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The Week of October 20-25, 2020
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This week's readings
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Loving your neighbor as yourself is found eight times in the Bible. Not once. Not twice. Eight times. Loving your neighbor as yourself is so important to God that He not only repeats Himself, He makes it a command. And not just one in a list of many commands. Jesus coupled the command to love your neighbor as yourself with loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
But loving your neighbor as yourself isn't always easy. That's why God made it a command. He knew we'd struggle. Making it a command is actually to our benefit. How is that? We have to do it on purpose, be intentional about it.
--Shawn Prater-Lee
To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings
Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 1:2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46
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The Sunday sermon
Matthew 22: 15-22, Give to Caesar
For a crash course in stewardship, you can't do much better than this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. It's not that the Pharisees were interested in stewardship. It's just that they wanted to embarrass Jesus in public. The question of paying Roman taxes was a religious and political hot potato. If Jesus had said don't pay your taxes, he would have been in trouble with the Roman government. If on the other hand he recommended that people pay the Roman tax he would have lost face with the Jewish people.
But Jesus refused to be bogged down in tax questions. Instead he gave the world's shortest lecture on stewardship. He told the listeners that they should give the Emperor what belonged to the Emperor, and give to God what belonged to God.
Let's explore this giving to God; why give to God? For one reason, God can do so very much with our gifts. Let me give you an example of what I mean. During my second year as a parish priest, while visiting my mother one day she told me to hold out my hands. She then put a jar filled with money, filled with bills into my hands. There were fives, tens, and single dollar bills. I stood there with my mouth wide open, and I remembered as a kid that mom had the strangest habit of hiding money away in odd places. Immediately I began to think of ways I could spend it on myself. But with a very stern look she said, "Do something with this in your church." I was in a state of shock. I hadn't ever expected her to give me a jar full of money! So I put the money into a large enveloped and dipped into it from time to time.
When the money ran out, I felt obliged to call my mother and tell her how the money was used. I told her she sent a child from a poor family to school with a pair of new shoes. She paid the fee so another child whose parents were struggling financially could go on a school field trip. He didn't have to suffer the shame of being left behind. She bought groceries for a widow and medicine for an elderly man who had been laid off. She provided bus fare for an entire week so a woman could start a new job. And finally she bought a used tire so a stranded traveler could get to a funeral in Cleveland. And believe it or not, there were a few more incidentals. There was a pause and then my mother said, "I didn't know how much good could be done with the little bit of money I gave you."
Most of us don't know how many ways God is able to use our gifts. When you put that check in the plate during the Sunday liturgy, you are not there to witness the number of people who are being given groceries because of your monetary contribution. You are not there to see how many people are being helped in other ways through St. Paul's outreach ministries. We give to God because God can do so very much with what we give to him.
Now let me give you a second reason why we give to God. The more we give, the more we receive. And I am not talking about the more we get in dollars and cents. We can all find a more lucrative way to invest the dollars we give to the church. But what price can you put on the peace of mind, or the sense of hope you come to realize because you are members of this Church? What price can you place upon the relationships, the brothers and sisters in Christ you come to know here who walk with you hand in hand as you live out the gospel of Christ and journey towards the kingdom? What possible dollar amount can you place on this space where you pray, where you find joy, where at times you weep, where you are nourished by the words in Sacred Scripture and by none other than the Body and Blood of Christ? I don't know how to put a price on those things. The more we give to God, the more we receive from God.
There is still a looming question. How much should we give to God? While numbers can be a healthy guideline, they don't tell the whole story. Let me offer another way to look at this question. I remember receiving my very first paycheck. I looked at the writing next to the check and I saw Federal taxes withheld. State taxes withheld, and a strange thing called FICA. What the heck is FICA? I asked myself. Why are all these people getting a piece of my check? And that didn't include the piece I was going to spend at the gas station to fill up my car. Nor the piece I was going to spend on movie tickets and dinner for my date and myself that evening. And there was more. Gosh, after I finished adding up all the pieces in that pie, there were only crumbs left. Which is God's share? Does God get the crumbs?
