St. Paul's Episcopal Church   Poughkeepsie, NY 12601


MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"

 
The Week of October 7-13, 2019
  

 
 
We are the lepers
 
 
In our Gospel this week Jesus heals ten lepers. Only one stops to thank and praise him. Nine go about their business, admittedly very pleased to be freed from the scourge of leprosy.
 
bible.jpg
This week's readings.
Are we more like the one or more like the nine? How often do we stop to give thanks? D we thank God for the good things that occur in our lives? For that matter, do we thank other people who perhaps in just doing their job of their own thing have made our lives better or easier? Are we thankful people?
 
Jesus wondered about the nine. So might we. And we might by example lead others to be more appreciative of the goodness in our world, by letting ourselves be heard giving thanks to God for all the goodness in creation, to Jesus for showing us how to live, and to our faith which teaches us to be mindful of such things. 
 
 

 
 
To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings 
 
 

   PARISH  NEWS
   
 
ANNUAL HARVEST DINNER - OCTOBER 12
DON'T MISS IT!!
 
 
     
 
25 WEEK CLUB RESULTS
The final drawing and luncheon for the 25 week club members was held Saturday, Sept., 28.
Thirty people enjoyed a yummy meal and held their breath for the final drawings.
Congratulations to the following winners: Molly Jones, Lynita Plain, Rachel Reisman, William Tyler and Debbie Pitcher.
Watch for the next 25 Week Club beginning in the summer with the final drawing in early December 2020.
 
 
 
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE NOTES 
The Stewardship Committee met Monday and discussed the following; Harvest Dinner Set up - Saturday, Oct. 12 at 10:00 ( Join us to help if you are able)
      See the flier and Don't forget to make a reservation!!!
 
25 Week Club Success - $1000 profit
Lack of Time & Talent Pledges
Financial Pledge Campaign
Consecration Sunday and Catering Possibilities Success of Rummage Sale - $600 profit Interfaith Concert Reception - Nov., 3 - Sign up to bring finger foods New non-commercial refrigerator for Parish Hall kitchen purchased and to be delivered Wednesday, Oct., 9 Bishop's visit Nov., 24 for Confirmation - Reception following (more information to follow).
 
As you can see from the above list, the Stewardship Committee is VERY ACTIVE!!   If you would like to be part of this exciting group, please sign up using the Time & Talent Pledge form or speak to any committee member (RoseMarie Proctor, Debbie Pitcher, Norma Williams, Deb Williams, Janet Quade, Cynthia or Charlie Benjamin,
Adrian Goldson, or Bobbie Gordon.   
 
 
PASTORAL CARE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
 
The Pastoral Care Committee is asking for help from the St. Paul's congregation.
 
IDENTIFICATION OF PROSPECTS
Identify individuals who might appreciate some help dealing with their practical and spiritual struggles. 
 
VISITATIONS
Visitations to those who are homebound or are in hospitals or nursing homes.
COMMUNICATION
Sending cards on a regular basis: "Thinking of You",  Get Well, Sympathy or holidays to those we do not see but wish to keep in touch. Phone calls also keep us in touch with the home-bound.
RIDES
Rides to church are provided to those who are unable to drive or need assistance. We don't know how many members of our parish are "stuck at home" due to the lack of transportation. 
 
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Holiday bags are prepared at Christmas for those who are homebound.

If you can help or if you have a concern or know of anyone in need of pastoral care, please contact Cynthia Benjamin, Chairperson or any member of the committee - Rose Marie Proctor, Janet Quade, Charlie Benjamin, Norma Williams.
 
