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In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted

place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him.

When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He

answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the

message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” (Mark 1:35-38)

Jesus heals the man with an unclean spirit and then goes out and heals many people. God’s sovereign power is bringing the world to wholeness and the renewal of all creation. Jesus is given the power of God to do the purpose of God so that you and I will believe in God, believe in the gifts given to us by God, and that God might be manifest in the way we live our lives. Jesus went out to the margins of society, respected the dignity of everyone, healed the sick, forgave the penitent, and ate with sinners and outcasts. His words were so revolutionary that they transformed the community. His action of giving up his life on a cross that they might have life was also transformative because it means that we are forgiven and loved by God, even when we mess up. Please come to church, listen to the Gospel, be transformed by the revolutionary words of Jesus Christ, and shine the light of Christ so brightly that it will transform others to the love of God. If we are all made in the image of God and beloved by God, there is no reason to judge others. We are called to become a Beloved Community of God.

Prayer was the foundation of everything Jesus did and prayer is the foundation of everything we do at St. John’s. Our Morning Prayer group meets every weekday at 9:00 am and prays for our friends, neighbors, and for all in need. This week our service times on Sunday are 8:00 am and 10:00 am and we will have our annual meeting after the late service in person only! We will elect one warden and three vestry members. I ask each committee to personally invite new members to join their group. If you are a new member or would like to help out please consider joining our Altar Guild, Thrift Shop, EFM, Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice Ministry, HIHI, ECW, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Youth Group, Christian Education, Readers, Spirituality Group, Nursery School Steering Committee, Ushers, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, Prayer Shawl Ministry, St. Hilda’s Guild, or one of our other committees. 

This lent we will focus on health, wellbeing, and prayer. There will be Ash Wednesday services at 12 noon and 7:00 pm on February 14th. On February 18th and March 5th, we will have Stations of the Cross in person at 6 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm and a program on health, wellness, and prayer at 7:00 pm. On Tuesdays from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm we will join the Spiritual Imagination Center for Meditation and Contemplative Prayer Online. Our time together will include a guided meditation based on an ancient monastic prayer practice, time for intercession, silence, and beautiful ancient chants.

Our Sunday school starts at 9:45 am and we would love to get a few more new families to attend regularly. 1st Communion classes are Wednesdays at 5:00 pm. 1st Communion will be April 7th at the 10:00 am service. Next Week, February 11th is the Super Bowl and our Youth Group is collecting donations to feed the homeless in the Huntington Community. We will cook for the homeless in Huntington on February 13th and 15th. Please join us in the kitchen at 3:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering for the Thrift shop on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays, please drop by on one of those days from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan