This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo |
|
Stay informed about what's happening at St. Mary's by subscribing to our weekly newsletter... |
|
|
|
|
Services are being live-streamed online on Facebook (you do not need a Facebook account to participate).
Trinity Sunday, May 30
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and online)
Monday, May 31 - Memorial Day
10am - Wreath laying at Police Department in Southfields
11:30am - Parade steps off from High School, marches to St. Mary's for annual ceremony
Tuesday, June 1
5pm - Evening Prayer (online only)
Wednesday, June 2
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and online)
Thursday, June 3
5pm - Evening Prayer (online only)
|
|
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
When you think about church, you probably immediately picture your parish. However, we all know that our own church is part of something much larger than just us. I grew up in the Evangelical tradition, and while there was some loose denominational tie, our churches functioned pretty much autonomously. While we at St. Mary's do a lot of our day-to-day functioning "in house," we nevertheless appreciate and draw strength from our strong diocesan, denominational, and worldwide ties to the Anglican Communion. For us, the sense of tradition and continuity are sources of strength and identity.
In that spirit of connectedness and service to the greater good, I am happy to tell you that I was recently elected chair of the Mid-Hudson Regional Council of Churches, which is a grouping of Episcopal churches in our region. The whole group gathers yearly for worship, learning, and fellowship, while the Executive Committee meets several other times per year. The main purpose of that committee is to distribute grants drawn from our fund to ministries and new projects in our region. It is truly inspiring to read through the applications and learn what good work is being done all around us. Locally, our partner the Sloatsburg Food Pantry has been a recipient of several such grants.
This is just one way to serve God outside the parish context, and I can tell you that there are many more! I hope you will be inspired to see where God can use your gifts as well.
Blessings,
Father Rick
917.658.6314
|
|
It is with sadness that I share with you the news that parishioner Fred Wibiralske has died. He spent the last year in quarantine with his daughter, Anne. Though we could not see him in person, we remembered him in prayer each Sunday.
Fred led a life of service to his community as well as his beloved Episcopal Church. Among his many contributions were serving on a diocesan anti-racism committee, as a trustee of the cathedral, and as a driving force behind the founding of the diocesan Rural and Migrant Ministry. He also participated in the Temple of Understanding, a group based at the cathedral which sought through dialogue and personal connections to bring differing religious groups together. This led Fred and his wife to visit the Holy Land, as well as eastern Europe. Fred was also a recipient of the Bishop's Cross.
But aside from his accomplishments, we at St. Mary's knew him as a kind man who loved being in church whenever he could be, often perching in Bentley Hall for coffee hour wearing a big smile.
Funeral arrangements are still in the planning stages, and details will be announced at a later date. May Fred's soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
|
|
In a tradition stretching back many years, St. Mary's will help lead the Tuxedo Memorial Day festivities on Monday. At 10am, Fr. Rick will be on hand at the police department in Southfields for prayers of remembrance at the memorial. At 11am, a grand parade will form at George Baker High School and proceed up Route 17, stopping at the monument just outside the Park gates for a wreath laying, then continuing to the parking lot of St. Mary's, where Fr. Rick will emcee the traditional observances. All are cordially invited to participate in this cherished community event. |
|
Reimagining our Ministries |
There are many ways to get involved, deepen your faith and help make a difference in the life of your neighbor, our community and the broader world. Our ministries have naturally changed over time, depending on the needs and interests of our community. Many of them were scaled back and/or moved online during the pandemic. As more people are vaccinated and covid infections decrease, we hope people will feel more comfortable attending in-person events — what a great opportunity to restart and reimagine those ministries that enrich and enlighten our community!
We are now welcoming new and returning volunteers to help lead our worship ministries, including acolytes, altar guild, lectors, and ushers. If you are interested in joining any of these ministries, please talk with Father Rick or visit www.stmtux.org/serve to sign up. Schedules will be made out several months in advance so you can plan your calendar accordingly. Please visit www.stmtux.org/ministries to learn more about all of our ministries.
|
|
Over the past few years, we've worked hard to improve communications within the parish and across our community. Specifically, we have:
-
Launched a beautiful new website using Squarespace
- Made our weekly newsletter mobile-friendly
- Implemented Google for Non-Profits (free software with robust office tools & collaboration)
- Installed a new sound system and WiFi in the church
- Began live-streaming all services and events
One of our remaining challenges was that our most important church records, the core data about our parishioners and friends, were scattered across several obsolete systems and multiple (sometimes hand-written) lists. So we decided to take on the challenge! After more than a year of data cleansing and migration, we are excited to launch a new, integrated Church Management System called Realm. It provides all the features we need, plus it's secure and easy-to-use. There's even an app!
Realm is an online ministry tool designed for real-time connection. The rector, staff and volunteers will stay organized, and parishioners will stay informed about all of the opportunities for fellowship and ministry. As a user, you'll be able to edit your own profile, manage your privacy, view the online directory, control your giving, and connect with groups and ministries. Please let me know if you'd like to be part of the pilot group testing our new system.
Pete Datos-Robÿn, Communications Chair
|
|
How to contact us...
Office: 845.351.5122
Physical Address: 10 Fox Hill Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
