St. Paul's Episcopal Church Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"

 
The Week of January 12-17, 2021
  
DAILY MEDITATION | JANUARY 8, 2021
  
 
God Needs Me as Much as I Need God 
           
It might sound strange, but God wants to find me as much as, if not more than, I want to find God. Yes, God needs me as much as I need God. God is not the patriarch who stays home, doesn't move, and expects his children to come to him, apologize for their aberrant behavior, beg for forgiveness, and promise to do better. To the contrary, he leaves the house, ignoring his dignity by running toward them, pays no heed to apologies and promises of change, and brings them to the table richly prepared for them.
This week's readings

I am beginning to now see how radically the character of my spiritual journey will change when I no longer think of God as hiding out and making it as difficult as possible for me to find him, but, instead, as the One who is looking for me while I am doing the hiding.
 
 
 
 
 
- Henri Nouwen
.
 
   
 
--Shawn Prater-Lee
 
To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings  
 
 
1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20); Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20;
John 1:43-51
                    
     
The Sunday sermon
 
  
 
Mark 1:14-20, Follow Me

Consider these different groups of people: The fortunate few who had booked passage on the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912, but who decided for some reason not to sail. Secondly, those investors in the stock market who had a hunch and elected not to invest heavily the day the market crashed in 1929. Or finally, anyone of us here today who, while in the middle of telling a joke, has realized that we have forgotten the punch line. They and we have one thing in common. We all understand the simple truth that timing is everything! If our timing is good, great things can happen for us. If our timing is off, look out, we're in deep trouble.

Now there are instances when our timing is beyond our control; where it seems to be more the result of fate, more than a thought through plan. Why, if my mother hadn't met my father at that wedding where she was a bridesmaid and my father an usher, and he had the responsibility of escorting her back up the aisle at the end of the ceremony, someone else would be standing here delivering this sermon this morning. Timing is everything!
 
In many situations, exact timing has to be planned out in advance. In football, quarterbacks and their dance with wide receivers, under the big tent, circus trapeze artists as they reach out for the saving hands at the climax of there twirl, and on Broadway actors as they rely on each other's lines during the performance. They all practice continually to get the timing just right. If they don't, it can be disastrous.
 
Through the stories of others and from our own experiences, we know that timing really is everything. In this morning's gospel, Mark makes it clear that Jesus began his own ministry at the very time his cousin, John the Baptist, had been arrested. And we are told that John's message caused him to have so many enemies in high places that he was killed for his efforts.
 
And talk about timing, it doesn't take a $500.00 an hour political consultant to tell us that this was not a good time for Jesus to begin his ministry. Any person on the street would have told him to back off, because his appearing and preaching a message similar to John's message, his calling for repentance and accepting the good news of the reign of God was going to get him into a world of trouble. Even you and I could have warned Jesus that this was not a good time to go around enlisting people to follow him as disciples. We would have advised him to allow the dust to settle regarding the debacle experienced by the Baptist; we would have suggested that he first check out the political climate before he went out preaching repentance.
 
And yet, Jesus jumped right into the middle of it all, declaring to the people that the realm of God is in their midst, and that they had better start acting accordingly. And I guess this really should not surprise us, because over and over again we find people of faith prompted by God to accomplish things at the most inopportune times. Noah built an ark when there was nothing to see but blue skies. Abraham and Sarah left the security and comfort of their home and relocated on faith to a distant land. Moses, armed with nothing more than a wooden staff, confronted the most powerful man in the world in order to free the Hebrew slaves from the Egyptians. And just last week we celebrated the birthday of a man who, against all odds, took on a mammoth, an evil tradition called segregation, and brought it to its knees.
Jesus stands in the same tradition. He came declaring that God is with us, and we need to start acting on that reality. He did it not because it was the most advantageous time to do it. He did it because from God's perspective, it was the only time to do it. A Roman army of occupation, hostile religious leaders, and the threat of death were of no concern to Jesus. He began his ministry not because it was a right or wrong time. He began it because at that time he was called to preach the good news. All other considerations were unimportant.
 
If most of us stop and think about it for a moment, we can probably see in our own lives situations when we have taken on some task of ministry, when we have engaged in some act of caring, or shared of ourselves, without being concerned about timing. And we have done it, because we felt called by God to do it; which meant despite the concern for timing, it was the right time to do it.
 
I have a story for you. "A little girl was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery was a blood transfusion from her seven year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
 
The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and said, 'Yes, I'll do it if it will save her.'
 
