January 11th

The Good News from St. John’s Kingston

Coming Up at St. John’s

THIS WEEK:
Godly Play for Kids and
King Cake, and Jambalaya After Worship

This coming Sunday, January 14, we hope that all our kids will be able to come for Godly Play. Then, after worship, we will celebrate the Season after the Epiphany with a King Cake and jambalaya, provided by Bruce Dodge. Be sure to join us!

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule

As we begin the new year, please make note of important dates coming up at St. John’s. You can always find the most updated calendar at: http://www.stjohnskingston.org/welcome/event-calendar/

Jan 14      Godly Play for kids; After worship: King Cake and jambalaya!
Jan 21          Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
Jan 28          St. John’s Annual Meeting; Children’s Formation available
Feb 4            All Ages Worship
Feb 10          Installation of the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd as Bishop of New York, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
Feb 11          Godly Play for kids
Feb 13          Shrove Tuesday Mardi Gras Pancake Supper
Feb 14          Ash Wednesday, Worship at 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm; Ashes-to-go 7-9 am and 4-6 pm
Feb 18          Healing Sunday, Choir Rehearsal after worship
Feb 25          Children’s Formation available
Mar 2            Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-2, Holy Cross/Santa Cruz, Kingston
Mar 3            All Ages Worship, Angel Food East Fundraiser – Mac-n-Cheese Bakeoff at Keegan Ales, 2-5 pm.
Mar 10          Godly Play for kids; Mac-n-Cheese Bakeoff at Keegan Ales from 2-5 pm (fundraiser for Angel Food East)
Mar 17          Healing Sunday, Choir Rehearsal after worship
Mar 25          Palm Sunday, Children’s Formation available
Mar 28          Maundy Thursday Dinner and Worship at 6:00 pm
Mar 29          Good Friday Prayer Service at 1:00 pm
Mar 30          Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil at 8:00 pm
Mar 31          Easter Sunday

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Continue bringing your 2024 pledge cards!

The Pledge Campaign maybe over but we continue to receive pledge cards. Blank pledge cards are available beside the bulletins as you walk in. Just fill it out and place it into the plate during the Offertory.
If you are unable to come on Sunday, simply contact our Stewardship Chair Kathy Burdick at burdickka8889@gmail.com to report your pledge for 2024. Thank you for your pledge to the mission of St. John’s!

Bad Weather? Good Question!

Tis the season for challenging weather conditions. Anytime we think there may be a travel concern due to weather, pay close attention to all of our communications channels: Instagram, Facebook, and email. Rev. Michelle will put an announcement out on Saturday sometime before 8:00 pm ONLY IF worship is either canceled OR we move the worship to Zoom. If there is no announcement, we will worship in the sanctuary as normal.

2024 Vestry Nominees

Every year at our Annual Meeting, we elect new people to our Vestry and offer thanks for those who have served and whose terms have been completed. Each term on Vestry is 3 years. We also elect a new Warden every year, because the Warden’s term is 2 years. You can learn more about the responsibilities of Vestry on our website at: http://www.stjohnskingston.org/welcome/church-leadership/

Please be sure to come to our Annual Meeting on January 28. We will combine worship with the business of the congregation so we begin at 10:00 am. There will be a children’s activity that day so that parents can easily join us.

Warden Election: This year, we have no one to stand for the Warden election. So, Claudette Ford has graciously agreed to serve for a few months as a Warden emeritus to support our ongoing Warden, Leah Siuta. Thank you to both of our Wardens for your continued leadership!

Vestry Member Election: This year we have 3 slots to fill and 3 people have discerned they would like to stand for election. Please offer your thanks to all 3 for offering to serve our church community in this way. They are:

Keith Ferber – Keith already serves as Treasurer and, because we had an open slot after last year’s ballot, the Vestry voted to appoint him to that slot in May of last year. Because this slot was open last year, we are electing Keith to finish that 3-year term, completing it in 2026.
Michelle Hoffman – Michelle has been coming to St. John’s for a number of years now and brings her 3 young children – Mira, Xavier, and Isla. She’s an active part of the childrens/families ministry. This 3 year-year term will end in 2027.
Bruce Dodge – Bruce is a new member of St. John’s and was just received into the Episcopal Church on December 10 by Bishop Mary. He’s an active member of the choir. This 3 year-year term will end in 2027.

And thank you to our ongoing Vestry members: Sara Hutton, Paula Wisneski, and Kathy Burdick.

Turning On A Light

Dear Ones,

Today, I offer you a short piece that reflects one of my favorite movie quotes: “Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we spend most of our time stumbling around in the dark. Suddenly, a light gets turned on… ”
(Marty Baron from the movie Spotlight)

Our spiritual journey isn’t necessarily always going to be one that includes turning on a light and seeing the shadows in our lives. The season of Epiphany is the time in our liturgical year that compels us to do this. I think sometimes we believe that, if we don’t look at something that is nagging at us, we can just continue on… through perseverance and strength. But I have come to believe that the magi’s trip to the manger tells us a different story.

For it’s not a bare light bulb that gets turned on as if we’re being questioned by someone who just wants to judge us or punish us. The light that gets turned on, is the Light of Christ – A compassionate light that helps us to develop the same love and compassion that Jesus demonstrated in his life. And this light helps us to see all of creation as wholly Beloved. In this light, we are not judged. But we do develop the capacity to hold ourselves accountable to the gift of Life we have been given and that we share with all.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for January 14
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany

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

THIS SUNDAY: Godly Play and King Cake after worship.
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: Feb 8: The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese; Mar 7: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride. Speak to Lynn Dennison, Barbara Johnston, or Claudette Ford for more info.
St. John’s Annual Meeting: January 28 Mark your calendars and be sure to attend the St. John’s Annual Meeting this year. We combine our worship with the business of the parish for an informative, reflective, and spiritually sustaining morning. Brunch will be served.
Online Morning Prayer: Join hundreds of others from across the Episcopal Diocese of New York every weekday morning at 8:00 am. Start your day with prayer, connection, and peace. Go to dioceseny.org/online-morning-prayer to join.
Choir Rehearsal takes place on the third Sunday every month. Please speak with Terry Earles.
Children’s Formation Schedule Younger people are always welcome to worship. There is a family space set aside with right-sized tables/chairs and toys. We also offer the following schedule of children’s formation: First Sunday-All Ages Worship; Second Sunday-Godly Play Story; Fourth Sunday-Children’s Activity.
Social Hour Sign-up! If you enjoy staying after worship for snacks and socializing, please sign up to host. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Talk to Barbara Johnston if you have questions.

The Good News of St. John’s