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re: Rector’s Newsletter Article for June 2009

As we make the transition to summer-mode at St. Paul’s I would like to take up two items for your consideration. One, to pause and reflect on the good work begun with this past winter’s Inn From The Cold project. And two, to introduce you to our new Deacon, The Rev. Alicia B. Todaro.

Seasonal Shelter
The Inn From The Cold program was conceived as a way to combat the problem presented by the lack of adequate shelter for homeless persons. During the winter of 2007-2008 in Rensselaer County there were 301 persons living out in the cold. The director and staff at Joseph’s House, a year-round shelter in downtown Troy, invited churches nearby to a meeting to develop a plan to provide temporary seasonal shelter.

The program eventually included sites at Christ Church, United Methodist (December 2008), St. John’s Episcopal (January 2009), St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Shrine Church and the Roarke Center (February and March 2009), and St. Paul’s Episcopal (April 2009).

On the evening of May 14th Joseph’s House gave a celebration banquet at The Roarke Center to publicly recognize the organizations that provided the shelter sites, and to honor the numerous shelter volunteers. Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino was on hand to present certificates of commendation from her office. I was pleased to be able to accept the award on behalf of St. Paul’s Church. Among the many kind and complimentary things that Ms. Jimino said during her remarks that evening, one comment stood out from all the rest: This past winter no one died in the county because they had to sleep out in the cold. It is my hope that we will open our facilities again next winter to continue to be part of the Inn From the Cold program.

Our New Deacon
Bishop Love has assigned The Rev. Alicia B. Todaro to St. Paul’s to assist me with the pastoral and program work of the parish. Deacon Todaro is a graduate of RPI and teaches chemistry at Siena college. She and her husband Mark have a daughter, Susanna, who has just finished her first year at Harvey Mudd College.

In addition to pursuing her teaching vocation and pastoral duties, Deacon Todara will serve at the altar at the Eucharist in the liturgical role of Deacon. The diaconate is one of the three clerical orders of ministry in the Church (the others are the presbyterate (priest) and the episcopate (bishop). The role of the deacon is to embody servant-ministry, and the main tasks given to the deacon in the liturgy are to proclaim the Gospel, preach, assist in the administration of the Eucharist and to serve the poor and outcast. At the service of ordination of a deacon the Bishop says, “you are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.” It is my prayer that our new deacon will assist us at St. Paul’s to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, so that we may join her in serving “all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.” (BCP, p. 543)

Blessings,

MIG+

The Rev. Michael I. Gorchov, Rector

2009 Stewardship Letter

Dear [Friends of St. Paul]

It was around this time last year I wrote to you reporting that the contract to commence work on the church tower had been signed and that our new organist/choirmaster, Brian Hoffman, had just completed his first Sunday at St. Paul’s.

The tower work was successfully completed last summer, praise the Lord! My thanks go out to the many people who gave generously to the project. In addition, Mr. Hoffman, now with us for a full year, has met and exceeded our expectations! It has truly been a pleasure to work with Brian on the weekly services, special events, and the start-up of the new Music School. Throughout this long winter a dozen or so children have come faithfully to sing, study, and share fellowship in the Music School. We have been blessed also with a cadre of faithful parents and volunteers who have prepared meals, and helped Brian with teaching the kids. On the Sundays when the vested children’s choir is present in church, I have heard comments like, “This is so wonderful!” and “This reminds me of the way church used to be.” My prayer is that we will continue to grow and expand the children and youth ministry at St. Paul’s.

I have also been very encouraged by the commitment Brian has made to put worship at the top of his list of priorities. On Ash Wednesday we had a very good turn-out for the noon service, which was enhanced by his exceptional musical skills and with the addition of a special adult choir drawn from members of the St. Paul’s Choristers.

My homily for that service centered on the symbol of the cross, which is imposed on the foreheads of the congregation at the Ash Wednesday service. The black cross is made from ashes out of burned palm fronds. The palms are a symbol of Christ the King and the ashes symbolize our mortality. The cross itself however, is a symbol of the hope we have because Jesus has conquered death. In a sense the cross is a type of brand. We are sealed, or branded, with the cross at Baptism. And we are reminded on Ash Wednesday that the brand of the cross continues to identify each one of us past death and into eternity.

In the same homily I read off a rather long list of brand-names of commercial products and companies that have long since gone the way of all mortal flesh. I also recited a list of financial institutions that have recently failed or are now on life-support. At some point in life we end up choosing where we put our real trust: Should we place our faith, security and self-esteem in the hands of corporations and their products – all with a limited shelf-life? Or should we throw ourselves on the mercy and grace of Almighty God?

