From the Rector

Dear Friends,

Though it lacks the fanfare of Easter or the tender warmth of Christmas, the liturgy for Ash Wednesday ranks among my favorites because it cuts right to the heart of our sinful nature and need for constant repentance and return to God's love. Dispensing with the usual overture to liturgical worship, Ash Wednesday gets right to prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made..." Nothing. No one. And God made everything. Does this mean that almighty God is incapable of hate? And if we are created in his image, why are we so expert at it?

Indeed, throughout centuries of war and strife, nations and peoples have trumpeted that "God is on our side!" They aren't wrong. Regardless of what either side is fighting and dying for, God's heart is breaking in the midst of it all, because God is Love.

We see all around us outright war, nation against nation, as well as domestic strife on a scale that I know I never thought I would see. It is easy to retreat into a place of perpetual outrage or to throw our hands up in resignation. But neither of those extremes are what the Church, the bride of Christ, is called to do, and Ash Wednesday puts that into sharp focus.

We, who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own forever, know that our time is short. We know that we cannot "fix" the world or overcome sin; only God in the fullness of time can do this. But--we are not powerless. On Ash Wednesday, leaders across the Christian family have "confess[ed] before the rulers of this world the great Name of thine only Son." The Roman Catholic Cardinal of Newark led masses on Ash Wednesday inside ICE detention facilities there. A judge in Illinois ruled that detainees there must be allowed to receive the Blessed Sacrament, and our own Bishop, Matthew Heyd, led NYC clergy in surrounding One Federal Plaza in peaceful prayer.

As St. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians: NOW is the time. NOW is the day of salvation. We are dust and unto dust we will return, but until then, beloved, it's up to us.

Father Rick

Lenten Learning

Administrator and Sunday School Positions Open

St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo is seeking to fill two open positions, Parish Administrator and Sunday School Teacher. We will consider candidates who are interested in filling one or both positions together.

The Sunday School Teacher is a part-time role (4 hours per week) that reports to the Rector and is accountable for delivering engaging, age-appropriate, Bible-based lessons, fostering a safe and welcoming spiritual environment, managing the classroom, building relationships with children and parents, and supporting church activities, all while embodying Christian principles and ensuring Christian formation through teaching God's Word. Key duties include lesson planning, leading interactive activities (crafts, music, skits), maintaining discipline, managing childcare assistants, and communicating with parents.

The Parish Administrator is a part-time role (14-16 hours per week) that reports to the Rector and provides general office support to the staff, committees, and congregation, in order to support the ministries and mission of St. Mary’s. This work includes, but is not limited to: data and records management, phone and email support, supplies and vendor management, communications work, managing use of church space by parish and outside groups, supporting church ministries and committees, and collaborating with volunteers. The Parish Administrator will be a resource person for both members and non-members, and a welcoming and responsive presence in our church’s office.

Here is the link to the position descriptions. Please apply and/or send any questions to info@stmtux.org.

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