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled as he watched the color return to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. With a trembling voice he asked the doctor, 'When do I start dying?'
 
Being young, the little boy misunderstood and thought he was going to give his sister all of his blood and die. Yet he was willing to go through with the procedure in order to save her."
At the age of seven, that young boy understood something that people of faith through the centuries have known: Where deeds of love and compassion, where witness and ministry, courage and sacrifice are involved, it is always the right time to act as far as God is concerned.
The message is simple. As you and I follow Christ, when he calls us we have to respond, despite the time and despite the inconvenience. 
 
 
--Fr. C. Allan Ford

   
 
PARISH  NEWS

 
 





  
ZOOM CHURCH LINK FOR ALL SERVICES
Sunday Services will be on ZOOM until further notice
 
Our Zoom connections remain the same and are
 
Meeting ID: 823 3911 5280
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82339115280# US (New York)
+13017158592,,82339115280# US (Germantown)
 
Dial by your location
       +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
 
 
 
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YOUTUBE CHANNEL  
 
We now have a YouTube channel.  
To get there PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
 
 
or search on YouTube for St. Paul's Poughkeepsie.
 
We hope to put copies of all of our online services there.
 
 
 
 
 
PLEASE DONATE TO OUR CHURCH FOOD PANTRY.
 
WE ARE IN GREAT NEED OF:
CANNED VEGETABLES, CANNED BEANS, RICE, AND TUNA
    
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
 
 
 
 
 A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
 
Total deposits for the past week - $2,214 (includes $845 for the Food Pantry). Many thanks to all who are generously supporting the Food Pantry.
 
We're looking forward to seeing you on Zoom until further notice.  

 


COMMUNITY  NEWS
 
January 9, 2021
Brothers and Sisters,
 
We write to you two days after we all witnessed an organized insurrection against the lawful government of the United States of America. As all the world has seen and knows, the Capitol building was breached, vandalized, its offices ransacked, trophies taken, our elected senators and representatives threatened, and both a police officer and one of the insurrectionists killed. The marauders met little resistance, and there were few arrests, as we watched a failure of law enforcement at every level. The work of government, and the certification of our presidential election, were suspended for several hours, and almost all of the criminal element who carried out this invasion were allowed to walk away from it without consequence. The treasonous flag of the Confederacy - that banner of American shame - was paraded through the halls of our government. In places, the American flag was removed and replaced with banners bearing the name of Donald Trump, at whose behest and in whose name this insurrection was waged. This outrage was played out before the eyes of the world, to the horror of our friends and the delight and derision of our enemies.
 
Worse than the actions of the insurrection itself was the fact that it was incited by the President of the United States. This was something which in our whole history until this week was unthinkable, shocking, and it can never be forgotten. History will certainly remember this as the final, disgraceful legacy of the Trump presidency, eclipsing everything else he has done. Even in the hour of the insurrection itself, he called these thugs "patriots" and "special people." Now words like "coup" and "treason" are being used about our president by leaders of both parties, and by scores of people who have given their lives to public service. Those words have also been used across our church and by our presiding bishop. Calls are coming from across government and the nation to remove the president from office before the end of his term. Today, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has joined other denominational heads in the National Council of Churches calling for exactly that. These are unprecedented times.  
 
President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris will come into office with the herculean task of uniting a fractured and violent nation, and restoring the honor of the presidency. Every person of good will must rise to support them and help in that effort. Those who carried out this act of shame have promised more, and more violent, actions to come. This country is not out of danger, and the future of our republic and common life are profoundly uncertain. Perhaps our biggest fear is that some essential thread which has bound us together in the past has now been cut, and that we may now devolve into chaos.  
 
As Christians, we are people for whom reconciliation is not simply another virtue, but is the foundation of our life and who we are. "I came," Jesus said, "that all may be one, as the Father and I are one." We must have a part in this work of unification and reconciliation, in our nation, indeed, but it begins in our own communities and parishes. But reconciliation is deeper and richer than simply "making up" or agreeing to disagree. It also requires of us the amendment of our own lives, the striving for justice, the naming of evil in our midst, the forgiveness of sin, true humility, and the tireless effort of calling our friends and adversaries into the work of peace. Coming to terms with this vast broken segment of our population is part of the work of Beloved Community, to which we have bound ourselves and given ourselves as a people and a church. That hard work has already been laid before us, and we have made promises to that work of peace, as recently as our Convention in November. It will be harder now, but it remains central to our call to the gospel life.  
 
