St. Paul's Episcopal Church Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"
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The Week of July 5-11, 2022 |
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Who Is My Neighbor?
20 | July | 2018
“Love your neighbor as yourself” the Gospel says (Matthew 22:38). But who is my neighbor? We often respond to that question by saying: “My neighbors are all the people I am living with on this earth, especially the sick, the hungry, the dying, and all who are in need.” But this is not what Jesus says. When Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:29-37) to answer the question “Who is my neighbor?” he ends by asking: “Which … do you think, proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the bandits’ hands?” The neighbor, Jesus makes clear, is not the poor man laying on the side of the street, stripped, beaten, and half dead, but the Samaritan who crossed the road, “bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them … lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him.” My neighbor is the one who crosses the road for me!
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A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him... - Luke 10: 31-34a (NIV)
--Shawn Prater-Lee
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Dear St. Paul’s,
During the season of Ordinary Time, we have a choice of lectionary readings, Track 1 and Track 2. We can choose either, but need to stick with the same choice throughout the season. What are these tracks, and what does it mean that we have chosen Track 1 with its long passages and hard-to-pronounce names?
There are always questions as to why we have different options for readings on a given Sunday, especially during the Season after Pentecost or Ordinary Time. The RCL has two different tracks of reading.
● One track provides for a semi-continuous reading of the Old Testament narratives, which gives you the opportunity to hear some of the great Old Testament stories as well as capture some of the story in a different way. It also has the inclusion of women and their role in salvation history, giving us texts that have not been heard on Sunday before. [Genesis through Judges in year A; the Davidic Covenant and Wisdom literature in Year B; the prophets – Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel and Habakkuk – in Year C.]
● The other track provides for thematic harmony with the Gospel of the day, in which readings from the Old Testament and New Testament are chosen in relation to the Gospel.
Track 1 readings allow the Old Testament stories to speak on their own, as meaningful stories in their own right, and not only as pointing to the coming of Jesus. It can take a little extra work to understand where the Hebrew Bible history and prophets are coming from, since we are less familiar with those names and places than we are with the names and places of Jesus’ time. But taking that time can bring us deeper understanding of the stories in both New and Old Testaments.
In the end, either track is a valid choice for our Sunday readings. But it helps a bit to know about where these choices come from. The lectionary page also has a piece, under the calendar, explaining the tracks.
As I prepare each week to preach on Sunday, of course I am reading the lectionary readings multiple times, and reading my annotated Bible to dig in to the readings further. I also have a few books I read in rotation at any time, which feed into sermons as well. Here are a few recent ones, which you might want to check out too, if they sound interesting to you:
Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels (Richard Hays)
Black and Episcopalian (Gayle Fisher-Stewart)
The 1619 Project (Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson)
The Wisdom of Wilderness (Gerald May)
Please let me know your questions and thoughts about the lectionary, or anything else that comes up for you. The tools of seminary should be open to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of our scripture and our faith.
Rev. Mary
--The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber
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To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings
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Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14;
Luke 10:25-37
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The Sunday Sermon
22-7-3 Proper 9 Gal 6 Lk 10:1-11, 16-20
In today’s readings from the book of Kings and Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and Luke’s Gospel, we have some really good ideas of how to be community, of how to be the Church, of how to do ministry.
In the first reading, we see how it can be hard to reach across boundaries to ask for help. A Syrian army commander has to put aside his privilege, his feelings of superiority, and his decorum to ask for healing from the Israelite holy man Elisha.
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Paul tells the Galatians to “bear one another’s burdens” in order to “fulfill the law of Christ.”
Now, much has been made of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, in which he argues strongly and harshly against requiring followers of Christ to be circumcised. Many have taken this letter as anti-Jewish, as Paul breaking away from his former life as a Pharisee, as Paul arguing against the law, against Torah.
Some scholars though, including my New Testament professor at Union, see it differently.
