This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo
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Thursday, July 4 - Friday, July 5
Church office closed in observance of Independence Day
Sunday, July 7 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
8am - Holy Eucharist in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit
9:50am - Infant/childcare provided
10am - Holy Eucharist in the Nave with the choir and organ
Food and fellowship follows in Bentley Hall
Tuesday, July 9
2pm to 6pm - Sloatsburg Food Pantry is open
Wednesday, July 10
10am - Holy Eucharist in Chapel of the Holy Spirit
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Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Since the beginnings of the Episcopal Church in the early years of the Republic, Independence Day has had a place not only on our civic calendars, but also on our liturgical ones. Of course the events of our revolution took place over 1700 years after the time of Christ, nevertheless Christian ideals have guided us all along. To be sure, we have had varying degrees of success in adhering to these principles. Two-thirds of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Anglican, but still human beings and as such products of their time and culture.
So much good has come out of the wisdom of the founding fathers, and yet we still struggle mightily with issues around race, equality, and the treatment of indigenous peoples. As our Presiding Bishop says, “God isn’t finished with you yet.” This is true individually and collectively.
In the gospel reading for Independence Day, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I do not wish to conflate American-ness with Christianity (that is a dangerous cocktail), however there are shared values and principles. Jesus calls us to rise above our base nature and embrace those whom the world tells us we should hate. Similarly, our American identity, at its best, calls us to welcome the stranger, to care for the weak, to use our resources for the good of all, and above all, to serve. Whether it be service to our country, the community or your church, we believe the words of Jesus when he says, “The greatest among you must be servant of all.” So this Independence Day, let our prayer be, “...that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.”
Blessings, Father Rick
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Thank You Choir and Sunday School
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Many thanks to our Choir and Sunday School for the program year just completed last Sunday! Please visit Facebook for a
video
of last Sunday's offertory anthem.
For the next two months, they will take a well-deserved break and restart in earnest the first Sunday after Labor Day. But church never takes a break, each Sunday in July and August there will be music and an opportunity for kids to be involved. Come as you are and bring a friend.
Special thanks are due to our interim organist, Bruce Xu. Bruce stepped in with great enthusiasm and confidence just in time to lead our music program through the challenging liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, and has truly spoiled us with magnificent musical offerings on our organ, which he has been playing for half of his life! Bruce will continue to lead the musical portion of our worship through the end of August, and will then take on the role of Organ Scholar, working under the direction of our newly appointed Organist & Choirmaster.
Have a happy and safe summer!
P.S. The church is comfortably air-conditioned.
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Sheldon Eldridge Called as Organist & Choirmaster
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We are pleased to announce that Mr. Sheldon Eldridge has been appointed as Organist and Choirmaster of St. Mary’s-in-Tuxedo, effective September 1, 2019.
Mr. Eldridge’s appointment concludes a rigorous search process that considered applicants from around the region. A seven person Search Committee—composed of choir members, parishioners, and the rector—participated in reviewing candidates and in selecting finalists.
Sheldon is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he majored in organ and church music. Graduate study included organ performance with William Hays and choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt. He also coached with Eugene Roan (organ). Summer studies at Merton College, Oxford, involved courses in Renaissance music with Gustav Reese, Denis Stevens and Alec Robertson. Sheldon attended the Royal School of Church Music’s summer courses for many years. He is quite conversant with the great choral literature of our tradition, from the Tudor period to the present day.
Sheldon has held the position of Organist and Choirmaster in a number of Episcopal churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York State. He spent thirteen years at Trinity Church in Ossining, NY., where he affiliated the parish with the Royal School of Church Music, reconstituted the adult choir program, created a new parish psalter for the three-year cycle for the singing of Anglican Chant and established and directed an evensong/recital series and the annual service of Lessons and Carols and expanded while revising the choral music library. He has served on the Board of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is a member of the Saint Wilfrid Club of the City of New York.
A familiar figure at St. Mary’s-in-Tuxedo, Sheldon has served as occasional guest organist here, dating from the time of Fr. Cromey’s rectorate. Some years back, he served for thirteen months as interim Organist and Choirmaster.
Sheldon Eldridge has been teaching piano to children for over twenty years. Before moving to Princeton, New Jersey, he had a studio with over twenty-five students in northern New Jersey, principally in the Ridgewood area. He particularly enjoys working with beginners and giving them a happy experience learning to play well.
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This year’s Summer Camp, run by the Town of Tuxedo’s Recreation Department starts on Monday July 8th. The camp runs for six weeks, five days a week, with each Friday being a special outing, usually by bus, to different places of interest. The other four days feature games, crafts, cooking, swimming, and outdoor Summer Fun!
St Mary’s Outreach has been asked to coordinate the sponsorship of 16 young people ranging in ages from 1st Graders to 8th graders. These are the children of families whose income level is such that they qualify for free school meals, and without the sponsorship their children would not be able to attend Summer Camp. The families have been asked to make a contribution of $100 per child leaving a further $500 to be provided by a sponsor or a group of sponsors. There are 16 children in need of sponsorship this year so we are hoping your generosity will enable us to raise the $8,000 needed.
These donations will bring a Summer of delight to these local children and contributions of any amount will help to fund many smiles!
Contributions can be made by check to St Mary’s Outreach, memo ‘Camp Sponsorship’, or
online at stmtux.org
, drop down Camp Sponsor. Checks should be mailed to St Mary’s in Tuxedo, 10 Fox Hill Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987 or can be dropped off at the church office or in the collection plate at a Sunday service.
In the 2018 St Mary’s appeal, we were blessed with a number of kind and generous donors who sponsored a similar group of ‘happy campers.’ Thank you for your support!
Sue Heywood
St Mary’s Outreach Chair
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Big Brother Big Sisters of Rockland County
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As part of
New City’s Stop and Shop’s
reusable Community Bag Community Bag Program -
when you purchase a $2.50 reusable Community Bag during the month of July, $1 will be donated to Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County
.
This is a great way to support our work, the environment and, contribute to our local community. Spread the news! The more people who learn about the program and purchase the Community Bag during the month of
July
, the more money we will raise to help continue our vital 1 to 1 mentoring services. If you have any questions, please contact
jmiller@bbbsofrc.com
. To learn more about this program, please visit
stopandshop.bags4mycause.com
.
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All are truly welcome at St. Mary's, which is located within the historic gates of Tuxedo Park and serves the entire Tuxedo community. Please tell the gatehouse you're going to St. Mary's, proceed thru the gates and we're on the right (plenty of parking available).
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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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