The Mouse for April 11, 2021
"For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ."
—1 Cor. 15:22
Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect with the community:
The Second Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Two Adams"

I though it would be helpful to take a break from preaching the lectionary, so this Sunday I will begin a series of seven sermons. (The lectionary, for those of you who do not know, is the appointed readings for each Sunday.)

The lectionary is good for making sure a large portion of the Bible is read aloud in churches over a three-year period, but it has this shortcoming: it does not see the forest for the trees.

From December through May, we read accounts of the major events in Jesus’ life. From May through October, we read parable after parable. Sometimes the material is repetitive, as Jesus drives home his points again and again.

I have found that, while it is quite easy to preach the lectionary faithfully, it is quite possible never to preach the great doctrines of the Faith. Since these few minutes of listening to me from the pulpit are the only formal Christian instruction most of you get in a week, this is not an opportunity to waste.

This coming Sunday I will speak about Adam and Christ, the first Adam and the last Adam.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

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

See the public worship guidelines below. You can also live-stream the 9:30 service by clicking here.

Bishop removes restrictions on public worship

In an email sent March 5, 2021, and linked to here, Bishop Dietsche announced that he was removing all restrictions on public worship, subject to current State of New York guidelines.
Easter Sermon Series

The Vicar will present the following sermon series during Easter.

11-Apr   Topic: Adam & Christ   Title: "Two Adams" (1 Cor. 15:22)
18-Apr   Topic: Judgment   Title: "Two Deaths" (Matt. 10:28)
25-Apr   Topic: Regeneration   Title: "Two Births" (John 3:3)
2-May   Topic: Atonement   Title: "Christ's Cross" (1 Pet. 2:24)
9-May   Topic: Eternal life   Title: "Your Resurrection" (John 11:25)
16-May   Topic: Glory   Title: "Your Crown" (1 Pet. 5:4)
23-May   Topic: Divine Election   Title: "God's Church" (John 15:16)
Catechism Corner

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

God the Father, p. 846.

Q. What does [the Fatherhood of God] mean about human life?
A. It means that all people are worthy of respect and honor, because all are created in the image of God, and all can respond to the love of God.

Racism is insidious because there is only one human family, under one God and Father. Deny the fatherhood of God and you deny this family. Only the fatherhood of God can establish the brotherhood of man. To be created in God’s image is to bear a likeness to God. This likeness is moral and ethical, not spiritual. We will never be what God is. (See John 4:24.)

Therefore, our response to God’s love must be moral and ethical. The Ten Commandments are the standard for our moral and ethical response to God’s love. Jesus summarizes them saying “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matt. 22:37-39)

—JWD.
Outreach Profile: Angels of Light of Hudson Valley

Through the work of the Outreach Committee, St. Peter's supports a variety of community organizations. From time to time, The Mouse will profile recipients. Your generosity makes this support possible.

The mission of Angels of Light is to provide assistance for children and families living in the Hudson Valley with life-threatening illnesses. They assist in providing for the basic needs of a family including financial assistance such as, food, travel, utilities, and housing expenses. Pictured here, Angels of Light volunteers prepare Easter baskets for children at Ronald McDonald House.
A new book by Bob Flanagan

Bob Flanagan, our interim vicar from 2019-2020, has a new book out, Courage to Thrive.

"When wrestling with depression and anxiety, getting out of bed is a courageous move. When panic attacks and suicidal thoughts strike, finding victories in the small things of life and reframing feelings can help a person flourish even in the midst of mental health struggles. Rev. Dr. Bob Flanagan knows all about that—he's spent two decades combatting mental illness head on."

If you read and like the book, I am sure Bob would appreciate a favorable review on Amazon.
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!
The church is always open, so if you would like to stop by for a quick prayer or meditation, please feel free to do so. Masks and hand sanitizers will be available in the church entrance.
History Highlight

To supply and furnish the new church, St. Peter's did what St. Peter's still does to this day: hold socials and parties. They raised enough money for a church bell, stained-glass windows, a furnace, an organ, chancel furniture, cushions, the brass altar cross, vases, hymnals, and carpeting. The Vicar decided he wanted a recessed chancel and that was added for a cost of $400. Mrs. Tompkins writes in her history, "The parishioners smiled with satisfaction when they had secured everything necessary to form a complete unit for a small country parish."

—Louise Tompkins, A Landmark: The History of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church (Lithgow, NY, 1971), 19.
Worship guidelines

  1. Seating is currently ~35% of capacity and socially distanced
  2. Masks are required
  3. Congregational singing is suspended
  4. Communion is distributed in one kind only

We ask that you please not come to church in person if you have Covid-19, have symptoms consistent with Covid-19, or are subject to the provisions of the New York State Covid-19 Travel Advisory.
Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same 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.
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.