St John’s Episcopal Church, Cornwall, New York

One of the attractive aspects of this church during my call process was the choice to use a verse of scripture as its mission statement: We love because He first loved us. It is found in 1st John, Chapter 4, verse 19.

Now whether we love in general or love Jesus and reflect that love in loving others, the love spoken of is the same love extolled by the Apostle Paul in today’s reading.

From the context that it appears, the love which Paul extols is a product of the Holy Spirit just as faith and hope are and that makes sense as Paul uses the word agape which was used at the time to describe God’s love for humanity. Continue Reading »

Download the complete January issue here

I don’t know what your experience has been, but the timing of Christmas and then the weekend has certainly confused my internal liturgical clock. It will receive another jolt on Friday, January 1st, when we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (the full title) with Sunday coming only two days later. The Feast of the Holy Name recalls the custom still practiced today in most Jewish families to name the male child and perform the circumcision on the eighth day.

January 3rd was the second Sunday after Christmas. I had hoped people would have returned from visiting relatives or hosting relatives and come Continue Reading »

FROM St. Peter’s Complaint, 1595
THE BURNING BABE.
By Robert Southwell

As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear;
Who, scorchëd with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed.
Alas, quoth he, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I!
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals,
The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defilëd souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath to wash them in my blood.
With this he vanished out of sight and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I callëd unto mind that it was Christmas day.

• Sunday, December 20 : Lessons and Carols with Children’s Christmas Pageant
• Thursday, December 24 : Christmas Eve
  • 4:30pm : Family Christmas Eve Service
  • 10:00pm : Prelude of Anthems and Carols
  • 10:30 : Choral Midnight Service
• Friday, December 25 at 10:00am : Christmas Day Eucharist Service
  
• Sunday, January 3 at 3:00pm : Twelfth Night Choral Festival to benefit Episco-Build (Habitat for Humanity)

Join St John’s FWF (Youth Group) and The Fun Society for our Annual Christmas Caroling Party on Sunday, December 13 from 1-4pm.
We have song books and a route; you have the voices and enthusiasm. Remember, you only need enthusiasm! Quality of voice is just a bonus. Bring the whole family; bring friends. Let’s spread the beautiful Christmas message in song. We will meet at St John’s at 1pm. We will be done caroling a little before 4pm.

A limited term exhibit of a privately held collection of paintings from the Hudson River School of Art, focusing on the art of Thomas Benjamin Pope 1834-1891, of Newburgh, and including examples from Clinton Loveridge and Benjamin Champney.

October 16, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., opening reception and lecture
October 17, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., includes reception and lecture 6:30-9:00
October 18, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets will be available at $25 for the Friday and Saturday reception and lecture, and $10 for the exhibit only on Saturday and Sunday.

This exhibit coincides with the celebration of St. John’s 150th anniversary, consecrated in 1859.

Please join your church family as we complete our 150th Anniversary Celebrations with a Service of Rededication of St. John’s Church with Bishop Catherine Roskam on May 17.

The Service begins at 6:00pm followed by desserts & beverages in the Parish Hall.
Prior to the service, a dish-to-pass dinner will be served from 4:30 – 5:30.

Note – There will be no morning services on May 17.

St John’s Church School, April 17, 1921

Join us at St John’s in the Parish Hall on Saturday April 25 for a display of antique quilts. This show is presented as part of the ongoing celebration of 150 years of continuous worship at St John’s. We are sure that you will enjoy looking at more than 150 handmade quilts made by family ancestors, friends, and neighbors, representing 150 years of American quiltmaking. Each quilt is a cherished possession and we are happy to share them with you.

The show is open from 11:00am – 4:00pm, and Sharon Waddell from ‘Out of the Attic’ will be giving a gallery talk on historical quilts at 2:30pm. Refreshments will be available from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Suggested donation $5.