Across the Episcopal Church, we are all celebrating Religious Life Sunday on January 22, an opportunity for all of us to learn more about vowed religious life and to give thanks for the vowed religious’ ministry in and among all of us. Rev. Michelle has asked our friends, Shane Phelan and E. Broyles – the Companions of Mary the Apostle (CMA), to join us. Since their inception 10 years ago, CMA have found their home in Ulster County in and among the Episcopal parishes here, supporting clergy and parishioners in many ways. On Sunday, Shane will be preaching and both Shane and E will stay afterwards for a coffee chat to talk about the ministry of CMA and the life they lead.  We look forward to seeing you then!

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2023 VESTRY SLATE
Standing for election on January 29, 2023:
Warden 2-Year Term: Leah Siuta
Vestryperson 3-Year Term: Kathy Burdick

People Rolling Off Vestry:
Lynn Dennison finishes 2 consecutive 2-year terms as Warden (plus a 3- year term on Vestry prior to that).
Sheena MacGregor-Pilz finishes her year, completing a 3-year term.

People Continuing on Vestry:
Warden: Claudette Ford (current term ends 2024)
Vestry members serving until 2024: Liz Moeller and Nilsa Rodriguez-Jaca
Vestry members serving until 2025: Paula Wisneski and Sara Hutton

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Consider Masking

While masking remains optional at St. John’s, you are encouraged to consider wearing a mask during worship to help keep down the transmission of covid, flu, and other illnesses. Masks are available at both entrances.

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Following Jesus

I have spoken about how I came to the Episcopal Church several times in my sermons. I have also spoken about my “conversion” experience of truly coming to terms with what God’s Love means for me. But I honestly haven’t spoken all that much about the decision I made to follow Jesus.

The reason I bring this up is because that was the Gospel message last week and that is the Gospel message this week too – following Jesus. Last week it was John’s version of Jesus calling the fishermen and this week it’s the same story, just Matthew’s version of it. And for both Matthew and John, it seems that there is a definitive moment when these fishermen clearly make the decision to drop everything and follow Jesus.

I have to say that I find myself jealous of that kind of clarity… where one moment, I’m living one reality and the next moment, it’s something completely different. That’s not my experience.

Rather, my experience of following Jesus has been one of gradual discernment over time – moments in which I make small, subtle decisions that reflect more and more a deeper desire that seems to be centered in something/someone other than me and my immediate concerns/needs. Decisions I make about the use of resources… about how to spend my time and energy… about what it means to love others. I am a very different person now than I was when I started going to Trinity Episcopal Church in Bend, OR about 20 years ago. And I honestly don’t think I was a bad or selfish person then. I didn’t need to overhaul my life. But I also didn’t realize just how much more to life there was and how much more expanded my heart and mind could become. I wonder then, what is coming? How will my life be different? Who am I being called to become?

And I wonder if you’ve experienced something similar – where following Jesus has been a gradual discernment process. Or is your experience more like Simon/Peter or Andrew… where suddenly you knew Jesus was calling you, and things changed quite dramatically in your life? From my perspective, I think Jesus is ok with either of the above and anything in between. At least I hope so.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for January 22
The Third Sunday After the Epiphany

On Monday, Jan 16, most of the country will, hopefully, be spending some time honoring the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but at St. John’s, we will honor him tomorrow – Sunday, Jan 15. So come and help us do just that. Rev. Michelle’s sermon will be a reflection on his work and writings, and we will sing hymns from our African American Hymnal, Lift Every Voice and Sing II to further honor his ministry.

January 15 is the third Sunday so we have Godly Play planned for all the kids! Parents, come a few minutes early to bring the kids upstairs for their Godly Play lesson and they will be back down to join us for Eucharist.

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Consider Masking

While masking remains optional at St. John’s, you are encouraged to consider wearing a mask during worship to help keep down the transmission of covid, flu, and other illnesses. Masks are available at both entrances.

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St. John’s: Roles, Responsibilities, and Contacts

When the pandemic hit in the early months of 2020, the entire world was faced with a lot of change. One of the ways we changed at St. John’s had nothing to do with the pandemic but was because our parish administrator of 25 years, Cindy Puetz, retired in 2020. From that point on, nearly all of the administrative duties have been on my shoulders. And I took this on willingly during the pandemic for several reasons.