We your bishops call on all in our diocese, and every parish, to join in prayer over these days, but particularly as we come together tomorrow, on Sunday, in common prayer. Our presiding bishop has gathered the prayers below from the Book of Common Prayer as most appropriate to the circumstances, and we commend them to you.
 
The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace.  
 
Dietsche sig
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
+Andy
 
The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche
Bishop of New York
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
+Allen
 
The Right Reverend Allen K Shin
Bishop Suffragan of New York
 
+Mary
 
The Right Reverend Mary D Glasspool
Bishop Assistant of New York
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
+Mary
 
The Right Reverend Mary D Glasspool
Bishop Assistant of New York
 
 
THE PRAYERS:
 
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold us now and always.
 
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name forever.
 
Lord, keep us from sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
 
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
 
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
  • Morning Prayer II, Book of Common Prayer, p. 98
 
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered together under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one God and Creator of us all; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever.
  • For Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
 
Oh God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your son. Look now with compassion on the entire human family; and particularly this part of the family, in the United States, and those in our nation's capital; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  • For the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
 
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
  
 
 
 
The Church Club of New York
candles-mantle.jpg
Just Two Weeks Away!
 
The Episcopal Black Atlantic:
Alexander Crummell and James Theodore Holly
with
Church Club Board President and
New York University Professor
Nicholas Birns
 
Thursday, January 21, 6:30pm
via ZOOM
About the Program
This lecture will examine the lives and careers of two African American Episcopal priests, Alexander Crummell and James Theodore Holly,
and their respective mission work in the independent black-ruled countries
of Haiti and Liberia.
We will discuss their achievements in the wider contexts of the global interchanges between Africa and America, high and low churchmanship, the US and Britain, and
racism and anti-racism.
 
Alexander Crummell
James Theodore Holly
There is no cost to attend this event, but we hope you will consider making a suggested donation of $20 to support the Church Club's mission and outreach.
The Church Club of New York brings people together from different parishes,
in fellowship, to discuss and deepen their understanding of the issues of the day, including those in theology, social justice, the arts, and other topics. To that end, the Church Club supports and hosts a series of events and ministries, including:
The Annual Bishop's Forum, the Young Adult of the Year Award, participation in
a Day of Service at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on Martin Luther King Day,
fighting Human Trafficking, the Annual Christmas Toy Drive, and more.
The Church Club of New York
Executive Director: Susan Ridgeway
Phone: (212) 828-7418
Website: www.churchclubny.org
 
 
 
 


DutchessDelivery
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Dutchess County to Open 
COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
Sites in Poughkeepsie, Dover Plains to provide vaccine to current eligible groups
Poughkeepsie, NY ... Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today announced the County's Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has established initial Point of Dispensing (POD) sites where the County will administer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible residents as vaccine is available. These sites will be open next week by appointment only from 10am to 4pm for eligible individuals in Phase 1a and 1b as determined by New York State's Phased Distribution Plan. Appointment availability is based on vaccine allocation provided by New York State.
Initial DBCH Points of Dispensing (PODs) will be operated at the following locations:
Wednesday, January 13th
Dutchess County Behavioral & Community Health - Mental Health Campus
230 North Road, Poughkeepsie
North Road Appointment Registration Link:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4330 
Friday, January 15th
Former JCPenney store location
Poughkeepsie Galleria
2001 South Road, Poughkeepsie
JCPenney Appointment Registration Link:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4333 
Saturday, January 16th
Dover Middle/High School
2368 Route 22, Dover Plains
Dover Appointment Registration Link:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4334 
Additionally, DBCH is partnering with Northern Dutchess Hospital for vaccinations to be available at the Health Annex at Northern Dutchess Hospital located at 107 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. Under New York State's phased distribution process, individuals in Phase 1a are currently eligible for vaccinations. Phase 1a includes hospital staff, direct care providers and emergency responders.
Governor Cuomo announced late yesterday that individuals in Phase 1b are eligible for vaccination starting Monday, January 11th. Phase 1b includes:
· People 75 and older
· Teachers and education workers
· First responders
· Public safety workers
· Public transit workers
County Executive Molinaro said, "Though New York State's distribution of COVID-19 vaccine has been slow and sorely lacking, Dutchess County has planned for weeks how to best dispense the doses we do receive efficiently and effectively. The opening of these initial Points of Dispensing sites is the next step in ensuring eligible residents have access to this life-saving vaccine."
Dutchess County's PODs are in addition to current locations, including local hospitals, that are dispensing vaccine to eligible priority groups, and the expanded location network being established by New York State. Residents can utilize the State's online Am I Eligible? tool to determine if they are currently eligible for vaccinations and, if eligible, will see a list of the various locations in the State's network.
Current vaccine supply is very limited and Governor Cuomo announced on Friday that distribution to Phase 1a and 1b is expected to take 14 weeks based on current projected vaccine availability. Eligible residents should anticipate it may be several weeks before they can get an appointment as demand far exceeds supply.
County Executive Molinaro said, "Dutchess County stands ready to quickly dispense each and every dose of vaccine we receive into the arms of eligible residents. We encourage residents who are currently eligible to get vaccinated, and we urge patience as this process will take time due to limited vaccine availability. We must continue to all work together to stop the spread of coronavirus - so keep wearing a mask, washing those hands and physical distancing, then get vaccinated as it becomes available to you."
For more information, visit http://www.dutchessny.gov/covidvaccine.

