Turning water into wine

Turning lemons into lemonade

Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

The season of Epiphany reliably offers certain Gospel stories that reflect the manifestation of Jesus on earth. The baptism of Christ, the wedding at Cana, Jesus in the temple as a young man and the Transfiguration all are featured during this brief church season.

This week's lessons

Sunday Jan. 24 we enjoy the story of Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana. This is the overt miracle that allowed others and allowed Jesus to begin to perceive his holiness. And it is a reminder to us that this information was received hesitantly, perhaps even grudgingly. Jesus is not obviously pleased with his new powers. But when his mother instructed the servants at the wedding to do as Jesus told them, he fulfilled his calling.

For we mortals the closest experience we have to changing water into wine is turning lemons into lemonade. It seems we are faced with such an opportunity in the Episcopal Church following our denomination's sanction by two third of the Anglican archbishops (also known as primates) of which our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, is one. Our church has gone to considerable lengths to end discrimination in the church against the LGBT community. This makes a lot of sense in the US. It rankles in other parts of the world, other parts of the Anglican Communion.

We can live with the indignity of being sanctioned. What we did to lead others to declare our acts disagreeable in no way is disagreeable to us. We make no apologies, not even for the distress of those who would sanction us or worse. We are sorry they feel that way, of course. But we are committed to respecting the dignity of every human being.

That is how we will respond to this squabble. We will continue to respect the dignity of every human being, even those who show no respect for those we insist we will include in the life of the church.

What a great way to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. Joyfully, unapologetically, proudly. Loving our neighbor.

We're not going anywhere

If you were in church this Sunday you heard from Father Tyler about the censuring of the Episcopal Church for permitting same sex marriages in the church. So while we are part of the Anglican Communion, we have lost our right to participate in specific ways, for the time being anyway.

Pete Bedrossian

As troubling as that is, let us put this into a broader context. During the Colonial period, we were part of the Church of England. Indeed, when King George II wanted a new Anglican Church he either had one built, or in the case of what is now St. Paul's National Historic Site in Mount Vernon, he took over an existing church.

There were Dissenters in that church and the King "converted" them. By force.

When the Revolution began, it became difficult in our church as many Anglicans were loyalists. For example, the rector of Christ Church left Poughkeepsie, and that Church had no clergy for the duration of the Revolution. It was kept alive by the Vestry, many of whom served time in prison ships in Kingston. When the United States gained its recognition after the Revolution, the domestic branch of the Anglican Communion did not disappear, but re-emerged as the Protestant Episcopal Church.

It was not the church we know today. St. Phillip's, the first African-American Episcopal Church in our Diocese, while formed in 1809, was not admitted to Diocesan convention until 1853 (which means that they could not vote on any Diocesan issues). The issue of women in the Church (as leaders) did not become prominent until well into the 20^th century.

We have not always led the way to inclusion for all. But we see now a more open and inclusive disposition within the Episcopal Church. Now we as a Church are addressing the issues of those who come under the umbrella of LGBT. We are taking some "heat" for how we have chosen to do this.

As I see it, we like the whole church have been traveling a long and sometimes difficult path. Occasionally it is bumpy. Sometimes the view is not pretty. This is just another odd roadside attraction. --Warden Pete Bedrossian

No 8 am service

Annual General Meeting Sunday

The parish Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held Sunday, Jan. 24 in the church following the regular 10 am service. It will be followed by a festive potluck lunch in our newly restored parish hall.

Final building inspection approval of the Parish Hall last Thursday permits the parish to hold its AGM in the renovated space.

Parish articles and bylaws require an annual meeting at which Wardens and Vestry members are elected, the budget is presented, the Treasurer and Clerk of the Vestry are announced and other news of parish import is communicated.

Typically Vestry members whose terms are expiring form a nominating committee for filling the positions they are vacating. This year the Vestry served as a Nominating Committee of the whole, nominating Bobbie Gordon to fill the vacant Warden's position and Adrian Goldson to fill the vacant Vestry position. Nominations from the floor will be accepted.

Joanna Frang was re-elected to continue as Vestry Clerk at the Jan. 1 meeting of the Vestry. Dewy Clarke has agreed to continue to serve as Treasurer. The Vestry will vote on his continuation as treasurer at the Jan. 18 vestry meeting.

Another feature of the Annual General Meeting is the announcement of the Paraclete Potter Award, our annual volunteer of the year award. Ordinarily this award is not bestowed on a Warden, Vestry member of Committee chair. Father Tyler has been fielding recommendations.

The 2016 budget, already approved by the Vestry, will be presented to the congregation at the AGM by the treasurer.

This week at St. Paul's

Mon Jan 18 6 pm Worship Committee, Altar Guild

7 pm Evening Prayer

7:30 pm Vestry

Tues Jan 19 9:30 am Bishop Dietsche meeting with Mid-Hudson clergy in Parish Hall

2 pm Outreach Committee

6 pm Seekers Group

Wed Jan 20 12:15 pm Healing and Holy Eucharist

Sat Jan 23 10 am Continuing Buildings and Grounds Committee work in Parish Hall

Sun Jan 24 10 am Rite II service, Annual General Meeting

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