Now that Suzanne Campise is our Office/Kitchen Administrator, I am giving some of these responsibilities to her. Suzanne works 10 hours/week for St. John’s, spending most of her time meeting with potential renters for our spaces and managing the building schedule and rental program. In other words, if you need to know what’s going on in the building, she’s your person. But Suzanne is happy to help you with parish business if she can and, if she cannot, she will direct you to the right person.

Suzanne Campise, St. John’s Kitchen/Office Administrator
Suzanne will be in the office on Thursday afternoons to print bulletins, but she checks office emails and phone messages throughout the week from home. Here’s how you can contact her:
St. John’s Parish Questions: stjohnskingston@aol.com  OR  845-331-2252
St. John’s Rental: kitchenatstjohns@gmail.com 
Leave a message at any of the above and Suzanne will get back to you or forward your message as soon as she is able.

Additionally, our feeding ministry, Angel Food East is generally in the kitchen on Mondays and Thursdays. The AFE Kitchen Manager Cheryl MacGahan receives messages at: 845-331-6538. If you would like to volunteer in the kitchen for AFE or as a driver, let me or Lynn Dennison know, and we will connect you with Cheryl directly so she can schedule you.

Finally, my schedule will change as follows beginning Jan 16: My Sabbath day will move to Fridays which means that I am unavailable except for pastoral emergencies on that day of the week. I will be also be in the parish office on Mondays from 11-4 so you’re welcome to come by the office if you need to chat for a few minutes. If you need more time, however, please let me know beforehand so we can schedule an appointment. Of course, you’re always welcome to contact me via phone, text, or email.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for January 15
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany

The season after the Epiphany is always filled with beginnings and revelations as we continue delighting in God’s presence in and among us. Here are some of the things coming up at St. John’s.

House Blessings – one of the traditions of this season is to bless our homes for the new year. During our Epiphany Celebration on Friday this past week, we marked our own doors of St. John’s to acknowledge and remind ourselves of God’s blessing of Light and Love. So that you can do this at home, there are take-home kits available with everything you need. Questions? Ask Rev. Michelle
Becoming Beloved Community – A few months ago, Rev. Michelle spoke about a program of the Episcopal Church called Becoming Beloved Community. During Epiphanytide, we will be learning more about this program to prepare us for our Lenten learning. Look for more information on the Parish Hall bulletin board in the coming weeks.
Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 29 – The Annual Meeting is a time for the congregation to learn more about the business (budgets, buildings, etc.) and ministry plans for the past year and the coming year. Everyone’s presence is requested. We will have childcare for this special meeting.
Adult Inquirer’s Class – Beginning in mid-February, Rev. Michelle will offer an Adult Inquirer’s Class (6-8 sessions). All members of St. John’s are welcome to attend. We will cover topics like: How do Episcopalians read the Bible? How did the Episcopal Church get started? What do Episcopalians believe? Please reach out to Rev. Michelle via email if you are interested and we will determine the best class times based on the availability of those interested. Childcare will be made available for in-person sessions.

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Welcome back Suzanne!
You may remember that last year, we hired Suzanne Campise as our temporary Kitchen/Office Administrator so that she could help us get our Kitchen Rental program up and running. Because she was due to have a baby in June, she only committed to a few months but boy, did she get a lot done in those couple of months! We hired Lydia Picknell in her position, who did a nice job but decided to go nursing school. And now, Suzanne is back! She is still working mostly from home, but once she gets childcare worked out for Amara (who is now 6 months!), she will be in the office one day/week. Rev. Michelle will also be posting regular office hours. Look for Open Office Hours to be posted soon… and welcome back, Suzanne!

Pledge Envelopes Are Here
If you made a pledge to St. John’s for 2023, your pledge envelopes are available. You can find a set with your last name on the box where you pick up your bulletins near the lectern. If you’re new to using them or have any other questions, speak with Lynn Dennison.