 
 
 
 
 
AUTUMN SEASON IN THE FOOD PANTRY  
The change of seasons is upon us once again, and the cooler temperatures of autumn call for soups and stews. Our Food Pantry clients will appreciate going home with beef stew, chicken noodle soup, and vegetable soup, all items on our "menu" of choices. Please contribute generously! Thank you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Sunday's sermon
 
 
Have faith
 
SERMON: Hab1:1-4,2:1-4;Ps37:1-10;Tim1:1-14;Lk17:5-10         
17 Pentecost C 10 6 19
Looking at our faith we sometimes wonder where it came from and how we can build it up. Sometimes we realize we have plenty of faith. Like when the Sunday School teacher asked, "Now, Johnny, tell me frankly: do you say prayers before eating?" Little Johnny replied, "No, I don't have to. My Mom is a good cook."
 
As that joke reveals, faith is sometimes looked at as a kind of an insurance policy. Faith, and grace before meals, might help a person avoid food poisoning, for example. Grace before meals also might empower a person to live into God's purpose for them, loving God and one's neighbors. Faith helps us recognize our calling and reminds us to ask for God's help to fulfill it.
 
This is most completely laid out in the early verses of our reading from Paul's second letter to Timothy this morning. Paul discussed how Timothy was given the promise of his life in faith, how it became known to Paul and how Timothy should endeavor to rekindle his faith. Paul goes on to assert that Timothy's faith is within him, implying it is available for rekindling, and how Timothy's faith is one of power and of love and of self-discipline.
 
The elements of Paul's advice to Timothy are worth looking at for obvious reasons. One obvious reason is that looking at them might be useful to us. Another obvious reason is that it might enable us to be useful to another person.
 
Would you like to explore how Paul's ideas might help you deepen and broaden your faith? Can you see yourself helping another person make these same discoveries?
 
Even though we belong to a church founded in his name, you and I don't have ready access to St. Paul to inform and enlighten us. But we do have his writings! We can look at how Paul communicated with his protégé Timothy and imagine the same treatment being given to us by our church's namesake.
 
Paul defined himself as an apostle of Christ by the will of God "for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus." One glance at the stained glass window over our choir loft resolves any doubts we might have about Paul being called. His conversion is, of course, one of the most dramatic in the entire Christian Bible. But in those moments portrayed in the panels of our stained glass window we observe Saul converted to Paul, blind and with a halo. It doesn't take much imagination to perceive this as a fulfillment of God's will.
 
As Paul explains later in the Acts of the Apostles, he acquired his knowledge of Jesus along with his faith in our Savior without consulting the established Christian leaders. Because he had been one of the head officials persecuting Christians, Paul (then Saul) likely knew more about Jesus than was comfortable for him. So by that time he began his Christian ministry he knew what the promise of life in Christ meant.
 
What it meant for him was a 180 degree turn in his life, a belief in a savior, a Messiah, that would be with him always and never let him down, and the confidence that his carrying the Gospel far and wide was his calling, to bring others to the knowledge and love of Jesus.
 
Timothy, on the other hand, came by his faith by way of the faithful women in his family. Paul has met them and admired their faith as well as the evident spiritual capacity of their young pupil. Paul tells Timothy that he has observed the sincerity of his faith just like we can tell others of our recognition of their sincere faith. In my own experience I can remember being surprised to hear that from others. We should not be bashful about passing on such information.
 
When Paul recommends that Timothy rekindle his faith he does so by invoking the memory of Paul's laying hands on Timothy. This was likely Timothy's baptism, an event which Paul obviously remembers. The way he refers to it suggests Timothy was old enough to remember it himself. For us in this era, it would be the equivalent of confirmation, when a bishop lays hands on confirmands.
 
But this is only one experience of resonating faith that we share. Each of us has individual experiences and memories that come to mind when we take the time to recall them from the depths of memory. For example, moments when prayer seemed especially effective, times in church when we thrilled to a phrase or a tune or some hymn lyrics, interactions with other people in our faith community, or perhaps volunteering or just lending a hand.
 
We also rekindle our own faith when we share it with others and encourage their own journey down this path. Keeping track isn't as important in faith as being present and realizing what is happening to us as we live mindful lives in the spirit.
 
