very clear, Christian Nationalism is NOT Christianity. It is a political ideology. It is the use of Christian symbols and rhetoric to enact a political agenda. The same thing happened about a century ago in Germany as the Nazi party rose to power.

    Earlier this week, in response to the outrageous decisions of the Supreme Court, our new bishop, Matt Heyd, offered a brief video message alongside the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas. Please take the time to view it here. Bp. Matt is very clear: “The church cannot wait to be church… Being church is not about our doctrines and dogmas, our words and intention. But rather, being church is about our actions and commitments.”

    Our actions and our commitments. What actions are we taking? What commitments are we making? This is exactly what Bp. Matt means when he says that “the world needs a Gospel that is bright, bold, and clear.”

    I ask each one of you to pray on this – to engage in an active conversation with God about why God is calling you to be church (ekklesia, Greek for “those who are called out”). May we all come to clarity about our actions and commitments and live into our Baptismal Vows to be the church that this world so desperately needs.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    _______________________________

    Announcements for July 9
    The Sixth 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.com

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

    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.

    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. 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.

    Mid-Hudson Gathering 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, who will preach that day. Plan to bring items for the potluck afterwards and come early at 9:45 to join the festival choir! Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
    July 29:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie

    Sept 17:     St. John’s Neighborhood Block Party SAVE THE DATE!
  8. June 30, 2023

    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.

    ______________________________________________________

    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

    _______________________________

    Vestry Notes

    The St. John’s Vestry meets every third Monday, except during July. Here are the highlights from the June 19 Meeting.
    • 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.

    ____________________________

    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

    ____________________________

    Announcements for July 2
    The Fifth 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.comAnchor.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

     

  9. June 23, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    Rector’s Forum After Worship

    Rev. Michelle announced a few weeks ago that we would begin to include Morning Prayer as a part of our Sunday worship. This Sunday, stay after worship for an educational forum on both Eucharist and Morning Prayer and learn more about the beauty and meaning of both liturgies as well as the similarities and differences. Be sure to join us!

    ______________________________________________________

    Bible Study Continues

    Sundays at 8:30 am in person and Wednesdays at 12:00 noon via Zoom.
    NOTE: There is no Wednesday session on June 28 as Rev. Michelle will be away. We resume on July 5.

    To learn more, click here

    _________________________________

    NEXT WEEK: Summer Worship Begins

    Weekly Sunday worship moves to the Parish Hall.

    Every summer during the months of July and August we move worship to the Parish Hall, for 2 reasons: First, it’s a blessing to have a smaller space in which to worship so that we can see and hear one another better than we can in the sanctuary. During the summer months, so many people are traveling so attendance drops a bit. Second, the Parish Hall is air conditioned. So, when the heat gets to be too oppressive outside, we are already set up to feel relieved. We return to worship in the Sanctuary on September 10, after Labor Day.

    A few things to note:

    • We will still have 8:30 Bible Study in the Parish Hall. After we finish at 9:30, we will set up for worship. It’s not hard to do, especially if there are several of us working together.
    • The choir does not meet. Instead, the entire congregation sings together during worship.
    • We will have our Family area ready to go at all worship services. As always, all are welcome!

    See you this week in the Sanctuary and next week in the Parish Hall!

    _______________________________________________

    The Brain and the Soul


    Dear Ones,By now you’ve seen the recent invitation to join a book study group this summer on the book, No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Jane Marie Thibault and Richard Morgan. We’ll be doing this study via Zoom so that those who travel over the summer can participate as much as possible.

    I’ve only just started to crack this book but I can already tell that it’s a powerful read, especially as Ana and I care for my mother who is struggling with vascular dementia. The authors are writing about the spirituality of caring for people with dementia and, therefore, what it means to the person who has dementia. I find that reading about dementia is usually overly biological or overly sentimentalized, but this is already a good middle ground.

