From the Rector

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On Monday, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Scripture tells us that Jesus cast seven demons from her. Following her healing, she was devoted to Jesus, and even stood by him during his crucifixion when many of his disciples deserted him. Mary Magdalene is the first person to have seen the resurrected Jesus, and she is given the command to "go and tell my brothers." This makes her the apostle to the apostles, and she is especially revered in the Eastern Church.

Mary's name tells us where she was from, Magdala, an ancient Jewish city on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Little was known about her place of origin until just this century. An initial excavation in 2006 revealed a Hellenistic-era settlement, and later excavations from 2009-2013 revealed incredible finds, including the Migdal Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Galilee and one of the few remaining from that period in the entire country. In 2021, a second, less ornate synagogue was found.

In 2019, Pete and I visited Magdala during our Holy Land pilgrimage. So much of the terrain from the time of Jesus is now many feet below the current street levels. Magdala was forgotten, and little subsequent development took place, therefore it was found very close to the contemporary surface levels. This makes it easy to see the ruins in the context of the surrounding countryside and adds to the powerful feeling of seeing the pavement of the synagogue where, in all likelihood, our Lord once stood and taught. 

Blessings,
Father Rick

Outreach Update

Update on Tuxedo Summer Camp Sponsorships

The camp is on full swing [literally] and thanks to St Mary’s donations 21 children are enjoying it who otherwise would not have been able to attend. Thank you. At a time long gone it was free and the cost was paid by the town, but now it is a part of the town budget that must pay for itself! In 2023 we supported 21 children to camp at a cost of $16,000.00. [When we are supporting multiple families at one time, we aim with our budgets to raise specific donations to balance the expenses for that project.] This year we are again sponsoring 21 children from Kindergarten through Grade 9 to attend. Sports, games and crafts are on the program for four mornings, and every afternoon the children are bused to the Wee Wah Beach Club in Tuxedo Park where a beach, playground, water fun and swimming are available and well supervised. Every Friday, buses transport the campers to special places. The first Friday was the White Castle Fun Centre to be followed in the next weeks by Bounce, Splashdown, Bowling, Rock Climbing and Boulders Baseball. We have multiple notes of thanks from parents who would never be able to afford the cost of these visits or the camp. Fees for the camp are $700.00 for the first child in the family and $600.00 for any siblings. To attend all the Friday trips, which are pro-rated and charged separately, comes to a total of $178.00 per child.

This year we have 13 children @ $700.00; 8 @ $600.00; 21 @$ 178.00. Our total bill is$17,638.00. which we pay directly to the Tuxedo Recreation Department. We ask the parents to pay St Mary’s Outreach $200.00 for the first child and $100.00 for each sibling. This has been done; $3,100.00. So, St Mary’s total responsibility for the 21 ‘happy campers’ is $14,538.00 At the time of writing, we have $11,248.00 in donations. Thank you to all who donated. We would still be very grateful for any further donations to help us meet the cost.
Sincerely, Sue Heywood and the Outreach Committee.

Coffee Hour

We are in need of volunteers to host Coffee Hour at St. Mary’s! Hospitality is at the heart of Christian practice and we at St. Mary's have long taken this to heart. It’s really easy — the church provides the coffee, tea, sweeteners, and all the serving stuff — you bring milk (or cream) & some food items! Everything is typically wrapped up before noon. Coffee hour can be as simple or as over the top as you would like to make it. As long as the essentials are there (gather as a community, break bread together, go forth strengthened), that’s what matters. So don’t stress about it, but feel free to express your creativity.

If you are interested in hosting please use the sign up board in Bentley Hall or call the church office 351-5122.

Community Notices