St. Paul's Episcopal Church Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
 
MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"
The Week of April 13-19, 2021
Being known and proclaimed
This week's readings
  • Acts of the Apostles 3:12-19
  • Psalm 4
  • 1 John 3:1-7
  • Luke 24:36b-48
Bishop John Shelby Spong writes in Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism (HarperCollins, 1992), “God has been met and known, even in a human life that was once a helpless infant. In a human life the limits of finitude have been broken, including the ultimate barrier of death, that is the story we have to tell . . . [But] we do not capture Christ. Our minds do not embrace Christ. Our words point to Christ. Our images interact with Christ. . . . Who is Christ for our day? What images can we employ that will enable us to be the body of Christ with integrity while remaining women and me of relevance in our generation?
Our readings today ask us to look around and notice that which we may not be able to see, but to pay attention to the signs that tell us that confirm the Risen Christ. Through the most physical and human of ways – eating with friends – we can experience a brief glimpse of the real presence of redemption. By reading the scriptures we can hear the proclamation of the Resurrection.
What we are to be had not yet been fully disclosed. Yet we do know that when Christ is someday revealed in his glory to us, we will know our relatedness to him. What we do comprehend is that throughout this life we well be undergoing a developing likeness to Christ. The words of the Psalmist in Psalm 4 gives us assurance and confidence in God’s redemptive love. The Lord does wonders for faithful people, acts that false gods cannot accomplish. The Lord puts gladness in the heart of the worshiper that is greater than the joy of any material prosperity.
We can rest assured knowing that through the sacrifice of Christ our Lord, we are redeemed and forgiven. Alleluia! Christ is risen!
About Sharon Ely Pearson
Wife, mom, grandmother; author, educator, consultant; trying to make a difference one action at a time. Christian formation has been my vocation for 40+ years - and counting.
--Shawn Prater-Lee


To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings 
 
Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7;
  Luke 24:36b-48

The Sunday Sermon
        

John 20: 19-31, Freedom for Thomas
 
Some of you old timers like myself may remember that today as well as being the Second Sunday of Easter, is also called “Low Sunday.” It gets its name because of the contrast between this Sunday and last Sunday, the Feast of the Resurrection; the highest, the most celebrated day on the Christian calendar. On Easter Sunday churches are usually packed, people who only come to church on Easter and Christmas are in attendance. Also there is special music, and the church is filled with Easter lilies; and folks are dressed up in their newly purchased Easter outfits. But on the second Sunday of Easter, Low Sunday, the attendance drops off, the outfits are not that glamorous, and the lilies are not looking as vibrant as they were the week before.
In the beginning of this morning’s gospel I get the same feeling as I do regarding Low Sunday. The disciples had been told the good news by Mary Magdalene regarding the risen Lord, but they weren’t celebrating. They were hiding out behind a locked door. They were afraid that the authorities would find them and perhaps nail them to crosses also.
 
Yes, there they were, anxious, scared disciples, frozen in their tracks, and then Jesus came to them through their locked door and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” I think he must have taken a look at that scared group of disciples and realized that he had to empower them, and so he breathed on them. He imparted his spirit into them. Do you remember that hymn, “Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew”? He lifted them from the state of fear they were in so that they could be ready to go out and bring his gospel to the world.
 
There was just one tiny problem when Jesus visited the disciples on that Sunday. Thomas wasn’t there to see Jesus. So they later told Thomas about the visit from the risen Lord, but he wasn’t buying it. Not unless he could see him and the marks of the cross on his body. Thomas was honest enough to want his own experience of the risen Lord.
 
So, what does Jesus do? He came back a week later when Thomas was present. And he didn’t scold him for not believing his fellow disciples. He simply invited him to examine the wounds of the cross on his body. And we hear Thomas speak those words that have echoed down through the centuries, “My Lord and my God.” And from that moment, Thomas no longer had doubts. He was no longer grieving Jesus’ death, no longer afraid. He was ready to embrace the task of serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
Some years ago, I was called to the bedside of a middle-aged woman who was in her final moments of life. I administered last rites and minutes later she went home to that place that Jesus had prepared for her. Her son, who was about 20 years of age was devasted. He walked out of the room and literally sat down in the middle of the corridor in the busy Intensive Care Unit with his head down between his legs. His father came out and tried to get his son to come back into the room, but he refused. Other family members and friends came out and tried to get him off the floor and back into the room. But it didn't work.
 
Finally, I gathered up all my pastoral skills and took my turn. I joined him on the floor while in the midst of this busy corridor doctors, nurses, technicians, carts, wheel chairs, and beds were trying to get past us. And after five minutes or so I suggested that we move off the floor and into an unoccupied room. He just sat there, staring at the floor. I don’t know, maybe he imagined that if he never moved, he’d never have to walk out of that hospital without his mother. Or maybe he wanted to freeze the moment, afraid of continuing life without his mother’s physical presence. Again, I suggested that we move to a quiet place. He wouldn’t budge. He was virtually locked into his grief.
 
Suddenly a male nurse walked up behind him, said nothing, simply put his arms under the young man’s arms and scooped him up off the floor and onto his feet. He apologized to the young man, but explained that he was in the way, and walked him over to an unoccupied area.
To my amazement, he thanked the nurse. And he added, “I needed someone to do that.” Suddenly I remembered how Christ came to the disciples through the locked door, lifting them out of their grief and fear and into the work they were to do as his apostles. It made sense to me that, in the person of a nurse, Jesus walked through the locked door of that young man’s grief that caused him to be frozen to the ground, not able to take another step forward because his mother had just died. “I needed someone to do that,” he said. It gave him a reason to start living again.
 