Obviously, the answer to both of these questions is easy. The only brand that has true staying power is the Cross of Jesus!

This brings me to another important question: Where is this life-saving message to be heard today?

The place where the life-giving and sustaining Word is proclaimed is still predominately in the local parish church. Certainly there are Christian radio stations, TV broadcasts, and even internet sites. But it is in the local church – your own neighborhood church – through Sacraments, Preaching, Artistic Beauty, and Fellowship where the enduring message of new life in Jesus is brought directly to ‘all sorts and conditions’ of people.

I am encouraged and delighted to see so many new faces in the congregation. This is truly an exciting time in the life of St. Paul’s and we have every reason to be hopeful about our future, however our financial needs at St. Paul’s are great. We are not a rich church. Our limited reserves are diminishing. I implore you to seriously consider increasing your financial support. Please ask yourself how important this local church is to you, your family, friends – and to the children who are coming to the church and learning about God’s amazing love and forgiveness.

I remain yours in Christ Jesus,

MIG+

The Rev. Michael I. Gorchov, Rector

re: Rector’s newsletter article for April, 2009

So much has been happening at St. Paul’s it is hard to keep up.

Information Concerning Holy Week and Easter Services

• We begin Holy Week with the Liturgy of the Palms on Palm Sunday. This is a kind of prelude to Holy Week. The service commences in the Great Hall of the Guild House with the distribution of palms. During the procession from the parish hall and into the church there is a dramatic change in the service. The celebration of the waving palms suddenly gives way to the realization that Jesus is going to allow himself to be handed over to the murderous desires of an angry mob. The music in the church changes key, the vestments are now colored red. We are moving from Palm Sunday into Passion Sunday. Once we begin reading the Passion Gospel we know that we have definitely entered into Holy Week.
• On Thursday evening in Holy Week we will hold a traditional Communion service appropriate for the day. Members of the choir will be in attendence to provide choral music to complement the celebration. Maundy Thursday liturgies attempt to honor all the events that are associated with that day. It is a difficult undertaking. This is the night that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, washed the feet of his disciples, and instructed them to love one another (the new commandment, or Mandatum, from which we take “Maundy”). Thursday in Holy Week is also the night Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and taken into custody. The Maundy Thursday service ends with the dramatic ‘Stripping of the Sanctuary’ and the extinguishing of the Tiffany “Christ Lamp’ over the altar. Both of these actions signify the impending death of Jesus, and in symbolic terms transform the church into a tomb while we await His glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
• This year on Good Friday we have planned a worship service with music provided by our Organist and Choirmaster, Brian Hoffman, and a special choral group. The Liturgy of the Passion begins at 1:00PM, following the annual downtown Walk of the Cross (11:45AM, starting from Barker Park).
• Easter Day at St. Paul’s begins with the Great Vigil at 5am. If you have not attended this beautiful service please consider doing it this year. Our regular services on Easter Sunday remain at 8 and 10AM.

Music School

• The Music School at St. Paul’s is really going strong! The kids love coming to school each week. The parents are supportive and some have even volunteered to make and serve meals to the children during the dinner break between classes. We are truly following Jesus when he said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14). I can confidently say this is a great inaugural year for the Music School, and I look forward to great blessings to come from this ministry.

Sunday School

• We have done a remake of our Sunday School. The new format has the kids assembling in the parish hall between the Sunday services. Right now John Strang, Janeen Paul, Adrain Clayton, and Melissa Enslin are taking turns teaching the new classes. We are using a Bible-based curriculum, and the children learn Bible stories and remember important Bible verses each week. We only have a few kids right now, but they are having fun while they learn. By the way, parents are invited to attend the Sunday school with the kids!

Adult Education:

• I have enjoyed immensely the opportunity to participate in the sermon forums this year. The dialogue we had on my sermon on the “Binding of Isaac,” (Genesis 22) was a great give-and-take event! I have also heard that the presentations on the parables of Jesus were interesting and informative. Many thanks to Bob Kearney and the Adult Ed committee for continuing to provide excellent adult learning opportunities for the parish.

Redesigned Web Page

• Many thanks go out to Karen Strang, and former member Jason Burks (now in Maine), for doing a great redesign of the parish web page. New photos of the church have been added and the pages have been given a needed face-lift. Check it out: www.stpaulstroy.org.

Lenten Cleaning and Polishing

• A crew of faithful members guided by David Graham and Florence Strang did a great job on a recent Saturday in the church. The pews and various nooks and crannies have been cleaned of accumulated dirt and ‘dust bunnies. Well done!