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Consider Masking

While masking remains optional at St. John’s, you are encouraged to consider wearing a mask during worship to help keep down the transmission of covid, flu, and other illnesses. Masks are available at both entrances.

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Christian Formation

I came to Christianity as an adult even though I grew up in a small town in Western PA in the 1970’s, a place and time when it was assumed that everyone was Christian. But I never went to church unless I went with my friends on occasion, so I grew up understanding Christianity largely through the lens of what I saw on TV… which, to me, presented a slick, hypocritical version of what I knew about Jesus, and most especially, what I understood about God from my own personal experience.

When I decided to explore Christianity and eventually “hitch my wagon” to this faith in my 30’s, I took Christian Formation very seriously. I wanted to learn as much as I could through a more mature lens than the one I had in my teens and twenties. Enter a person named Bill Ellis, a most generous, smart, and gifted priest. I have often said that it’s his “fault” I’m a priest.

As I think back on it, it wasn’t just Bill. I learned more by being in a community of learners than I ever could have by myself. So I am also deeply grateful to the members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bend, OR who showed up to learn alongside me. I look back on that time as one of sweetest periods of my entire life.

I offer this story because often people characterize Christian Formation as the programming we offer to kids or believe that taking part in church formation programming is not important. But we never stop being formed by God so our spiritual life deserves as much attention, if not more, than the other parts of our lives. After all, our spiritual life will prove to be more crucial for us in throughout our lives than just about anything else.

And for those who, like myself, may come to St. John’s with no connection to a formal faith community and identify as spiritual-but-not-religious, Christian Formation is central to becoming a person of faith. Learning in community is the most meaningful part of that. It’s one of the ways we show up for each other and truly get to know the people with whom we worship. We listen and we are heard.

Over the next month, I will be asking you to fill out a survey because I’d like to know more about the things you’d like to learn, the questions you have about God and the way God works in the world. I’d like to know your thoughts through this survey and have your participation in our programming. I know you won’t be able to come to every forum or every piece of programming – no one can come to everything. But this is a community you have decided to invest yourself in, so come. Learn. Be with others and reflect on what you’ve heard. Deepen your spiritual life. Stretch your imagination. Take in something new and let God work with you.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for January 8
The First Sunday After the Epiphany

Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service in the Parish Hall. Coffee will be ready when you arrive at 10. Bring your extra holiday treats to share with everyone.
Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!
Jan 8: The Baptism of Jesus: At the beginning of the year, we renew our Baptismal Vows as we tell the story of Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist (our patron saint!).

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Consider MaskingWhile masking remains optional at St. John’s, you are encouraged to consider wearing a mask during worship to help keep down the transmission of covid, flu, and other illnesses. Masks are available at both entrances.

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The Coming of the Light

I heard someone say the other day that they always talk about the Winter Solstice as the first day of summer. It’s an interesting thing to think about, really. We know, of course, that the Winter Solstice is the official beginning of winter – cold, snow, ice – all happen in the 3 months after the winter solstice. But what this person was referring to, is the slow movement of the earth as the Northern Hemisphere begins to tilt toward the sun again.

As we know, the movement of the earth was happening long before Jesus was born, and long before the birth of Christianity after he died. The observation of the solstices, the celebration of the return of food sources in plant and animal life, the marking of time throughout the year… these have all been happening for eons in different parts of the world. They have always been ways of recognizing God is with us and our response of gratitude for this is deeply important to our humanity and, therefore, to our personal salvation.

As Christians, we have come to associate these seasonal shifts with Christ in the celebration of Christmas and Easter, among others. There was, of course, some political reasons for this back when these holidays were set into the current calendar. Nonetheless, we are still celebrating the fact that God is with us. And Christ – the Incarnate God – is what has been with us throughout all time. Jesus gave to us a profound way of understanding this truth that he found in the core of Jewish teaching – we are here for one another and, therefore, systems of oppression must be overturned. This is also deeply important to our humanity and to our personal salvation.

We have come to see this knowledge as Christ’s light. Jesus’ gift to the world. That the incarnation is not here just for our consumption, something for which we “ought to be” grateful. We are a part of the incarnation and, therefore, responsible for its care so that our gratitude then manifests as a kind of custody and safe-keeping. We are one another’s keepers.

