re: Rector’s newsletter article for October, 2009

From the Rector’s Desk:

Marianne and I had a wonderful vacation during August on Dodge Pond near Rangeley, Maine. We took the dogs for walks and explored the area waterways in our kayaks.

I read a big book about Abraham Lincoln and his Cabinet by Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln). I also read A Most Wanted Man by John LeCarre. I got hooked on a new series by Alexander McCall Smith: These are novels about a Scottish philosopher-busybody named Isabel Dalhousie who solves mysteries while editing the Journal of Applied Ethics and still taking time to have tea with her niece.

We worshiped at Church of the Good Shepherd, Rangeley. While we were in Maine the new rector, The Rev. Jud Pealer (and spouse Sandy) arrived and he officiated at his first services. Fr. Pealer was rector at St. Eustace, Lake Placid earlier this decade. Everybody looked very happy with their choice, and we pray the Pealers’ will find Rangeley a satisfying and fruitful missionary outpost for ministry.

While on vacation I thought how wonderful it would be to be able to row a boat next year in Maine. A few years ago Marianne gave me a birthday present of rowing lessons, and then I drove regularly to Fish Creek (Saratoga Lake) to row. The long drive early in the morning became too much for me (and too dark at 5 am during September as well), and I gave it up. But this summer I became obsessed with the idea of finding a used rowing shell to buy. I found a nice boat on Craig’s List in Falmouth, MA., but someone else got to it ahead of me. Eventually, I located another one in Boston, and I successfully negotiated the sale. When we returned from Maine we made the trip to Boston and brought the boat back on my trailer. We did the trip in one long day! After getting the boat home I made some needed repairs and painted the top. Fortunately, I had the able assistance of Adrain Clayton, who is a professional painter and small boat expert.

Coincidentally, earlier this year the city of Watervliet embarked on a long-range plan to develop it’s waterfront as a rowing center. So far they have installed a terrific new dock designed especially for rowing shells and kayaks. I am blessed indeed to have a convenient place to launch my new boat! This was totally unexpected. I had assumed I would be traveling to Albany to row my boat. God is good!

It happened that when I was getting ready to launch my rowing shell this afternoon, the city manager of Watervliet, Mr. Mark Gleason, stopped by to ask me if I was enjoying the new dock. He was quite pleased that I was making use of their facilities. He said that a number of local schools plan on using the dock next year. In the future there will be extra parking and boat storage space added, as well as other amenities.

I look forward to helping with the development of the new rowing center across the river, and God willing, making new friends with members of the various clubs and teams that will no doubt be drawn to this wonderful new recreational facility.

I never cease to be amazed at how God works in my life to achieve His purposes!

Blessings, Michael+

re: Rector’s Newsletter Article for August 2009

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1, 2 RSV.)

From the Rector’s Desk:

By the time you read this I will, God willing, be on my annual vacation. Once again we will be heading for a lake-side cottage in Rangeley, Maine. This year we will be taking our two dogs, Babette and Oscar, as well as our big Maine Coon Cat, Kirby. This will be the first trip to Maine for these dogs. Last year we had our beloved dog Ollie with us, who especially enjoyed riding in the kayak with Marianne. We had no idea then that it would prove to be his last trip to Maine.

So, here we are, getting ready to take our annual trip with two dogs and a cat. Of course, Kirby-Kat is an old hand at summer camp in Maine. Admittedly, he’s not that happy about the car ride, but once he gets to Maine he settles in quite nicely. After hiding under the sofa for a few hours Kirby comes out and waits patiently by a window, hoping to get a glimpse of his friend the neighborhood moose. Kirby says that in the very-old days, when Maine cats were much larger, they would hunt for bear and spend Friday nights bopping moosies on the head just for the sport of it. Also, just so you know, I’m not too sure how the new-dogs-in-the-kayaks will go. Probably will be diverting.

And now, on to more lofty topics.

Last Sunday (July 12, 2009) in the liturgy we began a course-reading of St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, which will continue until the end of August. I am very interested in Chapter 5, especially verse sixteen.

When reading most modern translations you are liable to think that St. Paul is giving some avuncular advice to the effect that the church members at Ephesus should be diligent in getting all their chores done. I’m sure the phrase, “making the most of the time,” isn’t anything like what Paul had in mind. In the original Greek the salient word is “exagorazo,” which literally means ‘ransom.’ The best translation I’ve seen is from the King James Version: “15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Redeeming (ransoming) the time. Taking it back. But from who, or what, are we supposed to take the time? And what exactly are we to do with the time once we have it? St. Paul says in the fourth chapter that when you really know Christ you are taught to “ put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, RSV.)

Here Paul is saying that we should imitate Jesus, and that we should not take on the values and priorities of this world. Just think for a moment what Jesus has accomplished:

1. Jesus united heaven and earth in his intimate relationship with his heavenly Father – a relationship that Jesus offers each of us in the power of the Spirit.
2. Jesus unites this age with the age to come – in dying for us and then rising to new life. Each time we share in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper we receive a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.
3. Jesus unites humanity by breaking down the artificial barriers created by prejudice and hatred. He ate with sinners, healed the sick, and welcomed the thief into paradise. Since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we are all the same before God – and each of us is entirely dependent on his mercy.

Summertime is an excellent time to resolve to take back the time for God – not just “make the most of it” by staying busy – but instead, to resolve to live in mindfulness of what Jesus has done for us.

May the remainder of your summer be a blessing and rich in opportunities for redeeming the time.

In Christ, Michael+

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

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+

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