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The Sunday sermon
Mark 1: 14-20
Simon and Andrew were fishing. That was their line of work, day after day it was the same old thing for them. First casting their nets on one side of the boat, and then perhaps casting their nets on the other side. Day after day it was the wind, hot sun, water, flash storms, fish or the absence there of, sore muscles and tired, very tired bodies. They probably grew up watching their father and grandfather fish, watching the lives they would lead as adults.
Cast the net, pull it in. Cast the net, pull it in. If they were not casting the nets, they were sitting in the boat mending the nets. I have been to Israel and have had the opportunity of being on a replica of one of those fishing boats. The front of the boat was large, wide and empty, which made sense because it gave the fishermen a large area in which to toss their catch as they lifted their nets from the sea. A little distance away, the brothers James and John were doing the very same thing with their father, Zebedee, casting and pulling in the nets.
Out of nowhere came a strange person named Jesus, and he called out to Simon and Andrew and told them to follow him. And they did. Let's assume they were fishing with their father, what a shock it must have been to him as he saw his sons simply pick up and leave. And likewise, Zebedee had to be astonished, had to be hurt to see James and John, his beloved sons, drop their fishing gear and walk off with this strange man.
You and I may not fish for a living, but we sure know about casting and mending nets, at least figuratively. Life for us can be routine; It can be lived on autopilot. We cast the nets. We mend the nets; casting and mending to make a living, to feed our families, to pay the bills, casting and mending to gain things we want, a car, that special house, that exotic vacation.
Casting and mending are the realities of life. They are also the circumstances into which Jesus comes to us. These soon to be disciples, Simon and Andrew, James and John were not looking for Jesus. They were too busy with the nets. It was simply another day of casting and mending. They probably would not have even noticed him until he spoke directly to them. Until he said to them, "Follow me."
You know, I've got to be honest with you. If Jesus came by my house perhaps on a Thursday afternoon and said, "Allan I want you to follow me." Wow, I would be so excited to get a direct invitation from the Lord. But wait a minute, first I would ask him to prove that he was really Jesus. You got to understand, if I had a dime for the number of times when I dressed in clerical garb have had women on the streets of Manhattan introduce themselves to me as the Virgin Mary, I'd be in great financial shape "No offense meant my brother," I would say to him. "But do you have any identification, a badge, a card, something like that?" So, he might show me the wounds in his hand and on his side. But then being convinced I might say, "Come in and have a seat. I have to send a few emails and pack my computer and an overnight bag."
But no such conversation occurred in today's gospel. Jesus did not offer a road map, an itinerary, or a destination. He only offered an invitation. His is not the kind of journey we can prepare for. It is an inner journey, a journey into the deepest part of our souls, the place where the Holy Spirit resides. There is no need for planning and organizing, making lists, or packing computers. If anything, this journey involves leaving things behind. That's the hard part for most of us. We're pretty good at accumulating and clinging but not so good at letting go.
When I was in my last year at the seminary, I received a visit from the novice master at Holy Cross monastery. Through my years of formation, I frequently spent time at the monastery. It was almost like a second home to me. Fr. Terry, with a broad smile on his face, said that he was hoping that I was planning on becoming a Holy Cross monk. I gulped as I thought about the vows they take, poverty, chastity, and obedience. After a long pause I responded by saying I just could not let go of my phonograph records. Of course, there was more I didn't want to leave, but I think he understood. Through the many decades I have lived, I have often asked myself if through that novice master who sat across from me in my seminary room, Jesus was actually asking me to follow him by entering the monastic life.
"Follow me" is both the invitation to and the promise of new life. So what are the nets that might entangle us? What are the little boats that contain our lives? What do we need to let go of and leave behind even at the age we may be now, so that we might follow him?
No, I'm not suggesting that we leave home and family. But there are things in our lives that Jesus may be calling us to let go of, things that if we follow Jesus we must walk away from; leaving them we may just be more effective in our discipleship. The season of Lent is a month away. Lent is a time of self-examination. I would recommend that each of us prepare ourselves to do some of that self-examining so that we can see what we can let go off, to make room for the things Christ would have us do when he calls out for us to follow him.
--Fr. C. Allan Ford
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PARISH NEWS
ZOOM CHURCH LINK FOR ALL SERVICES Sunday Services will be on ZOOM until further notice
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.
PLEASE DONATE TO OUR CHURCH FOOD PANTRY. 
WE ARE IN GREAT NEED OF:
CANNED VEGETABLES, CANNED BEANS, RICE, AND TUNA
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
Total deposits for the past week - $1,090 (no money for the Food Pantry). Many thanks to all who have been generously supporting the Food Pantry.