The light we receive at this time of year, the good-will and the love birthed among us… this light is what begins to grow in us… if we let it. And as this light grows, so does our understanding of how to tend to this life within us and around us. Moving from consumers of God’s abundance to inheritors of God’s abundance, fostering true growth of God’s Love and Light.

This is God’s promise for each of us. May this year be one of Love and Light for each of you.

Emmanuel: God is with us.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for the Christmas Season
December 25 – January 6

Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am. Join us on Zoom for hymns and readings! Click here to join.
Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service in the Parish Hall.
Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!
Jan 8: The Baptism of Jesus: At the beginning of the year, we renew our Baptismal Vows as we tell the story of Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist (our patron saint!).

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Consider MaskingWhile masking remains optional at St. John’s, you are encouraged to consider wearing a mask during worship to help keep down the transmission of covid, flu, and other illnesses. Masks are available at both entrances.

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Thin Spaces

Ana and I watched a movie called Summerland last night on Netflix. It’s a beautiful story that will likely make you cry so, you know, bring the tissues. The title comes from the name of the afterlife, according to Theosophy (an American spiritualist movement in the 19th century). In a book by Andrew Jackson Davis called The Great Harmonia, he calls “Summerland” the highest level of the afterlife a human can hope to enter. It’s an in-between place where souls go between their incarnations. As Christians, whether or not we believe in “Summerland” is not the point of my post today.

My point is that it seems to me that “Summerland” is like “thin space,” when our everyday experience seems to take on a new character that seems to be closer to the non-physical world. Some call this heaven, some call this nirvana. It’s an experience of, perhaps, feeling a bit closer to God, or a bit more emotionally vulnerable, or even an experience of lightness.

Even before I started following a Christian path in my 30’s, I thought of Christmas as one such “thin space.” Perhaps it comes from staying up on Christmas Even to watch the old Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life… that I would come to think of Christmas as a magical time – not about presents but about an other-worldly sweetness that comes to be embodied in this reality.

It’s as if something shifts in our consciousness and, dare I say, in the consciousness of people across the world, enough so that reality itself is imbued with a kind of luminous presence. We become more aware of the beautiful and powerful fragility and connectedness of all life. What has been so solid and impenetrable, seems to become tender and more real, more immediate.

I believe that people who are sensitive to this shift in energy can sometimes cause people to act out even more during the Christmas season. We have proof that “the holidays” can be stressful for people. But I think, if we slow down just enough… if we quiet ourselves just a bit… we start to see the shifting towards light in our lives and in the world around us.

My sincere prayer for each of you this Christmas is to find this “thin space” to be restorative for you. A respite for your soul. An experience of God’s Love that comes with the magic of true belief: Christ is born among us again. God’s promise becomes incarnate.

Emmanuel: God is with us.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for the Christmas Season
December 25 – January 6

For the fourth Sunday of Advent we have another day of abundance!

Godly Play will be offered for younger people in our upstairs classroom. Parents, please come a bit early so you have time to get kids upstairs and take a moment or two to relax before worship begins.

After worship this week, we have the following events:
Greening the Sanctuary – It’s all hands on deck to help with greening the sanctuary – banners, candles, greens – all for our Christmas Feast next weekend!
Cookie Exchange – bring 2 dozen (or more!) of your favorite cookie, candy, cupcake, or other goodie and take home a variety from all there is on offer!
St. John’s Harvest Fundraiser – We still have plenty on offer so you can buy your last minute Christmas presents or restock your own cupboard! We take credit/debit cards, checks, cash, and paypal.

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Plenty of fun and meaningful activities are planned for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Come and join in the celebration. Sundays are in bold.

Dec 18, Advent IV: Godly Play offered for kids during worship and the Greening of the Sanctuary after worship – Plus: Cookie Exchange! Bring 2 dozen of your favorite cookie and take home a variety plate of cookies.
Dec 20: Longest Night Service 7:00 pm A space for grief, sorrow, and woundedness. Join us in person or online for a service of quiet prayer, readings, music, and healing.
Dec 24, Christmas Eve: Family Worship, 3:00 pm; Choral Festival Worship, 8:00 pm
Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am
Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service.
Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!

