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

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The Good News of St. John’s

August, 2023

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

  5. 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

     

  6. 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

     

  7. 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

  8. June 9, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    TODAY: FRIDAY!
    St. John’s Game Night is back

    Sunday’s Guest Preacher: The Rev. Richard Witt

    This week we’re giving Rev. Michelle a break from preaching by inviting our guest, the Rev. Richard Witt to offer his gifts as Sunday’s homilist. Richard has served as the Executive Director of Rural and Migrant Ministry since 1991. He drives all over the state of New York working to offer support and advocate for just working conditions for migrant workers. In 2022, Richard was named by the City and State of New York as one of New York’s Top 100 Faith Leaders. Richard is also a member of the Reparations Commission of the Diocese of New York. For us here in Ulster County, Richard is a kind and humble neighbor who genuinely loves people and is committed to justice and God’s Love. This Sunday’s plate offering will be donated to RMM.

    Afterwards, stay for coffee hour and attend a special forum with Richard to learn more about the work of Rural and Migrant Ministry.

    ______________________________________________________

    To learn more, click here

    ______________________________________________________

    Gun Violence Awareness

    Gun violence is a health crisis that is raging out of control in the US. It is now the #1 cause of death of children (ages 1-18) in our country. The last few decades have seen such a sharp increase in gun violence that the first weekend of June is now devoted to National Gun Violence Awareness. This is marked by the color orange and the Wear Orange campaign.

    We cannot simply live in helpless outrage. We must commit to acting and to holding our leaders accountable for the action and their inaction. Please consider how you are called to act as an individual and speak more with Rev. Michelle or Deacon Sue about how you imagine St. John’s might respond as a congregation.

    Friday, June 2, Deacon Sue Bonsteel helped lead a vigil alongside our neighbors at Congregation Emanuel. Deacon Sue along with several others created an installation on the front lawn of St. John’s that has been on display all week – orange t-shirts with the names of all those killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, TX on May 24, 2022.

    Thank you to Lynn Dennison, Bob Dennison, and Roger Bonsteel for helping create the installation. And also thank you to these members of St. John’s for attending the vigil alongside Deacon Sue: Claudette Ford, Barbara Johnston, Lynn Dennison, Bob Dennison, Nilsa Rodriguez-Jaca, and Roger Bonsteel.

    ______________________________________________________

    St. John’s Vestry Notes

    The St. John’s Vestry meets on the third Monday of the month, except for July. Here are the highlights from the May 15 meeting. The next meeting is June 19.
    • The Vestry voted unanimously to:
      • elect Kathy Burdick as the Clerk of the Vestry. Kathy already serves as a member of Vestry.
      • appoint Keith Ferber to the open slot on Vestry. Keith already serves as Treasurer.
      • obtain a credit card, naming Keith Ferber (Treasurer) and Michelle Meech (Rector) as those authorized to use it.
    • The Vestry discussed the following:
      • The new Rector schedule and the addition of Morning Prayer to the worship life of St. John’s.
      • Issues, concerns, and income from the Rental Program.
      • The proposed Events Schedule, discussion to-be-continued at the June meeting.
      • Scheduling a Mutual Ministry Review that will help to define ministerial responsibilities of Rev. Michelle, Officers, Vestry, and Staff. This is in response to the reduction in Rev. Michelle’s hours and responsibilities.
    _____________________________________________

    Living Into


    Dear Ones,The Season After Pentecost is the longest liturgical season we have in the church year. From the Feast of Pentecost (this year, May 28) through the beginning of Advent (this year, Dec 3), this season spans late spring, all of summer, and most of the autumn. We see all sorts of changes during this liturgical season. And the color we use for all of this change is green. Green is, of course, the color of growth.

    During this year’s Season After Pentecost, St. John’s is living into a change of pattern for our common life. Change is not always embraced, as we know. We are all designed to find patterns of life and behavior that suit us and keep us comfortable. Change can be stressful, which is perhaps the main reason we do our best to avoid it. But it’s an inherent aspect of growth, integral not only to our survival, but to our flourishing. We are called by God to discern how to mindfully move through the changes and chances of life so that we care for ourselves and care for one another.

    Some of the ways St. John’s is changing: We are re-establishing Bible Study, we are growing our Family Ministries, we are creating new relationships with people and organizations through the regular rental of our facility, there are new faces at St. John’s nearly every week… and all of this asks us to be adaptable, open to possibility, and willing to actively engaged in the process of becoming. In other words, it all asks us to be willing to change.

