The Vicar continues his weekly exposition of the Catechism, found in the Book of Common Prayer, pp. 845-862.

Q.      How does sin have power over us?

A.      Sin has power over us because we lose our liberty when our relationship with God is distorted.

The catechism is clear: sin leads to the loss of freedom. This is true in the life of nations, and it is true in the lives of individuals. Yet people pursue sin in the name of freedom and individual liberty. Why?

It has to do with what John Owen called the “divine original.” Original goodness, original freedom, original will, original holiness — these all came from God. (Only original sin came by man, see: 1 Cor. 15:21-22). Man is an imitation, a copy, a likeness of God, who is the Divine Original.

Therefore, to be free is to imitate God in His original freedom. To will freely is to will what God freely wills for us. But when we declare that we are autonomous of God, then we lose the original reference to freedom that informed us what freedom was in the first place. This is why sin and slavery are the same thing.

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The New York Theatre Organ Society and The Stissing Center are presenting this exciting evening that features the latest musical addition to The Stissing Center, a newly installed Allen T321Q SP “Unit Orchestra” Theatre Organ.

The program features Nathan Avakian who will perform the theatre organ side of the instrument along with Carl Hackert and James Fitzwilliam performing the more classical repertoire of the organ. Joining them are vocalist Clair Avakian, Eric M. Berlin on trumpet, and Nancy Vanderlee on flute — all accompanied by orchestrations from the organ.

This diverse program will show how this “unit orchestra” theatre organ is capable of performing pieces from Bach to Queen and everything between! Join us for this fun, evocative evening of music that is different than anything you’ve heard at The Stissing Center.

For more information click here.

Go through your closets and choose one to three of your most fabulous, designer items that you no longer wear such as clothing, handbags, scarfs, hats, coats, shoes, and jewelry. Make sure items are dry cleaned, washed, pressed, polished and shined. Drop-off items at St. Peter’s Church in the Old Parish House by Sunday, September 26.

Columbus Day Weekend - Oct. 9th & 10th

Franklin Ave., Millbrook, N.Y. (Outside in front of Danielle’s Hair Design, near Babette’s.)

You may also support the work of the Pantry by writing a check. Payable to “Food of Life Pantry” please include in Memo line: CLOTHES SALE. Mail to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 40 Leedsville Road, Amenia, NY 12501.

The floral guild is always grateful for donations. If you are interested in dedicating flowers in memoriam or for a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary, please send an email to stpeterschurch@optonline.net with the date and the name(s) to whom you would like to dedicate the arrangements.

St. Peter's is pleased to offer the convenience of online giving via our website. You may make a pledge payment or a one-time gift either by ACH or credit card. From the website menu, click on Serve > Make a gift online, or click here.

Highlights from Henry Chadwick's The Early Church (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1967), selected by the Vicar. Chadwick was the sometime Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.

"The missionaries to the Gentile world were not speaking in a vacuum to people without existing prejudices and expectations... the missionaries were in a twilight world of pagan syncretism, magic, and astrology... The pagan world was quite accustomed to myths of great heroes, like Heracles or Asclepius, who were elevated to divine rank as a reward for their merits. The Christians amazed the world by the extraordinary claim that the divine redeemer of their story had lately been born of a woman in Judaea, had been crucified under Pontius Pilate, had risen again, and at the last (which they believed to be in the near future) would judge the world. It would all have been less startling to the ancient mind if only the story could be cut free of its historical anchorage and interpreted as a cosmic or psychological myth attached to an esoteric mystery-cult." (p. 33)

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Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God,

world without end. Amen.

To remember St. Peter's in your estate plans, please consider joining The Lithgow Society. To find out more, click here.