Dear Parishioners and Friends,

I hope that you are enjoying this festival of light and love wherever you may be. Here in Tuxedo, our observances will continue throughout the twelve days of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we held three services, each with its own distinct personality, and each beautiful and life-giving in its own way. All of the services were well-attended, and it was a joy to see everyone, old friends and new faces alike (see below for links to photos and video). The merriment will continue at our annual Christmas Open House at the rectory, to which you are all cordially invited (more info below). And finally, we will be hosting this year’s Twelfth Night Celebration, at which we will hear the best of local church choirs’ Christmas repertoire.

So much has been sung, and prayed, and read, and said about this season already, that I will just remind us to bear in mind the reason that we do all this merry-making. With lavish hospitality and stirring liturgy we honor the greatest gift of all time: God’s gift of himself to his fallen creation, in order that we might be redeemed, and live forever with him in the perfect love with which he made us. And so, until that great day, may Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill your life with his light and peace.

May God’s blessing be upon you and yours, both now and throughout the New Year.

Father Rick

At St. Mary's we celebrated the birth of Christ with great reverence and beauty -- please click on the links below for photos and videos. A festive Lessons & Carols service on Advent IV Sunday was followed on Christmas Eve by the family service and pageant , where our narrator told the Christmas story and Father Rick's children's sermon focused on the 200th anniversary of the hymn Silent Night. A mass with carols followed at St. John's in Arden and finally, traditional midnight mass was held in the church with strings and choir -- it started with the proclamation of Christmas and ended with a festive champagne reception in Bentley Hall. On Christmas Day, we celebrated with a simple mass in the church. Please visit our website to listen to Father Rick's Christmas sermon . Please visit our Facebook page to listen to Christmas messages from our Presiding Bishop and Queen Elizabeth .

Stewardship appeal letters were mailed out prior to Christmas along with pledge cards and a return envelope. If you have not already, please prayerfully consider your 2019 financial gift to St. Mary's and return your pledge card either by mailing it in or by placing it in the collection plate on Sunday. You may also pledge online at stmtux.org/membership . Not only is your pledge a valuable tool for planning our yearly budget, but it is also a meaningful way to participate in the life of our church and it's mission. As St. Paul tells us, "...to do good and distribute, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased."

Our Annual Parish Meeting is coming up on January 13 immediately following the 10am service. At the meeting, we will conduct the yearly business of the parish and elect Vestry members. We will also review progress of our parish over the past year and goals for the future. Brunch will be served! Please plan on joining us for this important meeting.