    A few weeks ago, I spoke about specific changes to my schedule as the Rector of St. John’s and to our worship life. This week, I want to let you know how the St. John’s leadership team is responding to the shift in how we accomplish the tasks that support our common life. There are 2 ways the leadership is addressing this:

    1. The Staff and Officers of St. John’s will meet later this month to discuss how to develop new workflow patterns so that what we do relies less on the position of the Rector to act as coordinator.
    2. Later this year, the Vestry will be asking the Rev. Allison Moore to come and perform a Mutual Ministry Review, a tool that will help us look at our patterns of leadership and prayerfully determine how to best live into a new way of leading St. John’s.

    The Vestry is moving into a new “season” of leadership themselves. For the last 18 months, the Vestry has been in the process of making difficult and emotional decisions about the financial sustainability of St. John’s. They have been faithful to this task and have done excellent work. With the change in the Rector’s hours, this process comes to an end and the Vestry is now free to more fully lead other aspects of our common life – like stewardship, events, and mission.

    I also hope you’ll note in the Vestry Notes (above) that the Vestry has voted Kathy Burdick in as the new Clerk of the Vestry and Keith Ferber into the open Vestry seat. Both now have dual responsibilities so please offer your thanks to both Kathy and Keith for their faith, commitment, and leadership.

    • As Clerk, Kathy’s main tasks are administrative, making sure the Vestry is attending to its responsibilities to the larger church and tracking/communicating the business of the Vestry and congregation. Kathy is also serving as a Vestry Member, which is not required for the position of Clerk.
    • Occasionally, the Vestry has an open seat either because someone has stepped down from their responsibilities or there were not enough candidates at the time of Vestry elections in January. When this happens, the Vesty is empowered to appoint someone into that seat for the remainder of the year until the next election. Keith is already functioning as Treasurer of St. John’s and now he is also a full member of Vestry with voice and vote.

    Finally, I promise that not all of my missives to you this summer will be about this change (nor will they be as lengthy!). But I also know that clear communication during times of change is vitally important. My door remains open to you. And if you’d like to speak with anyone on the Vestry, please do. We all want this process to be as transparent as possible so that we can grow into this change together.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    __________________________________________

     

    Announcements for June 11
    The Second 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: Stay for a special Forum with the Rev. Richard Witt of Rural and Migrant Ministries to learn more about the work they do across the state of New York.

    NEXT SUNDAY: Pastoral Care Meeting The Pastoral Care Team meets after worship on Sunday, June 18. All are welcome.

    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. Discussion dates announced soon, in the meantime, go ahead and buy the book. Want to learn more? Talk to Lynn Dennison, Sue Bonsteel, or Rev. Michelle.

    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 to let her know your interest.

    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.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
    June 9:       St. John’s Game Night! Begins at 6:00 pm
    June 11:     Guest Preacher – The Rev. Richard Witt and Special Forum after worship about Rural and Migrant Ministries
    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

  9. May 25, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    The Feast of Pentecost

    Pentecost is called the “birthday of the church” by some people because it is on the Day of Pentecost, as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles, that God’s Holy Spirit came to live inside of us, giving us the ability to prophesy and call upon the name of Christ for our salvation. We celebrate this with the fiery color of red because God’s Holy Spirit is often experienced as a flame that becomes lit inside of us, a passion that leads us more deeply into God’s mission in the world. But how do we know it’s God’s Holy Spirit that is leading us and not our own whims and desires? A good question for this auspicious celebration. We hope to see you there.

    ______________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________

    ______________________________________________________

    Announcing: St. John’s Bible Study

    Meeting Times

    Beginning June 18, St. John’s will have 2 times available for Weekly Bible Study with Rev. Michelle. Our first study will be the Gospel of Matthew.

    • Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 pm via Zoom.
    • Sundays from 8:30-9:30 am in person.

    How To Participate

    1. Email Rev. Michelle. If you wish to register for either meeting time, email Rev. Michelle at michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com. Check your email each week for the assigned text and zoom link, if applicable.

    2. Purchase your own Bible. You will need your own Bible. If possible, select one that is annotated and has the apocrypha. There are online and audio options available, if you prefer. Talk to Rev. Michelle if you would like to use one of the St. John’s Bible.
    Any of these translations will work for our study:

    • New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
    • New International Version (NIV)
    • Common English Bible (CEB)

    The following resources are not required, but you may find them helpful for your study:

    • The Inclusive Bible
    • The Message by Eugene Peterson
    • The First Nations Version of the New Testament
    • Harper Collins Bible Dictionary
    • Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament by John Walton
    • Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament by H. Wayne House

    3. Prepare by reading the assigned scripture. Each week, Rev. Michelle will assign scripture reading. Read through the passage 1-2 times before coming whenever possible but if you cannot, please don’t let that prevent you from attending.

