This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo
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Upcoming Calendar
Services are being live-streamed online on Facebook (you do not need a Facebook account to participate).

Friday, June 18
6pm to 9pm - Plein Air Art Exhibit at Tuxedo Train Station

Saturday, June 19
10am - Matthew Wedding

Sunday, June 20 - Father's Day
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and online)

Monday, June 21
6pm - Baker High School Graduation

Tuesday, June 22
5pm - Evening Prayer (online only)

Wednesday, June 23
10am - Holy Eucharist (in-person and online)
2pm to 6pm - Sloatsburg Food Pantry is open (in Suffern)

Thursday, June 24
5pm - Evening Prayer (online only)

Friday, June 25
8:45pm - Movie Night on the Great Lawn
From the Rector
Dear Parishioners and Friends,

One word that sums up our shared experience over the last year and a quarter is loss. We experienced it in so many different ways. All of us lost our familiar routines and had to adapt our work and home lives overnight. Indeed, these two spheres collided for many who abandoned their offices and started working from home. Students from preschool to university lost the opportunity to learn together with their teachers and professors. And, most tragically of all, more than 600,000 Americans lost their lives in the pandemic.

Still, in the darkness, light continued to shine. In the midst of great upheaval, communities and families came together in remarkable ways. Many of you know that last May our household doubled from two to four humans when my sister and brother-in-law fled the congestion of NYC for the more bucolic environment of Tuxedo. While they were no strangers to our home (they had always been weekend guests), the pandemic made them full-time members of the “Rectory Rat Pack.”

In thinking back on it, there wasn’t a moment of hesitation in my mind. My big brother instincts kicked in, and I knew that there was only one thing to do—Pete thought so, too. And so we combined two households into one in this old house. There was a great deal of canning, baking, binge watching, landscaping, voiceovers in the closet sound booth, taped auditions in the guest room, and of course, the production of three holiday offerings: Memorial Day, Halloween, and the piece de resistance, the Father Rick Christmas Special!

Now that the pandemic is more and more in the rear view mirror, and as major cities and whole states begin to reopen, we breathe a sigh of relief. But in this return to normal, for us, there is one more loss. This week, Lauren and Shaun moved into their new apartment in Hamilton Heights, Manhattan. Pete and I feel like two empty nesters, but time and life march on. Of course, this is all for the best as they continue to nurture their careers in the arts. Still, we already miss them. The good thing is that they are situated very close to both the A train and the GW Bridge, so both lower Manhattan and Tuxedo are about the same commute.

I hope that we will always remember the lessons of the past year, but also the unexpected blessings that a world turned upside down brought to light. Good luck, and Godspeed, Lauren and Shaun.

Blessings,
Father Rick
917.658.6314
COVID Precautions at St. Mary's
Unvaccinated individuals must continue to physically distance and wear a mask (2 years of age and older). Masks and physical distancing are not required for people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus (for two weeks or more). We understand that some vaccinated people will still want to wear masks or distance, and we certainly respect that choice. May we enjoy our new freedoms responsibly and respectfully, and continue to hold one another in love.
Baptism Announcements
Over the past few weeks, we have welcomed two new children into the body of Christ through the waters of baptism. On Sunday, June 6th, Obare Ochieng, son of James & Roselida Ochieng, and grandson of Elizabeth Ochieng, was baptized. On Saturday, June 12th, Abigail Rose Diaz, daughter of Jessica Nicole (Parliament) and Natalie Diaz, was baptized.

Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Honoring George and Prudence Thurston
Thank you to everyone who helped make last Sunday's festivities honoring the Thurstons such a success, especially the lovely reception on the Great Lawn organized by Sue Heywood and Lili Neuhauser! It was the first major gathering after the service in a very long time — and it felt really good. Plus we got to welcome back several friends we haven’t seen in a long time, including sometime curate the Reverend Dana Corsello. Please visit our Facebook page for video and photos of the occasion.
Reimagining our Ministries -- Coffee Hour Returns!
Later this month, we will restart and reimagine Coffee Hour after the 10am Sunday service. It will be held outdoors on the Great Lawn (Bentley Hall in case of rain). Coffee Hour is a great, informal opportunity for food and fellowship -- catch up with friends on the events of the past week (or year), share upcoming plans, and get to know new people.

Please consider volunteering for this important hospitality ministry. Many have called Coffee Hour the eighth sacrament in the Episcopal Church, and we at St. Mary's have historically hosted some legendary ones. But much like the Anglican liturgical tradition, coffee hour can be as simple or as over the top as you would like to make it. As long as the essentials are there (gather as a community, break bread together, go forth strengthened), that’s what matters. So don’t stress about it, just feel free to express your creativity. We even have Coffee Hour experts (Lili, Pete, Wendy) to help guide you.

If you are interested in hosting, please talk with the experts 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.
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