St. Paul's Episcopal Church Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"
|
|
The Week of February 15-21, 2022
|
|
Dear St. Paul’s,
I attended two services led by the Diocese this past weekend. The Absalom Jones Celebration, honoring The Episcopal Church’s first Black priest, was held this year at St. Phillip’s in Harlem. I was able to be there in person, and it was glorious. The music was outstanding, and the preaching, by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, was of course a special treat. There was something really moving about being in the first Black Episcopal parish for the service, and experiencing all that our Church can be, from organ music and incense, to singing Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise” while bringing our offerings to the ushers up front.
The very next day, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine hosted a memorial service for Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was an ecumenical and interfaith event, with many dignitaries giving speeches, and once again, our Presiding Bishop lighting the place on fire with his preaching. I joined this second service virtually, and if you missed it, you can watch it after the fact, at this link.
This Sunday after the 10:00 service, we will burn last year’s palms to make ashes. Yes, Ash Wednesday is right around the corner! So please bring in palms if you have any around your home. On Ash Wednesday, we will have services at 12:15 and 5:00 pm. And look for news soon to come, of opportunities for prayer, study, and fellowship during Lent.
Stay warm, stay healthy, and let’s all keep praying as we get every closer to spring!
Rev. Mary
|
|
|
--The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber
|
|
To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings
|
|
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13;
Luke 4:21-30
|
|
The Sunday Sermon
BISHOP CURRY PREACHING AT THE ROYAL WEDDING
|
|
LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS
On Monday, February 7, 2022, two members of St. Paul’s and Deacon Julett attended a 2 hour zoom training offered by the Diocese of New York.
Mark Goodwin and Tessa Kale are now trained to take the Holy Eucharist to our sick and home bound members. The Holy Eucharist is even more desired and a greater nourishment for our spirits during these Covid-19 days. Rev. Mary will commission Tessa and Mark on February 20, 2022. If you are home bound and would like to receive the Holy Eucharist, please call the church office 845-452-8440 and leave a message for Rev. Mary.
May the Holy Spirit continue to hold you close until you are able to join us at the Lord’s Table again.
Deacon Julett
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
|
|
ST. PAUL’S
SMALL BLESSINGS THRIFT SHOP AND FOOD PANTRY
In addition to our regular Thrift shop and Food pantry hours (Tues. Weds. Thurs. 10am - 2pm)
WE ARE ALSO OPEN THE LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH -
Feb. 26 & Mar. 26, 2022 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Clothing for men, women and children, housewares, knick-knacks, etc.
GREAT BARGAINS - CHECK IT OUT
St. Paul’s Church
161 Mansion St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
|
|
Our mask policy has changed due to new safety concerns that have developed. We ask that all people please wear masks AT ALL TIMES while in church.
Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
|
|
IN-PERSON SUNDAY SERVICES
The Vestry has decided that all services (10:00am), except for the second Sunday of the month, will be in person and will include singing. We also hope to be able to broadcast the in person service live on our YouTube channel.
The second Sunday of the month will be on Zoom (see below for Zoom link). This allows us to have the coffee hour discussions and to retain those parishioners who are able to only be with us remotely.
We hope to see you on Zoom on Sunday and in person whenever you can make it in.
--Shawn Prater-Lee
|
|
ZOOM CHURCH LINK FOR ALL SERVICES
All services except for the second Sunday (on Zoom) of the month, will be in person at 10:00am and will include singing.
Our Zoom connections remain the same and are
Meeting ID: 823 3911 5280
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82339115280# US (New York)
+13017158592,,82339115280# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
|
|
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YOUTUBE CHANNEL
We now have a YouTube channel.
To get there PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
or search on YouTube for St. Paul's Poughkeepsie.
We hope to put copies of all of our online services there.
|
|
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Many thanks to all who have returned their pledge form for 2022. Your envelopes are available to be picked up in the Narthex. It’s not too late to return your pledge - just complete the form and put it in the collection plate. Your envelopes will then be available the following Sunday.
