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They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
 (Mark 9:30-37)

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

For all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Luke 14:11)

therefore, the prisoner in the Lord,
I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love, (Eph.4:1-2 I)

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Col. 3:12)

But he gives all the more grace;
therefore it says, God opposes the proud,
 but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)

I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other;
for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted. (Luke 18:14)

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8).

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

    Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. 
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:26).    

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan

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Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:27-29)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do they say I am? Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” The message, “You are the Messiah,” is simple and profound. The entire Gospel of Mark pivots on the passage that we read today. This passage begs to ask all its hearers, “Who is this Jesus?” Now lots of people believe that Jesus was all sorts of things. If you believe he was a prophet, you are not alone. If you think he was a healer, you are not alone. But at the moment when you truly believe that he is the Messiah, the son of God, your life is just about to undergo transformation. This pivot often brings us in directions that we had never even imagined and require a letting go of our own expectations. The Good News of the Gospel is simply that God loves us and that we should love God and our neighbor.  Life becomes one continuous blessing when you finally realize that everything comes from God. Jesus was God’s showing forth of God’s loving kindness. I’m not one of those prosperity preachers that says that God rewards the faithful with material goods. God loves us deeply and wants us to love one another deeply. It is by the expression of love that we bring others to Christ. We are putting a focus on community involvement in our Thrift Shop and Harvest Fair. Outreach is a sign of God’s love and we need to team up with our community. Right now we are stock piling our Thrift Shop for fall and the Harvest Fair. We need your slightly worn fall clothes, hand bags, household goods, and jewelry. Giving to the Thrift Shop not only cleans out your closet, it helps those who cannot afford the high price of new goods today and supports St. John’s and our ECW. Corporate gifts for the Harvest Fair go directly back to the community through donations to nonprofit organizations. Donations of items to raffle off and baskets help both our community and St. John’s. Please pitch in this year by putting a sign on your lawn, asking restaurants for coupons, and purchasing raffle tickets. 

Our other priority this week is connecting with our children, youth, and young adults and their families. Our clergy will be going out of our way to meet and talk with you. Many folks from St. John’s, Huntington and St. John’s, Cold Spring Harbor worked together on the music that the children and youth will perform “Step Right Up" on Sunday September 15th. My thanks to Bryce, Alex and all those who gave of their time this summer for two weeks in August. Our Christian education program (Sunday school) begins on September 15th at 9:40. We give thanks for Christine and all our teachers. First Communion, Confirmation, and Youth Group are also starting up in September. Youth group meets on Sunday from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Confirmation retreat day is Saturday, September 21st at St. John’s, Huntington. Classes are for 7-12 grades. Please touch base with Fr. Zach, Christine, or Noelle if you are interested. We urge all families with children and youth to attend this Sunday. Next week on September 22nd from 12-3, St. John’s will have a family barbeque at Centerport Beach. The Youth Group will provide activities for the kids! The ECW provides the drinks and our breakfast group provides the hamburgers and hot dogs. Please sign up at church if you would like to bring a salad or dessert. 

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan

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The Work of Our Faith

The Lectionary in September has us reading through some of the Letter of James. It is, quite frankly, an underappreciated letter in many Christian circles, because some of it seems to fly in the face the theology found in Paul’s letters. Namely, the theology of sola fide, or that through faith alone we are saved, as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” And this weekend, it is a glaring example when James famously quips, “Faith, without works, is dead.” 

What the role of works is in our Christian faith is a well-known and discussed topic of our faith. But the two, faith and work, are not in contradiction. Indeed, Jesus connects these two when he says in Matthew, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father, who is in Heaven.” We may also remember the Gospel of John reading from August 4 when, after the disciples asked him what they must to do perform the work of God, Jesus respond, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 

“Well, wait Fr. Zachary! Which one was is it?!” Our ultimate work is the belief of the saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This then leads us to do all other work, even the work of our secular careers because it is a sustaining faith that leads us through good and bad. Our faith gives us our true purpose and identity and drives us to know Christ more and heed the call to minister and act in a world that so desperately needs to know Christ better.

I encourage you to read the full Letter of James. It’s found right after the Letter to the Hebrews and is only 5 chapters long. It has great practical wisdom for you today. 

In Christ,
Fr. Zach

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What is at the Heart of our Faith and Traditions?

Cartoon by Steve Thomason

Our Gospel this week comes sandwiched among many stories of Jesus doing miraculous works and how the people respond to his display of power. In Mark 6, Jesus fed the 5000, he also walked on water and healed the sick in Gennesaret. Further along in chapter 7 of Mark’s gospel, Jesus continues to travel among the Gentiles and perform healing miracles.

