This Sunday: Honoring the Ministry of the Choir
Stewardship Campaign Update!
Stewardship Sunday has been moved to November 5 with a special coffee hour and a short Stewardship Campaign Introduction by this year’s Chair, Kathy Burdick. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Abundance.” Our generosity is informed by the simple theological truth that God has blessed us infinitely with all of the gifts of Creation. Join us for this year’s Stewardship Campaign as we take stock and realize that our lives and our response to God’s generosity are Rooted in Abundance.
Being Baptized Into the Body of Christ and
Being Received Into the Episcopal Church
We have 3 dates for baptism coming up:
November 5 (All Saints’ Day)
December 10 (Bishop Mary Glasspool visits)
January 7 (Celebration of the Baptism of our Lord)
The next date for Baptism will be March 30 during our Easter Vigil.
And the next Receptions into the Episcopal Church will take place on December 10 when Bishop Mary Glasspool visits. Receptions are done alongside confirmations in the Episcopal Church because they are both done by a Bishop. The next date for being received will be in June of 2024 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.
To learn more about being baptized and being received, please visit the St. John’s website.
Preparing for All Souls and All Saints’ Sunday
The celebration of All Saints’ Sunday every year as one of the major feasts in our calendar, is our opportunity to commemorate all of the Christian saints – both known and unknown – recognizing and upholding their presence as witnesses of the saving grace that is Christ Jesus. We renew our baptismal vows on this Sunday to remember our own life in Christ and the gifts that come from our life of faith, using this as a wonderful time to baptize new members into the community of Christ. Alongside this celebration is All Souls’ Day when we honor all “the faithful departed.” On the calendar, All Saints’ Day is November 1 and All Souls’ Day is November 2.
Our tradition at St. John’s is to honor All Souls at the beginning of our All Saints’ worship service every year. Rev. Michelle begins the worship service by asking us to rise in silence while she speaks the names of all those who have died and we wish to honor. It’s a solemn moment during the year that is deeply meaningful to all of us who wish to take time to bring to our minds those who have never left our hearts.
If you would like to honor someone who has died by having their name read aloud during the All Souls’ recitation, please make sure to either:
1) list them on the bulletin board in the Vestibule before Thursday, November 2
OR
2) email Rev. Michelle by Thursday, November 2 at michelle.sjohnskingston@gmail.com
Feeling Grief, Holding Hope
Dear Ones,
I spoke with a friend in Maine earlier today about the shootings that took place this week. After I finished speaking with them, I wrote a note to Rabbi Yael about the war between the Israelis and the Palestinians. There is so much. So, so much.
I wish I had God’s eyes in these moments, so that I could see further ahead and have the certainty that mass shootings will end, that the Israelis and Palestinians will find a way, that we will stop ignoring the the signs of climate change all around us… that we would cease in our violence against one another, against this planet, and against ourselves.
But I don’t have that certainty. Sometimes that drives me to avoidance, admittedly. A poor attempt to “think positively” or lose myself in work. We all have coping mechanisms when things get to be too much.
But on my better days, what I do have is the ability to feel and acknowledge my grief and anger and sadness – to give all of them their due in whatever way seems to work. And once I have, I invite God’s quiet presence in my mind so that the stories and the blame don’t consume me.
I always find that this is when Hope arises again. And this is so incredibly important. It might be the most important thing.
I’m reminded of a quote from writer and activist Arundhati Roy:
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
My beloved, Ana, has written a beautiful tune for this deeply profound sentiment. I invite you to listen here. It just might help in the face of all that’s happening.
In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle
Announcements for October 29
The Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
St. John’s Office HoursWednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon
Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.comHave an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.
NEXT SUNDAY: Stewardship Campaign Begins! with a special coffee hour and a short campaign intro by this year’s Chair, Kathy Burdick.
Outreach Meeting after worship – Sunday, November 5: All are welcome to join the conversation about allocating resources towards Outreach efforts. All this and we’re celebrating the Feast of All Saints’ with All Ages Worship.
Honoring All Souls’: Our tradition at St. John’s is to honor All Souls at the beginning of our All Saints’ worship service every year (next week!). Rev. Michelle begins the worship service by speaking the names of all those who have died and we wish to honor. If you would like to honor someone who has died, please make sure to either: 1) list them on the provided sheet which is posted on the bulletin board in the Vestibule, or 2) email Rev. Michelle by Thursday, November 2 at michelle.sjohnskingston@gmail.com
Interfaith Gathering of Gratitude: Every year the Kingston Interfaith Council brings our congregations together in November so that we can share prayers, songs, food, and fellowship. Tuesday, Nov 14 at 7:00 pm at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley (3 doors down).
Page Turners Book Club meets the first Thursday of the month, at 2 pm, in the parish hall. New members are always welcome! Upcoming selections: Nov. 2: The Trackers, by Charles Frazier, Dec. 7: Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson. Speak to Lynn Dennison, Barbara Johnston, or Claudette Ford for more info.
New (or new-ish) to the Episcopal Church? If you or your child has not been baptized, we have 3 opportunities for baptism coming up. And, if you have been baptized before but would like to be formally received into the church from another tradition, Bishop Mary Glasspool will be here on December 10 to do just that. Please speak with Rev. Michelle about either baptisms or receptions as soon as possible!
Outreach Project: People’s Place Project Santa – This year People’s Place needs blankets for kids up to age 16 for their Project Santa. We’ll have a collection box next to the Baptismal Font near our ongoing People’s Place Food Pantry Donation Box. Please contribute!
St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
Check back, more events/dates being added!
www.stjohnskingston.org/welcome/event-calendar
Nov 2 Page Turners Book Club, 2:00 in Parish Hall
Nov 4 Vestry Reflection Day
Nov 5 Feast of All Saints’: All Ages Worship, Stewardship Sunday, Outreach meeting after worship
Nov 11 247th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Nov 12 Godly Play for kids during worship
Nov 19 Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
Nov 26 Sunday School Activity Day for kids during worship
Dec 3 All Ages Worship: Season of Advent begins
Dec 4 Advent Quiet Day, Christ the King in Stone Ridge, 10-4
Dec 7 Page Turners Book Club, 2:00 in Parish Hall
Dec 10 Visitation from Bishop Mary Glasspool, Godly Play for kids during worship
Dec 17 Healing Sunday; Choir Rehearsal after worship
Dec 20 Longest Night Service at 6:00 pm
Dec 24 Advent IV worship at 10:00 am
Christmas Eve Worship: Family Service 3:00 pm; Choral Eucharist 8:00 pm
Dec 31 Morning Prayer
Jan 28 St. John’s Annual Meeting
Feb 10 Installation of the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd as Bishop of New York, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC