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Welcome to St John's Huntington
The Chalice
Friday, December 27 2024

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My dear family in Christ,

It is with deep and conflicting emotion that I find myself writing this message to you. We have just navigated through Advent 2024 – a season of expectation and hope. And now, our hope is with us, as we once again celebrate and welcome with joy the ever coming of Christ into our world.

But the moment has now arrived for me to share with you my departure from St. John’s. Bishop Provenzano and I have discerned that it is time for me to move on. The Spirit is stirring in me to grow and serve in new ministries within our vineyard. The diocese is large, the needs are great, and the deacons are few. I will preach my last sermon on December 29th and my last Sunday at St. John’s will be January 12th. I hope to see many of you on those two dates so we can celebrate our time together – 5 years, in fact! While this departure is earlier than planned, it will afford me the opportunity to spend much needed time with my family before venturing into new outreach work.

I am grateful to our Rector, Fr. Duncan for his encouragement and leadership – giving me the latitude to discover my own ministry – which, in fact is not one ministry but many. And no ministry is done in a silo. You, the parishioners have been open and receptive to new ideas and are always ready to hop on board!

I thank God for the work that Coral puts in to keep us all organized as well as to Alex, whose musical gifts are beyond amazing – and always profoundly touching and healing. Thanking God also for all the creative and vibrant ministries at St. John’s!

So, I leave with sadness and joy. Sadness because I love you all – so deeply have you become engrained in my heart. The opportunity to accompany you on your personal journeys has been your gift to me. And I will miss you. But there is joy, because I know that you are a strong church and that you will thrive and continue to grow through the leadership of Fr. Duncan, Fr. Zach, and your Vestry – which has been so generous to me, and so creative in its forward thinking.

May our loving God be with us all as we continue to serve wherever we are being called. God never abandons us, but at the same time, God does not stand still, and neither must we! 

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord!

Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Posted by: Rev. Claire D. Mis, Deacon AT 01:23 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 20 2024

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‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

   and holy is his name.

 His mercy is for those who fear him

   from generation to generation.

 He has shown strength with his arm;

   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

   and lifted up the lowly;

 he has filled the hungry with good things,

   and sent the rich away empty.

 He has helped his servant Israel,

   in remembrance of his mercy,

 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ (The Song of Mary)

Have you ever just had a good feeling about things? A few weeks ago the bishop came to our 10:00 AM service. The place was packed, the music was fantastic, and the bishop left with a very good feeling about our church. He said that the spirit was present. He felt the hospitality and joy of a community filled with the love of Christ. In today’s Gospel Mary greets Elizabeth and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They rejoice because Mary has given of herself so that the whole world might have a savior. This Sunday we will have the Children’s Pageant at the 10:00 service. I hope you will witness the joy of the Holy Spirit in story of Mary and the birth of our Savior. At St. John’s, God comes to us as the incarnate Word of Jesus Christ to lead us to a new way of life.

Be joyful that we may live faithful lives through this incarnate Word. My hope is that each of you will feel a completeness that comes from being in the place where God has called you. God wants to make a broken world whole and comes to ordinary people to do great deeds. Do you remember the first teaching of Jesus in the synagogue? Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Isaiah proclaimed to an oppressed people that soon they would be freed. For generations and generations, people waited for that prophecy to come true. Jesus is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy and Mary and Elizabeth cannot contain their joy that they have been blessed by God to be a part of it. As Advent comes to an end and the ancient promises are about to be fulfilled, we await in expectant joy. Are you excited that Christmas is almost here? God will come yet again us to free the oppressed and bring Good News to the poor.

St. John’s has been blessed for 280 years that people have rejoiced in the power of the living God. God comes again and again to fulfill ancient prophecy. By the Spirit of God, we have done many good things here. I wait in joyful expectation to hear and see what God will do among us.

Christmas Eve Services, Tuesday, December 24th

4 pm - Rite II Choral Family Eucharist

7 pm - Rite II Choral Eucharist

10 pm - Rite I Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day Service, Wednesday December 25th

9 am - Rite II Holy Eucharist

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

Posted by: Rev. Duncan A. Burns AT 01:35 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
St. John's Episcopal Church
12 Prospect St. | Huntington, NY 11743 | PH: (631) 427-1752
Sunday Services at 8 AM and 10 AM
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