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HEALTH & WELLNESS SERIES
The next health & Wellness Series will be on Thursday, February 14 at 1pm. Michelle Bontempi will present LIPA’s Residential Energy Affordability Program (REAP) to help LIPA customers determine if they are eligible for programs that will help lower their electric bills.
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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN’S
For the sick: Bob White, Julia Spach, Peg Conner, Phillip Wulfken, Anthony Frates, Tim Olsen, Arline Settle, Eunice Johnson, Sam Bish, Dovie Parvin, Virginia Gibney, Irena Durham, Bill Hinton, Jessica M., Isabel Vagell, Linda Sorrels, Mark Bellissimo, Ann Mulrean, Katie Macaluso, Jamie Herbert, Sue Rosen, Walter, Jean Giacomini, Marylynne LaBrusciano, James Lott, Lorraine, Toni, Patti, David Staudenmaier, Frank Marino, Edward, Liz Scott, Frank Marino, Edward, Lu Stack, Lisa Packard
To have someone entered onto our Prayer List for 4 weeks, please e-mail the church office with the person’s name as well as the requester’s name. The e-mail address is:
Attendance last week was: 159
The Chalice
The weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church
February 3, 2013
From the Rector:
Today in our worship we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, whose actual feast day is February 2. It’s an ancient Feast dating back to the fourth century or earlier. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, it is called “Hypapante,” which literally means “meeting” and signifies the meeting of the Lord and his mother with Simeon the Temple priest and Anna the prophetess. In the Western Church, it has also been called Candlemas due to the ancient custom of blessing the new beeswax candles in conjunction with this feast on this day both fpor use at the altar and to be distributed to people for their use at home. So, today we are celebrating this ancient feast appropriately with candle lights and a procession.
After the second service we will hold the Annual Meeting of the Parish. This is perhaps the most important “liturgical act” outside the liturgy of worship. I call the Annual Meeting a “liturgical act” because liturgy means work of the people. Just as Holy Communion requires the presence and the participation of the laity, the Annual Meeting of the Parish requires the presence and the participation of its members. It would not be meaningful without the full participation of all lay members of our parish. This is indeed a very important work of the people, particularly as we begin the parish-wide visioning process.
For our continued journey, God called a new assistant priest to our community. This year God has called a new intern who is beginning today. Please join me in welcoming into our midst our new intern for ordination, Diane DeBlasio. She has been placed here by the Diocese for her pre-ordination formation and training. Diane has been a long-time active member of Christ Church in Babylon and has had a lot of experience in a wide range of parish ministries. She is a computer engineer who has worked for Grumman in the past and is currently Master Technologist for West Babylon School District. During her internship this year, she will be mentored and taught by me and will take part in various ministries and activities of the parish. I am excited about having Diane and look forward to her working in our midst.
It feels so early to talk about Lent but Ash Wednesday is just a fortnight away. Easter comes early this year. We will hold our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake dinner on February 12. So, please put it on your calendar and join us. For the Lenten Study on Tuesday evenings, the topic of the series is “Embracing a Life of Meaning.” This is a study series put together by a well-known spiritual writer, Kathleen Norris. We will explore five areas of life that matter—belief, the Bible, community, place and us. I hope many people will join in this spiritual journey and conversations.
When our organist Walter McCarthy retired from his forty-year long service at the end of November last year, you may remember that due to Hurricane Sandy and the on-coming Christmas season we didn’t have time to organize a proper send-off. The plan has now been made for Walter’s retirement dinner at Mac’s Steakhouse on Friday February 22. Please see the announcement in this newsletter for details. Although it is middle of Lent, Walter trumps Lent any day, I think. So, I proclaim a special dispensation from the austere Lenten discipline everyone will surely be practicing and encourage all to join in this celebration of the life-long ministry of one who is dear to St. John’s.
Father Allen Shin
VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS WELCOME!
We welcome you to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Established in 1745 this historic church opens its doors to all who seek to deepen their faith, and provides warm hospitality to all. We are blessed by your presence and invite you to fill out a Visitor’s card on the back table of church. Visit the Greeters’ Kiosk in the rear of church, where Greeters are available to answer questions and provide you with a packet of additional information about church services and activities.
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY 2013
Today, the Sunday of football’s Super Bowl, February 3rd, the Youth Group is asking each Parishioner to donate $1.00 to the annual “Souper Bowl” to feed the needy. All the $1.00s we collect today will be used to provide meals, underwear & socks for the people served through HIHI (Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative) which St. John’s is hosting on Friday, February 15th.
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ANNUAL MEETING 2013
Today is the Annual Meeting and Vestry Elections immediately following the second service., which is 9:30 am this week only.
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ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
On Ash Wednesday, February 13 there will be 3 services: 7:30 am, 12 Noon and 7:30 pm.
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LENTEN SERIES 2013
Our Lenten Series “Embracing a Life of Meaning” begins on Tuesday, February 19 with “Belief Matters”.
At 5:30 pm there will be Evening Prayer, at 6:00 pm the Stations of the Cross, at 6:30 pm Soup & Salad Supper and class will begin at 7:00 pm.
Please feel free to invite family and friends as we make this Lenten journey together.
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CANTERBURY SHOP – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Your help is needed in the Canterbury Shop! If you can volunteer on one Sunday, or more, your service would be greatly appreciated. Both Clara Elliot and Mary White, who have both served in this ministry for 40 years, are retiring. Clara Elliot will be outside the Canterbury Shop this Sunday before and after the 10 am service to answer questions and to sign up to volunteers. Please give prayerful thought to volunteering for this long standing ministry at St. John’s.
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HIHI VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers from St. John’s are needed for a HIHI overnight on Friday, February 15 at St. Peter’s Lutheran, Huntington Station. Please contact Rob Wheeler, 631- 424-6035, for more information and to volunteer your time.
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WALTER McCARTHY’S RETIREMENT DINNER
There will be a Retirement Dinner for Walter McCarthy on Friday, February 22 at 7pm at Mac’s Steakhouse in Huntington. The cost is $45 per person; drinks not included but there will be a Cash bar.
On the Menu is: Salad, a Dinner Entrée (choice of Marinated Skirt Steak, mashed potatoes & frizzled onions or Free Range Chicken, pan potatoes & sautéed spinach or Wild Salmon, roasted tomato & asparagus or Seafood Fra Diablo with sea scallops, mussels, clams & shrimp in a spicy marina) and a dessert (NY style Cheesecake or Chocolate Cake).
Please RSVP by Sunday, February 17 to Ken Kress at: or 631-549-5186.
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