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Consider Masking

While masking remains optional at St. John’s, you are encouraged to consider wearing a mask during worship to help keep down the transmission of covid, flu, and other illnesses. Masks are available at both entrances.

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Joy and Sorrow – Both Are a Part of Christmas

I remember the first time I went to a Longest Night Prayer Service. It was the year I graduated seminary in May, there was a sudden and violent death in my family in September, I was ordained to the priesthood in October, and during Advent I was invited to preside at Eucharist for the Christmas service. There were so many emotions running through me: Excitement. Anger. Joy. Anxiety. Grief.

One of the Episcopal Churches in the area offered this quiet service where the lights were dimmed and we were invited in to just be and offer space to whatever was coming up. There were readings and music and quiet. And it felt a world away from the busyness of the consumer-oriented Christmas season. I could listen to the readings, or not. I could sing along with the music, or not. Mostly, it was just a space to give myself permission to feel all my emotions and then find my self in the midst of them. Emotions can trip us up when we least expect if we are unwilling to experience them so giving ourselves the space to do so, is important to our mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Christmas is a powerful time when we remember so many beautiful and heavy things from our lives. And, if we are going through grief or disappointment, it’s very difficult to celebrate Christmas with others who are having fun. We are also in the process of looking forward into the new year in December, taking stock of who we have been and who we want to become. Something is being formed in the darkness of the womb and it is so important to spend time with this part of ourselves.

Please, I invite you to take the time and the space for the practice of giving space and time to yourself. Come to the Longest Night Prayer Service on Tuesday, December 20 at 7:00 pm. We offer it online for those who cannot drive after dark but please come to the Sanctuary, if you can. You don’t have to do anything but come and be. Through music, silent meditation, scripture, and healing prayer, we reach out to acknowledge sadness with comfort and quiet remembrance, to reflect on the losses we have experienced and to remember together the real reason for the season: God is with us.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for Advent IV
December 18, 2022

This Sunday we will be blessing all the socks we’ve collected to support the People’s Place Project Santa Sock Drive. But you can still contribute! If you don’t want to do the shopping, give your money to Deacon Sue and she will be happy to purchase socks on your behalf. Or, bring the socks by the Rectory on or before December 9. Let’s help keep our neighbors warm this winter!

We will also be celebrating St. Nicholas during our All Ages Worship. Rev. Michelle will tell a story about St. Nicholas that involves shoes. Yes, shoes! So EVERYONE, please bring an extra shoe or boot to leave at the door on the way into the church building… or leave your shoes or boots at the door and wear your socks to worship.

After worship, we will have hot chocolate ready so Terry can lead us in a carol sing in the Parish Hall. Bring your voices and your festive spirit. Also, all are welcome to help the Pastoral Care Team write Christmas cards. Cards, pens, stamps, and labels are all set and ready to go!

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Plenty of fun and meaningful activities are planned for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Come and join in the celebration. Sundays are in bold.

Dec 4, Advent II: All Ages Worship celebrating St. Nicholas, Carol Sing with hot chocolate and Pastoral Care Meeting after worship
Dec 11, Advent III: St. John’s Harvest Sale after worship, Rock Academy Concert from 3-5 and Youth Project from 5-7 pm
Dec 18, Advent IV: Godly Play offered for kids during worship and the Greening of the Sanctuary after worship – Plus: Cookie Exchange! Bring 2 dozen of your favorite cookie and take home a variety plate of cookies.
Dec 20: Longest Night Service 7:00 pm A space for grief, sorrow, and woundedness. Join us in person or online for a service of quiet prayer, readings, music, and healing.
Dec 24, Christmas Eve: Family Worship, 3:00 pm; Choral Festival Worship, 8:00 pm
Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am
Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service.
Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!

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Tomorrow! The Bishop Coadjutor Election

Tomorrow on December 3, all eyes will be on the Diocese of New York as we elect our next Bishop Diocesan. Maybe not “all eyes,” but many eyes will indeed be watching from across the Episcopal Church and the larger Anglican Communion. The Diocese of New York is well known, and the election of a new bishop always creates a flurry of interest. You can watch the event here: Special Convention to Elect the Bishop Coadjutor.