We're looking forward to seeing you on Zoom until further notice.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
PANEL DISCUSSION
Absalom Jones and the Essential Worker:
Yellow Fever 1793 to COVID 2019
Wednesday, February 10 | 6:30PM-7:45PM | via Zoom
Panelists
The Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool | The Hon. Byron Rushing | Dr. Deborah Harmon Hines
Moderated by: Dr. Nell Braxton Gibson
This panel will discuss the importance of Absalom Jones'work during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 when he and Richard Allen worked tirelessly to nurse the sick and bury the dead in Philadelphia. Fast-forward to the current COVID-19 pandemic: The participants will build a bridge between 1793 and 2020, discussing Jones' responses to the overall crisis and lessons learned, while examining essential opportunities for strengthening community ties during these trying times.
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Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration Service
Officiant: The Rt. Rev. Andrew M. L. Dietsche, Bishop of New York
Sermon:The Hon. Byron Rushing,Vice President of the House of Deputies
Saturday, February 20, 2021 | 10:30AM-12PM | via Facebook Livestream
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- Jay Hoggard - Jazz Musician
- Tina Fabrique - Broadway Performer
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- Poet Gold - Spoken Word Artist
- Michael James Leslie - Broadway Performer
- Larry Marshall - Broadway Performer
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Join Us in Collaborative Chorale!
Interested in participating in the online collaborative choir performance of We are Marching in the Light of God during the Absalom Jones celebration on 2/20/21?
Contact Jeannine Otis at jotisnyc@aol.com by January 31 for more information and simple recording and uploading instructions!
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Join the Virtual Procession!
This year our celebratory service procession will be virtual. If you would like to participate, please provide a few high resolution photos of your church banner, (ideally held by cheerful team members in front of your church!), or as a plan B, please provide a photo of your banner at an event or against a contrasting background.
Please note: photos must be uploaded by Sunday, January 31 to be included in the procession.
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Blessed Absalom Jones Mutual Aid Project
January through March 2021
Celebrate His Triumph and Continue His Work!
This year your congregation has the opportunity to continue the work of Blessed Absalom Jones by participating in a Diocesan-wide effort to help those in need in our communities. We suggest working with several organizations that are seeking tangible items to provide much needed support to those they serve.
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Make a Donation in Honor of Absalom Jones
Offerings associated with the Absalom Jones Celebration will be donated to Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina, a member of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities with a long-standing affiliation with the Episcopal Church.
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To Donate by Check
Make Checks Payable to: Union of Black Episcopalians
Memo: Absalom Jones
Mail To: Mabel Wernham, Treasurer
2040 Bruckner Blvd, Apt 14A
Bronx, NY 10473
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For questions or more information, please email Carla Burns.
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VALENTINE'S BENEFIT CONCERT HELD BY AND FOR THE GRACE YEAR PROGRAM, ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH AT 7PM
You are all invited to a Valentine's Benefit Concert held by and for the Grace Year Program, on Sunday, February 14th at 7pm. It will be held on zoom. The proceeds will support the Grace Year program, a young adult service learning program based at Grace Church Millbrook,
www.graceyear.org. The Grace Year fellows spend a year living in intentional community, serving in social justice or social service organizations and developing professional skills and spiritual practices to sustain a lifetime of transformational leadership. This year's fellows are talented musicians and they will be singing, playing music and speaking about their Grace Year experience. Tickets are $20, $10 for students. To purchase tickets, go to http://bit.ly/GYConcert
--Shawn Prater-Lee 
The Alzheimer's Foundation of American has a Teen Scholarship Essay Contest. Scholarships range from $5000.00 - $450.00. They gave away over $42,000.00 last year. Please pass on to any you know who might benefit.
Thanks!
__________________________________________________________________
NAMI Mid-Hudson, Inc.
PO Box 787
Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
845-206-9892
(please leave a message)
_____________________________________________________________________
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Dutchess County to Open
COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
Sites in Poughkeepsie, Dover Plains to provide vaccine to current eligible groups
Poughkeepsie, NY ... Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today announced the County's Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has established initial Point of Dispensing (POD) sites where the County will administer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible residents as vaccine is available. These sites will be open next week by appointment only from 10am to 4pm for eligible individuals in Phase 1a and 1b as determined by New York State's Phased Distribution Plan. Appointment availability is based on vaccine allocation provided by New York State.