Paul was not really against the law, never gave up being a Jew, was not against circumcision, was not trying to undo his own circumcision, these scholars say. Instead, he felt called to help build something different, a “new creation” as he puts it. A community where the circumcised and uncircumcised would come together, across divisions and boundaries, to follow the one true God of Abraham.
Paul did not want these new followers to be circumcised, because that would just reinforce the existing boundaries, the existing rules of entry. It would make more Jews, certainly not a bad thing, but it would not be a transformative new creation. It would say, Sure, you can join us, if you become just like us.
Just as Elisha did not ask Naaman to bow down before the one God of Israel in order to be healed from his leprosy, Paul did not ask the Galatians to be circumcised in order to receive the good news he was bringing, the news that now all nations and peoples could be chosen, all could be children of Abraham, all could follow the one God in Christ.
Removing the requirement of circumcision is a big thing, but it does not mean that Paul was making it easy to join this movement. “Bear one anothers burdens” is not an easy teaching, and Paul understands this firsthand. He came to Asia, to the Roman-occupied province where the Gauls/Galatians lived, and stayed there, living with these folks very different from himself, for fourteen years.
In this letter Paul mentions that he was suffering from some kind of illness when he arrived, and that the Galatians took care of him. As he was being cared for, he got to know in a really close-up way, what it was like for the Galatians, known as “barbarians” by their Roman enslavers. It was not a one-sided, Let me tell you how to get saved, kind of relationship. Paul lived in proximity with the Galatians, lived as they lived. He taught and helped them, and he let them teach and help him.
We see a similar model for ministry in today’s Gospel reading. In the previous chapter of Luke, Jesus sent his twelve disciples out to preach the good news and heal people. In today’s reading he sends seventy others to do the same.
And notice what instructions Jesus gives and doesn’t give. He does not say, Let’s wait here for people to come to us. He does not say, maybe if we put a better sign up, or post something on Facebook, or get our web site in good shape, we will have a great harvest. Nope, he says, Go on your way.
Jesus tells these seventy to go out in a very specific way. They are not to bring evangelism materials with them. They are not even to bring basic comforts of home. Jesus sends them with nothing -- no bag, no purse, no sandals even! They are to go and stay in the house of a stranger, eating and drinking whatever that household eats and drinks. They are told to live, like Paul did with the Galatians, in proximity with the people they go out to meet. They are sent to live with them, to bear whatever burdens they bear.
These seventy followers of Jesus are sent out, to live completely dependent on strangers, in order to share the good news that “the kingdom of God has come near.” Not that it will come someday, not that we can hope for better after we die, not that things are hard now but if we are faithful we will be rewarded. No. The kingdom is right here, it is here now. This is Paul’s message too -- that God has made something new, a new creation.
This news is so good, this message is so compelling and urgent, that it can’t wait for someone to be circumcised to hear it. It can’t wait for people to hear of Jesus and go to him to hear it. It can’t even wait for people to be ready and willing and receptive to hear it. Jesus says to his followers, if the people of a town don’t welcome you, don’t stay there, but you still need to tell them that the kingdom of God has come near.
It makes me wonder. Do we, do we in this Episcopal Church, do we in this nation or this worldwide family of Christians, do we here in this St. Paul’s community, believe in the Good News? Do we believe that the Kingdom of God is here? Do we believe that Resurrection is Real? Do we believe it enough to take the news to someone different from ourselves? Do we believe it enough to go live with someone who lives in very different circumstances from our own? Do we believe it enough that we would be willing to bear the burdens of a stranger, so that we could both see that Kingdom?
And what would it mean to really take Jesus' instruction to heart? I mean, we certainly have seen some examples lately of how not to do it. There’s this proposal before our Church’s General Convention on allowing open communion, that is, welcoming people to receive even if they have not been baptized. And a group of Episcopal theologians wrote a statement about it saying, no, the gifts of God are only for the people of God, not for all people. We heard this week of a tragedy of immigrants succumbing to heat in a closed truck, people just trying to escape desperate circumstances and seeking a safe place to live, and instead dying because of a lack of welcome by us. We heard of a former president fighting his secret service in order to try to be a part of an armed assault on his own people, we heard of him asking that people attending his rally be allowed to keep their guns because “they don’t want to hurt me.”
