This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo
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Stay informed about what's happening at St. Mary's by subscribing to our weekly newsletter...
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All services are being live-streamed on
Facebook
(you do not need a Facebook account to participate).
Friday, July 3
5pm - Evening Prayer
Saturday, July 4 - Independence Day
Noon to 8pm (on the hour) - Bells of St. Mary's Concert
9pm - Compline
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost, July 5
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and livestreamed)
Tuesday, July 7
5pm - Evening Prayer
Wednesday, July 8
10am - Morning Prayer
Thursday, July 9
5pm - Evening Prayer
Friday, July 10
10am - Morning Prayer
Saturday, July 11
9:30am to 11am - Fun Run
9pm - Compline
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Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This year, the Fourth of July will be different, just like everything else: no parties, concerts, or even fireworks. It is certainly disappointing to think that this highlight of summer will come and go almost like any other day.
Imagine, though, that you were alive in 1776. To almost everyone, that was a day like any other. Even in Philadelphia, the northern village of Frankford (now part of the city) didn’t hear the news for more than a week, until Thomas Jefferson read the Declaration of Independence aloud in a park.
The news traveled slowly, and then the war dragged on. Men and women persevered against almost unimaginable obstacles, but in the end, our country was born. This year, instead of ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the fireworks, let us instead give thanks for our ancestors who fought hard to bring this country into being, for those whose labor built it, for those who have defended it, and for those who have struggled to create a more perfect union. And as the prayer book says, “Grant that we may not rest until all until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.”
Happy Independence Day!
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Join us on the morning of Saturday, July 11th, for a run (or walk) around the beautiful lakes of Tuxedo Park to support the ministries of St. Mary’s! Runners can choose how far they want to run/jog/walk (2.5 miles around the small lakes, 4.2 miles around Tuxedo Lake, 7 miles around all the lakes). Staggered start times, social distancing rules, and other measures are being taken to ensure everyone's safety. Many thanks to parishioner Adam Smith for helping to organize this event!
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In-Person Worship Resumes this Sunday, July 5th
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On Sunday, July 5th, we will begin gradually reopening the church buildings, starting with the limited resumption of public worship during the
10am Sunday service
. Safety must be our first concern. COVID remains a very dangerous disease, and those at high risk due to their age or underlying health conditions are encouraged to worship with us online for the time being. All services will continue to be broadcast online and the act of spiritual communion is a valid way of receiving Christ in lieu of the Holy Eucharist. Parishioners should only attend in-person worship when they feel safe and comfortable doing so.
Here
are the detailed guidelines and procedures we will be following to keep everyone safe.
Also effective July 5th, please note that the weekly service schedule (below) has been modified slightly to return to morning services on Wednesdays and give Fr. Rick one day off per week (Mondays). For now, only the Sunday 10am service will be open to in-person worship. All services are online at
Facebook
(you do not need a Facebook account to participate).
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In commemoration of Independence Day, the bells of St. Mary's will play a short concert every hour (on the hour) from noon to 8pm on July 4th. Please feel free to enjoy the great lawn and churchyard. It's a great place to walk the dog or have a picnic, as well as pay respects to our ancestors (including Emily Post!). If driving by, please open your windows! Note that the bells always play every day at noon and 6pm.
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Preschool Ministry Comes to an End
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A few weeks ago, the wardens, vestry, and I made the difficult decision to close St. Mary’s Preschool.
St. Mary’s, like many other small organizations, has been working hard to keep our mission going while also making ends meet at this difficult time. While the preschool was an important and well-run program, over the past few years we have noted a decline in enrollment as well as an increase in costs. This has led to two years of deep deficits which the church simply cannot afford. Additionally, the public school’s new universal pre-k program further reduced our viability.
When the decision was made, we communicated this to the teachers and parents, and are doing everything possible to honor the legacy of the preschool and care for everyone involved. All tuition payments from last April forward have been returned, teachers are being paid through the end of their contract year (August), we are providing teacher references/ recommendations to other schools, and donating furniture and supplies to other preschool programs.
I would like to thank preschool director Miss Ida and all of the preschool teachers for the fantastic work they did in the classroom. We are all very grateful and proud of what they have accomplished over the years in molding young hearts and minds, and preparing them for the transition to “big kid school."
Personally, I will really miss our chapel time, which was a highlight of my week. The children’s gleeful welcome always put a smile on my face. It was a privilege to watch as they grew in knowledge and stature, and I was often amused at where the train of thought would take us from week to week.
Although we will no longer have a preschool, we remain dedicated to our mission of Christian formation and service, and a small committee has been formed to explore how we can best accomplish this with the preschool space. We care deeply for the families in our community, and we will be there however we can.
Father Rick
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Dear Friends,
Tuxedo Town Camp starts on July 20th, based on Murphy Field. It will be a wonderful outdoor experience for the 67 children registered. Ten of those registered are local children whose families at the moment are having a hard time financially through loss of jobs and Covid19 related restrictions. St. Mary's is sponsoring their camp fees, some in full and some in part. Their fees total $4,600.
For many families also, finding sufficient money to pay bills for utilities, rent and food is becoming harder after prolonged unemployment, so St. Mary's Outreach is providing financial assistance. This last week we have assisted three families with rent payments, some in arrears, some for the coming month. Our expenses for these are $5,200.
If anyone would like to donate to help Outreach with any of this, we would be very grateful.
Sincerely,
Sue Heywood,
Outreach Chair
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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.
This week, the sanctuary lamp was given by
Harrison Bush
in thanksgiving for the
Nation
.
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Last year we initiated getting information to publish a new local directory of St. Mary’s Parishioners and Friends. So many people had asked for an updated version of the 2015 directory which they had always found very useful. However, information for the directory was slow to come in and there were many other things that took priority for our attention. Now that people have more time, and new families are moving into Tuxedo, we are hoping to get the information and renew our efforts in making the updated directory happen.
Please fill in the information asked for in the link and also pass this email on to any new people in our community. It’s a good way to meet your neighbors and a useful resource for community activities. Please note, the directory is only shared with participants and you can indicate on the form how much of your information you want included. We will never share your information with any outside organization.
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How to contact us...
Office: 845.351.5122
PreSchool: 845.351.2389
Physical Address: 10 Fox Hill Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
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