The last verse of this week's Gospel: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
Baptism opens the door to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the sacrament through which Jesus enters into an intimate, permanent communion with us. It is the sacrament of the table. It is the sacrament of food and drink. It is the sacrament of daily nurture. While baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime event, the Eucharist can be a monthly, weekly, or even daily occurrence. Jesus gave us the Eucharist as a constant memory of his life and death. Not a memory that simply makes us think of him but a memory that makes us members of his body. That is why Jesus on the evening before he died took bread saying, “This is my Body,” and took the cup saying, “This is my Blood.” By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ, we become one with him.
|
|
To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings
|
|
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-13;
Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35
|
|
The Sunday Sermon
John 6:24-35
Table talk
Many, many years ago I was invited to a party where we played a game that was designed to stimulate conversation. We seated ourselves around a large table, and we were told, when chosen, each of us was to direct a question to another person at the table. Such as, “Which
famous athlete would you love to meet?” Or, “What is the best or worse thing about being a man or a woman?” And the person you chose had to come up with an answer. It sure did loosen up the crowd.
The thing I found interesting was that we had to be seated at this large table. I found myself asking, “Why a table for this game? I thought we come to a table to eat? Isn’t the purpose of a table to accommodate the food we place upon it?” But then I suppose, taking it further, one could ask, “What is the purpose of the food that is placed upon a table?” There are certainly good reasons to believe, from an evolutionary or scientific standpoint, that the purpose of food is to provide fuel for the magnificent machines that are our bodies. But if that were the end of the story, I suppose each of us could get through the day with injections of perfectly engineered combinations of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. But I don’t know. For some reason, I don’t think that would really appeal to us, so that must not be the end of the story. Think about it, food is not simply fuel for the body. There are layers of meaning regarding food. It’s a bit complicated just how it is and why it is that we sit down together at a table. But hold that thought and….
Let’s look at this morning’s gospel. We are picking up just after Jesus is retelling the event of his feeding the multitude. Right away Jesus lets us know that there are some who did not understand what had just happened. There are some who, apparently, mistook that food they received for…..food. Listen to what Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” And he wanted them to realize that there is food that will be fuel for the body, and there is food for the soul. And Jesus came to be among us to give us that special food for the soul, that food that endures for eternal life.
My mom told me a lot of stories that occurred in our family way before the curtains went up for my grand entrance. There is a story that I believe works well with this sermon. It took place during the great depression and my family had migrated here from the West Indies. Jobs and money were hard to come by. In the household was my great grandmother who did not work. My grandmother worked as a domestic. She also took in laundry. My great uncle stoked the furnaces in one of the big office buildings in downtown Manhattan. My mother and her brother were in high school. If the weather was relatively nice, my grandmother, with a basket of freshly washed and ironed clothes would walk to work. That meant forty of fifty blocks. But it also meant that she could save a nickel. My great uncle had double that distance to travel. But I was told that even he walked to work from time to time.
Food was scarce and the primary dinner meal was stale bread and cocoa. My great grandmother would bring what was left of a loaf of bread from the cupboard; and she would slice off a piece. A pot of cocoa would be heating up on the stove. My grandmother would fill the cups and place them in front of each person. The slice of bread was placed in the middle of the table. Seated and with heads bowed someone would thank God for the food they were about to eat. And then that piece of bread was passed around the table, each person would break off a piece, dip it in their cup of cocoa to soften it and eat it. And while they were eating, each of them would share the events they encountered during that day. And sometimes, according to my mother, something that was expressed brought laughter to the table.
As I listened, I could see tears welling up in my mother’s eyes as she explained to me what occurred at the family table night after night. And she made it very clear to me that despite the meager meal; they mightily felt the presence of God and they were filled with an abundance of God’s love. And it gave them strength to get through the ugliness of the great depression. Wasn’t it the abundance of God’s love that Jesus was hoping the disciples would experience that first Maundy Thursday giving them the desire to continue his work as he nourished them with his body and blood? And again, wasn’t it the abundance of God’s love that Jesus wanted the 5000 to experience enabling them to bring his message to others when he fed them after his teaching? And finally, isn’t it the abundance of God’s love that Jesus wants us to experience giving us holy strength to live Christ’s gospel through the week as he feeds us every Sunday morning?
I am going to shut up and sit down in a minute, but first I want to recite the first verse of a hymn: “My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me, love to the loveless shown that we might lovely be. O who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die.”
