St. Paul's Episcopal Church   Poughkeepsie, NY


MESSENGER
"Making friends while serving God"

The week of June 22-28, 2015

Picnic Sunday!

 

The summer St. Paul's Picnic and outdoor service 

will be held Sunday at Germania on DeGarmo Road.

 

Church service and parish picnic at Germania Sunday

 

8 o'clockers beware!

Leave your suits and dresses at home!

Short and jeans welcome!

 

Our parish picnic is slated for Sunday at the Germania picnic ground on DeGarmo Road. Folks have signed up for various dishes and specialities for the event. As usual the event will begin with the church service at 10 am, followed by the picnic.


 
There will be no 8 am service.

 

New playground equipment for the youngsters is ready for heavy use.

We haven't been to the Germania picnic area for a couple of years due to damage to the pavilion caused by a windstorm.

 

Our graduating high school senior will be specially honored at Sunday's event. 

  

 

 

This cake was brought to church Sunday to honor the graduating seniors.

Lamentations 3:21-33; Psalm 30: 1-6; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

'Do not fear; only believe'

 

Our readings for Sunday are insistent that faith is our only viable choice. The other choices re rooted in anything but faith. But faith, as Jesus told the woman with the long history of medical problems, heals.

bible.jpg
This week's
 lessons.


 

He also told the synagogue loeader whose daughter was reported to have died, "Do not fear; only believe." It is remarkable, for those who try to follow that suggestion, how readily faith will erase other concerns that loom. Turning to our faith is our calling as Christians who want to follow Jesus' way of life.


 

Those Corinthians being addressed in the second letter from Paul needed reminding that they needed to give and to help as much as others needed to receive their aid. This notion that we have a need to give, to give to the glory of God, is deeply rooted in our Christian tradition as well as in our Hebrew heritage.

 


 

 

Parish leaders conduct Mutual Ministry Review

And make plans for change in the next 2-3 years

 

St. Paul's Vestry members and committee chairs met Saturday in a day-long session to review our common life at St. Paul's and to plan for the next few years.  The morning session was dedicated to a Vestry Mutual Ministry Review, an examination of parish life and activity required by all parishes. It produced, among other things, a list of vital and moving activities at the church.

 

The afternoon session included committee chairs who are not Vestry members. At that session participants brainstormed new advances that would expand on current offerings both inside and outside the church.

 

Expect to be hearing much about this day's effort in the coming weeks and months. Each suggestion made at Saturday's session was assigned to a group or a committee or an individual who will develop the concept and present it for consideration by the larger church.

 

 

Happy St. Alban's Day!

 

One of the founders of our Anglican heritage: St. Alban


Although those who occupy St. Paul's (and many other Anglican churches) are not "Anglo" by background, the heritage of our church certainly is focused on the British Isles. June 22nd is the feast day of St. Alban, who is the protomartyr, or first martyr, of Great Britain.

 

Alban encountered a Christian priest during the time of persecution of the faithful in England. He hid the man, and was converted to Christianity. He then decided to change clothes with the priest to help buy him some time for his escape. As one might expect, the authorities heard that the priest had been hiding there and went to arrest him. They were not pleased with the deception and threatened to punish Alban as they would have punished the priest. (Torture followed by beheading).

 

Alban's "out" would be to renounce his new Christian beliefs and return to pagan worship. He refused to recant his beliefs and was sentenced to be beheaded. On the way there, the bridge, being occupied by a great crowd, was too crowded for him to use. This meant he had to arrive at the execution grounds another way. So he parted the river, and he and those guarding him crossed. This unnerved the executioner who threw down his sword and would not chop of Alban's head.

The executioner also was then was sentenced to be beheaded. 

 

When they got near the place, Alban was thirsty, and a spring issued forth and his thirst was quenched. After both men were beheaded, the authorities were in awe of the men's courage and that they had things the witnessed. The persecution ended as a result of these things.

 

It is a powerful beginning to our Anglican tradition, dating from the late 3rd or early fourth century as it does. We may not have the life threatening challenges of the priest, Alban and the first executioner, but each day is a challenge for us, and given these examples, I hope we can all rise to our own daily challenges.

                                                                                  --Warden Pete Bedrossian


YOUR NEWS BELONGS IN ST. PAUL'S  MESSENGER

Help us get the word out by submitting news of parish activities. Send submittals to [email protected] or call 845 452 8440

Give us a call today!