St. Paul's Episcopal Church Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"
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The Week of September 21-27, 2021
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“How we treat children matters to God”
Jesus had used a small child, (who knows, it may even have been a female), to teach his disciples a basic lesson about the Kingdom of God. The relatively insignificant social status of a child challenged pride and commended humility. The child then became a vehicle for designating his followers whether young or old. To harm one of “these little ones” was to court the judgement of God.
The Law of the Kingdom of God is love; love towards God and love towards others. To offend against that Law in any form is to incur God’s just judgement. To practice harm to any, especially children, – for in the Bible they are recognized as belonging to that group of vulnerable people who deserve particular care and protection – is to offend grievously against the One who has a special regard for the vulnerable. In fact, it is, as Jesus said, better to be plunged heavily weighted into the sea, than to face the justice of the God who is Love, for being cruel to a child.
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To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings
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Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; Psalm124;
James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
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The Sunday Sermon
Mark 9: 30-37
Last shall be first
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he must die on the cross in order to rise again. The disciples in no way were ready to accept what he was saying. I would not be surprised if some disciples were thinking that Jesus had been out preaching in the hot Mediterranean sun too long and, one might say, that his elevator was no longer going to the top floor. So, what did they do? They changed the topic of conversation and began to debate among themselves which of them is the greatest. It kind of made me think that they had a little of Mohammed Ali in their genes.
Let’s face it. One of the basic truths of the human experience is that too often we want to be better than the other guy. Case in point, I remember a couple of friends, grown men playing one on one basketball in a school yard. It started out friendly, but as the game went on they were really becoming seriously competitive, and the smiles turned into looks of determination. As time went on one fellow pulled way ahead of the other, and finally won the game. Would you believe that the loser simply walked off the court and did not speak to his friend for a couple of days? We constantly want to be better than the people around us. Every four years national pride is on the line at the Olympics. I mean, people train day after day for years. Is it simply to win a medal? I don’t think so. I think it is to prove that they are better than the people against whom they are competing, that their homeland is better than the homeland of the other competitors. As some of you may recall, Germany hosted the Olympics in 1938. And our Jesse Owens ran against Germany and the “supermen” of the Third Reich. Owens proved to be the superior runner; and that Hitler was unable to accept, because no one of any nation was to be better than his super athletes. It was the custom for the head of the hosting nation to greet and shake hands with the winners. Hitler elected to leave the stadium rather than shake hands with Jesse Owens. Also, in Hitler’s thinking Owens was of an inferior race.
Who’s better? How do I compare with the other person? What a painful way to live. Because no matter how good we are at something, someone else is bound to be better. Wouldn’t it be nice to be free of this constant competition? Wouldn’t it be nice to be so secure in ourselves that we didn’t have to compare ourselves to anyone else?
Jesus says in today’s gospel that not only would it be nice; such a way of thinking is necessary. “If anyone wants to be first,” he said; “he must make himself last of all and servant to all.” Now if you find those words awfully radical, you are right. If we are being honest, we have to admit that those words, especially when we are out there on the athletic field, or out there on Wall Street, seem to make absolutely no sense.
So, what is Jesus really asking for? I think he illustrates his request by placing a little child in front of the disciples and asks them to welcome this child. Now that sounds like a simple enough task, but maybe not.
I remember being in a movie theatre some years back. Before going in for the feature, I stopped for a box of popcorn. Among those of us waiting to be served was a little girl. And there was no line. The person serving us simply made eye contact with each person and took his or her order. However, he continually overlooked the little girl. At one point he looked at me waiting to hear what I wanted. Without hesitation, I picked up the little girl, who by now had tears in her eyes. Thank God her parents weren’t watching me; I picked her up by her waist and told him to take her order first. The person behind the counter gave me a dirty look but did what I asked.
