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Community Prayer for All To Recite:

Lush mountains, vast Oceans
Tiny seeds, grains of sand
Each one beautiful
Each one precious
You, our Creator, have given us a gift
The gift of land and air and sea
Without these seemingly basic gifts of creation
We could not exist
You have entrusted us to care for this world
To till and to tend, to plow and to sow
Help us to meet the challenge of preserving our earth
Help us to conserve our resources
Teach us to not exploit the trees
To not pollute the rivers and the sky
Bless us with a sense of gratitude and contentment
Fill us with the miracle of creation
We are blessed
We are responsible
We are one with all creation

By Rabbi Susie Heneson Moskowitz, Sr. Rabbi, Temple Beth Torah, Melville, NY

Please remember that this week we celebrated Earth Day. Plant some flowers or a tree in the coming weeks. Pick up some garbage or plastic if you see it. Commit yourself to recycling, reducing your carbon footprint and caring for this planet each and every day. St. John’s is committed to environmental stewardship! Our solar panels have given us a zero sum electric bill in the new section of the church. We have invested wisely and the dividends are both financial and environmental. Please recycle all paper at the church and help us to reduce our consumption. On Sunday April 30th there is a program at the Cinema Arts Center at 3pm. Please join us for "Kiss the Ground" with a community discussion to follow.

There is a Trash Problem in Huntington according to Supervisor Ed Smyth:

The only garbage landfill on Long Island is expected to close in less than 2 years. The cost of shipping existing municipal solid waste (garbage) off Long Island is projected to increase dramatically over the next 5 years.

Cut back your garbage usage any way you can!

1. Buy unpackaged fresh fruits and vegetables
2. Invest in produce bags to transport fresh fruits and vegetables
3. Bring your own grocery bags.
4. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – A weekly box of fresh organic veggies, fruit, meat, eggs or even beer straight from our local farms to a pickup location near you. No middlemen, no warehouses.

Today we are back in John’s Gospel. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus is the Word of God made flesh that we might know that Jesus is our redeemer, God’s son. John uses the metaphor of the good shepherd that we might understand the relationship between us and our Lord. God came to us that we might have abundant life in him. We are called into relationship with Jesus Christ through the breaking of Bread and the scriptures. Jesus, the good shepherd, will walk with us through these troubled times and into the higher plane of the Beloved Community if we will stop to hear his voice. I urge every member to develop a deep relationship through worship, prayer, and service to the Living God. Join us daily as we walk together with our Lord at 9:00 am through Morning Prayer. If you are going through a difficult time, we will stand beside you and pray with you. Follow the path of righteousness that Jesus has laid before us and have your soul restored. We will make it through this difficult time.

Join us next week on Monday at 6:30 pm for a bible study of Jonah on Zoom. Our Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 12-3. We need volunteers to sort and sell our cloths and collectibles. Mary Beth and our Thrift Shop team really need your assistance! You can offer one day or come every week. Please join us.

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan