April 6, 2023

Holy Week: Everything you need to know!

Maundy Thursday

We begin at 6:00 pm with a simple soup supper in the Parish Hall. Afterwards, we move into the Sanctuary for Eucharist, offering foot-washing (so be prepared to take off your socks/shoes) or hand-washing. After Eucharist, we strip the altar, removing liturgical decorations and all symbols of Christ. We leave in silence.

Good Friday

Beginning at 12 noon, we enter the bare space – no sign of Christ. Through the reading of John’s Passion, we contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice. We pray and venerate the cross before leaving in silence.
You are also invited to attend the Good Friday prayer service at 2:00 pm at Ascension/Holy Trinity in West Park, NY. Both Rev. Michelle and the Rev. Br. Aidan Owen will be leading these Good Friday services together.

Stations of the Cross

On Friday at 7:00 pm in the St. John’s Sanctuary we offer a video presentation of the Stations of the Cross – looking through the lens of Jesus’ journey to Calvary we examine contemporary society.

Holy Saturday Prayers and Work Gathering

Before we prepare our Sanctuary for the coming celebration, we gather to reflect and pray at 9:00 am. Then we get busy with cleaning, placing flowers, and decorating the space. All are welcome to come and help out.

The Great Vigil of Easter

Bring a bell from home to ring! We begin at 8:00 pm in the Memorial Garden by lighting a new fire. We tell stories and sing hymns inside by candlelight, awaiting the dawn of Christ. We celebrate by renewing our Baptismal Vows and sharing Eucharist. The congregation of Ascension/Holy Trinity in West Park will join us as we all celebrate together.
This will be available by Zoom for those who are unable to drive at night.

Easter Sunday

A big, joyous celebration! Lots of singing and fun. Godly Play is available for the kids and an egg hunt after worship. Plus an abundant Community Brunch so bring food to share.

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From the St. John’s Vestry

Please keep the Vestry in your prayers as we continue to discern how our current financial reality can be used to renew the ministry of St. John’s. The adjustment of the Rector’s salary, hours, and responsibilities is central to this discernment so we are taking the time that is needed to pray and deliberate with the Holy Spirit. Please continue your individual exploration of the gifts that you have to offer and employ in our common ministry. And please bring your prayerful insights and comments to any one of the Vestry members. Thank you!

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The Final Word Is Always Love

Dear Ones,I hope to see you for our Holy Week services. It is always a rich journey as we remember together Jesus’ final days. Every year I am deeply moved by some moment during this week – something that reshapes my understanding of myself and my relationship with God.

I remember when I started coming to church about 20 years ago now, I wondered, why would we want to spend so much time looking at this horrific act of state and communal violence perpetrated upon Jesus? I still sometimes find myself wondering about that, if I’m honest. What is this sacrifice about?

But here’s the thing: Violence is not and never was God’s design or intent. Yet, God does have a response to violence. And that response is always Love. The sacrifice we are invited into is one in which we are asked to give up our own forms of violence – indifference, cynicism, anger, envy, judgment – all the ways we do violence to others and to ourselves, so that we can open ourselves up to learn more and more about what Love really is.

So come and allow these Holy Week services to meet you where you are this year. Let the words and the liturgical acts wash over you or hear the Spirit’s invitation to enter into them.

Because violence is never the end. Love is always the final Word.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” – Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for April 9
Holy Week and Easter Sunday

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

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 next month: May 4 – If on A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.

St. John’s Office Hours
Mondays from 12:00-4:00 pm and Thursdays from 1:00-3:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com
Please note: Rev. Michelle’s Sabbath Day is Friday and she is unavailable.

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

2023 Easter Season at St. John’s

Here are the many opportunities for people to engage and learn at St. John’s over the coming months. Look for more information here in our e-newsletter, The Good News from St. John’s.

FOR DETAILED SCHEDULE OF HOLY WEEK SERVICES, PLEASE SEE ABOVE.Apr 9: Easter Sunday: Festive Choral Eucharist with Godly Play provided, followed by Community Brunch and Egg Hunt for the kids.
Apr 16: Healing Sunday, no Godly Play
Apr 23: Outreach Meeting after worship.
How We Read Scripture I: The Hebrew Scriptures. Inquirer’s Class is held from 1:00-3:30 pm.
Apr 30: Rector’s Forum – Life at the Time of Jesus. After worship.
May 7: All Ages Worship
How We Read Scripture II: The Greek Scriptures. Inquirer’s Class is held from 1:00-3:30 pm.
May 20: Consecration of Matthew Heyd as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New York, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in NYC.
May 21: Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday
What We Do: Ministry and the Baptismal Covenant. Inquirer’s Class is held from 1:00-3:30 pm.
May 28: The Feast of Pentecost

The Good News of St. John’s