Regrettably, I think that kind of behavior towards children happens all too often in our society. Children have few rights and little status. When I was a kid there was an adage my mother always used when on a Sunday afternoon we were going to visit friends or relatives; and I’m sure many of you remember this, “Children should be seen, and not heard.” But it was much worse in Jesus’ day. In those days children had no rights at all, and there was no CPS. In those days one rarely ever needed to notice a child. But Jesus is saying in this morning’s gospel, “Welcome the child! If you want to engage me, you have to step back and put that child in a place of prominence. Then you will be behaving like my disciples.”
And let’s flesh it out a bit. Jesus isn’t simply talking about the “Gerber baby;” the ones on the containers of baby food. He is calling on us to welcome the little girl with lice in her hair, the boy with illegal drugs in his system. He is calling on us to welcome the child with an Islamic name, the physically unattractive; the socially inept. He is calling on us to welcome all those, like the children of his time, who are without status in this world. This is how; this is where we meet Christ. This is how we demonstrate our discipleship.
Okay, so how do I change from comparing myself to others to caring for others? How do I grow away from the importance of self, how do I grow into the ministry of sharing? I think the answer begins to show itself through the sacred meal we receive at that table. In the eyes of my soul that table is round, which means that no one is seated at the head of it. And to receive the meal given from that table it doesn’t matter if we are socially inept or the belle of the ball. It doesn’t matter if we are repulsive in appearance or handsome like Shawn Prater-Lee. It really doesn’t matter how much money we have or don’t have. At that table we lose our destructive competitive nature as we recognize that we are one in Christ, sharing a common purpose, to give of our talents and skills as servants of Christ.
--Fr. C. Allan Ford
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THE REV. DR. MARY E. BARBER'S FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST AT ST. GEORGE'S
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The Vestry is THRILLED to announce that St. Paul’s has called The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Barber to be our halftime Priest-in-Charge. We will share her with St. George’s in Newburgh. Rev. Mary celebrated her first Holy Eucharist at St. George’s (her sponsoring parish) on Sunday, September 19th at 4:00pm. She will start her work at St. Paul’s on October 17th.
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ST. PAUL'S BBQ TAKE-OUT FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS!
Thank you to all who came to support our Church fund raiser. 69 meals were served and we made $871.
A HUGE THANK YOU to the following people who made the BBQ a success: Adrian, Paul Peffers, Mark G., Daphne, Aleen, DaDa ( Dewy’s Dad), Dewy, Julett, Hyacinth, Rose Marie, Janet, Debbie P., Colleen, and Cynthia. I sure hope I didn’t leave anyone out. Plus Thank you to all who bought and enjoyed the meal. It was GREAT to all work together again and enjoy each other’s company!!!
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CELEBRATION POT LUCK FOR TYLER & MOLLY
Sunday, September 26th, 4pm.
More specifics: It will be at the Germania shelter where we have our annual picnic. It’s pot luck so please plan to bring a dish to share. There is a sign up in the Narthex, but even if you aren’t able to sign up, just bring something - appetizer, hot dish, hot vegetable or side, salad, fruit, dessert or beverage. This will be a chance for the congregation to thank Tyler and Molly for all they did during their 14 years with us. Speak to Bobbie (845-797-8102 or bobbiegordon@hvc.rr.com) if you have questions.
--Bobbie Gordon
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Our mask policy has changed due to new safety concerns that have developed. We ask that all people please wear masks while in church except when seated. If you are singing, please put on your mask. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
--Shawn Prater-Lee
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PLEASE HELP OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED
Loving your neighbor as yourself. We are all aware of the needs around us: fires, floods and displacement. With this in mind I am asking that you to consider small donation to the Episcopal Relief and Development fund to help the neighbors in the US, Haiti and the Afghan families. Please consider creating a Love jar in your home and dropping in 50 cents or $1 each day. At the end of September we will receive your donations with a blessing and send it off from the St. Paul’s family.
--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler
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ST. PAUL'S SMALL BLESSINGS THRIFT SHOP & FOOD PANTRY: PLEASE HELP US TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY SAFELY
DONATIONS TO THE THRIFT SHOP MUST BE IN CLEAR PLASTIC BAGS OR CONTAINERS OR ON HANGERS WHEN YOU BRING THEM IN. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THE DONATIONS ON THE PORCH, BUT BRING THEM IN DURING THRIFT SHOP HOURS (TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS 10AM – 2PM).
