|
The Week of October 13-18, 2020
|
 |
| |
This week's readings
|
Give Unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is God's
In today's Gospel the Pharisees attempt to entrap Jesus in asking Him if his people should pay taxes. They hope that he will tell his followers to not pay taxes and therefore break the law.
Jesus answers them with a lawful statement, but then pivots and makes an even bigger statement for His people. After stating that they should give unto Caesar what is Casar's He adds that they should give unto God what is God's.
That begs the question "what is God's?" The ultimate answer is that WE belong to God and that yes we are to pay taxes to Casar, but way more importantly we are to give ourselves over to God and His divine will.
--Shawn Prater-Lee
To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings
Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
|
|
|
The Sunday sermon
"Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those tenants?" Isn't that the $64,000 question? What will the man in charge do with those who have blatantly disobeyed him?
Can you hear those teenagers whispering in the back row of the math class about two other students who were busted and sent to the principal's office for using drugs in the school bathroom? Quietly they query? "What will the principal do with them?"
Did you hear the scuttlebutt all over the college campus when members of the football team confessed to cheating on a final exam in order to get a good mark in the course and be able to stay on the team? They were required to meet with the dean and the head coach. And their fellow students ask each other; "What's going to happen to them?"
It's not like there is a lot of debate about guilt in the above mentioned cases. When guilt is clear, all that is left is to weigh the circumstances and determine the consequences. But this is where it gets tricky for us in the human realm. Human beings have always spent a lot of time and energy arguing about judgments. "An eye for an eye," is a judgment we find in the Old Testament. It was originally designed as an attempt to keep the idea of revenge at an appropriate level. In other words, if someone was found guilty of taking off another person's finger, clearly it would not be right to remove the entire hand of the guilty person; "An eye for an eye" and "a tooth for a tooth." However, given the human appetite for revenge, through the centuries it has been a difficult concept to enforce.
Jesus spent a lot of time talking about judgment. And we have been hearing about it in the Sunday gospels through much of the late summer. He tells story after story, parable after parable, addressing the concept of judgment from every conceivable angle. He is so thorough that you have to wonder if he was afraid we wouldn't get the point. And you know what? Quite possibly he was right. In this morning's parable, we just may interpret it as Matthew's way of showing us the fall of Jerusalem; put another way we may think that it is about the Kingdom of God, the vineyard, being taken away from the Jewish people, the bad tenants, and given over to Christianity. Certainly that is a credible interpretation. After all, that's the way it works in a power driven society.
But what if this wildly outrageous story needs simply to be read more carefully, especially with the teachings of the gospels in mind? Perhaps it is telling us about a world we have yet to meet? What if this is not so much a story about putting those wretched tenants to a miserable death, but a story that reflects the yet unexperienced and unimagined divine judgment of God. Did we notice that Jesus in his answer quoted from Psalm 118? "The stone that the builders rejected has become none other than the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes." Did we notice that?
Let me spell it out more. You see God didn't send an army to crush the wicked tenants. No, God sent his gentle son who was rejected. He died, but Jesus was raised from the dead. And what is more important, Jesus became the cornerstone, the keystone that was needed to hold all of the other stones in place. He was the stone that was needed to support the pathway to the kingdom of God. This was the new thing that God was doing. It was a new kind of power that gives life, even in the presence of death. This was a new kind of power that forgives seventy times seven, a new kind of power that welcomes the prodigal son home, a new kind of power that opens his banquet to tax collectors and prostitutes, a new kind of power that offers love though it be surrounded on all sides by hate.
The only problem is that it is just as hard for us to believe that love really does win over violence and death in the end, because we are so often influenced by the plethora of examples of power we see all around us. So at times we just may find ourselves behaving like those who turned away after hearing Jesus speak the words of the gospel during his time on earth. Will we embrace the words spoken by the Son? Or will we simply believe that this is forever a power and violence driven world? As we ponder, as we are challenged by those questions let us remember other examples, the examples of John Lewis, his mentor Martin Luther King and his philosophy of non-violence. As we ponder, I want us to consider the examples provided by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the unbelievable love demonstrated in his Truth and Reconciliation program. And we must not forget the courageous example provided by Mahatma Gandhi through his work to liberate India.
As we are challenged by those questions, it would be timely that we pray and look very carefully for the power of the gospel of Christ in the platforms presented by the people who are running for various political offices, especially the president of the United States. Our right to vote is a sacred duty. People through the centuries have struggled to gain that right. As Christians committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must keep that in mind as we prepare ourselves to vote.
Again, please ponder the message of an outstanding love presented by the Son of God in this morning's gospel; and let us help each other as a parish family live our lives manifesting, even in the darkest of nights, that unbelievable love.
--Fr. C. Allan Ford
|
|
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 October 18 and 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 - $1215 (including $230 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!!!
|
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.
.
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?
|
|
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
VOTER REGISTRATION RESULTS
The Maria Knight Memorial Voter Registration Drive's joint project resulted in 33 voters registered, 13 applications for absentee ballots and information distributed to many regarding early voting. Thanks for your help!
CROP WALK 2020
I have already collected $200.... Never fails I ask & with God's grace & the power of the Holy Spirit people just say Yes.
CIRCLE OCTOBER 18TH, 2020 ON YOUR CALENDARS.
A DAY ON WHICH ALL OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE...
Thanks for your continued support. I have never asked that everyone has not said yes.. I felt guilt because I couldn't walk the year I had the argument with the car. Aleen put her arm around my shoulder as I cried and said "God knows your heart. It's OK" Thanks my friend. Keep in mind the many that we can make a difference for by just saying YES.
Remain Blessed.. Your sister in Christ..
|
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
|
4 Susan Saavedra
| 8 Ashley Lynn Dubois
| 20 Macy J. Marrero
| |
|
12 Tiffany Lynne Dubois
|
30 Bella Winkler
| |
8 Norma Williams
| 18 Alexis Rose Plain
|
31 Carol K. Rohde
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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:
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
|
'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
|
| TUE 13
| 10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop |
|
| WED 14
|
10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
|
|
| THU 15
|
10:00am Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
|
|
| SUN 18
|
10:00am RITE II - In Church
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
