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

Belonging

Belonging is a deeply held desire. We believe that all creatures belong to God as beloved children of God; no one is ever separated from God’s wild and extravagant love. God’s love is unending and unbounded, ever-flowing and never ceasing because it is God in whom we find our true home. As St. Paul says, it is in God that “we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

At St. John’s, we strive to practice a radical hospitality that exemplifies God’s Love. Every Sunday when we gather for Eucharist our invitation is explicit: All are welcome at God’s Table. Even if you’ve never been a member of a church before, you are welcome to receive at St. John’s. All really does mean all.

While our Table fellowship is open to all, membership in a congregation of the Episcopal Church brings with it a commitment to the Church community. Baptism is the first marker of membership in the Body of Christ. As a sacrament, Baptism is a primary vehicle for God’s grace. It marks us as Christ’s own and ushers us into a life of formation in the way of Jesus. Our rector, Rev. Michelle, will meet with families of young children or with individuals who wish to be baptized and develop a program of preparation. We baptize people four times a year:

  • The Feast of the Baptism of Christ (second Sunday in January)
  • The Great Vigil of Easter (on the eve of Easter Sunday)
  • The Feast of Pentecost (late May or early June)
  • The Feast of All Saints (first Sunday in November)

Please contact Rev. Michelle at least three months prior to the above date if you or your child would like to be baptized: michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

Once baptized, people may choose to undergo Confirmation as a mature declaration of their faith and readiness for lay ministry. Or, if you have been baptized in another Christian tradition, you may choose formal Reception into the Episcopal Church. Rev. Michelle offers Adult Inquirer’s or Confirmation classes, as the need arises to help people prepare for these. Both Confirmations and Receptions are performed by a bishop, either at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York or here at St. John’s when we receive a visitation from a bishop.

Members of St. John’s also make financial commitments in the form of pledges to support the three-fold ministry of the congregation – Worship & Formation, Stewardship, and Compassion. To learn more, visit our Stewardship and Giving page.