Also - please help us update the Parish Directory by completing the form in the church bulletin or the one included with your year-end statement and return it to the church office. Many thanks!!
|
|
A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
The total deposits are reported on a monthly basis. Please watch for it at the end of the month.
A reminder - Please remember to either mail in your pledge or drop it off through the mail slot any day during the week. The correct address is: 161 Mansion St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
ST. PAUL’S THANKS YOU!!!
--Bobbie Gordon
|
|
Antiracism Summit
Saturday, March 5
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
The Diocese of New York Antiracism Committee invites you to participate in our second Antiracism Summit designed to help congregations create their own programs and task forces. All are welcome!
This summit builds on our work from last year and provides educational opportunities for beginners as well as those who have been engaged in antiracism initiatives for some time.
Learn what programs are working in different congregational settings. If you are new to the work or in a small community, come join us to learn how you might collaborate with other parishes.
--The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber
|
|
The Good Book Club | Week of February 16
Welcome to the Good Book Club: Exodus Edition. Thank you for joining us on this journey with God’s word. For resources and additional information, visit goodbookclub.org.
When I am wrapping something up, be it a preaching series, a chapter in a book or even a paragraph in an article, I oftentimes pose the question, “Where do we go from here?”
It’s a question that continues the conversation. It invites readers and listeners to take ownership and become active participants.
Of course, Where Do We Go from Here is also the title of Martin Luther King, Jr’s last book before his assassination in 1968. A collection of essays that invites Americans to choose between chaos and community, readers are invited to take ownership and become active participants in issues of racial and social justice.
Because King is a preacher through and through, you can’t not read the essays without hearing the swell and syncopation of his voice, the justice-filled heartbeat of his words. Even if the content is more political than theological, power is still there.
God is still present.
As we wrap up this series on the first half of Exodus, I believe we’re asked the same question on multiple levels. Where do we go from here, not only when it comes to reading the Bible, but also to finishing the book of Exodus? Where do we go from here, as we respond to the many invitations present in the book? Where do we go from here, in ultimately choosing between chaos and community?
If the past seven weeks have taught me anything, I am reminded that our story isn’t all that different from this story of the people of God. Still, God chases after us with wild abandon. Still, we don’t always know how to respond. Still, God invites us in. Still, we can be a most wishy-washy kind of people, even if we know, deep down in our heart of hearts that there’s nowhere we’d rather be—which is to say, than with God.
As I sat with this week’s reading, I couldn’t help but notice the many present themes of community, including of the God who intentions a “maximally responsive,” dynamic kind of relationship.
Take for example, the scene when the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, the beginning place. One commentator writes that “the promise has come full circle, and yet, the true journey is just beginning: the covenant relationship between Israel and God.” Although the relationship already existed, we are dared to cast a vision of a kind of life that could be—a kind of life, one might say, that can only happen “when we devote ourselves to the relationships we share with God and with each other.”
Soon thereafter, Exodus 20 introduces us to one of the most well-known passages in the Bible, the Ten Commandments. While the Decalogue is often merely seen as a set of rules to follow, many theologians remind readers to view the ten in light of relationship.
Theologian Cory Driver reminds readers of the oratorical nature, both of the Hebrew people but also of scripture’s history. Ancient Jewish commentators pay particular attention to the first verse in chapter 20, “When God spoke all these words.” The phrase “to say” prompts a response: “The people responded to every commandment that followed, saying ‘Yes’ to all the affirmative commandments and ‘No’ to all the negative commandments.”
I don’t know about you, but that visual changes the way I view this scene: no longer are these revelations of law merely a monologue performed but a one-sided God. Instead, imagining the people of God speaking a distinct “yes” or “no” after each law, points us back to relationship. This, Driver surmises, means that “these commandments are at their heart, all aimed to prevent a breakdown in relationship between humans on the one hand, and between God and the beloved community on the other hand.”