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We thank everyone who has helped our missions stay open during these trying times. We kindly ask you all to help us to continue to serve our community with the safety it needs and deserves: Any food you donate should be unopened and within the sell by date. Shop items need to be clean and seasonal. We can only accept donations during shop hours. Leaving them at any other times or in the hallway can violate fire safety codes. Please DO NOT use black/opaque garbage bags to bring in your donations as the staff is unable to process the contents of it. Thank you again for your support.
--Jeanne Henderson
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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.
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.
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A NOTE FROM THE TREASURY TEAM
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
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JOIN US FOR ‘AN EVENING IN CONVERSATION WITH EPISCOPAL HBCU LEADERS’
What: A virtual panel discussion highlighting the importance and long history of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), especially the two remaining Episcopal HBCUs.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 29, 5 to 6 p.m. Eastern time on Zoom
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The Global Mission Commission
of the Episcopal Diocese of New York presents the
5th Global Mission Fair
Re-centering Global Mission in God’s Reconciliation
(2 Corinthians 2:16-20)
Saturday, October 16
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
In-person at
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street
New York, New York 10025
(Online Participation offered at no charge – details to be sent under separate cover)
Keynote Speakers
The Rt. Rev. Dickson Chilongani
Bishop of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in Tanzania
In Conversation
The Rev. Paul Anthony Daniels
Assisting Clergy at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
with
The Rev. Ranjit K. Mathews
Canon for Mission Advocacy, Racial Justice, and Reconciliation
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut
Presentations
Welcome by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Andrew ML Dietsche
Bishop of New York
Overview of the Diocese's Global Mission Initiatives
The Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, Bishop Assistant, Episcopal Diocese of New York
2020 Recipients of Sustainable Development Goal Grants
Young Adult Service Corps
Musical Offerings
Enjoy voices of the worldwide Anglican Communion including
a performance by the renowned Youth Choir Young at Arts
and a presentation of international music by the Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Noonday Prayer
Led by the Rev. Anne Marie Witchger
and Dr. Sandra Montes, Dean of Chapel, Union Theological Seminary
Breakfast and Lunch Table Fellowship
with catering by Harlem’s Herb-n-Peach
Workshop Discussion Groups
Choose from Global Mission focused organizations, including
Episcopal Relief & Development, Global Episcopal Mission Network
and Sustainable Development Goal Grant Applications
Announcements
2021 Sustainable Development Goals Grant Partners
Display Booths
Current Mission Projects and other related organizations
In-person Admission: $20 when registered by October 1 ($30 thereafter)
Lunch & Refreshments included
(Registration on the day begins at 8:00 a.m.)
Online Participation offered at no charge – details to be sent under separate cover
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_1 Noto Hodge
__Brandon Clarke
_9 Judith Mizell
12 Marjorie Marks
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12 Colleen Misner
21 Aleen Josephs-Clarke
22 Douglas Robinson
__ Shamara Ame Wethington Mizell
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28 Adrian Joseph Goldson
29 Daphne Barett
30 Thomas A. Walker
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Please keep those on our parish prayer list in your minds and in your prayers, especially at this time of separation and isolation.
Intercessions
SEPTEMBER 2021
Our prayers are asked for:
Owen; Charlie; Mary Ann, Steven, Jim Janett, Charlie; Alison, Paulie, Grandpa Prater; Lillian, Sasha, Melius family, Plain family, Joe, Pat, Matthew, Those known only to God; Gary, Dawn, Eckwall-Lahey families; Paul, Andrew & family, Ron, Dave & Liz, Burton family; Tish; Tommy; Carol; Chris; Sandra; George, Norm; Janett; Kay, Katherine, Renate; Frank Burnett, Food Pantry Volunteers, victims of Human/Sex Trafficking;
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Poughkeepsie
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'In Service to God & You'
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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.
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THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
September 21-27, 2021
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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!
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church 161 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
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