The Mouse for June 13, 2021
"It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth."
— Mark 4:31
Proper 6
Sermon: "Modest things are where God is"

Are you an insider or an outsider? Jesus did not always make Himself clear. In fact, He purposely obscured His message to outsiders while explaining His message to a select few.
 
With so many people plotting against Him, that made good sense. Instead of speaking directly, He spoke to the public at large in parables. Later, He explained them in secret to His disciples. Even then, not everyone understood.
 
However, understanding that Jesus is the Christ — the Messiah — is important. Mark's Gospel makes clear that even Jesus is surprised when people do not know who He is. (Mark 6:6, "And he was amazed at their unbelief.") But did Jesus want people to understand who He was or not? Was His message, in fact, for everyone?
 
I believe it was. I think He meant to confound the wise and lift up the fools. I also think He left us with one parable we can all understand. Come hear (or live stream) this Sunday's sermon to learn more about understanding Christ and His message.

Sunday, June 13, 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.

Please note: the front door is out of service.
Please enter and exit through the sacristy.

Those who are fully vaccinated
do not need to wear masks or socially distance.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, June 20, 11-1 p.m.
Father's Day BBQ and Hymn Sing
Church Lawn

Congregational singing will resume on July 4.
Catechism Corner

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

The Ten Commandments, pp. 847-848.

Q. What are the Ten Commandments?
A. The Ten Commandments are the laws given to Moses and the people of Israel.

The laws of God give priority to life over death. It is the living God we are bound by law to worship. It is our parents, who gave us our own lives, we are bound by law to honor. It is the lives of others that we are bound by law to protect. It our life-giving sexual faculties that we are bound by law to govern and keep intact. It is the lives of our neighbors that we are bound by law to respect.

Setting this law before the people, Moses said, "choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deut. 30:19). Ratifying this law during the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matt 5:17-20). This was said by Him who defeated death.


—JWD.
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!
History Highlight

Highlights from Henry Chadwick's The Early Church (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1967), selected by the Vicar. Chadwick was the sometime Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.

THE JEWISH BACKGROUND OF THE CHURCH

"The first Christians were Jews. The differed from their fellow-countrymen by their faith that in Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah of the nation's expectation had now come. They took it for granted that his coming, being a fulfillment, must be continuous with the past revelation of God to his people and could not mean a break either with the old covenant made with Abraham, symbolized by circumcision, or with the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. If something new had happened, it was the action of one and the same God, Creator of the world, Lord of history, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs. His new word to his people must be consistent with that spoken in the past by the prophets" (p. 9).
Worship guidelines

  1. Vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask or maintain distance from others.
  2. If you are not vaccinated, please wear a mask and maintain a minimum of three feet distance from others not in your group.
  3. Congregational singing will resume on July 4.

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 Proper 6

Keep, O Lord, we beseech thee, thy household the Church in thy steadfast faith and love, that by the help of thy grace we may proclaim thy truth with boldness, and minister thy justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for 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.
To remember St. Peter's in your estate plans, please consider joining The Lithgow Society. To find out more, click here.
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.