When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

This is a very special Sunday at St. John’s. We celebrate our children who wish to receive their First Communion. “The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again… The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life”
(Catechism of the BCP).

We also celebrate our Confirmands and those Received by the bishop. They have promised with all of us at St. John’s to:

Continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread,
and in the Prayers.

To persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever they fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.

To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving their neighbor as themselves.

To strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity
of every human Being.

Bishop Provenzano has asked every congregation in the Diocese of Long Island to follow Jesus by loving the ones who need our love most. This follows Jesus’ call to, “Feed my sheep.” Through the ministries of the ECW, we provide food to the Helping Hands Food Pantry, cloths through our Thrift Shop, contributions to dozens of local charities from our Harvest Fair, free loads of laundry through Laundry Love, presents for the poor through Adopt of Family, Thanksgiving baskets to victims of domestic violence, and aid to families devastated by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico through our mission trip from June 2nd to June 9th. On Saturday May 10th, the ECW and Youth Group will hold “Zingo” to provide summer camp to underprivileged children in our area. The ECW provides the means, but the congregation of St. John’s and the community support these events with their time, talent, and treasure. I want to thank every member in our parish that gives to these events from the bottom of my heart. Loving Jesus Christ and feeding his sheep are at the heart of everything we do.

 Let us take a moment this Sunday to give thanks and praise to God. It is through God’s that we receive forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit to strength us on our journey, and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.  “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever (Psalm 30:11-12).

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan