St. Paul's Episcopal Church Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
 
MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"
The Week of March 30-April 4, 2021
Sermon for
Monday in Holy Week
By the Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin
Bishop Suffragan
For additional Holy Week sermons please visit the Diocese website at https://www.dioceseny.org/. There you will find a sermon for each day of Holy Week. Please reflect on them as you await our own services on Good Friday at 5:00 pm and on Easter Sunday at 10:00 am.


--Shawn Prater-Lee


To be redirected to the Lectionary Page and get a digital copy of the readings 
 
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11;
  John 20:1-18

The Sunday Sermon
 
Palm Sunday, Mark                    

I wonder, how many of you have found yourselves cruising happily down the highway, maybe even doing a little daydreaming only to wake up and find that because of some construction, you were detoured on to a section of terribly uncomfortable road with bumps, potholes, an ugly road you in no way recognize but you soon came to realize it was surely taking you someplace else. I think Palm Sunday is a little bit like that road. We know the story so well that we can just about put ourselves in the place of the people in Jerusalem that day.
 
There we are in the crowd that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and we were ready for a change. The oppression of Rome lay heavily on us much like the Egyptian captivity from which our forefathers had been delivered. And it just so happened that it was Passover week. Emotions were running high. We were making plans to gather in our homes with family to share the Passover meal. You remember, that meal was about an ancient story; it was about a tradition that celebrated the deliverance of the people of Israel from an evil tyrant, the Pharaoh of Egypt. Moses, chosen by God to lead the people out of captivity, had instructed the Hebrew people to gather their possessions and be ready to travel. They were also directed to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. And then the angel of death came over Egypt and death visited many households except, according to Scripture, the ones that had the lambs’ blood on the doorposts. They were passed over. Pharaoh, distraught by what had occurred, relented and the Hebrew people were freed.
 
The Jews, under the oppression of Rome, were hoping that Jesus who had healed the sick, raised people from the dead, cleansed the lepers, and captivated the hearts of the people, might, like Moses, lead them out of captivity as well. On that Sunday morning, when Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, we believed that he was the triumphant king who would bring peace and liberation, and we could be heard chanting as we stood along the road, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!”
 
So, the road to kingship, to freedom, to the overthrow of Rome, in our minds, in the minds of the chanting crowd waving palm branches, seemed to be the road Jesus was traveling that day. But on some level probably we were daydreaming because we hit a detour and we found that we were not on the road to freedom. In fact, it was the road to sacrifice. It was not the road to power; it was the road to humility. It was not the road we thought it to be, but it was a detour that God had planned.
 
And what did it look like? Well, a few short days later Jesus, who we thought was Messiah, would be betrayed, arrested, tried, abandoned, whipped, spit upon, and tortured with a crown of thorns. And we, the same crowd that had sung Hosannas at his arrival, because he didn’t act like a Messiah was expected to act, out of anger and frustration shouted for Pilate to put Jesus to death. The detour had placed us on an ugly road, and we found ourselves doing very ugly things. However, for Jesus, when the road in Jerusalem changed from triumph to torture, he stayed on it. When our shouting, the shouting of the crowd moved from joy to judgment, Jesus stayed on it. When we, the crowd, became a mob, switched from adoration to accusation, Jesus didn’t flinch. And when the road became rough, steep, lonely and unbelievably painful, Jesus just kept going. He never lost his way. All the way from the gates of Jerusalem, through the streets of the city, down the dark alleys of hatred, out on the other side to the place of the skull, Jesus walked. He walked a road at the end of which would be a cross, and as we shake ourselves awake from our daydreaming, we hear him say, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
 
What is the message of Palm Sunday? What is it that we can take away from this day? I think it tells us that we have within ourselves the ability to take an about face and be nasty to someone we love. We have the potential to betray that person and say to him or her some very ugly and hurtful things. I think it also tells us that on those Technicolor Sundays, those stretches of times when we expect nothing but positive and wonderful things to happen; we just may run into a detour. We just may find ourselves on a disgusting, ugly and catastrophic road that causes us to know nothing but pain, abandonment, betrayal, and despair. I’m talking about those tragedies we encounter in life. The loss of a spouse or God forbid, a child, the loss of a job, the loss of our health, and the list goes on and on. When those times occur, as hard as they may be, we must do our best to be true to who we are, as was Jesus. We have to be courageous and seek the support of a loving community to get us through those times.   
 