The result of fully living into our faith, according to Paul, is that we inherit not " a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. " He goes on to tell Timothy, and us, "Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace."
 
This is really important: Paul tells us, in case we didn't know, or in case we have forgotten, we are called by God's grace, not by our works. We do not have to measure up to anyone in terms of spiritual experiences or achievements. We have to remember how great the grace of God has been in our lives and share that with those who might be after something resembling the peace that passes all understanding.
 
Now here's the part that is really fun, I think. This lengthy reading from the Second Letter to Timothy is followed by one of the most beloved parables in the Bible, the mustard seed. Jesus uses the mustard seed to characterize the power of God and God's grace to make much out of next to nothing and greatness out of insignificance. This is in response to the disciples asking him to increase their faith.
 
Jesus, like Paul, is asserting that the ingredients of faith and the capability for increasing faith reside within us. Go back over what Paul wrote to Timothy and you can see how it is that Paul encourages his protégé to advance in faith with the understandings and experiences he has had.
 
Clearly both these lessons encourage us to seek the path of deeper faith, the conscious return to those moments when we were endowed with the understanding of God's presence and role in our lives. This awareness grows in depth and intensity as we nurture our faith and share it.
 
Thanks be to God!   Amen
 
A sermon preached on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, October 6, 2019, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Poughkeepsie NY, by The Rev. Tyler Jones, Rector
 
 
                           
 
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
     
   4 Susan Savedra                  18  Alexis Rose Plain             31 Carol Rohde

  5 Charlie Benjamin               22 Nadia Belaquer        

  8 Ashley Lynn DuBois          29 ElmerLeigh                        

     Norma Williams                 30 Jenna Filor        

12 Adrianna Rosen                      Bella Winkler                        

     Tiffany Lynn DuBois               Harper Martin  

17 Frances Gasser                                                                   
                
 

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St. Paul's Episcopal Church-Poughkeepsie
 
 

'In Service to God & You'
 

SUNDAY 8AM
Lectors:          Rose Marie Proctor
   Julett Butler    

Litanist:           Pete Bedrossian

Server:            Maria Bell

SUNDAY 10AM
Organist:         Maris Kristapsons
  
Acolytes:         Shawn Prater-Lee                 
  
Lectors:           Carola Madrid
                        Maria Bell
  
Litanist:           Mark Debald
  
Usher:             Daphne Barrett
                        MollyJones
  
Altar Guild:      Norma & Mertlyn


 
 
 
 
 
THIS WEEK'S HYMNS
 
1982                 411     O bless the Lord, my soul (St. Thomas [Williams]) 
 
1982                 397     Now thank we all our God (Nun danket alle Gott)  
 
1982                 551     Rise up, ye saints of God!  (Festal Song)  
 
1982                 493     O for a thousand tongues to sing (Azmon) 
  
    
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
October 6-13, 2019
 
                               
MON     7
  

  7:30am    AA Meeting
  5:00pm    Stewardship
  6:00pm    Evening Prayer; Bible Study
  6:30pm    NA Meeting - Journey to Recovery


TUE      8
10:00am    Office, Food Pantry, Thrift Store
  6:00pm    Evening Prayer; Bible Study



WED     9
  7:30am    AA Meeting
10:00am    Office, Food Pantry, Thrift Shop 
12:15pm    Healing Service & Eucharist
  1:00pm    Parish Aid


 
THU    10
10:00am   Office, Food Pantry, Thrift Shop


FRI      11
  7:30am    AA Meeting
  6:30pm    NA Meeting 


SAT     12
10:00am    NA Meeting; Bldg. & Grnds. Mtg.  
  3:00pm    NA Meeting - Men Do Recover  
  5:00pm    Concert & Dinner 


SUN    13
  8:00am    RITE I
  8:45am    Lessons' Discussions
  9:30am    Choir practice
10:00am    RITE II; Sunday School  
11:15am    Coffee Hour
11:30am    Youth
  6:30pm    Interfaith Choir 
                          
 

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