Shelter Project

• April is our turn to become a downtown shelter for the homeless. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Karen Strang.

Safeguarding God’s Children and Safeguarding God’s People:

• Along with my ministry partner and spouse, Marianne, we continue to provide child sexual abuse prevention training (Safeguarding God’s Children) throughout the diocese. We were in St. John’s, Ogdensburg in early February and at Good Shepherd, Elizabethtown at the end of March. On April 25th we are scheduled to be at St. Michael’s, Colonie. We also will be presenting the seminars on June 5th as part of the Diocesan Convention in Speculator, NY. All church staff and volunteers who regularly work with or around children should take this training. A new training program designed to prevent adult-on-adult sexual harassment and exploitation is now available in the diocese (Safeguarding God’s People).  I have completed the train-the-trainer program to become a certified trainer, and on February 19th I presented the first training seminars in the diocese to the staff at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center.

Blessings, Michael+

re: St. Paul’s Newsletter Article for February, 2009

February 2009 Newsletter

Grace and Peace to you!
As I write this we are in mid-winter. So far, this winter is a difficult one because of extra ice and snow that has caused problems in the form of power outages and generally making travel difficult. As a result I have been thinking about spring-time more than usual. I am sure this has been assisted by the fact that each morning Marianne announces how many days are left before the opening of trout season!

Actually we do have some exciting things ahead of us before we get to Spring. Our daughter Melissa is scheduled for a Cochlear Implant, which we are praying will make a marked improvement in her hearing. And Marianne and I have decided to bring a new American Field Spaniel puppy into our home. His name is Oscar, and we’ll be going to Toronto to get him the second week of February.

I have been encouraged by the new people who have been attending worship at St. Paul’s. We will be scheduling another of our ‘Newcomer Teas’ soon. These receptions, when we break out the fine silver, are tangible signs of hope and renewal for the long-time members of the church, as well as an expression of welcome and inclusion to the new members and visitors who attend them. In addition, a small group of parents and teachers have formed into a task force to make plans to publicize and promote the new inter-generational Sunday School. We look forward to a vibrant, well attended Sunday School to take root and thrive. It is very important that we have a great Sunday School operating alongside the very successful Music School that our talented organist and choirmaster, Brian Hoffman, has worked so hard to bring to life.

Even though we may all be looking forward to warmer weather, there are abundant blessings all around us and much good work given us to do.

My prayer for the coming weeks, as we move through the observance of Lent (and on to a glorious Easter), is that we would see ourselves traveling through the seasons as part of God’s treasured creation. The Christian calendar is designed to help us live as intentional disciples of the Risen Lord. The seasons of the Church, and the liturgical colors, function as a daily reminder that the created order is being made new in Jesus Christ. I have provided below a description of the seasons in the Church calendar as an aid to become re-acquainted with the path ahead for our Christian walk.

In the name of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ,

Michael+

The Period After Epiphany
Theme: Jesus is manifested as God incarnate.
The general topic of the Epiphany and the time that follows is Jesus’ manifestation of Himself as God. (The word epiphany is Greek for manifestation.)
Color: Green.

The Season of Lent
Theme: Going Into the Wilderness with Jesus. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It also is a season for making amends.
Dates: Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on February 25, 2009 and ends on April 11, 2009.
Colors: Purple, the royal color, to prepare for the King.

The Season of Easter
Theme: Celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord
Dates: Easter Season begins on Easter Day and lasts 50 days, ending on Pentecost.
Colors: White and gold. Gold symbolizes triumph.

The Period After Pentecost (also called Ordinary Time)
Theme: The Church fulfills the Great Commission ( Matthew 28 )
Dates: From the day after Pentecost to the day before Advent.
Colors: Green to symbolize the growth and life of the Church, and within the Church.

The Season of Advent
Theme: Preparing for the Coming of the Lord.
Dates: Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas.
Colors: Purple, the royal color, to welcome the King.

The Season of Christmas
Theme: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Incarnation of God.
Colors: White for purity and joy.

St. Paul’s Church in Troy, NY

7/22/08
On Friday and Saturday (7/18-19) I led a vestry retreat for Christ Church, Cooperstown, NY held at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY. The retreat was built around three themes taken from the parish motto: “Seeking Christ, Living Christ, Sharing Christ.” I made three presentations: Presentation one was in natural theology, the second in doctrinal theology and ethics. The last presentation was in Mission.