When we then ask ourselves King’s question, “Where do we go from here?” the answer is clear. The answer, when we have to choose between chaos and community, is always, clearly community. But this, of course, is tricky, when belonging to a community sometimes feels like it comes with a whole lot of rules and regulations, with rigid lists of rights and responsibilities.
And what does it meant to belong to one another when we no longer know how to be community anymore?
A couple of weeks ago, I reflected on one loss of the pandemic: I didn’t feel like I knew how to be a good friend anymore. The same, certainly, can be said of community, when two years of masks and stay-at-home orders, social-distancing regulations and a plethora of Zoom and Google Meet calls, have impeded some of us from knowing how to interact with one another in person.
Sometimes, it’s easier to hide behind my yoga pants and computer screen. Sometimes, it’s easier to avoid conversation, instead of stumbling my way through several awkward minutes of small talk.
But these chapters remind us of treasuredness.
When God says, “Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed the whole earth is mine” (19:5), the language of being treasured is clear. God accords the Israelites a “place of honor among the nations … the people are to guard with God above all.” Their identity secured, the nation of Israel would come to be known by this relationship, “a treasured possession and a priestly kingdom,” one commentator writes.
Through Christ, the same treasuredness is extended to us—even in all of our awkwardness, when we’ve forgotten how to be with one another.
Instead, we are dared to go out and believe our treasuredness. Go out and choose community. Go out and live the identity that is already ours.
Perhaps that is the answer to the question, “Where do we go from here?”
Friends, it has been an honor to journey with you over the last seven weeks. Though this is my last reflection, it's not the end of the Good Book Club. Stay tuned next week as we wrap up the first half of Exodus and offer suggestions for reading the second half during Lent.
Blessings, all!
Reflection
- What question do you tend to ask when you’re completing a project? When it comes to the question, “Where do we go from here?”, what’s your initial response?
- How are themes of community and relationship present in this week’s readings, especially in the midst of the Ten Commandments?
- What do you make of the relational interpretation ancient Jewish commentators offer between God and the Israelites when the Decalogue is spoken? How does this change the narrative for you?
- What does it mean to embrace our treasuredness, when for some of us, we awkwardly enter back into community with one another again?
Bio
Our guest writer for the weekly Exodus reflections is Cara Meredith. Cara Meredith is a writer, speaker and conversationalist. A former high school English teacher and non-profit outreach director, she holds a Master of Theology degree (Fuller Seminary), and is the author of The Color of Life, a spiritual memoir about her journey as a white woman into issues of justice, race and privilege. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives with her family in Oakland, California.
Going Deeper
Exodus has so much to teach us! The questions posed each week challenge us to go deeper into the text and discern what God is saying to us. We also are pleased to offer reflections on various themes from Exodus, presented by leaders from across the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Canon Heather L. Melton, Staff Officer for the United Thank Offering, offers a video reflection on Gifts of God. The United Thank Offering (UTO), a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church, encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings and make an offering for each blessing using a UTO Blue Box. UTO receives the offerings, and distributes 100% of what is collected to support innovative mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion. Learn more about their work here.
More Ways To Get Involved
In Case You Missed It: The Montreal Diocesan Theological College recently held an introduction to Exodus webinar. If you missed the live class, no worries! Watch the video recording and view the slides here. Special thanks to the Rev. Canon Jesse Zink, principal of the college, for leading the discussion.
Participant Spotlight
How are you participating in the Good Book Club? Share your story with us (and send pictures too, if you have them!). We’ll highlight participants from across the church. Send the information to Richelle at [email protected].
Let’s learn from and be inspired by each other!