    The question that comes up right in the first chapter is one that acknowledges the difference between the brain and the soul. I realize that most of us know, at least theoretically, that the brain and the soul are 2 distinct parts of ourselves. But, in an experiential way, it’s harder to understand this. I think this is because memory is such a big influence on our identity that, if dementia removes this, it’s as if we start to see less of our loved one. And we no longer feel seen by them. And that is painfully difficult.

    This disease is so painful and stigmatized that we usually hush away dementia, trying to cover it up either because it can be embarrassing when someone makes a faux-pas in public or because we just don’t feel equipped to handle the situation. And, if we are a caretaker, we soon learn that our day to day routines change dramatically.

    Whether you care for a loved one with dementia or you are interested in learning more about how to help with the growing number of people in our society who are facing various forms of the disease, please be sure to email me directly by the end of the month so that you can join us in this summer Zoom discussion. The book is easy to purchase and, if you need a copy, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________________________

     

    Announcements for June 25
    The Fourth 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.com

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

    THIS SUNDAY! Rector’s Forum on Liturgy As we look towards integrating another form of worship into our Sunday worship life, Rev. Michelle will lead us through a discussion about Eucharist and Morning Prayer – the differences and the similarities of these two forms. After worship.

    NEXT WEEK! We begin our Summer Worship in the Parish Hall.

    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. Please contact Rev. Michelle before June 30 if you intend on participating. We will announce discussion dates soon after.

    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

    June 25:     St. John’s Forum on Eucharist and Morning Prayer
    July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
    July 9:        Spiritual Practice of Singing at Ascension/Holy Trinity, 9-3
    July 29:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie

     

  10. June 15, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    Sunday Programming!

    Join us for a Sunday full of programming this week:

    • Bible Study – Weekly Bible Study begins at 8:30, bring your Bible and your Sunday morning brew and join Rev. Michelle as we begin studying the Gospel of Matthew.
    • Godly Play – Leah Siuta will be leading Godly Play for the young people this coming Sunday. If you’re a parent, bring your child to the upstairs Godly Play room and then come down for worship. All the kids will join us in time for Eucharist.
    • Healing Sunday – Laura Ricci and the Healing Ministers will offer prayers for all those who request them during communion.
    • Pastoral Care Meeting – After worship, join the Pastoral Care Team to discuss pastoral care needs at St. John’s. All are welcome.

    ______________________________________________________

    Bible Study Begins June 18 and 21

    To learn more, click here

    ______________________________________________________

    Rural and Migrant Ministry

    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

    Rural and Migrant Ministry is hosting a resource fair for the recently arrived refugees in the Hudson Valley — up to several hundred on Saturday, June 17, at our center at the Grail in Cornwall-on-Hudson. We are partnering with many of the organizations and congregations that have been at the forefront of the initial welcoming of the refugees. Sign up to help here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BWK9XHB

    This is a quick turnaround because time is of the essence. The refugees have been given three months of housing by New York City and three Chef Boyardee-type microwave meals a day — and that’s it. At the end of the three months, they are apparently out on their own.

    On June 17th, we will bus the refugees from the various Hudson Valley motels to the Grail for a day of workshops that will help them further acclimate to the cultural, housing, legal and employment realms of the Hudson Valley. Our goal is to help them gain a more solid footing, avoid exploitation, and connect to long-term resources and the greater community.

    We need help with the following:

    • Prepared meal, fruit and snacks: As we mentioned, the refugees are not being fed decently. We intend to have a diverse meal while they are here with us on the 17th — and we hope to have lots of extras — so we also ask for the donation of carry-out containers for the men to take food back with them.
    • Translators: We need people who speak Spanish, Chinese (we are still trying to figure out which dialect), Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and French. We will need interpreters who can engage the men in one-on-one conversations throughout the day, and also in the numerous workshops we will be doing. It would also be great to have folks who are from or have cultural heritage from these countries, so that we can give some connecting comfort.
    • Folks who are willing to engage in fellowship and elementary conversational English — and who might be willing to be an individual ally in the weeks to come during the asylum process.
    • Folks who might have some short-term work for the men to do. All of the men have been vetted by the government and are waiting for work authorization. The refugees we’ve worked with all have one overriding, immediate concern, and that is finding work. Therefore, we are also putting together a job board for anyone who can offer short-term/long-term employment assistance to these very capable men. Work can include things like landscaping and yard cleanup, home maintenance, and more. In order to avoid having the men be exploited and to assure them a just wage, we ask that you offer $20 per hour and provide transportation.
    I know it’s a lot to ask, and on short notice — but if we can get lots of us contributing, we can make it work. Here is the link for folks to sign up:   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BWK9XHB
    _____________________________________