    4. Come to every gathering. Of course, you will miss from time to time. But consider how much it means to you when others show up to class. Your presence is just as important as everyone else’s. We all learn as a community. You can attend either gathering each week – Wednesday OR Sunday.

    ________________________________________________

    Upcoming Events and Programs

    Friday, June 2: Gun Violence Awareness Event at 5:30 pm
    St. John’s joins our neighbors at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley and other members of the Kingston Interfaith Council in marking national Gun Violence Awareness Day. Park at St. John’s and join the gathering at CEHV for a vigil. Afterwards, we will return to St. John’s to create an installation on our front lawn. If you’d like to help with materials, contact Deacon Sue Bonsteel. #wearorange
    June 4:       All Ages Worship – The Creation Story
    First Sunday is always All Ages Worship and this month we will be telling the Creation Story from Genesis so be ready to participate!
    June 9:       St. John’s Game Night! Begins at 6:00 pm
    Our beloved Game Night returns! Bring your favorite game and your favorite “Friday-night-food.” And bring a friend! Contact Sara Hutton if you have questions or would like to help: shutton324@gmail.com
    June 11:     Guest Preacher – The Rev. Richard Witt of Rural and Migrant Ministries
    Richard is the Executive Director of Rural and Migrant Ministries, traveling all across the state to advocate for and support migrant farmworkers and their families. After worship, stay for a special forum to learn more about the work of RMM. All monies given in the plate that day (that are not identified as pledges) will be given to RMM.
    June 17:     Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12:30
    The Episcopal congregations in Ulster County all meet regularly for learning, support and to plan events. If you’re interested in joining the St. John’s contingent, talk with Rev. Michelle.
    June 18:     Sunday Bible Study begins in person at 8:30 am, Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Pastoral Care meeting, after worship
    It’s a busy Sunday at St. John’s, including a special Father’s Day prayer. Be sure to join us!
    June 21:     Wednesday Bible Study begins on Zoom at 12:00 noon
    Join us for weekly Bible Study – Wednesdays at 12 noon via Zoom or Sundays at 8:30 am in person.
    June 25:     Instructed Eucharist and Worship Forum
    Join Rev. Michelle for a special learning opportunity. Our regular Sunday worship will be an “instructed Eucharist.” So, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the symbols and actions in our Eucharist, this is your chance. Then, after worship, she will offer a forum on the differences between Eucharist and Morning Prayer. This will be an opportunity for us all to begin learning and re-learning this form of prayer as we incorporate it into our regular worship pattern at St. John’s.
    July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
    Every summer, we take advantage of the air-conditioning and move our worship to the Parish Hall. We will gather for worship this way until September 10.
    July 15:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie
    Our newest bishop, the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd, will join this special gathering of the Mid-Hudson congregations for Eucharistic worship, potluck reception, and a conversation with the bishops. More information coming.
    _______________________________________

    All Things Bright and Beautiful


    Dear Ones,

    If you’ve never walked through our beautiful Memorial Garden, you really need to do so soon. Late May through June is the perfect time of year to experience the garden in all its glory. It’s not only St. John’s members who benefit from this outdoor sanctuary, I see people sitting in this peaceful space all the time. It’s a lovely ministry for our neighborhood.

    Of course, the caretaking of any garden doesn’t happen by itself. I remember when I got here over 7years ago, the front end of the garden was just as beautiful as it is now – lush greenery surrounding the St. Francis fountain, inviting all to take a seat and relax. But the back end of the garden was another story. Weeds had taken over the pergola area and the paint was chipped in several places. It’s was very uninviting.

    Today, the welcoming beauty of the entire Memorial Garden is sustained by the efforts of many people.

    The Columbarium Board (Lynn Dennison, George Mine, and Sarah Corrigan) oversee the entire space and ensures that the maintenance of all the greenery occurs – trees, bushes, and lawn. In addition, of course, they oversee the Columbarium itself, where many members of St. John’s have found their final resting place. Right now, the Board is looking to replace the front gate of the Memorial Garden, which has aged due to time and weather. If you’d like to make a contribution, to this effort, please speak directly with either Lynn or George.