Connect with Forward Movement
|
|
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
|
|
OR CALL
Melissa Clarke
(Director of Community Impact)
845-471-1900 extension; 3128
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is partnering with Lyft to offer free rides to individuals needing transportation to and from COVID-19 vaccine appointments and COVID-19 booster vaccinations. The program covers up to $50 round trip. The individual must cover any expenses beyond $50.
The program is open to Dutchess and Orange residents in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie. It cannot be used for drive thru vaccination sites. Medicaid recipients are not eligible for this program. They can call their Medicaid provider to cover the cost of transportation.
Sign up to receive your unique code by clicking the "apply" button above. A person can apply the code to a round trip.
Rides can only be used as transportation to and from a vaccine clinic site. Users can apply for a second code to use for transportation to and from a second shot.
____
La organizacion de United Way de la region de Dutches y Orange, en colaboracion con Lyft, estan ofreciendo transporte gratis a todos aquellos que necesitan vacunarse contra el Covid-19 y la vacuna del refuerzo. Este programa cubre hasta $50 de transporte- si el costo excede los $50, el cliente tendria que contribuir el balance del costo, de su propio bolsillo.
Este programa es ofrecido a todos los residents de Newburgh y Poughkeepsie y no puede ser utilizado para recibir las vacunas en centros de auto-servicio. Ademas, los residentes que reciben seguro medico por medio de “Medicaid” no son elegibles para participar. Sin embargo, los proveedores de Medicaid cubren el costo del transporte para vacunarse y los pacientes solo tienen que llamar a su proveedor de Medicaid para cuadrar su cita de vacunacion.
Inscribase para recibir su codigo unico haciendole clic al buton de arriba que dice “apply”. Este codigo se puede utilizer para el transporte de ida y vuelta.
El transporte ofrecido por medio de este programa solo puede ser utilizado para visitas clinicas que ofrecen las vacunas del Covid-19. Los usuarios de este transporte, pueden solicitar otro codigo para obtener la segunda vacuna, si es necesario.
|
|
_2 Mertlyn Tomlinson
_ Stacey Babb
_3 Jamal Wethington
_9 Marlene Fisher
13 Annastasia Schmouth
|
|
14 Brooke Plain
15 Shawn Prater-Lee
__William B. Rosborough
18 Celia Filor
19 Anita Santos-Bravo
|
|
25 Cynthia Benjamin
26 Sterling Benjamin
|
|
Please keep those on our parish prayer list in your minds and in your prayers, especially at this time of separation and isolation.
Intercessions
FEBRUARY 2022
Our prayers are asked for:
Norma; Ruth; Deacon Chris, Serene, The Butler Family, Ruthann; Lauren; Paul, Andrew & family, Ian, James family, Pittman family; Nicholas, George; Episcopal Futures; Gary, Marianne; Stacey, Meghan, Peggy K.; Cynthia, Carol, Jim, Seth, Lori, Neil; Whitman, Deb; Adrian, Lillian; Chloe; Christine, Lucas, Santos family, Bramble Anna, Sterling, Avonel, Leigh family, Ron, Stewart, Tucker family, Hosier family, Darien family
|
|
Please "Like" our page to stay up to date with all services and events.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Poughkeepsie
|
|
'In Service to God & You'
|
Our food pantry volunteers are in active service at St. Paul's these days. We give thanks to them and thanks to God for their willingness to help us by helping others.
|
|
|
THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
February 15-21, 2022
|
|
YOUR NEWS BELONGS IN ST. PAUL'S MESSENGER
Help us get the word out by submitting news of parish activities. Send submittals to [email protected] or call (845) 452-8440
Give us a call today!
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
161 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 452-8440
The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber, Priest-in-Charge
The Rev.Gloria Payne-Carter, Priest Associate
The Rev. Deacon Julett Butler, Deacon
Maris Kristapsons, Music Director and Organist
Adam Mazzuto; Audio/PA System
Notoe Hodge, Custodian/Sexton
Ben Sundar, Parish Administration
|
|
St. Paul's Episcopal Church 161 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|