Eucharist begins at 9:00 am. This is followed by some reports and instructions (I’ll be making a brief report as the Secretary of the Committer to Elect a Bishop!) and then we start voting. Vestryperson Paula Wisneski was elected by the Vestry to be the lay delegate for St. John’s at convention and, because I am clergy, I am required to vote. The election may be quick or it may take a long time because we go through as many ballots as it takes to elect someone to be our Bishop Coadjutor. (Now, what does “coadjutor” mean? It simply means that this person will assist the current Bishop Diocesan until he retires at which point they will become his successor as the 17th Bishop.)

What slips the minds of many people is that the Episcopal Church is so named because another word for the office of the bishop is the “episcopate.” Why does the Episcopal Church name itself after this office? The bishop is, essentially, the epicenter of ministry for a particular region of the Episcopal Church. The bishop, along with advisement from others in the diocese, sets the vision and missional agenda for the region.

In a diocese as diverse as New York (Staten Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, Sullivan, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Ulster), setting a singular vision can be quite a challenge because the issues we have here in the Hudson Valley are not the same as those in Manhattan, for example. We have more small churches than any other diocese in the Episcopal Church and we have the most well-resourced congregation in the entire Anglican Communion – Trinity on Wall St. It’s a diocese of extremes and, therefore, a diocese of great abundance. Being a bishop in any diocese is a big job, but in the Diocese of New York, it is also quite challenging.

Advent is a time of beginnings and endings. A transitional time. A liminal time. So, as we begin this second week of Advent it is fitting that, as a diocese, have this before us – a beginning and an ending happening simultaneously. The final year of Bp. Andy being our bishop begins just as the first year of episcopal ministry for another person begins. The season of Advent brings this aspect of our human experience into focus for us because the truth is that things are always ending and always beginning.

I ask your prayers upon our 5 candidates for bishop – Matt Heyd, Stephanie Johnson, Matt Mead, Steven Paulikas, and Jemonde Taylor. And I ask your prayers for Bp. Andy Dietsche and the rest of the electing convention tomorrow.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for Advent II
December 4, 2022

This Sunday and next Sunday are the final days to bring socks to support the People’s Place Project Santa Sock Drive. We need all the new socks you can bring for all ages… infant through ages 16. If you don’t want to do the shopping, give your money to Deacon Sue and she will be happy to purchase socks on your behalf. Let’s help keep our neighbors warm this winter!

 

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Nov 27, Advent I: Guest Preacher and Deacon, The Rev. Dcn. Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith
St. John’s Forum – Advent Meanings and Celebrations with Advent Wreath Making after worship
Dec 3: Diocesan Bishop Electing Convention, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC
Dec 4, Advent II: All Ages Worship, Pastoral Care Meeting after worship
Dec 11, Advent III: St. John’s Harvest Sale after worship, Rock Academy Concert and Youth Project from 3:00-5:00 pm
Dec 18, Advent IV: Godly Play offered for kids during worship and the Greening of the Sanctuary after worship
Dec 20: Longest Night Service 7:00 pm A space for grief, sorrow, and woundedness. Join us in person or online for a service of quiet prayer, readings, music, and healing.
Dec 24, Christmas Eve: Family Worship, 3:00 pm; Choral Festival Worship, 8:00 pm
Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am
Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service.
Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!

It’s important to keep everyone as informed as possible about parish finances so that we all can have a better picture of what it takes to have a common life together. Below is the Income and Expense Report as of the end of October 2022. If you have questions, please reach out to our Treasurer, Wes Dangler or one of our Wardens, Lynn Dennison or Claudette Ford.

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Moving Into Advent

Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. As Christians, we celebrate this season as a “threshold time,” a time in between when the end has quite taken place and the beginning isn’t quite in sight yet. But we know that both are happening at the same time. And as humans, this makes sense to us. Although, I think we would like for endings and beginnings to be a little more definitive than they really are.

