November 25, 2020
This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo
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Upcoming Calendar
All services are being live-streamed on Facebook (you do not need a Facebook account to participate).

Thanksgiving Day, November 26
10am - Morning Prayer (online only)

Saturday, November 28
9pm - Compline

First Sunday of Advent, November 29
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and livestreamed)

Tuesday, December 1
5pm - Evening Prayer

Wednesday, December 2
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and livestreamed)

Thursday, December 3
5pm - Evening Prayer
From the Rector
Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Since childhood, all we Americans have been told the tale of how the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, how they suffered greatly, and how, eventually with the help of the natives, they were finally able to celebrate the bounty of the harvest. Of course history is replete with nuance, and the irony that we are celebrating a group of religious extremists’ escape from the established Church of England is not lost.

That “first Thanksgiving” kernel is certainly at the center of things, but the holiday quickly changed from the story of one particular sect to one of America itself. Indeed, celebrations date back to colonial times, but it was during the height of the Civil War that Thanksgiving as we know it came to be.

It was the author Sarah Josepha Hale (of “Mary Had A Little Lamb” fame) who after more than 30 years of promoting her idea of a national day of Thanksgiving, convinced President Abraham Lincoln to formally establish it. In a proclamation eerily prescient to our own time, Lincoln encouraged his fellow Americans to ask God to, “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

As we celebrate this feast day in the midst of a growing pandemic, let us not forget those who have been lost, those who have experienced loss, and those who are working tirelessly to protect us and to find and distribute treatments and vaccines. Let us also remember our own responsibilities as Americans one to another and remain vigilant in our efforts to slow the spread of the COVID virus.

There are so many examples of selfless sacrifice for the greater good woven throughout the fabric of our history. We are becoming a part of that glorious tapestry, and can look to our ancestors’ examples as we trudge slowly toward the other side of this. The day will come when we can fully open our doors and breathe freely. Until then, keep the faith, stay safe, and pray for the health of our nation.

Blessings,
Father Rick
917.658.6314
The Light of Christ
A sanctuary lamp has been hung in the church directly above the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is kept in reserve. The perpetual light of the lamp reminds us that Jesus is sacramentally present, and calls us to greater reverence for his Body as well as to prayer in his presence.

The glass vigil candles that fit inside the lamp can be given in memory of a loved one, as a petition for some need, or in thanksgiving for answered prayer. Each light burns for an entire week, and the cost is $20. With your donation, please leave a note describing your prayer's intention as well as the week you would like the light to burn. You may donate online or mail a check to St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo, P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.

Last week, the sanctuary lamp was given by Harrison Bush in memory of Fr Harry Reis and the faithful departed of St. Francis, Sloatsburg. This week, it is given by Sara Cassis in memory of Douglas Warren Moore.
November is Stewardship Month
On Sunday, November 22, we celebrated the harvest and gathered in all of your gifts to bless for the coming year. November is stewardship month at St. Mary's, a time when we give thanks for the for the time, talent, and treasure that our members give to support the work of the Church here in Tuxedo, and we ask everyone to consider becoming a member and making their pledge for the coming year. Please see Father Rick's video message with more information and share what St. Mary's means to you with our "Why I Love St. Mary's" survey. And most importantly, please become a member and make your pledge for 2021.
How to contact us...
Website: www.stmtux.org
Office: 845.351.5122
Physical Address: 10 Fox Hill Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987