As I began to think about this week’s sermon – against the backdrop of the Corona Virus pandemic, and my own family’s experience of voluntary self-quarantine – I found that my thoughts turned to childhood memories of time spent in the outdoors. The memories were primarily of two important summer places. The first was the state park just a short bicycle ride from my boyhood home. … [Read more...]
Hidden History, the Struggle to Integrate Our Churches
Wednesday February 19, 2020. 7:30 to 9:30 PMChrist Church, Tarrytown A public presentation hosted by Repair: Rivertowns Episcopal Parishes Action on Inclusion and Race Presenters are Carolyn R Black and Dennis D. Parker … [Read more...]
Presentation of the Lord
February 2, 2020, Charles D. Mayer Looking back over the past few years, during which I have been here at St. Paul’s on the first Sundays in February, I notice that we have not observed the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on those first Sundays (it is optional, but not required, if the Feast does not fall on a Sunday). So, it is a special thing that it falls on a Sunday this … [Read more...]
Look! Here Is the Lamb of God
January 19, 2020, 2 Epiphany, Charles D. Mayer Throughout the three-year cycle of lectionary readings, each of which is built around one of the Synoptic Gospels, there are Sundays that depart from the Synoptic Gospel – this year it is Matthew – and bring us a text from the Gospel of John. So, we never get a chance to follow John through week after week for an entire year. I … [Read more...]
We Christians Must Stand Publicly with our Jewish Brothers and Sisters
Dear Brothers and Sisters, On Sunday thousands of New Yorkers came out and into the streets to walk in solidarity with and loyalty to the one and a half million Jews of the New York City metropolitan region, in outrage and sorrow for the rapidly escalating pattern of anti-Semitic violence across America and in this our own New York. Episcopalians from our diocese participated in the March, and our … [Read more...]
Bring Us Together in Peace and Love
Advent 3A 2019 Arthur Hultgren of the Lather Seminary once said “these days we live in a world where people are divided into two categories” [those who are valued and those who are not valued] “but Advent introduces an opening to New Ways of Thinking.” And at no time is that more true than on the 3rd Sunday of Advent when we both recite the Magnificat (Mary’s Prayer) and hear today’s … [Read more...]
Who Is Our Joseph?
Bethlehem in Germany,Glitter on the sloping roofs, Panels of nativityOpen paper scenes where doorsOpen into other scenes. Leaning from the cliff of heaven,Indicating whom he weeps for.Joseph lifts his lamp aboveThe infant, like a candle crown.Let my fingers touch the silenceWhere the infant’s father cries.Gjertrude Schnackenberg, Advent Calendar Who is our Joseph, really? He is a figure … [Read more...]
Keep a Balance
“The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise [one.]" Euripides As we enter November, Fall draws to a close. This has been a particularly busy season. The churches have (together and individually) restarted choir, reopened the Lantern shop, launched Youth Music Program, … [Read more...]
Advent 1
December 1, 2019, Charles Mayer Listen again to these words from our epistle lesson: “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near” (Romans 13:11-12a). I’ve spoken before from this pulpit of the remarkable young Associate … [Read more...]
All Saints Day
November 3, 2019 Charles D. Mayer Listen again to these words from our epistle lesson: “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:16-17). There is a lot packed into these two verses! First, there is the simple word “saints” – in … [Read more...]