This does not sound like bearing one another’s burdens. This does not sound like a community that embraces the circumcised and the uncircumcised together. This does not sound like bringing the message that the Kingdom of God is near to everyone, whether they welcome us or not.
The news wasn’t all bad. In this painful season of the Supreme Court rolling back a human right for the first time, we also had the swearing in of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman justice. This swearing in is a testament to Justice Jackson’s own perseverance, and to her extremely high credentials. And it is also a small but mighty sign of the breaking in of God’s Kingdom on earth. It is a sign, in the midst of so much death and division, of Resurrection.
St. Paul’s, do you believe that the Kingdom of God is near? Do you believe that Resurrection is Real? Are you willing to go out and live into that message? Are you willing to get in close with someone different from yourself? Are you willing to bear their burdens, and to let them help you with yours? And how will you do that, today and tomorrow? How will you start?
St. Paul’s, do you believe that Resurrection is Real? Then go, go on your way. Amen.
--The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber
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Note: the following information is presented in English and Spanish
Aviso: La siguiente información se presenta en inglés y en español
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites Episcopalians everywhere to mark the season after Pentecost with 30 days of prayer leading up to and encompassing the 80th General Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
“A Season of Prayer for Revival”—from June 12 through July 11—will feature daily prayers drawn from the Book of Common Prayer. Individuals can sign up online to receive the prayers and inspirational messages via email. The prayers will also be posted daily on social media accounts for The Episcopal Church and Forward Movement.
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:Amanda Skofstad
Public Affairs Officer, The Episcopal Church
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PRAYERS FOR WEEK 4
Sunday, July 3 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together
in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all
peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen
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Monday, July 4 Independence Day
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love
things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things
that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday, July 5
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body
of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our
supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all
members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry
they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Wednesday, July 6
Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and
resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away
the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds,
and live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thursday, July 7
Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide
with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the bishops
and the other clergy and the laity soon to be assembled in your Name,
that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may
fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son
Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Friday, July 8
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding,
be present with those who take counsel in the General Convention for
the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek
first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant
us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saturday, July 9
Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all
truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in
error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right,
strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite
it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen
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O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably
on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the
effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan
of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which
were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old
are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their
perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Please call 845-452-8440 to speak to Ms. Daphne Barrett
PLEASE DONATE RE-USABLE BAGS FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY
--Daphne Barrett
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ST. PAUL’S
SMALL BLESSINGS THRIFT SHOP AND FOOD PANTRY
In addition to our regular Thrift shop and Food pantry hours (Tues. Weds. Thurs. 10am - 2pm)
WE ARE ALSO OPEN THE LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH - 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Clothing for men, women and children, housewares, knick-knacks, etc.
GREAT BARGAINS - CHECK IT OUT!!
St. Paul’s Church
161 Mansion St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
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It was decided and announced that we are dropping the mask mandate for services. People may continue to wear the mask if they choose, but they are not required to wear one.
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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.
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STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE:
Remember - Chili is still for sale at reduced prices -
Pt. - $6 and Qt. - $10. Speak to Debbie, Rose or Janet if you want some.
Many thanks to all who have returned their pledge form for 2022. Your envelopes are available to be picked up in the Narthex. It’s not too late to return your pledge - just complete the form and put it in the collection plate. Your envelopes will then be available the following Sunday.
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A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
A reminder - Please remember to either mail in your pledge or drop it off through the mail slot any day during the week. The correct address is: 161 Mansion St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
ST. PAUL’S THANKS YOU!!!
--Bobbie Gordon
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SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
For families with youth up through the first year of college, here are two opportunities you might consider for this summer. The first is led by the wonderful Christy Lent, from Christ Church, who some of you might know, and is at Incarnation Camp, a beautiful setting not too far away in Connecticut. It is great for building friendships and developing leadership skills. The second will be led by the anti-racism committee, led by Carla Burns of Holy Innocents Church in Highland Falls. Most likely many of you know Carla too, and she is a wonderful mentor of young people.
1. The Diocese has a Summer Youth Conference, at Incarnation Camp in Connecticut. It's a great campsite, and I have heard wonderful things about the program itself. The brochure is here.
2. The Diocese anti-racism committee is planning a youth pilgrimage:
Youth (New York State) Pilgrimage, Aug 27-28
Age Group: Teenagers ranging from entering high school to recent high school graduates
This year the Anti Racism Committee is hosting a two day pilgrimage within New York State
in lieu of the Jonathan Daniels Civil Rights Youth Pilgrimage. Limited to two participants per church.
(More detailed information to come)
Please get in touch with Rev. Mary if you have questions about either of these.
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NEW Regional EFM Group
We are planning a new Education for Ministry cohort for either the Fall of 2022 or January of 2023.
The intention is for this group to meet on-line as well as occasionally in-person.
Alison Quinn and Heather Sisk are currently in organizational discussions with Deacon Teri Jones.
We need at least six participants to start a new group.
Please contact Heather if you have interested parishioners.
Thanks and Peace,
Heather+
(Cell: 917-561-0141)
The Rev. Heather K. Sisk
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
PO Box 1449
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
845-635-2854
--The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber
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Monday
June 20
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Day 9 of “A Season of Prayer for Revival.” We are so grateful to share this time with you. Over and over, the Gospels tell us about times when Jesus and the disciples prayed together. May we seek prayer partners in our homes, congregations, and communities as we continue to pray for revival in our church.
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Lunes
20 de junio
Queridos amigos,
Bienvenidos al día 9 de la " Temporada de Oración por el Avivamiento". Nos sentimos muy agradecidos por la oportunidad de compartir este momento con ustedes. Una y otra vez, los Evangelios nos hablan de momentos en los que Jesús y los discípulos oraron juntos. Que busquemos compañeros de oración en nuestros hogares, congregaciones y comunidades mientras seguimos orando por el avivamiento en nuestra iglesia.
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Copyright © 2022 The Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
--Shawn Prater-Lee
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--4 Julett Butler
_-7 Janet Quade
11 Ginny Gates
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13 Sharon Sherow
20 Kaylee Curtis
22 Ruthie A. Hodge
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27 Faith Mincey
28 Michael Babb
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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
JULY 2022
Our prayers are asked for:
G.J., Shawn-Lisl, Cynthia, Jeffrey, Linda, Marshall, Lillian, Michail I & II, Chandra (Plain), Evans; Paul; Alexis, The Church family, Avonel; Carola, Violet, Warren; Nancy, Plain family, Sasha; Margaret; Mizell family; Jill; Donna; People of Ukraine, Russia, and Haiti, Joanne, Janice; Norma; Serene, Ruthann; Lauren; Andrew & family, Ian, James family, Pittman family; Nicholas, George; Gary, Marianne; Stacey, Meghan, Peggy K.; Carol, Jim, Seth, Lori, Neil; Whitman, Deb; Adrian; Chloe; Christine, Lucas, Santos family, Bramble Anna, Sterling, Leigh family, Ron, Stewart, Tucker family, Hosier family, Darien family
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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. |
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THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
July 5-11, 2022
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YOUR NEWS BELONGS IN ST. PAUL'S MESSENGER
Help us get the word out by submitting news of parish activities. Send submittals to stpaulpk@verizon.net or call (845) 452-8440
Give us a call today!
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
161 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 452-8440
The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber, Priest-in-Charge
The Rev. Gloria Payne-Carter, Priest Associate
The Rev. Deacon Julett Butler, Deacon
Maris Kristapsons, Music Director and Organist
Adam Mazzuto; Audio/PA System
Notoe Hodge, Custodian/Sexton
Ben Sundar, Parish Administration
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church 161 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
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