As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:9-12)

We are called to love one another as God has loved us. We need to be a reflection of God’s love to one another. I am very thankful for being in the midst of such a terrific group of people that really care about each other and those who are less fortunate in our community. If you are a new member, please call the church and set up a meeting with the rector. We are starting to get back together at St. John’s and I am always open to visits. If you are a parishioner already and would like to meet me, please set up a time with Coral in the office. We have 10 Lay Eucharistic Visitors that have just been assigned parishioners to take home communion to. If you know of anyone in need of home communion, please let me know. Please let Coral or Christine Dore know if you would like to read at one of our services. This may be done from home or in church, starting on May 23^rd. We are setting up a schedule in June for acolytes, readers, MC’s, Lay Eucharistic Ministers and ushers.

Alex is back in New York and has received his first vaccination. I can’t thank Alex and our choir enough for the wonderful music that they have produced during this pandemic. He will be playing in person at Holy Eucharist Rite II services starting on May 23^rd at 10:00. This service will include a zoom and a Facebook stream. The 8:00 Rite I service will also have pre-recorded music, a zoom and a Facebook stream. 

Our Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice Committee met last night to discuss our next steps at St. John. We plan to run a third 10-week session of Sacred Ground in September. Last week, our facilitators met by zoom with the Presiding Bishop to hear the exciting new programs that churches are doing as their “next steps” in racial reconciliation. Please keep our committee in your prayers as we move forward

Our Thrift shop is getting ready to open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but we need more folks to help. We are working on hanging and marking several times every week. Please contact Nancy or Coral if you are interested.

I would like to thank all the donors who have given to the 275^th Anniversary Endowment and Capital Building Fund. We are starting another historic restoration project after May 15^th to complete some pointing work on the bell tower and Garden of Blessing buttresses. We will also be replacing cracked bluestone on the steps and fixing the bottom of the stained glass windows. Thanks to a recent grant from Landmark Conservatory for $25,000 and a matching grant from our Bishop Provenzano and the Diocese, we will be able to get this work done very soon. 

In Christ’s love, 

Fr. Duncan

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