    And, as many of us know, the pergola area of the Memorial Garden has been cared for by our own Director of Music, Terry Earles, for the past four years. Terry has experimented with various plantings and added some new features to deepen the peaceful beauty we can now all find there. He also raises money for his plantings so if you would like to contribute, please speak with him.

    If you would like to join any of the gardeners in this ministry of care and beauty, please do speak with them. But I hope you will take the time to thank them. They all give so much for so many.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ___________________________________________

    Announcements for May 28
    The Feast of 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.

    Gun Violence Awareness Day Event: On Friday, June 2 at 5:30. Join members of St. John’s and Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley for an event in support of the National Gun Violence Awareness Day, sponsored Everytown for Gun Safety, Sandy Hook Promise, and others.

    St. John’s Game Night is back! Our beloved Game Night returns on Friday, June 9 at 6:00 pm. Bring your favorite game and your favorite “Friday-night-food.” And bring a friend! Contact Sara Hutton if you have questions or would like to help: shutton324@gmail.com

    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. Discussion dates announced soon, in the meantime, go ahead and buy the book. Want to learn more? Talk to Lynn Dennison, Sue Bonsteel, or Rev. Michelle.

    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.

     

  10. May 18, 2023

    This Week at St. John’s

    The Feast of the Ascension

    While most people know about two of the major feasts of the Christian calendar (Christmas and Easter), many forget that there are others. And the Feast of the Ascension is one that is often overlooked. Always celebrated on a Thursday, 39 days after the Resurrection of Easter, the Day of Ascension marks Jesus’ final ascent from the finite, earthly realm 39 days after the Resurrection at Easter. We will be celebrating the Ascension this coming Sunday and talking about what it means for Christ to ascend above all in our own hearts and minds. How do we offer ourselves over to Christ?

    Godly Play!

    Bring your young people to our upstairs Godly Play room so they can join Leah Siuta for this Montessori-based curriculum. Everyone sits in a circle as Leah tells a story from our Godly Play shelves and are invited to wonder with God to bring the story closer to their own hearts and minds. Then, the group comes down to join us for Eucharist.

    Inquirer’s Class – What We Do: Ministry and the Baptismal Covenant

    Our Final Inquirer’s Class from 1:00-3:30 in the Rectory  
    As Christians, we believe in an incarnate God – the Christ – who came to teach us that all the law and the prophets point to Love. And that this love isn’t something we feel, it’s something we do. Jesus’ two commandments of: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself aren’t about warm fuzzies and “thoughts and prayers.” These commandments must guide our participation in this incarnate reality. As we deepen our journey with Christ and our faith matures, we learn how to become ministers in the world. Our Baptismal Covenant is the place we return to in order to remind ourselves of God’s dream for all of us.

    Bible Study Survey – please turn them in!

    As Episcopalians, scripture has a central place in our worship and is foundational to our Christian faith. As such, we are called to take the reading of scripture seriously, to open it up and explore its meaning. A Weekly Bible Study is an opportunity to interrogate scripture alongside others while developing relationships and community. What can we learn from scripture for our lives today?

    If you are interested, please take this survey to let Rev. Michelle know when you are able to attend. Fill out this electronic form OR use the paper form found in your Sunday worship bulletin. Make sure they are turned in by Sunday, May 21.

    ______________________________________________________

    The Consecration of Matthew Foster Heyd

    This Saturday, May 20 the Diocese of New York consecrates Matthew Foster Heyd as Bishop Coadjutor at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. If you are not coming to be in person, you can still join the celebration online through the cathedral’s youtube page.The procession begins at 10:15 am on youtube.com/@CathedralSaintJohn

    Paula Wisneski and Roger Bonsteel will process with the St. John’s banner. Paula and Roger will then sit with other members from St. John’s – Sue Bonsteel, Kathy Burdick, Claudette Ford, Rebekah Hendricks, Ana Hernandez, Don Hughes, Liz Moeller, and Nilsa Rodriguez-Jaca. Finally, Rev. Michelle will be processing and sitting with the Committee to Elect a Bishop.

    Afterwards, there is a reception outside on the Cathedral Green where Liz will host an activities tent for the kids.

    We’ll take plenty of pictures and share them on Instagram and Facebook and here in next week’s Good News from St. John’s.

    Let’s all keep Matt and his family in our prayers as they make this transition into his new ministry.

    You can learn more here and also watch a video of Matt talking to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

    ____________________________________________________________

    Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes


    Dear Ones,
    I hope you recognize the title of this comes from David Bowie’s iconic song, “Changes”.

