The Vicar is presenting the following sermon series during Easter.

11-Apr   Topic: Adam & Christ   Title: "Two Adams" (1 Cor. 15:22)

18-Apr   Topic: Judgment   Title: "Two Deaths" (Matt. 10:28)

25-Apr   Topic: Regeneration   Title: "Two Births" (John 3:3)

2-May   Topic: Atonement   Title: "Christ's Cross" (1 Pet. 2:24)

9-May   Topic: Eternal life   Title: "Your Resurrection" (John 11:25)

16-May   Topic: Glory   Title: "Your Crown" (1 Pet. 5:4)

23-May   Topic: Divine Election   Title: "God's Church" (John 15:16)

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

Q. What is meant by a covenant with God?

A. A covenant is a relationship initiated by God, to which a body of people responds in faith.

There is not “a covenant” but one covenant. There is not “a body of people” but one body of called-out ones who form God’s Church, the Israel of God (2 Cor. 6:17, Gal. 6:16). God is one, His covenant is one, His people are one.

The covenant is perfect in the mind of God, but only a degree of covenant perfection is realized in time and history and place. Thus, the Old Israel “failed” and the New Israel, the Church, can also fail at different times and in different places throughout history. (See Article XIX.)

However, human failure does not nullify the covenant, which is initiated, maintained, and brought to perfection by God.

 

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.

So many parishioners at St. Peter's do interesting things! I think it would be fun to profile your jam-making, horse training, music appreciating, syrup-tapping, and hound-handling from time to time in The Mouse. (I know I've only just scratched the surface!) If you'd like to share your hobby, sport, or avocation, please send me a picture or two and a 25 to 50 word write-up.

I'll get the ball rolling with my own hobby: model trains. I have had a love of all things railroad since I was 10. Moving out of the city has given me a little more space, so it wasn't long before I got to thinking, then building ... You can see for yourself below. I am building an HO-scale switching yard.

"The Reverend N. S. Boardman was Mr. Weills' successor. He served St. Peter's from 1891 until 1893 when Mr. Weills returned for his third tenure. He was the only rector ever to serve St. Peter's Church for three tenures. This last time, he remained for three happy, faithful years. In 1896, he was appointed Chaplain of Sing Sing prison at Ossining, New York and he left Lithgow to assume his duties there.

"The Reverend C. H. Duncan was the next rector at St. Peter's Church, serving from 1897 until 1900. His successor was the Reverend James Starr Clark D.D., who remained only a short time. The Reverend William Cunningham Rodgers came in 1901, and served until 1907. The Reverend Mr. Rodgers in later years became the president of St. Stephen's College, afterward called Bard College at Annandale-on-the-Hudson.

"In 1907, another brilliant young rector came to St. Peter's Church. His name was the Reverend Charles K. Gilbert, and this was his first parish. Eventually he became Bishop of the Diocese of New York. After the departure of the Reverend Mr. Gilbert in 1913, the Reverend J. M. Robertson, a brilliant Princeton man, came to St. Peter's Church and remained until 1923. He also served St. Thomas' Church at Amenia Union, and lived with his family in the rectory next door to the church."

Brilliant men! Princeton men! Big shoes to fill.

—Adapted from Louise Tompkins, A Landmark: The History of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church (Lithgow, NY, 1971), 20-21.

In an email sent March 5, 2021, and linked to here, Bishop Dietsche announced that he was removing all restrictions on public worship, subject to current State of New York guidelines.

We ask that you please not come to church in person if you have Covid-19, have symptoms consistent with Covid-19, or are subject to the provisions of the New York State Covid-19 Travel Advisory.

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.