The Mouse for June 6, 2021 |
"Whoever does the will of God is my brother
and sister and mother."
— Mark 3:35
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Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect with the community:
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Proper 5
Sermon: "God's Peculiar Treasure"
Obedience is the toughest lesson of childhood, and the one that few of us learn very well. After all, who wants to obey?
Perhaps if God Himself were to ask us to do something we would do it, provided we could be assured it was actually God who was asking. Short of that we reserve the right to decline to do what we're told. "I'm in charge," we tell ourselves.
But what if we've got it wrong? What if "being ourselves" is actually the punishment, and following God's will is the reward? In Ex. 19:5 God says, "if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people."
God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. We are called. We are needed. How glorious the plans of God! How wonderful to be asked and enabled to fulfill them! What a shame if we were not to do so!
Come hear (or live-stream) this Sunday's sermon to learn more about the rewards of obeying God.
Sunday, June 6, 2021
Holy Communion, 8 a.m.
Holy Communion, 9:30 a.m.
See the public worship guidelines below.
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.
Beginning this Sunday we will relax the social-distancing and mask requirements for those who are fully-vaccinated.
Congregational singing will resume on July 4.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, June 20, 11-1 p.m.
Father's Day BBQ and Hymn Sing
Church Lawn
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Catechism Corner
The Vicar continues his weekly exposition of the Catechism, found in the Book of Common Prayer, pp. 845-862.
The Old Covenant, pp. 846-847.
Q. Where in the Old Testament is God's will for us shown most clearly?
A. God's will for us is shown most clearly in the Ten Commandments.
Have you ever wondered what somebody was all about? A spouse, a friend, or, perhaps particularly, a boss? You might say things like, "that person just can't make his mind up," or, "I never know where she is coming from." What you are saying is that their will — and their will for you — is not clear.
Not just individual people, but corporations and governments, change their will. Often the reason for these changes is pragmatic. Today's ally is tomorrow's enemy. You simply never know in which direction the winds of change will blow next, and you can never be sure where you stand.
God's will is different. God's will is unchanging. Moreover, His will is knowable. He graciously makes it known to us in the pages of Scripture, specifically the Ten Commandments. It is a gift to know where you stand in relation to God's will, even if you discover you've violated it.
—JWD.
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A special thank you from the Food Pantry
The Rev. AJ Stack, executive director of the Food of Life/Comida de Vida food pantry and priest-in-charge at St. Thomas Church in Amenia recorded this special thank you video:
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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!
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History Highlight
Bishop Eusebius (c. A.D. 260-339) lived most of his life in Caesarea in Palestine. During his life he witnessed the end of the persecution of the Church by the Roman Empire, and the conversion of Constantine. Here he writes on the antiquity of the Christian faith and that there was nothing new about Jesus' teachings.
"But although we certainly are a youthful people and this undeniably new name of Christians has only lately become known among all nations, nevertheless our life and mode of conduct, together with our religious principles, have not been recently invented by us, but from almost the beginnings of man were built on the natural precepts of those whom God loved in the distant past....
"The Hebrews are not a youthful people, but are respected by all men for their antiquity and are known to all. Now the spoken and written records of this people embrace men of a very early age, scarce and few in number, but at the same time outstanding in religious devotion, righteousness, and all other virtues. Several of these lived before the flood, others after it — some of Noah's sons and descendants, but especially Abraham, whom the children of the Hebrews boast as their own founder and ancestor.
"All these, whose righteousness won them commendation, going back from Abraham himself to the first man, might be described as Christians in fact if not in name, without departing far from the truth.
"For the name means this, that the Christian man, through the knowledge and teaching of Christ, excels in self-discipline and righteousness, in firmness of purpose and manly courage, and in an acknowledged devotion to the one, sole God over all; and for all this they showed no less enthusiasm than do we."
— Eusebius and G. A. Williamson, The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine (Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books, 1965), 14-15.
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Worship guidelines
- Vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask or maintain distance from others
- If you are not vaccinated, please wear a mask and maintain a minimum of three feet distance from others not in your group
- Congregational singing will resume on July 4
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Collect for Proper 5
O God, from whom all good doth come: Grant that by thy inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Text or call the Vicar at (845) 745-8160 for prayer or a pastoral visit.
The Vicar's email address is: jwdell2@pm.me.
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To remember St. Peter's in your estate plans, please consider joining The Lithgow Society. To find out more, click here.
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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.
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