from the Diocese to form the Brooklyn Episcopal AIDS Committee, the first such structure within the Diocese of Long Island. That group operated from Saint John’s for several years and later led to the creation of the Diocesan AIDS Commission.
Evangelism and Congregational Development were priorities for the new Rector. Father Buck had been seriously ill for a number of years before his death and the parish had been vacant for two years. As a result, except for Sunday Services (and one 10 am Mass on Wednesdays, the Church building was only open a few hours a week when AA met in its undercroft. The rest of the time it was locked up. Since it is on a side street off the main route (Seventh Avenue) many people in the community thought that it had closed with the death of Fr. Buck! To address this issue Fr. Powers began to seek out and invite community groups to meet at the parish. Within a few months these groups began to include Block Associations, Hand Gun Control Advocates, community Theater groups, Girl Scouts, and many more. These people began to spread the word that Saint John’s was not only open, it was available! During this same period around $5,000 was raised from donations to install an electronic Carillon with speakers on the roof of the Rectory to ring out the hours and to play hymns each evening. Around $2,000 was donated by one generous member of the parish to install flood lights in the garden to light the exterior of the building so that it was visible from Seventh Avenue. It was visibly clear to the neighborhood that Saint John’s was open for business!
THE HISTORY OF ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
PAGE 9
PAGE 9