It is interesting that in today’s reading, the Pharisees are present – and they must have traveled quite a distance from Jerusalem just to check on this Jesus of Nazareth. What is he up to? Perhaps to find a legal loophole in his teaching? Perhaps to trap him?

The Pharisees, dedicated to obeying and pleasing God follow traditions that helped them maintain their identity as God’s people – especially in a world that was tempting them to worship their neighbors’ Gods. Nothing wrong with that…yet in their desire to obey God they established strict rules which ultimately became traditions. In doing that, they lost sight of the line between God’s law and their own human opinion. They emphasized human tradition which caused them to neglect – and even forget the deeper Torah law -- Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

They question why Jesus allowed his disciples to eat with unwashed hands but at the heart of their concern was a more significant issue: Jesus’ authority and the transformative nature of his teaching. There is nothing wrong with honoring traditions – and certainly, Jesus, as a Jew, observed many of the Jewish customs and traditions. Yet, there comes a time when holding on to a tradition can become a trap which prevents us from grasping the big picture.

Jesus is asking us to search for God in our hearts – what is God’s will as we make decisions each day? Sometimes we must step outside of traditions – especially when they have lost their meaning – and even more especially, when they trap us into an inability to see where love is – what is the most loving thing we are being called to do?

I invite each or us to reflect on some of the traditions we hold dear here at St. John’s. Where did they come from? Do we know why we adhere to some practices? What prevents us from stepping out in faith to stretch and grow into an even more loving community?

In God’s Boundless Love,
Deacon Claire

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As I mentioned last week, we welcome Fr. Mark Kowalewski to church this week where he will be both preacher and celebrant for both services. Please give him a warm St. John's welcome!

This Sunday, the lectionary ends the Bread of Life discourse from chapter 6 of John's Gospel. Some of the disciples remark, "This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?" The Gospel can be hard to accept because it makes us confront things about ourselves we'd rather not remember and let go. But only in Jesus can we truly let it go because it is forgiven. Erased. Scrubbed from our souls. Indeed, when we feast on the Bread of Life we are going through a spiritual cleanse. This isn't just taking communion, mind you, but feasting on all the spiritual graces and blessings bestowed upon us.

In the Letter to the Ephesians reading, Paul's famous words of "putting on the armour of God" also mirrors such a feasting. We are not fighting against our flesh and bones but powers of darkness that seek to destroy us. If you've ever read C.S. Lewis' classic The Screwtape Letters, you know what I mean. We have access to the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, because in the Bread of Life is found the what is needed to be prepared for our Christian lives.

We are soon to start a new program year. A new school year for some. A new year in which we can perhaps renew our lives in those spiritual blessings, so that whatever the future may hold, we know we are walking with God's protective love over us.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Zach

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This week has been a very somber week as we said goodbye to Mary White and Marie Gilles. Trusting in our sure hope as Christians, we know that we will see them again and we continue to hold their families in our prayers.

This Sunday, we welcome back Fr. Dan Ade into our pulpit for all Sunday services and as celebrant for the 10 am service. Fr. Dan helped us out last year by doing supply work during Fr. Duncan's sabbatical. Fr. Mark Kowalewski will be with us the following week. Fr. Dan and Fr. Mark are ministry partners leading the Incarnation Chapel in Carle Place. We welcome them both to our community!

As we continue John's Bread of Life discourse this week, I have been especially nourished by Vacation Bible Camp (I feel "School" gives kids the wrong impression!). We have been meeting Jesus in various points of his ministry, the temple, the beach, the Sea of Galilee, among others. The children have given some great insight into who Jesus is for them and where they meet him. We are excited to showcase the musical soon at St. John's in Huntington.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Zach

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Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

The idea of bread coming down from heaven was probably not hard for Jews in Jesus time because they had the stories of manna coming from God during the exodus. The idea that second century Christians ate the body and blood of Jesus would have been very difficult to grasp. As you are probably aware, the very idea of drinking blood runs contrary to Jewish law. The derivation of the Eucharist does come in part from the Jewish family meal. Before the meal, a loaf of bread was blessed, prayers were spoken, and the bread was shared. After the meal, a cup of wine was blessed, more elaborate prayers were spoken, and the cup was passed. The Jewish service at the temple included one reading from Moses and one from the Hebrew Bible. Psalms were read, the shema would be sung, prayers were then given and the teaching of scripture would follow. If you don’t remember the shema it sounds something like this. “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your might." The shema was fairly easy to understand, but Jews were also expected to follow the law, which was difficult to understand.