    Christian Saints: St. John the Baptist

    A new “regular feature” of our Newsletter about the lives of the saints.

    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.

    St. John the Baptist is one of the better-known saints, having been the one who is named in our scripture as the baptizer of Jesus of Nazareth and the one who identifies him as the messiah. His ministry of preaching and baptism in the Jordan is described in all 4 gospel accounts and his death is also told in scripture by Matthew, Mark, and Luke (known as the Synoptic Gospels). The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus also makes note of his life, ministry, and death in Antiquities of the Jews. There are all kinds of relics of his all over the world including his head, his right hand, and his decapitation cloth.

    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.

    It is said in the Gospels that John is foretold in the words of the Prophet Isaiah as “the one crying out in the wilderness.” In art, John is depicted as described in scripture – preaching with clothing made of camel’s hair, a wild look, and a diet of locusts and honey.

    You can learn more about John the Baptist in these scripture passages:
    Matthew 3:1-17; 11:2-7; 14:1-12
    Mark 1:4-14; 6:14-29
    Luke 1:5-80; 3:1-22; 9:7-9
    John 1:6-42; 3:22-36; 5:30-42
    Acts 1:1-22

    ____________________________________________

    St. John’s: Then… Up to Now


    Dear Ones,We’ve been talking about a project for a few years now – learning more about the history of St. John’s. This project is a part of our journey towards Becoming Beloved Community.

    Vestrymember Paula Wisneski is leading this project and she wants to gather other members of St. John’s who are curious enough to read through the stories in our archives. We have all kinds of records – letters, bulletins, vestry minutes, newspaper clippings. And, in order to have access to everything possible, this group will not only have my assistance, but the assistance of Wayne Kempton, the Archivist and Historiographer of the Diocese of New York.

    Then, the members of this group will be asked to bring these stories to the larger congregation of St. John’s in two ways: First, we will install a timeline on paper in our Parish Hall and add events/stories to this timeline. People will be able to peruse these stories whenever they want. Second, we will have a regular feature in the Newsletter in which people will re-tell these stories and help us to make connections to the larger context. We know this isn’t a short-lived project, but will take the better part of a year to really dig into the archives and find the stories that matter.

    Paula volunteered to take on this project because she knows how important it is for us to embark on a journey of truth-telling – learning about and telling the full story of our churches, especially including our story of race. Only then, are we really able to do the work of anti-racism.

    And Paula has already found a pretty juicy story: According to the Vestry Minutes of a meeting in 1885, the Rector resigned his position because of what happened at a previous Vestry meeting. Now, Paula cannot yet locate the minutes of the previous meeting, but I wonder what happened! Don’t you?

    Please speak directly with Paula by the end of June if you’d like to be a member of this team of St. John’s Historians.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________________

    Announcements for June 18
    The Third 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.comAnchor.

    THIS SUNDAY! Pastoral Care Meeting The Pastoral Care Team meets after worship. All are welcome to attend!

    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. Please contact Rev. Michelle before June 30 if you intend on participating. We will announce discussion dates soon after.

    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.

    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.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule

    June 17:     Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12:30 at Ascension in West Park
    June 18:     Sunday Bible Study begins in person at 8:30 am, Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Pastoral Care meeting after worship
    June 21:     Wednesday Bible Study begins on Zoom at 12:00 noon
    June 25:     Instructed Eucharist and Liturgical Forum
    July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
    July 29:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie