Rector's Review:
The Meaning of Matthew

Rector's Review:
The Tyranny of email by John Freeman (2009)

Rector's Review:
Transforming Congregational Culture(2003) By Anthony B Robinson

Rector's Review:
Bright-sided : How the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America (2009) by Barbara Ehrenreich

Rector's Review:
When Atheism Becomes Religion
(2008) by Chris Hedges

Rector's Review: Death by Church -
Rescuing Jesus from His followers
Recapturing God’s Hope for His people

Rector's Review: Mary’s Hours :
Daily prayers with the Mother of God

Building an Ethical Economy:

The rector and assistant rector of St John’s of Lattingtown Episcopal Church, Father Simon Foster and Father Michael Sniffen recently attended the Trinity Institute’s (Trinity Church, Wall Street) 40th National Theological Conference, “Building an Ethical Economy: Theology and the Market Place” as part of their 2010 continuing education program and to represent St. John’s.

At the conference they had an opportunity to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Douglas Williams, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion and keynote speaker at the conference, and with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori.

Celebrating Mission and Ministry DVD produced by St John’s

Over the last year, a special DVD has been filmed and produced celebrating the 150th anniversary of St John’s as well as all the new forms of ministry that are developing as the parish seeks to meet the needs of God's children in 2010 and beyond. The project has involved clergy, vestry, parishioners and visitors. 40 minutes in length, it incorporates parish history, music, outreach, fellowship, worship and youth ministries into a beautiful tapestry of images and sound. If you would like to order a copy please call the Parish Administrator at St. John's on 516.671.3226.

Palm Sunday at Lattingtown and the Visiting Donkey

For the second year running, St. John’s Palm Sunday Eucharist was visited by a special donkey who even reverenced the altar in the sanctuary. The liturgy was geared to parishioners of all ages and incorporated a procession around the church following the very donkey who carried our Lord into Jerusalem (maybe!). Palms were blessed in the parish cloister and carried in procession. The playful donkey reminded God's children of all ages to be joyful in the Lord always even as we take up our crosses and follow him. Photographs will be posted next week.

St John’s Country Fair

Advanced notice: Sept 18th, 10a.m. to 4p.m. More details to follow. Parishioners have decided to have a special theme for the Fair this year which is to be "Alice in Wonderland" with a whole host of people encouraged and coming in costume. One parishioner commented recently “we have lots of parties now,” and the rector was seen to smile. Church should be a happy place where people smile and enjoy. Most years about 1000 people attend the St. John's Fair. We hope some Dominion readers outside the parish will come too. Father Simon suggested a few years ago that the whole Church be opened up and parishioners welcome all visitors to the site as part of Fair day. Prayer cards and tours are given of this beautiful Long Island gem of a church. All are welcome! At least half of the proceeds go to help the needy and for outreach work.

St Patrick’s Day at St John’s of Lattingtown Celebrated in Style
(click for pictures)

A special evening was held to honor St. Patrick for the first time at St. John's. Children and young people made cookies with green icing as well as muffins with green frosting. New parishioners along with those who have been around for years shared in a social event with corned beef, cabbage and all things Irish. Several parishioners even showed up with green hair! A festive Celtic Night Prayer was celebrated including the sharing of Celtic music. Father Simon Foster, the Rector, shared something of the story of Patrick. Shamrock plants were placed by the altar and a new Celtic altar cross given by a parishioner was blessed.

Archbishop Oscar Romero Celebrated

At a weekday Evening Prayer, the life and witness of Archbishop Romero was celebrated and held up as a focus for reflection. Taking a stand alongside God’s needy and poor ones is an ongoing focus of St. John's ministry to the marginalized in the communities around the church. In the most recent Church magazine the Eagle (available at www.stjlat.org) a quotation was shared for the parish to meditate on from Archbishop Romero. “ A Church that does not join the poor in order to speak out from the side of the poor against the injustices committed against them is not the true Church of Jesus Christ.” The congregation at St. John's gives thanks for Archbishop Romero as a 20th century saint who embodied what it means to be the change we wish to see in the world.