Initial DBCH Points of Dispensing (PODs) will be operated at the following locations:
Additionally, DBCH is partnering with Northern Dutchess Hospital for vaccinations to be available at the Health Annex at Northern Dutchess Hospital located at 107 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. Under New York State's phased distribution process, individuals in Phase 1a are currently eligible for vaccinations. Phase 1a includes hospital staff, direct care providers and emergency responders. Governor Cuomo announced late yesterday that individuals in Phase 1b are eligible for vaccination starting Monday, January 11th. Phase 1b includes:
· People 75 and older
· Teachers and education workers
· First responders
· Public safety workers
· Public transit workers
County Executive Molinaro said, "Though New York State's distribution of COVID-19 vaccine has been slow and sorely lacking, Dutchess County has planned for weeks how to best dispense the doses we do receive efficiently and effectively. The opening of these initial Points of Dispensing sites is the next step in ensuring eligible residents have access to this life-saving vaccine."
Dutchess County's PODs are in addition to current locations, including local hospitals, that are dispensing vaccine to eligible priority groups, and the expanded location network being established by New York State. Residents can utilize the State's online Am I Eligible? tool to determine if they are currently eligible for vaccinations and, if eligible, will see a list of the various locations in the State's network. Current vaccine supply is very limited and Governor Cuomo announced on Friday that distribution to Phase 1a and 1b is expected to take 14 weeks based on current projected vaccine availability. Eligible residents should anticipate it may be several weeks before they can get an appointment as demand far exceeds supply.
County Executive Molinaro said, "Dutchess County stands ready to quickly dispense each and every dose of vaccine we receive into the arms of eligible residents. We encourage residents who are currently eligible to get vaccinated, and we urge patience as this process will take time due to limited vaccine availability. We must continue to all work together to stop the spread of coronavirus - so keep wearing a mask, washing those hands and physical distancing, then get vaccinated as it becomes available to you."
Below are the NYState link (to determine eligibility) and links to some hospitals dispensing vaccines where you need to make an appointment.
Some dispensing locations. You may be able to get more.
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
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7 Lillian Garrett-Thomas
| 14 Edna Clarke
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Jacinto Xavier Santos-Thompson
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15 John Jerome Mazzuto
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3 Linda santos
| 8 Abraham Joseph Foley
| 21 Donna Hudak
| Jeffrey R. Francis
| 12 John H. Filor | 23 Carola G. Madrid
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13 Rena Mazzuto
| 25 Agnes Scarlett
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Emily Porter
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Kaelyn Lei Hamilton
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Please keep those on our parish prayer list in your minds and in your
prayers, especially at this time of separation and isolation.
Intercessions
JANUARY 2021
Our prayers are asked for:
Frank Burnett, Food Panty Volunteers, victims of Human/Sex Trafficking; Burton family; Lillian, Matthew, Sasha; Paul & Donna, Margaret, Joe, G.J., Aleta, Plain family, Melius family; Ibadan Diocese, All Saints' Church, Oni family; Gary, Legend; Rhonda, Joe, Ann, all Teachers, Parents, Students, Theodore, John, Paul, Kathy, George, Janett, Renate, and Notoe; Sharon Greene, Owen,Agnes, Norma; McLauren family; Graham family; Wood family; Braxton family; Lori, Steven, Elyse, Jim, Seth; Phil; All essential workers; Beryl & Glen, Vincent family; George; Daniel Mizell and family; Liz, Martha; Eileen; the Butler, Richards and Barrett families; Fr. Allan and family; St. Paul's Vestry; Darien family; Richardson family; Sherow family; Edna Clarke,Michelle, Kathy B.; Carola and Violet; Whitman, Medical Reserve Corp. of Dutchess County, The Laken family; All Parishioners; Kairos International, Catherine, Michelle, Yamily; G.J., Joe; Lois, Matthew, Lillian; Lynita, Perry, Melius family, Sasha; Stacey, Linda, Phil, Jody; Tucker family, Branch family, Atkinson family; Alison, McGhan, Sterling, Unah, Avonel, Kim, Santos family, Madeline, Bramble, Charlie, Cynthia, Gencia, Val, Joanne, Janet, Corkey, Pelaez, Josephs-Clarke family, Dixon family, Paulette, Jarah, Mertlyn; Adam, Paul, Andrew & family, Douglas family, Ron, Dave, Liz; Jill, Lana, Andrew, Susan; Schneider family, all in need; Susie; Sherry, Claudia
Please "Like" our page to stay up to date with all services and events.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church-Poughkeepsie
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'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
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| TUE 26
| 10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop |
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| WED 27
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10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
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| THU 28
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10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
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| SUN 31
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10:00am RITE II - Zoom Ante Communion
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