--Fr. C. Allan Ford
|
|
OUR SEARCH FOR A NEW PRIEST
We are well in to our process for finding a new Priest in Charge for St. Paul's Church. While the Vestry is charged with this task, it is something that involves the whole Parish. So let us all pray for this task and our future. Please add the prayer below to your prayers. We will also pray this together during the Prayers of the People.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a Priest in Charge, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
--Pete Bedrossian,
Search Committee Chair
|
|
ANGLICAN PRAYER BEADS/ROSARY
What is prayer? In my opinion, it is talking with God. There are a variety of ways or modes of engaging in this important activity. Our Creator made us and is ever present, so we have lots of options to help us keep connected. As children of the living God loving God, constant contact is required to keep the relationship healthy and strong. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Is there a wrong or right way to pray? We have access to and own the Book of Common Prayer to help and guide us. I would like to introduce the Anglican Prayer beads / Rosary. Other religious communities have religious objects to encourage constant prayer. There are lots of information on the web about the Anglican Prayer beads/Rosary. I own a set and find the Prayer beads/Rosary very useful in my prayer life. If you are interested in getting an Anglican Prayer bead/Rosary and learning how to use it in your personal prayer life, please let me know.
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
|
|
IN-PERSON SUNDAY SERVICES
As more and more people are getting vaccinated against COVID 19 the Bishop has eased some of the restrictions that have affected our worship. Given this the Vestry has decided that all services (10:00am), except for the second Sunday of the month, will be in person and will include singing. We also hope to be able to broadcast the in person service live on our YouTube channel.
At our Vestry meeting we changed our church mask policy to be that vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks.
For unvaccinated individuals, the mask rule remains that anytime you are moving from your pew that you have your mask on. When you are seated you may take off your mask if you choose to do so. If you are singing please put on your mask. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
The second Sunday of the month will be on Zoom (see below for Zoom link). This allows us to have the coffee hour discussions and to retain those parishioners who are able to only be with us remotely.
We hope to see you on Zoom on Sunday and in person whenever you can make it in.
|
|
ZOOM CHURCH LINK FOR ALL SERVICES
All services except for the second Sunday (on Zoom) of the month, will be in person at 10:00am and will include singing.
Our Zoom connections remain the same and are
Meeting ID: 823 3911 5280
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82339115280# US (New York)
+13017158592,,82339115280# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
|
|
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
The total deposits will be reported on a monthly basis going forward. Please watch for it at the end of the month.
Total deposits for the month - $7,149 ($791 for the Food Pantry). Many thanks to all who have been generously supporting the Food Pantry.
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
|
|
HUDSON RIVER CRUISE UPDATE
|
|
The Church Club of New York
Video Replay
Holy Woman
Adelaide Teague Case - Teacher and Theologian
Dear Church Club Members and Friends,
We had a terrific program last night on
Adelaide Teague Case - Teacher and Theologian
Our special thanks to Archivist and Historian Jeanne Ballard Terepka
for sharing generously of their time and scholarship!
If you weren't able to join us on Zoom, we are pleased to make this
recorded replay available.
(Note: the passcode, below, may be required).
PASSCODE: 7*D.%fLz
|
|
SUMMER YOUTH CONFERENCE 2021
The 2021 Summer Youth Conference will be held August 15-21 at the Incarnation Center, Ivoryton CT. It is a spiritual retreat for those 12-18 years old.
The cost for the program is $325.00 and more information can be found on the flyer.
--Pete Bedrossian,
SpirItual Life Committee
|
|
_4 Julett Butler
_7 Janet Quade
11 Ginny Gates
|
|
13 Sharon Sherow
17 Oluinayemisi Roseline Oni
20 Kaylee Curtis
|
|
22 Ruthie A. Hodge
27 Faith Mincy
28 Michael Babb
|
|
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 2021
Our prayers are asked for:
Tish; Mary Ann; Tommy; Carol; Chris; Sandra; George, Norm; Janett; Kay, Katherine, Renate; Food Pantry Volunteers, victims of Human/Sex Trafficking; Burton family; Lillian, Matthew, Sasha; 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; 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; Fr. Allan and family; St. Paul's Vestry; Darien 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; Matthew, Lillian; Lynita, Perry, Melius family, Sasha; Stacey; 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.
|
|
|
TUE__ 27
WED _ 28
THU__ 29
SUN___ 1
|
|
10:00am
10:00am
10:00am
10:00am
________________
|
|
Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
Food Pantry & Thrift Shop;
Food Pantry & Thrift Shop;
_____
Church - Rite II
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|