The Mouse for July 4, 2021
"For freedom Christ has set us free."
— Gal. 5:1
Proper 9
(Independence Day)
Sermon: "Author of Liberty"

What makes us free?

245 years ago citizens of the 13 colonies asked this same question. They had to fight Great Britain and debate each other to find out. They replaced one principle of unity (the Crown) with another (the Union). They reserved rights for themselves, their associations, and their colonies-become-states.

Did it work? Is it working now?
 
Come hear (or live stream) this Sunday's sermon for a quick review of the American Revolution, and to find out who (not what) makes us free.

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Holy Communion, 8 a.m.
Holy Communion, 9:30 a.m.

You can also live-stream the 9:30 service by clicking here.

Please note: the front door is out of service.
Please enter and exit through the sacristy.

Congregational singing resumes on July 4.
All other restrictions have been lifted.
Catechism Corner

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

The Ten Commandments, pp. 847-848.
Q.   What is our duty to our neighbors?
A.   Our duty to our neighbors is to love them as ourselves,
and to do to other people as we wish them to do to us;

V. To love, honor, and help our parents and family; to honor those in
authority, and to meet their just demands;

VI. To show respect for the life God has given us; to work and pray for peace; to bear no malice, prejudice, or hatred in our hearts; and to be
kind to all the creatures of God;

VII. To use our bodily desires as God intended;

VIII. To be honest and fair in our dealings; to seek justice, freedom, and the necessities of life for all people; and to use our talents and possessions
as ones who must answer for them to God;

IX. To speak the truth, and not to mislead others by our silence;

X. To resist temptations to envy, greed, and jealousy; to rejoice in other people's gifts and graces; and to do our duty for the love of God,
who has called us into fellowship with him.

When Jesus famously said, “love thy neighbor as thyself,” He was quoting the Old Testament. Lev. 19:18 reads, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

What Jesus did was affirm this law, fulfill it, and expand it. In the New Testament community, neighbor took on new meaning. As Paul put it, “there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!” (Col. 3:11).

—JWD.
Let's get back to choral singing!

From Nancy Vanderlee:

It is time to prepare for the return to in-person choral singing at St. Peter's!

To that end, I am offering a series of short summer rehearsal/workshop sessions, beginning mid-July, in the old parish hall. All participants, from high school age and up may attend as their schedule allows; there is no minimum rehearsal commitment. The intent of these sessions is to refresh and renew vocal skills while beginning to learn anthems for inclusion in the liturgy in November and December. Happy All-Saints, Advent, and Christmas in July! And, what a joy it will be to sing with others!

Here is the schedule; note the rotation of days and times. Please feel free to attend as little as one session, or all eight, if you are able. No prior choral singing experience is required, just the ability to carry a tune. I do ask that you contact me via email the Sunday prior to each rehearsal, if you plan to attend, so that I can be sure to have enough music on hand. navanderlee@gmail.com

Thursday, July 15, 6:45-7:30
Friday, July 23, 4:45-5:30
Saturday, July 31, 4:30-5:15
 
Thursday, August 5, 6:45-7:30
Friday, August 13, 4:45-5:30
Saturday, August 21, 4:30-5:15
 
Thursday, August 26, 6:45-7:30
Sunday, August 29, 11:00-11:45
Flowers at St. Peter's

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.

You can either send a check to St. Peter’s (PO Box 1502, Millbrook, NY 12545) or put the check in the weekly offering with "flowers" on the memo line. You may also add a dedication in the bulletin or leave it anonymous.

Remember - no clothing donations to St. Peter's at this time!
History Highlight

Highlights from Henry Chadwick's The Early Church (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1967), selected by the Vicar. Chadwick was the sometime Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.

THE EARLIEST CHURCH

"From the first the Church was deeply conscious of its solidarity with Israel, and of the continuity of God's action in the past with his present activity in Jesus of Nazareth and in his followers. In St Matthew's Gospel Christ is the new Moses, with a stormy nativity prefigured by that of Moses in Egypt, and in his teaching laying down ethical principles that were in line with the highest traditions of the best Judaism. The Lord had come not to destroy but to fulfill... Judaism was not monolithic... The Pharisees were the party most anxious to preserve the distinctively religious and theocratic character of Jewish life in defiance of hellenistic influences and Roman domination; they were strict not only in their observance of the Mosaic law but also of the scribal tradition of interpreting the law. The Sadducees, who tended to be drawn from the leading aristocratic families, held only to Mosaic law and did not feel bound by scribal tradition; moreover, they rejected belief in the resurrection of the dead... a number of Pharisees, of whom St Paul was to be the most famous, became Christians" (p. 12-13).
Collect for Independence Day

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Text or call the Vicar at (845) 745-8160 for prayer or a pastoral visit.

The Vicar's email address is: jwdell2@pm.me.
To remember St. Peter's in your estate plans, please consider joining The Lithgow Society. To find out more, click here.
Questions about the parish? Please email:
stpeterschurch@optonline.net

The Mouse is compiled and edited each week by the Vicar. He asks that submissions to The Mouse be made by the Wednesday prior to Friday's edition. Please send submissions to jwdell2@pm.me. Thank you.