You know what all of this tells me? It tells me that there is nothing that can separate us from the love we have known in Christ Jesus, not the locked doors or hidden places in our lives, not our doubts, fears, or even our times of grief. Nothing can separate us from the love we have known in Christ Jesus.


--Fr. C. Allan Ford
PARISH  NEWS
ST. PAUL’S PARISH SURVEY 2021

This parish survey is intended to help our parish in our search for a new clergy person. The Vestry is responsible for the search and the selection, but this is a decision that impacts all of us at St. Paul’s. We need your input to help us make the decision that is right for all of us. It is important that every voice is heard. Please take the time to fill out this survey to help us move forward in this process.

The survey takes less than 15 minutes and can be found at St. Paul's Survey

Paper copies will be available at this Sunday's Blessing of the Palms or can be mailed to you by calling the church office at (845) 452-8440.

THANK YOU!

The Wardens & Vestry
 
--Shawn Prater-Lee

Dear St. Paul's Family

It's been a year since the Covid-19 virus forced us into physical and emotional distancing. Our friends at the Dutchess County Interfaith Council has created an "In Memoriam Page" on their website to honor those who died from the Virus. I would encourage you to add the name(s) of your family members, friends or associates so we will never forget their passing and others can join you in their memory. You are invited to give the full name, age, and a one sentence tribute. The email address to send the information is - office@dutchesscountyinterfaith.org

If you need help to submit your tribute, please leave a message at 845-454-0613 and I will help.

Grace and peace
Deacon Julett
 
  ZOOM CHURCH LINK FOR ALL SERVICES
Sunday Services will be on ZOOM until further notice
 
Our Zoom connections remain the same and are
 
Meeting ID: 823 3911 5280
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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.
 
 
 
 A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
 
Total deposits for the past week - $1298 ($60 for the Food Pantry). Many thanks to all who have been generously supporting the Food Pantry. We're looking forward to seeing you on Zoom until further notice. 

A reminder - counting is always done on Mondays. 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!!!  

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IT’S COMING!!     WATCH FOR IT!!



--Bobbie Gordon
COMMUNITY NEWS
NY PROJECT HOPE - COPING WITH COVID
This is a free emotional support service offered by NYS and facilitated by Astor Services. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone you feel it will be useful for. Astor is here to help all Dutchess County residents cope with the emotional stress of the Covid-19 crisis.
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
_2 Jerry Bissessar 
_3 Adam Bissessar      
_6 Angelina Bissessar    
___Joyce Herman
_7 Kira Curtis
13 Brianna Bryant
___Hannah Crist Cardoso-Saavedra
14 Mahalia Samuels 
19 Donna Robinson Zajkowski 
20 Earl Boyer
21 Madison Goldson
23 Alice Darien
Adam Mazzuto
25 Jahman Birks
29 Peter Grace
30 E. James Schneider
Michael Curtis
Please keep those on our parish prayer list in your minds and in your prayers, especially at this time of separation and isolation.


Intercessions
APRIL 2021
 
Our prayers are asked for:
 
Sandra; George, Norm; Fr. Tyler & Molly; Janett; Kay, Katherine, Renate; Frank Burnett, Food Pantry Volunteers, victims of Human/Sex Trafficking; Burton family; Lillian, Matthew, Sasha; Paul & Donna, Margaret, Joe, G.J., Aleta, Plain family, Melius family; Ibadan Diocese, All Saints' Church, Oni family; Gary, Legend; Rhonda, Joe, Ann, all Teachers, Parents, Students, Theodore, John, Paul, Kathy, George, Janett, Renate, and Notoe; Sharon Greene, Owen, Agnes, Norma; McLauren family; Graham family; Wood family; Braxton family; Lori, Steven, Jim, Seth; Phil; All essential workers; Beryl & Glen, Vincent family; George; Daniel Mizell and family; Liz, Martha; Eileen; the Butler, Richards and Barrett families; Fr. Allan and family; St. Paul's Vestry; Darien family; Richardson family; Sherow family; Edna Clarke, Michelle, Kathy B.; Carola and Violet; Whitman, Medical Reserve Corp. of Dutchess County, The Laken family; All Parishioners; Kairos International, Catherine, Michelle, Yamily; G.J., Joe; Lois, Matthew, Lillian; Lynita, Perry, Melius family, Sasha; Stacey, Linda, Phil, Jody; Tucker family, Branch family, Atkinson family; Alison, McGhan, Sterling, Unah, Avonel, Kim, Santos family, Madeline, Bramble, Charlie, Cynthia, Gencia, Val, Joanne, Janet, Corkey, Pelaez, Josephs-Clarke family, Dixon family, Paulette, Jarah, Mertlyn; Adam, Paul, Andrew & family, Douglas family, Ron, Dave, Liz; Jill, Lana, Andrew, Susan; Schneider family, all in need; Susie; Sherry, Claudia
Please "Like" our page to stay up to date with all services and events.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Poughkeepsie
 
  

'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.
THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
April 13-19, 2021
TUE_____13
________
_
WED____ 14

THU____ 15

SUN____18

MON____19
10:00am
_3:30pm
_
10:00am

10:00am

10:00am

10:00am
Food Pantry & Thrift Shop; Stewardship Meeting

Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

Zoom - Rite II, Ante Communion

St. Paul's Church Survey due
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