Jesus said give God what belongs to God. Do you know what belongs to God? It certainly isn't leftovers. So, before we look at the pieces taken out by the various governmental entities, and the pieces we take out for entertainment, and to pay the mortgage and utilities, we have to look at the piece that we are giving back to God. We have to spend a lot of time in prayer and meditation and determine what that piece is going to be before we start thinking about the others. Clearly God's piece is not to be the last, tiny piece. God is not to be left with the crumbs.
During the next few weeks, the vestry is going to be trying to determine what the church budget is to be for the year 2021. They can't make that determination without knowing what you, as members of this parish are going to pledge. So, I invite you to think hard and pray long concerning your pledge for 2021. And when you are asked to pledge, just as you regularly give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, please remember that you are a child of God, and give to God what belongs to God.
--Fr. C. Allan Ford
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PARISH NEWS
Thanks to all who have attended church these past months whether it was in person at 161 Mansion Street or whether it was on Zoom. As announced we'll continue to have in person worship on the first and third Sundays of the month. Otherwise we'll be on Zoom. This plan will take us till the beginning of Advent when a decision will be made for that season.
We will be in church November 1 and 15.
We will be on Zoom the other Sundays.
Hope to see you in church on Sunday and/or on Zoom.
--Shawn Prater-Lee
CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN NOVEMBER!!!!
CORNED BEEF FOR SALE
All the meat was purchased for our planned 2020 March Corned Beef Dinner before we decided to cancel the dinner. Since that time the meat has been frozen. We'd like to offer it for sale at this time in order to free up our parishioners' freezers. As you can see on the flier, the sale will take place Sunday, Nov. 1. It will be sold in large pieces ( probably 5-10 lbs.) still frozen so you can either cook it or freeze it yourself. If you are interested in purchasing some, please call the church with your order. This is as close to having a dinner as we can come at this time so please support us.
A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
Total deposit for the past week - $4418 (no donations for the Food Pantry). Many thanks to all who are remembering their pledge and to those both within and outside of the church who are generously supporting the Food Pantry.
We're looking forward to seeing you in person the first and third Sundays of the month when we'll be in church with communion. The other Sundays will be on Zoom. Don't forget to wear your mask!!!
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COMMUNITY NEWS
EPISCOPAL CHARITIES
VIRTUAL TRIBUTE DINNER
THURSDAY ● NOVEMBER 19 ● 2020 ● 8 PM
In a year like no other, Episcopal Charities has responded to the call of our neighbors in need to outreach programs by providing crucial assistance to the most vulnerable among us. We ask you help us in this mission by attending our Virtual Tribute Dinner on Thursday, November 19th, 2020.
Our Virtual Tribute Dinner will be evening of remarks and performances by friends of Episcopal Charities, during which we'll come together throughout the ten counties of the Diocese of New York -- and beyond! -- to celebrate, give thanks, and reaffirm our commitment to transforming lives.
We hope you can join us. To buy tickets -- or to make a donation in lieu of attending -- click the link below.
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Tip: Unable to attend? You can still help us respond to the call of those in need. Click the link below to make a gift.
Interested in the Diaconate?
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If you have ever wondered if you might have
a call to be a deacon
and want to learn more, you are invited to
An Informal Talk with
Deacon Denise LaVetty
Director of Diaconal Formation and Transition
Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m.
via Zoom
and receive the Zoom link
Clergy: Please let your lay people know by placing this notice
in your upcoming Sunday announcements
or by whatever way you share news with your congregation.
--The Rev. Gloria Payne-Carter
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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
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4 Susan Saavedra
| 8 Ashley Lynn Dubois
| 20 Macy J. Marrero
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12 Tiffany Lynne Dubois
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30 Bella Winkler
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8 Norma Williams
| 18 Alexis Rose Plain
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31 Carol K. Rohde
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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
OCTOBER 2020
Our prayers are asked for:
Rhonda, Lillian, G.J., Paul, Sasha, Matthew, Joe, AletaAnn, all Teachers, Parents, Students,
Theodore, John, Paul, Kathy, George, Janett, Renate, and Notoe, Stephanie, Aaron; 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; Lourdes;
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, Dept. of Behavioral and Community
health 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; Ibadan
Diocese, All Saints Anglican Church,Oni family; Donna; 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, Annie, 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 20
| 10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop |
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| WED 21
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10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
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| THU 22
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10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
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| SUN 25
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