 
 
Below are the NYState link (to determine eligibility) and links to some hospitals dispensing vaccines where you need to make an appointment.
 
Some dispensing locations.  You may be able to get more.  
St. Anthony                   https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=50500049
 
 --The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
 
 

 
 
Please join us as we give thanks
for the life and ministry
of this important figure at the
 
Virtual Bronx-wide
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Celebration
 
Monday, January 18
10:00 a.m.
 
Via Zoom
Connection instructions below
 
The Rt. Rev. Andrew ML Dietsche
Preacher
 
Benefiting the
MLK Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Bronx Council invites you to join them as they give thanks for the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day's offering goes towards the Council's MLK Memorial Scholarship Fund.
For those wishing to mail their donations, checks may be made payable to "Bronx Council" with memo line "MLK Scholarship Fund" and sent to:
 
MLK Scholarship Fund
Attn: Mr. William Briggs
Christ Church Riverdale
5040 Henry Hudson Parkway
Bronx, NY 10471
Join via Zoom
 
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
   
Or join using OneTap for iPhone:
  • +19294362866,,94070288056# or
  • +13017158592,,94070288056#
 
Or join using any telephone (audio connection only - no video):
  • +1 929 436 2866 (New York)
  • +1 301 715 8592 (Washington, D.C.)
  • Webinar ID: 940 7028 8056
  • For higher quality, dial a number based on your current location. Other US and international numbers are available: https://dioceseny.zoom.us/u/acjSta2PqU
 

                                              

 
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
    
 
 1 Mavis Rivera  
  7 Lillian Garrett-Thomas 
14 Edna Clarke
 2 Wilfred P. Rohde    
     Jacinto Xavier Santos-Thompson
 
15 John Jerome Mazzuto

      
 3 Linda santos   

  8 Abraham Joseph Foley
21  Donna Hudak
    Jeffrey R. Francis
12 John H. Filor23 Carola G. Madrid
  5 Catherine Porter
13 Rena Mazzuto
25 Agnes Scarlett
     Emily Porter
 
 
 
     Kaelyn Lei Hamilton
 
 
 

   

Please keep those on our parish prayer list in your minds and in your 
 
prayers, especially at this time of separation and isolation.

 
 
Intercessions
JANUARY 2021
 
Our prayers are asked for:
 
Frank Burnett, Food Panty Volunteers, victims of Human/Sex Trafficking; Burton family; Lillian, Matthew, Sasha; Paul & Donna, Margaret, Joe, G.J., Aleta, Plain family, Melius family; Ibadan Diocese, All Saints' Church, Oni family; Gary, Legend; Rhonda, Joe, Ann, all Teachers, Parents, Students, Theodore, John, Paul, Kathy, George, Janett, Renate, and Notoe; 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; 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, 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; 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, Ron, Dave, Liz; Jill, Lana,  Andrew, Susan; Schneider family, all in need; Susie; Sherry, Claudia
 
 



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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
January 12-17, 2021
 
                               


TUE     12
CLOSED:   Food Pantry & Thrift Shop


WED    13
CLOSED:   Food Pantry & Thrift Shop


THU     14
CLOSED:   Food Pantry & Thrift Shop


SUN     17
 
10:00am     RITE II - Zoom  Ante Communion



 

 





 



                          
 


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