The Mouse for March 21, 2021
"This voice has come for your sake, not for mine."
—John 12:30
Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect with the community:
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sermon: "You are wanted and welcomed"

Messiah's aren't supposed to die. At least that's what the crowd surrounding Jesus in this Sunday's gospel thinks. "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?" they ask.

It's a question that confounds many who follow Christ. "Why is there still conflict and trouble in my life?" "Why is there still conflict and trouble in the world?" "Didn't Christ come to be bring peace?" "Didn't He come so that we may have life and have it abundantly?"

To which Jesus replies, "Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." What assurance is there that this is true? To find out, come hear (or tune into) Sunday's sermon.

Sunday, March 21, 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 on Sundays by clicking here.

Bishop removes restrictions on public worship

In an email sent March 5, 2021, and linked to here, Bishop Dietsche announced that he was removing all restrictions on public worship, subject to current State of New York guidelines.
Holy Week and Easter at St. Peter's

March 28, Palm Sunday, 8 & 9:30 a.m.
April 2, Good Friday, Noon
April 4, Easter Day, 8, 9*, & 11 a.m.

All services on Easter Day will be services of Holy Communion.

* Family service with Easter Egg Hunt at 9 a.m.
To RSVP for the hunt, please email Marie Scagnelli at churchschoolatsaintpeters@gmail.com
Church School

Childcare and Church School have resumed at the 9:30 a.m. service. Please RSVP to Marie Scagnelli at churchschoolatsaintpeters@gmail.com, by Saturday 5 p.m.
Catechism Corner

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

Q. What does this mean? [Referring to last's week's Q/A]
A. This means that the universe is good, that it is the work of a single loving God who creates, sustains, and directs it.

Does God make us, wind us up like a toy, and set us down to go about our lives until, like clockwork, we run down and die? That is how some people view free will and God's role in their lives. But the God who "creates, sustains, and directs" cannot be a passive God. He has created every single moment of every single day. He has created our wills in the likeness of His own free will. Contrary to popular misconception, predestination is not God overriding our free will, but willing our will to be free.

—JWD.
Vicar's Bible Study

Last week's final Bible study on Galatians 5 & 6 had to be postponed due to an internet outage at the vicarage. It is rescheduled for this Wednesday, March 24, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. Here is the meeting link. Bible study will resume after Easter on a book TBA.

Also, I do not want you to be afraid to read the Bible and I am happy to schedule a time to read it one-on-one with you. If there is enough interest for another group study at a different time, I will do that too. Please email me at jwdell2@pm.me.
Nominating Committee Report

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the following slate:

  • Warden for a two-year term: Jim Florack
  • Vestry Members for three-year terms: Lise Chase, Diana Wheeler & Jim Wilson

Thank you to these four candidates for their willingness to serve the St. Peter's community, to John Reid, chairman of the Nominating Committee, and to Lois Mander, T. Nolan, David Parshall, Betsy Shequine, and Sarah Stack, who served as members of the Committee.
Flowers at St. Peter's

The floral guild is always grateful for donations, especially for the Easter flowers. Also, if you are interested in dedicating flowers in memorium 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.
St. Thomas Food Pantry Volunteer sign-up

The St. Thomas Food Pantry is always looking for new volunteers. If you are interested, please fill out the online application. You can access the application by clicking here.
Remember - no clothing donations to St. Peter's at this time!
The church is always open, so if you would like to stop by for a quick prayer or meditation, please feel free to do so. Masks and hand sanitizers will be available in the church entrance.
History Highlight

After the fire destroyed the old church, the vestry decided to build the new church in Lithgow near the rectory they had previously purchased in 1866. The cornerstone of the new church was laid in 1880. Homer Wheaton Finch, an enthusiastic church member, was a rare personality. He was both artistic and practical. It was at his suggestion that the new church was built in the Carpenter-Gothic style of architecture. Behind the church a substantial shed was built for the comfort of the parishioners' horses.

—Louise Tompkins, A Landmark: The History of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church (Lithgow, NY, 1971), 18.
Worship guidelines

  1. Seating is currently 25% of capacity and socially distanced
  2. Masks are required
  3. Congregational singing is suspended
  4. Communion is distributed in one kind only

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 Lent 5

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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.
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.