Sundays at 8 and 10 a.m. · Details

  1670 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724  ·   (516) 692-6368  ·   Give

St. John's Episcopal Church
  • Welcome
    • Clergy & Staff
    • Vestry Leadership
    • Our History
    • Calendar
    • Newsletter
    • Latest Posts
    • Memorial Cemetery
  • Worship
    • Online Worship
    • Worship Ministries
    • Ministry Scheduler Pro
    • Sermons
    • Music
    • Baptism
    • Weddings
    • Funeral Services
    • Altar Flower Donations
    • Stained Glass
  • Youth & Families
    • Formation & Worship
    • Fellowship Opportunities
    • Children's Choirs
    • CSH Nursery School
  • Community
    • Vestry Leadership
    • Zoom Links
    • REALM Member Directory
    • Adult Education
    • Calendar
    • Newsletter
    • BlueGreen Theology
    • Outreach
    • St. Matthias Fellowship, Haiti
    • Day Camp
    • Caring Connection
    • Aging in Place
    • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Clergy & Staff
    • Vestry
  • Give
    • Give Now
    • Make a Pledge to St. John's
    • One Together
    • Altar Flower Donations

The Cold Springer - Week of Sept. 30, 2018

Sunday, September 30th, 2018 - Holy Eucharist


Faith, Fear and Bravery

This week, in the “big” church, we get to hear a passage from the story of Esther. The Book of Esther is popular with members of the Jewish faith because it gives a historical account of their plight during the Persian Empire. Queen Esther, a Jew, chose to speak up for her people who were under dire threat. Her husband, King Ahasuerus was being manipulated by his second in command, Haman, to kill all of the Jews. But, with the support of her father Mordecai, Esther stood up against Haman, pleading for her own life and the life of her people. Haman was hung from the very gallows he had built to hang Mordecai. An edict is proclaimed that the Jewish people could congregate and defend themselves. This event in the history of God’s relationship with us is marked by the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Our churches are indeed sanctuaries, in a sense: apart from the world. It maybe this very perspective that causes us to cringe when we hear such violent stories in the bible. There is enough violence outside our church doors, right? But in these stories we hear deep truths, even truths that can help us to raise faithful, brave children.

Of course we want to protect them, but the values we encourage in our children form them to make a difference the world. Indeed, we protect and form them that they can move beyond the walls of our homes, following their own paths with confidence and hope.

The poet Kahlil Gibran once wrote “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. You are the bow from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”

Children are never too young to be brave. It may even be that they unlearn bravery as their fear of the world increases. It is our responsibility, as parents, to build a balanced foundation for them, knowing that in God - through faith, the stories, the hope, and the reward - we find the source of our strength and wisdom.

Oh, and if you think Esther was brave, check this New York Times obituary.

Yours in Christ!
The Reverend Jesse Lebus


Children's Chapel

This week in Children’s Chapel our young students will encounter the Creation Story. They will see the 7 days, illustrated on wooden cards and laid out before them, and they will hear how God declared each part of creation “Good.” Light and dark, the waters above and below, the earth, the day and night, all the creatures, and even human beings. All Good!

In offering background on this story the founder of the Godly Play movement, Jerome Berryman, offers this thought and question: We begin to play hide-and-seek with the Holy One and ask, “What can we know of the Giver by the gift.”

After each Godly Play lesson, the storyteller asks the children a series of wondering questions. These questions are posed to help the children discover what is already in them: an abiding sense of the divine. “I wonder which one of these days you like the best?” “I wonder which day is most important?” “I wonder which day you are in or which one is about you?”


Elements Of Faith

Our Elements of Faith Class had a great time learning the parts of the church, from the Narthex to the Choir and all the stuff in between. As a group they decided that they would design and build a Baptismal Font for the Children’s Chapel.

With the help of Debbie Reder and Stacey Parks they will get this project started this week. I will be stoked to join them and begin a discussion on Baptism.

On the weekend of Columbus Day, both the Children’s Chapel and our Elements of Faith class will combine to decorate the Font.



Tags: September 2018 / Youth & Families / Youth Formation & Worship

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Sermons

  • May 28 | The Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran
    The Holy Spirit Came - So Now What?
  • May 21 | The Very Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach
    Ascension vs. Coronation
  • May 7 | Bryce Westervelt
    Mother's Day Bach Cantata Sermon
  • May 7 | The Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran
    Come my Way
  • Apr 30 | The Very Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach
    Listening for the Good Shepherd

© St. John's Episcopal Church
1670 Route 25A, Post Office Box 266
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
(516) 692-6368

  View Entire Post

Service Times

SUNDAY SERVICES

  • 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
  • 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist or Morning Prayer

We are also live streaming our worship here.


Location

St. John's Episcopal Church
1670 Route 25A
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

Contact Us
(516) 692-6368

Newsletter Signup

Welcome Leadership Calendar News History

Welcome to St. John's Episcopal Church! We invite all to join us at any of our worship services, and it is our hope that you will find a spiritual home here.

Read More

Get to know the clergy, staff and vestry of St. John's! Members of the vestry, along with the rector, serve as spiritual leaders in our congregation.

Meet the Clergy & Staff Meet the Vestry

View our calendar and see features on upcoming and recent events!

Get Involved

See the latest posts and learn more about life at St. John's.

News

St. John's Episcopal Church was the first religious institution to be established in Cold Spring Harbor. The first Episcopalian services were held in the little 18th century school house just above the site of the present church. The very first Vestry minutes, written in fine script on September 4, 1831, lists the founders who pledged $2,000 to build a new church.

Read More
“If you are seeking after God, together we might find them.”

Seeking after God is one of the principle marks of Christian discipleship. Christians look for God, and find God, in all parts of life, but sometimes it helps to have company. That’s what the church is for. We are the fellowship of those who seek to find Jesus in their lives. We are companions in life and in the spiritual journey.

Join us in seeking God together.


Give Make a Pledge More About Our Pledge Campaign Altar Flower Donations