The truth is that we are always becoming. God created us to live into God’s dream – an existence where the Reign of God is not only possible, but is already on the way, the already-but-not-yet. Hope fills our hearts as we learn to look East – to the sun rising into a new day dawning. And as we live into this this reality, we become changed, awakening to God’s abundant and wild Love that is ours to share.

This liminal space of Advent is one of transformation, I have come to believe, when our hearts seem to be open to learning more about who we are becoming and what we are being called to bring to the manger as the Light of Christ draws us nearer to God. On Sundays, you will note several ways in which we will incorporate silence into our worship, offering us all a gift that we don’t often offer ourselves in our day-to-day lives. And I hope you will take time during this season away from the busyness of the world to reflect quietly.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for Advent I
November 27, 2022

This Sunday be prepared to buy your Christmas gifts AND raise funds for the St. John’s operating budget by purchasing incredible handmade goodness! We have the following items for sale this year that were all made in the St. John’s Kitchen:
Strawberry-Lime Preserves, Blueberry Conserve, Garlic Honey, Applesauce, Autumn Harvest Soup, Rectory Garden Pickled Green Beans, Rectory Garden Bread-n-Butter Pickles, Spiced Tomato Soup, Peach Jam, Lemon-Pear Marmalade, and Cranberry Conserve.
Plus: Ana’s Homemade Granola, Cathe’s Desktop Greeting Cards, and Jocelyn’s Studio-made Beeswax Wraps.

We’ll take credit/debit cards, checks, cash, and paypal!
Next sale date: December 11 after worship

Thank you to this year’s St. John’s Harvest Team: Kathy Burdick, Jeannette Baggot, Barbara Johnston, Sara Hutton, Jocelyn Bergen, and Ana Hernandez!

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Plenty of fun and meaningful activities are planned for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Come and join in the celebration.
Sundays are in bold.

Nov 27, Advent I: Guest Preacher and Deacon, The Rev. Dcn. Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith
St. John’s Forum – Advent Meanings and Celebrations with Advent Wreath Making after worship
Dec 3: Diocesan Bishop Electing Convention, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC
Dec 4, Advent II: All Ages Worship, Pastoral Care Meeting after worship
Dec 11, Advent III: St. John’s Harvest Sale after worship, Rock Academy Concert and Youth Project from 3:00-5:00 pm
Dec 18, Advent IV: Godly Play offered for kids during worship and the Greening of the Sanctuary after worship
Dec 20: Longest Night Service 7:00 pm A space for grief, sorrow, and woundedness. Join us in person or online for a service of quiet prayer, readings, music, and healing.
Dec 24, Christmas Eve: Family Worship, 3:00 pm; Choral Festival Worship, 8:00 pm
Dec 25, Christmas Day: Morning Prayer, online at 10:00 am
Jan 1: Come as You Are Sunday. It’s New Years’ Day so come as you are for a relaxed worship service.
Jan 6, Feast of Epiphany: Epiphany Celebration 7:00 pm. Come for a Friday evening celebration of light and love. Firepit, hot chocolate, singing, and storytelling – activities for all ages!

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Transgender Awareness Week

The week before November 20 is Transgender Awareness Week. This time is set aside because nearly 70% of people in the US believe they have never met a transgender person, which means our collective “experience” of transgender people is informed by more than 100 years of media mis-representation and mis-characterization of trans people. In order to raise our awareness and deepen our compassion for all God’s people, it’s important for us at St. John’s to take this time.

Last year, in 2021, the Human Rights Campaign tracked a record number of violent fatal incidents against transgender and gender non-conforming people, and most of this violence is directed at trans people of color. Christianity has traditionally been either silent about or has been a part of this violence. Yet I believe that Jesus, if he were with us today, living in our context, would recognize this as injustice, as evil.

As Christians, then, we cannot be silent. We must stand with our trans siblings in public ways and open up the space in our lives, so they know their place at God’s Table is theirs to claim. All are welcome at God’s Table. And “all” literally means “ALL.”