    As the Vestry and I have been communicating to you all, there are changes to the Rector’s salary and schedule occurring this year. In April, the Vestry voted to reduce the hours of the Rector to 60% beginning June 1. This comes in response to the need to move into more sustainable financial practices, a situation that is facing all denominations across the country. We are not alone. And I want to be very clear that this decision is one that I have supported at every step. I agree with the decision of the Vestry.

    There are 2 changes I am announcing here – my schedule and a shift in our worship. In addition to more lay leadership of events, committees, and other ministries, these will be the most significant changes for us to move through as a congregation as we live into this new arrangement.

    Rev. Michelle’s Schedule as of June 1
    Sundays: I will be with you for every Sunday service, except for the Sundays that I am off. I have been given more Sundays off with this change.
    Mondays: I am unavailable, except for our monthly Vestry meetings.
    Tuesdays: I am unavailable.
    Wednesdays: I am unavailable, except to lead our online Centering Prayer.
    Thursdays: I am available all day and will have office hours for part of the day in the church building, should you wish to stop by or need to access the office. More details coming.
    Fridays: I am available all day.
    Saturdays: I am available but will spend the better part of the day writing the sermon and preparing for Sunday.

    With the rest of my time, I will be doing some work for the Diocese of New York as well as leading more retreats to supplement my income. Of course, I will be with you all for regular liturgical events regardless of when they fall during the week – Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Christmas, etc. And should there be a pastoral emergency, I will be there.

    The officers and I will review this schedule in September.

    Shift in Worship
    One of the ways in which we are looking to reduce costs is to be strategic about how much we spend on supply priests on the Sundays when I am not with you. Because the Episcopal Church requires that sacraments be presided over by ordained priests or bishops, we need to re-think our worship pattern, if we want to spend less on supply priests.

    About 50 years ago, Eucharist was not offered every Sunday in the Episcopal Church. Instead, we worshipped together in a service called Morning Prayer. Morning Prayer can be led by anyone in the church – ordained leaders or lay leaders. And we have several lay leaders at St. John’s who are offering to expand their ministry: Leah Siuta, Wes Dangler, and Lynn Dennison.

    This summer, St. John’s will begin a practice of having Morning Prayer on the “5th Sundays.” By that, I mean that in any month where there are 5 Sundays, we will have Morning Prayer instead of Eucharist on that last Sunday. Even if I’m here, I will officiate over Morning Prayer on the 5th Sundays.

    We hope to incorporate the beauty of this liturgical form into our common worship life so that, when Leah, Wes, or Lynn are called upon to lead Morning Prayer, everyone at St. John’s feel more comfortable with and prepared for worshipping through this form.

    Before we begin this new worship pattern, I will offer a forum and other forms of teaching to help us all with the shift. For those of you with a Book of Common Prayer, you can get started by taking a look at the form beginning on page 75.

    Finally, I ask for your grace and understanding as we all move into this new arrangement of congregational life. Having said that, I can understand if you feel angry or upset about this. These are common emotions when it comes to changes. So please do reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I am here and my door is open.

    In God’s love and mine,
    Rev. Michelle

    ________________________________

    Announcements for May 21
    The Feast of the Ascension

    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.

    Join the thousands of Episcopalians who are committing themselves and their households to sustainable living. Go to: sustainislandhome.org

    Gun Violence Awareness Day Event: On Friday, June 2 at 5:30. Join members of St. John’s and Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley for an event in support of the National Gun Violence Awareness Day, sponsored Everytown for Gun Safety, Sandy Hook Promise, and others.

    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, while it focuses on caring for people with dementia, is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family. Dates announced soon, in the meantime, go ahead and buy the book. Want to learn more? Talk to Lynn Dennison, Sue Bonsteel, or Rev. Michelle.

    Summer Grief Support Group: Hudson Valley Hospice comes to St. John’s for the summer to offer a Family Summer 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.

    St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
    May 28:     Feast of Pentecost and Renewal of Baptismal Vows
    June 2:       Gun Violence Awareness Event at 5:30
    June 4:       All Ages Worship – The Creation Story
    June 11:     Guest Preacher – The Rev. Richard Witt of Rural and Migrant Ministries, Special Forum after worship about Rural and Migrant Ministries
    June 17:     Ulster Deanery Meeting
    June 18:     Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Pastoral Care meeting, after worship
    June 25:     Rector’s Forum: Celtic Christianity, after worship
    July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall

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