The Agenda
- A Vestry Retreat: Seeking, Living, Sharing Christ.
- Greetings, introductions : Fri, 7:00p.
- Seeking Christ: Fri, 7:30-9:00p.
- I Natural Theology
* Lying & Liars
* “Following a Rule”
* St. Thomas Aquinas: Natural Law (Summa Theologiae, Ia-IIae, 94)
* The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson
* St. Augustine of Hippo: The Confessions (Book One: “Our hearts are restless”)
- Living Christ: Sat, 9:30-10:15a.
* I Doctrine: The Atonement & Resurrection
* II Ethics: Moral Disagreements: What good are they?
- Sharing Christ: Sat,10:20-11:00a.
- I Mission
- Witnessing (testifying)
- Following (”following the game”)
- Discipleship (apprenticeship)
* Dirk Willems RIP 1569

Sat., May 24: St. Paul’s Vestry Retreat at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY. The theme is Christian vocation:

- Schedule
- Our Christian Vocation:
A Vestry Retreat in the Context of the Holy Eucharist.
- 9:00-9:30 AM: Registration and coffee.
- 9:30-10:00 AM: The Liturgy of the Word
- The Collect
- Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the
whole body of your faithful people is governed and
sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers
which we offer before you for all members of your
holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they
may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
* Bible Study on Isaiah 6:1-8 and Matthew 28:19-20.
- 10:10-11:10 AM: The Prayers of the People, Offertory, and
Peace
- An Introduction:
- Vocation
- Latin voco, voice; vocare, call, summon, invoke.
- Called to what?
- Called to WHAT?
* Holiness!
* Holy vs. being “pious”
- Is there a universal call to holiness?
* 1 Timothy 2:1-4
* Christian Perfection
* Holiness is Rooted in Baptism.
* Holiness is not only a state but also a task.
- Sharing My Vocation.
- Where or when have you heard a call from God?
- Prayers for the Church, the World, and the Parish.
- 11:20 AM-12:00 PM: The Holy Communion
- 12:15-1:15 PM: Lunch in the Welcome Center Dining Hall
- 1:20- 1:35 PM: Presentation of St. Paul’s Portrait to
Canon Matt Baker, CtK Director.

(in the St. Paul’s Room at the King’s Inn).
- 1:45-2:30 PM: The Parish Vocation: St. Paul’s Troy
2008-2009.
- A Collect for the Parish
- Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in
heaven and earth, hear our prayers for our parish
family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless,
and restore the penitent. Grant us all things
necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be
of one heart and mind within your holy Church;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- An Introduction.
- Why should church activities be related to holiness?
* Lumen Gentium
- Sharing Our Vocation
- What should we do?
- 2:30-3:00 PM: Tour of CtK Campus (optional).
- 3:00 PM: Conclusion

- Called by God in Holy Scripture
* 1. God’s call to Abraham. Genesis 12: 1-4
* 2. God’s call to Moses Exodus 3 1-12
* 3. God’s call to Samuel 1 Samuel 3 1-10
* 4. God’s call to Amos Amos 7: 14-15
* 5. God’s call to Isaiah Isaiah 6: 1-8
* 6. God’s call to Jeremiah Jeremiah 1: 4-8
* 7. God’s call to Zacchaeus Luke 19: 1-10

- Bible verses on holiness
* 2 Corinthians 7:1
* 1 Peter 1:15-16
* John 15:4
* John 5:14
* John 8:11
* Matthew 5:48
* Romans 7:18-25
* Romans 12:2
* Philippians 3:15
* Ephesians 1:4
* Ephesians 5:27

5/22/08

Tuesday at noon concert: On May 20 we had cellist Petia Kassarova and pianist Todd Sisley in a performance of duets by J.S. Bach, Robert Schumann, Henry Eccles, Georgi Zlatev-Tcherkin, and William Henry Squire. What a great concert!

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The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.

4/19/08 – A good sermon posted by the Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano on the
“Sermons That Work” website:

“To feel at home.” It’s a lovely phrase. It also expresses the deepest longings of the human heart. St. Augustine gave famous expression to this longing when he wrote of God, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” Somehow our restless hearts are always looking for a place to rest, a place to find true and abiding peace, a place to call home. Maybe we feel like if we only had the perfect job in the perfect community, then finally we wouldn’t feel so restless. Maybe we feel like if we could meet that perfect someone, that perfect spouse or partner, then finally we would be ready to settle down. Maybe we feel like if we can just get the kids through high school then, finally we can rest.

And yet, and yet, even when we land our dream job, and find our soulmate, and raise our children, somehow the human heart is still restless, still looking for a place to find true and genuine peace. Somehow, we are all still longing for a place to truly call our home.

Read it all here: Easter5 sermon

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