I think the message may also reminds us that when we may find ourselves on that ugly, detoured road, one of its byproducts is that it may beg us to engage in behavior that is violent and full of hatred. So, we spat upon him and threw rocks at him as he walked the road to Calvary. But perhaps also at those times we just may remember that we have within us the capacity for compassion and love. I remind you that we were the women who followed Jesus all the way from Galilee to the cross and brought comfort when possible. I remind you that we were the apostle John who, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus kept a vigil at the cross until Jesus died. And of course, we were Joseph of Arimathea, who begged to have the body of Jesus so that he might put it in a tomb that had been prepared for himself. 
 
Though we may detour, though we may be part of the Good Friday crowd, we must do what we can, when we can to live and preach the gospel of Christ. And when our time on earth is through, because of our Savior’s time on the cross, our Lord will have prepared a place for us and will greet us with these words, “Well done good and faithful servant; receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

--Fr. C. Allan Ford
PARISH  NEWS
HOLY WEEK SERVICE SCHEDULE

Good Friday Service:- April 2 5:00pm on Zoom

Easter Sunday Service:- April 4 10:00am on Zoom



Our Zoom connections remain the same and are
 
Meeting ID: 823 3911 5280
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+13017158592,,82339115280# US (Germantown)
 
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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
FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS

We would like to thank First Lutheran Church for donating 500 cans of food to our Church Food Pantry.

--Daphne Barrett

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
From February 26th through the month of March, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Food Pantry has been selected to receive a $1 donation for every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold at the stores located at 2540 South Road, Poughkeepsie, Rt. 9 Hyde Park and Burnett Blvd, Poughkeepsie.
 
Welcome to the Bloomin' 4 Good Program!
A Brand New Program to Benefit St. Paul's Episcopal Church Food Pantry
Let's Fight Hunger Together. One Bouquet at a Time.
You are about halfway through your benefiting month in the Bloomin' 4 Good Program. Shoppers and supporters have raised $52 for St. Paul's Episcopal Church Food Pantry so far!
Approximately 6 weeks after the close of your month, you will receive a donation check in the mail for the amount you have raised.

We ask our supporters to please purchase two or more $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquets with the red circle sticker before the month ends!
Click the button below to start using the ready-to-go Marketing Materials.


-- Charlie & Jeannie Henderson
 
  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
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
 
Total deposits for the past week - $1685 ($15 for the Food Pantry) (Typo correction from last week: it was "$100" for the Food Pantry deposits not "$10").
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!!!  

--Bobbie Gordon
COMMUNITY NEWS
PRESIDING BISHOP CURRY: EASTER 2021 MESSAGE
(Click on image, then scroll down to view video)
“Our work goes on. Our labor for love continues,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry said in his Easter 2021 Message, “We will not cease, and we will not give up until this world reflects less our nightmare and more God's dream where there's plenty good room for all God's children. Hallelujah anyhow.”
Read more (In English and Spanish): http://iam.ec/pa2021PBEasterMessage
The past year has seen a deeply troubling rise in violence and hatred directed towards Asians and Asian Americans. On Tuesday, March 23, the Cathedral and Diocesan communities gathered on the front steps of the Cathedral for a service honoring the victims and survivors of anti-Asian violence, recommitting ourselves to equity and denouncing racism in all its forms. Bishops Dietsche, Shin and Glasspool led the service, with Cathedral Dean Daniel offering words of welcome. At the conclusion of the video, New York State senator Brian Benjamin addresses those gathered.
Click here or on the image above to watch the video on the Cathedral YouTube channel.

--The Rev. Dcn. Julett Butler




11 Margaret Robinson 
12 Rev. Tyler Jones     
14 Kattyann Goodwin   
17 Deborah Marie Williams
Bryanna Winkler 
18 Shirley Pharr
20 Stacey Rosborough 

MARCH BIRTHDAYS


21 Linda Aileen DuBois
Lisl Prater-Lee
24 Alice J. Leigh 
25 Michael Van Pelt
26 Karen A. Reid
Josephine Zeleznik
29 Danya Clarke




30 Stuart Ballinger
31 Rose Marie Proctor
Peter Bedrossian
Please keep those on our parish prayer list in your minds and in your prayers, especially at this time of separation and isolation.


Intercessions
MARCH 2021
 
Our prayers are asked for:
 
George, Norm; Warren Francis and family; 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
March 30-April 4, 2021


TUE   30 10:00am  Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

WED  31 10:00am  Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

THU   01 10:00am  Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

SAT   03 10:00am Building and Grounds

SUN 04 10:00am Zoom - Rite II, Ante Communion (Easter Sunday)

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