At the Last Supper, Jesus teaches the disciples a new understanding of this ritual. Jesus was Jewish and therefore would have celebrated the Passover. Jesus simplifies the law to two commandments. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. You all know the words of institution from the Eucharist. Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to the disciples, “Take eat, This is my body which is given for you.” Jesus blood and body are given for our sins. In Jesus suffering, death and resurrection we are offered new life in him. The wine and bread become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

The early Christians shared a meal at their first services and eventually shared just bread and wine. Unfortunately this ritual becomes distorted in the middle ages. Only priests are holy enough to drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ and the public observes a ceremonial ocular communion. The service is very fancy with all the bells and whistles. Certain parts of the service become very important, such as the raising of the chalice. The people can see, but are not allowed to taste the communion.

Priests begin to charge for blessings and the assurance of eternal life. The public feels that the church and the priests have taken too much control of God’s grace. They rebel against the rituals of the church and the reformation is born. In an effort to correct their excesses the true meaning of the Eucharist is lost. Scripture and teaching become the central focus of the Protestant service. The Protestant Church looked distinctly different from the Roman Catholic Church at this time. The Church of England reformed the service into a language that the people could all understand. The prayer book sought to retain many of the rituals of the Roman Catholic Church that Protestants like the Puritans had completely abandoned. Our church was known as the middle way. The Anglican Theologian Hooker said, “Through Christ’s presence in the sacrament, God’s causative presence in the world was transformed into his saving presence in the Church.”

The understanding of the Eucharist was still difficult for our church. Transubstanciation or the changing of the physical elements to actual body and blood was refined to consubstanciation by Luther. This meant the changing of the elements to the body and blood of Christ while retaining the physical elements of bread and wine at the same time. Today, the Holy Eucharist is the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s day in the Episcopal Church (BCP). The bread we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ and likewise the cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. We are talking about the real presence of Christ in the bread and the wine.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

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Over these past few weeks, we have encountered imagery of bread and eating in the lectionary readings. These stories should evoke for us the feast that is to come in the Gospel stories, that of the Last Supper, which is itself a preview of the Great Feast we are promised in the new heaven and new earth. The Gospels, however, never call that meal “the Last Supper” and it receives its name from Da Vinci’s famous painting. It being called the Last Supper seems to me to be a misnomer and if anything, it is the First Supper!

Jesus is the bread of life. He is what sustains us and satisfies our desires and needs in order that we might grow spiritually, which in turns helps us grow in all other ways as well. In the Old Testament reading, the Israelites are complaining because they would rather be in slavery than drudge through the wilderness. I can be a complainer. I recognize this in myself and am always working to recognize the blessings I have in my life. Gratitude is key when fighting the ungratefulness that complaining usually stems from. In the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about maturity that we are called to in our life in Christ. I know I need to reflect on this often. God knows and hears our complaints, and He will answer them.  In what ways may we need to spiritually grow so that we may feast on the bread of life, grateful of what our God has done, allowing the complaining that hardens our hearts to melt away? 

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Zach

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Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:1-14)

Jesus gives thanks for the five loaves of barley and two fish, blesses them and distributes enough food for a stadium full of people. This is unlike his transformative miracle of turning water into wine and all the healing miracles. Jesus creates enough food for women, children, and 5000 men. This story was never denied because of all the eye witnesses. So I ask again, “Who is this that feeds 10,000 people with five loaves and two fish and has twelve baskets of food left over?”

John ends his Gospel by saying, “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:24-25)

In Christ’s love,  Fr. Duncan

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Only a few days ago the disciples almost sank in a storm. They cried to Jesus who was asleep in the back of the boat. When the wind and seas were calmed, Jesus accused them of not having faith. Then he sent them out to evangelize and heal the world two by two. Jesus asked them to pack light. He sent them out with the Holy Spirit, but they were still ripe with doubt, fear and anger.

“The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves, taking nothing with them except the cloths on your back.” (Mark 6:30-32)

Last week I returned from Bermuda on a 43-foot sailboat and we hit some rough wind and waves. We heard that a fifty foot boat was lost, but the crew was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. That was the third boat to sink on the way to and from Bermuda in that past week. The captain asked me what my last sermon was, I told him, “Jesus may be asleep, but he’s still in the boat. We are going to get through this.” I heard the captain on the radio later saying, “we are going to be fine.” When I arrived home, I went to Shelter Island for a week of rest and relaxation.

I turned on the news when I got home to hear of the Trump assassination attempt. This past week I spoke to many folks that mentioned to me that they were broken by the politics in our nation, and a few said that they were very angry. Some expressed fear and doubt.

Please take time for rest and renewal this summer, Jesus asks us to balance our doing and our rest. Jesus asks us to have faith in the Holy Spirit and to rest in the love and peace of God that passes all understanding. My sermon for this week is entitled, “Many of us have cracks in our pots, but God’s love is the glue that keeps us strong.”

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan