This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo
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Stay informed about what's happening at St. Mary's by subscribing to our weekly newsletter...
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For your safety, the church building, preschool and office are closed during the pandemic. All services are being live-streamed on
Facebook
(you do not need a Facebook account to participate).
Friday, June 12
10am to 4pm - Family Clothing Store open at Tuxedo Train Station
5pm - Evening Prayer
Saturday, June 13
9:30am to 1pm - Family Clothing Store open at Tuxedo Train Station
9pm - Compline
Second Sunday After Pentecost, June 14
10am - Holy Eucharist
Monday, June 15
5pm - Evening Prayer
Tuesday, June 16
10am - Morning Prayer
2pm to 6pm - Sloatsburg Food Pantry is open (new location, see below)
Wednesday, June 17
5pm - Evening Prayer
Thursday, June 18
10am - Morning Prayer
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Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Picture it, Manhattan, the Feast of St. Barnabas, June 11, 2008: a young seminary graduate is ordained in a sweltering un-air conditioned church. The church was full of family and friends gathered from all over the country. The liturgy and music were glorious. That seminarian was me.
I worked hard over a period of ten years to get to that point. I met wonderful people and was formed by incredible professors and priests. Armed with a Master of Divinity degree and wide-eyed wonder in my heart, I felt that I had it all buttoned up. Box checked.
While seminary education is invaluable, that moment in June of 2008 was when my education really began. There is so much nuance to ordained ministry that can never be taught in a classroom. One thinks of the priest at the altar or in the pulpit or at a hospital bedside, and those are primary functions. However, uniting parishes full of varied personalities and world views under the banner of one Gospel message, finding one’s place in the workings of the community, not to mention basic electrical and plumbing repairs, and most recently truck driving and broadcasting...all of these things and more are where one finds God’s purpose for one in servant ministry. A priest offers him or herself to service of God and their people, making many mistakes along the way, encountering many unforeseen circumstances, relying on divine grace, and hoping to make a small difference.
I am grateful for all of the lessons I have learned along the way, for the people who have invited me into their lives, and for the future we will face together in faith.
Blessings,
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Thank you to all who have donated young people’s clothing for our
free clothing store
at the Tuxedo Train Station. There have been many grateful shoppers, from local parents with multiple children to the homeless whom we have reached through the Food Pantry.
Initially, being a little nervous, we reached out only to Tuxedo and Sloatsburg, but at the next Food Pantry opening on 16th June flyers will go out to Suffern School District clients as well. We are opening this week on Friday 12th June from 10am till 4pm and Saturday, with the Farmers’ Market, from 9.30am till 1pm. The same will happen on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th. The number of people per room is limited, you must wear your own mask, gloves are provided.
Whatever is left, and it is all good, will be given to a church in Spring Valley or shipped to El Salvador. Nothing goes to waste!
Sue Heywood, Outreach Chair
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New Location for Food Pantry Distribution
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Thank you to all who have helped make the
transition
from the Sloatsburg Municipal lot to St. Mary's Villa, especially the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate, who have graciously opened the doors of the old Hamilton estate. On June 16th, from 2pm to 6pm, the new distribution location will be "150 Sister Servants Lane, Sloatsburg" just off Sterling Mine Road near Eagle Valley.
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Last year we initiated getting information to publish a new local directory of St. Mary’s Parishioners and Friends. So many people had asked for an updated version of the 2015 directory which they had always found very useful. However, information for the directory was slow to come in and there were many other things that took priority for our attention. Now that people have more time, and new families are moving into Tuxedo, we are hoping to get the information and renew our efforts in making the updated directory happen.
Please fill in the information asked for in the link and also pass this email on to any new people in our community. It’s a good way to meet your neighbors and a useful resource for community activities. Please note, the directory is only shared with participants and you can indicate on the form how much of your information you want included. We will never share your information with any outside organization.
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A sanctuary lamp has been hung in the church directly above the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is kept in reserve. The perpetual light of the lamp reminds us that Jesus is sacramentally present, and calls us to greater reverence for his Body as well as to prayer in his presence.
The glass vigil candles that fit inside the lamp can be given in memory of a loved one, as a petition for some need, or in thanksgiving for answered prayer. Each light burns for an entire week, and the cost is $20. With your donation, please leave a note describing your prayer's intention as well as the week you would like the light to burn. You may
donate online
or mail a check to St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo, P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.
This week, the sanctuary lamp is given by
Harrison Bush
in thanksgiving for the birthday of
Peter Bush
.
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Tech Needs for the Church
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We’ve learned a lot in the last two and a half months about video and sound recording, and broadcasting. A blooper reel will be forthcoming! Taking our worship online literally overnight has been rewarding as well as challenging.
One of the lessons that has been learned in the pandemic throughout the Church is that online worship will be a part of our new reality. Down the road a ways, I envision the installation of proper camera equipment, but for now we are most in need of wi-fi or better connectivity inside the church. This will greatly enhance the quality of our streaming service and cut down on annoying “technical issues."
This is now a critical need and not simply something on the “nice to have” list. The bids we received for a comprehensive system ranged from $5,000 to $10,000. We will work very hard to keep the total below the $5,000 amount. Already parishioners have pledged over $1000. Will you join them and make a donation to help usher St. Mary’s into the future?
Thank you and God bless!
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Plan for Resuming Public Worship
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Since our decision to cease public worship as of March 15, and the Bishop’s subsequent mandate, we have all been working hard to be innovative in worship and effective in outreach. I am very proud of everyone’s efforts in showing that though the doors are closed, the church is open.
Still, it has been a difficult sacrifice not to gather together in God’s name, and the question on everyone’s minds has been, “How long, O Lord?” I am happy to report that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, albeit a rightly cautious one.
Beginning on July 1, groups of no more than ten may gather. This number may change between now and then depending on the governor’s directives. You can read much more detail in the
document itself
, and I will be working closely with the wardens and staff to facilitate a smooth transition back to in-person worship. We will keep you up to date via the newsletter as things unfold. Until then, please continue to join us for our weekday and Sunday services online.
Father Rick
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How to contact us...
Office: 845.351.5122
PreSchool: 845.351.2389
Physical Address: 10 Fox Hill Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
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