Here are 2 ways to participate this weekend:

A Name Greater: A live online workshop on Saturday, November 19 at 1:00 pm geared toward people who want to make their spaces more welcoming to our trans siblings. There is a cost to this so if you decide to attend, please let me know and I will reimburse you. Click here for information. A Name Greater: A Transgender and Christian Training

Transgender Remembrance Vigil: It’s Transgender Awareness week, and especially important that we show our support and solidarity for our trans neighbors. Come to Christ the King Episcopal Church in Stone Ridge on Sunday, November 20 evening at 7:00 pm for a candlelight vigil as we mourn the precious lives lost to anti-trans violence. 3021 NY-213, Stone Ridge.

I know it’s a busy week of Thanksgiving preparation. But I hope that our gratitude for all that God has given us can be channeled into standing with those who are marginalized in such violent ways.

You can learn more about Transgender Awareness Week here.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for Reign of Christ Sunday
November 20, 2022

This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Sunday with All Ages Worship, designed with elements for younger worshippers. We’ll begin our worship by honoring those who have died and continue with a celebration of the lives of all the saints, honoring their company in a renewal of our Baptismal Vows.After worship, you’ll have the opportunity to decorate a candle in honor of your loved ones who have died to light in your home.

And don’t forget: It’s time to turn your clock back on Sunday!

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November 11-12: Diocesan Convention
Rev. Michelle and our parish delegate, Paula Wisneski, will travel to Tarrytown on November 11-12 to meet with all the other congregational delegates from the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Every year the larger diocese meets to discuss, discern, learn, and then vote on important aspects of our common life together. Please offer your prayers for their work this year and stay tuned for future newsletters for more information about how to view these proceedings online.

 

November 13: Commitment Sunday and Stephen Blauweiss Form
Stay after worship for brunch and our next St. John’s Forum. Local author and producer Stephen Blauweiss will come and talk about his latest work – The Story of Historic Kingston. Learn more about our amazing community and buy one of his books for a Christmas gift!

Commitment Sunday marks the official end of our Pledge Campaign so we will gather pledges and offer a special blessing. The Stewardship Committee will continue to accept pledge cards at any time.

November 15: Q&A with the Bishop Candidates
The Diocese of New York is electing a new bishop this year on December 3. Come and meet the candidates in person at a Q&A Session at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Newburgh at 7:00 pm. Pay attention to your email for more details from Rev. Michelle.

 

We give thanks for the members of our St. John’s Harvest Team – Jeannette Baggot, Sara Hutton, Kathy Burdick, Barbara Johnston, and Ana Hernandez. They have cooked up some amazing things that will be available for sale after worship on Sunday, Nov. 20 in the parish hall. All proceeds go to the operating fund of St. John’s. And don’t forget! Godly Play will be offered during worship for our younger members.

November 21-23: Angel Food East Thanksgiving Meal Prep and Delivery
The clients of Angel Food East are homebound due to ongoing illness of some kind. We want to make sure they have a good Thanksgiving meal so during this week, turkey and all the fixins will be prepared, packed, and delivered for our clients. Come and help! Stay tuned to your email to learn more about days/times when more help is needed.

On the First Sunday of Advent, we welcome guest preacher and Deacon Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith as we celebrate the beginning of our new church year on Advent I.
St. John’s Forum – Then, stay after worship for a special St. John’s Forum where we will make Advent Wreaths and discuss Advent spiritual practices.

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Vote This Tuesday!

This coming Tuesday it’s time to vote. While I will not advise you on who to vote for, I will say that our responsibilities as disciples of Jesus the Christ do, in fact, lead us to take part in our public responsibilities to one another. One of these, as citizens of the United States, is to participate in elections. I hope you will vote and I hope that your Baptismal Vows and the lessons given to us in the ministry of Jesus Christ will inform your choice.

If you cannot make it on Tuesday, early voting is available this weekend at the Midtown Neighborhood Center at 467 Broadway in Kingston. If you’re not in Kingston, you can find other Ulster County locations by clicking here.

If you’ve voted in New York before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote. If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail and didn’t provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show ID to vote. Acceptable forms include:

• current and valid photo ID
• copy of a current utility bill
• bank statement
• government check
• paycheck
• other government document that shows your name and address

If you’re a first-time voter and unable to provide ID: You will be able to vote an affidavit ballot.

Thank you for participating!

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

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Announcements for All Saints Sunday
November 6, 2022