Newsletter January 19, 2021
/TONIGHT @ 5:30pm: Tuesday January 19, 2021
Church Bells for COVID lives lost: President-elect Biden will lead a memorial service this evening to remember and honor lives lost to COVID-19, with church-bell ringings and light shows across the country. Churches are invited to a national moment of unity and remembrance by ringing their bells at 5:30 p.m. ET [15 minutes after sunset]. Come hear our bells and remember those lost to this pandemic. A prayer will be shared by our rector and names of those in our community who have died will be read.
Inauguration Day Prayer Service: The bishops Of the Diocese of New York will be conducting a brief Zoom prayer service tomorrow morning, January 20, the day of the inauguration, at 8:00 a.m. We invite all across our diocese to tune in and pray with us, that we may be, across our differences, one people before God, raising one prayer together for the safety and well-being of our nation and peoples. Click Here to join Service
Fellowship and Connection during cold months of COVID
Dear Friends,
As we are finding, the cold months of winter are especially difficult during the COVID pandemic. Our St. Philip’s family can’t be together as we love to be! So I’d like to offer some ways we might find connection during these times. Each week I will be offering some times to gather on Zoom or socially distanced in my office, just to visit together, share conversation about the weather, COVID frustrations, family struggles, favorite hymns, sports teams, or anything at all! This week, I will be in my office and on Zoom on Thursday January 21 at 1:00 pm. Here is a Zoom link. Coffee House Walk - Join me on Friday, January 22, at 11 am in front of Cold Spring Coffee House. Bring or purchase a hot beverage and bundle up! Let’s walk and chat and visit. All are welcome!
I hope to see you!
Rev. Amanda
Sunday Worship
Sunday, January 24th, at 10:00 AM - Children and Family Service All are welcome - especially preschool and elementary aged children and their families. The service features children's music and movement, and a children's message. All are invited to worship with St Philip’s online!
January 31, 2021 at 10:00 AM Zoom Morning Prayer Service. On Sunday, January 31, we will not be live-streaming our worship. We will instead gather on Zoom for Morning Prayer. Parishioner Preston Pittman will be offering the sermon reflection. Come join in community and worship with your St. Philip’s family and friends. We also will have a Zoom “coffee hour” following the service! Please join us!
To attend virtually please visit our (and subscribe) Youtube channel. All are welcome!
For more information on all worship offerings at St. Philip's please visit our website.
Pledge Envelopes 2021
If you would like your 2021 Pledge envelopes please contact the parish office to arrange for pick up or to have them sent to you. You can contact the office via email at office@stphilipshighlands.org or by calling 845-424-3571. Regular office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 2pm.
Upcoming Events @ St. Philip's
Please check out our calendar for all events and ongoings at St. Philip's.
Join the Altar Guild
If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity at St. Philip’s, please consider joining the Altar Guild ministry. Guild members care for the linens and vessels used during worship and they prepare the sanctuary before and after services. The time commitment, scheduled in advance, is flexible – an occasional hour or two every few weeks. Experienced Guild members are available to train and support new members. All are welcome! If you would like more information, please contact the parish office at altarguild@stphilipshighlands.org for more information.
Young Women’s Group
St. Philip’s is organizing a Young Women’s Group!
All those who identify as young women are invited to join. We will gather together for support, fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth on a regular basis. All young women in our community are welcome! If you are interested or know of anyone who might like to be a part, please contact Rev. Amanda at rector@stphilipshighlands.org or Allison Pataki Levy at allison.p.levy@gmail.com for more information.
CrossTrainers Youth Group
Our next gathering of our youth will be on Zoom, on Sunday, January 24th, at 5:00 PM. The activity will be our postponed Christmas gift exchange. All youth will be assigned another youth group member to whom they will be "Secret Santa", and will be invited to (secretly) drop a (<$10) gift off at their house (wrapped and labeled) before our 1/24 meeting. We will all bring our wrapped gifts to the Zoom party where we will unwrap them and guess who gifted what! If you would like to join the fun please email Kari Bentley at karibentley@me.com.
Cleaning Supplies Drive For the Philipstown Food Pantry Organized by Cross Trainer Dylan Horan
Cross Trainer Dylan Horan is organizing a personal hygiene and cleaning items winter drive for the Philipstown Food Pantry, starting this coming Saturday, January 23. Please consider donating:
· Toilet Paper
· Paper Towels
· Tissues
· Laundry Detergent
· Dish Soap
· Household cleaners and disinfectants
From Saturday, January 23- Sunday, February 7 there will be a labeled drop-off bin on the St. Philip's Parish House steps. If you would like to make a check donation, please make a check out to the "Philipstown Food Pantry" and mail to 10 Academy Street, Cold Spring, 10516 or donate online here: https://www.presbychurchcoldspring.org/food-pantry.html
Building Community
As we all know and have experienced, COVID has made it difficult for us to connect in the ways we normally are able. We aren't together in worship, coffee hour, or fellowship events nor are we having the frequent in-person conversations that help us remain connected and grow together. So, to connect during this time and build community, you are invited to participate in small group discussions with Amanda and the St. Philip's vestry. These small group discussions will take place between now and the annual meeting in March. Most discussions will be via Zoom, and we may consider some small in-person socially distanced groups for those who would struggle with technology. Each discussion will last no longer than 90 minutes and will start with some conversation related to our renewed mission and vision statement.
Please click here to sign up to participate in a group discussion so that we can renew our connection as the Body of Christ. If you are new to the community, we send a special invitation to you to join us, too! Please indicate your preference for meeting time and method (in person or virtual) as well as any topics that you would like to discuss. We will do our best to accommodate requests and will get back to you with a schedule. We look forward to this time together!
Prayer List
Beth Crocito, Julie Lilburne, Preston Pittman, Beth Cody Kimmel, Eric Wagner, Robert Dickey, Bruce Taylor, Caron Dunkeley, Jack Sandlund, David Redden, Linda Vrooman, Melissa Turner, Isabella Sumano, Robert Culp, Brian Nice, Agnes Poilucci, Henry Atkins, Elmer Romero, Luther Scales, Emily Scales, Lisa Petrocelli, Dona Franklin, Victor Ruiz, Sheilah Rechtschaffer, Michael Guadagnoli, Karen Ratazzi, Anna Kantor, Eddie O'Connell, Joe Garafolo, Jr., and Deedee Garafolo.
Bible Study Wednesdays @ 2pm: Come study the Gospel of Matthew together. No pre-reading necessary. All thoughts and perspectives are welcomed and encouraged! Bible Study is held via Zoom. To join click here. Meeting ID 249 829 9928 Password: Garrison
Be sure to like us on Facebook to get daily posts about all of our activities here at St. Philip's
Rise and Shine Yoga!
Yoga returns with a new day and time! Join Rev. Amanda and others in our community at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, January 27 for rise and shine yoga. If you have never practiced yoga before, if you are an experienced yogi, or somewhere in-between, you are welcome! Click Here to join.
Outreach
Philipstown Food Pantry Seeking Donations:
In response to a greater need during Covid-19, St. Philip's is now collecting food for the pantry! To donate, place nonperishable items either in the box on the parish house porch or in the church vestibule. Donations will be brought to the pantry on a regular basis.
St. Christopher's Inn
There has been a recent outbreak of Covid 19 at St. Christopher's Inn, a men's residential recovery center at Greymoor in Philipstown. They are grateful for donations of masks, gowns, and financial gifts to assist them during this challenging time. A box labeled "PPE Donations St. Christopher's" is on the parish house porch. To donate funds please click on the link below. Thank you for your support of our friends in need.