Redistribution of wealth is in the Bible

If you visit Episcopal Cafe you might find an interesting article on redistribution of wealth.

Interfaith Housing Network

IHN (& it might be Interfaith Hospitality Network) is a consortium of religious congregations that focusses on homeless housing. Typically each church in the group agrees to house families, with breakfast & dinner, for one week every three months. Montgomery may be too small to participate directly, but perhaps as this movement grows in Newburgh there will be opportunities for us to help.

Lenten program

And a reminder to one and all, this Wednesday we have our Lenten program at 7pm. It will conclude with the Compline prayer service from the BCP. We likely will meet in St. Andrew Hall to take advantage of the heat.

We are St. Francis of Assisi now

Yesterday was a glorious Sunday celebration with Bishop Taylor. He rededicated our chapel as St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. Here's a story that preceded the event in the Wallkill Valley Times complete with photo or here's the text.


St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in the Village of Montgomery will soon be renamed for another saint - Francis of Assisi.

By JOE STAMPFEL

For the first time in its 105-year history, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in the Village of Montgomery will soon have its own identity.According to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Vicar the Rev. Canon Daniel Webster, there are currently 12 St. Andrew’s churches in the Episcopal diocese including those in South Fallsburg, Beacon, Walden, Poughkeepsie and New Paltz. The ceremony, which will take place during the regular celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. on Sunday, will rename the church as St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church.“That will mark our official launch of our new identity,” said Webster.Webster said that the congregation as a whole helped to pick the church’s new name based on its work in the community. The church, according to Webster, participates in many community outreach programs throughout the year, including work at the Montgomery Food Pantry and with AIDS orphans in Tanzania.St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century founder of the Franciscan order of priests and brothers, is most often known for his work with the poor, the hungry and those in need of help. He is also well known as the patron saint of animals.“The congregation, after thoughtful and deliberate prayer, looked at saint names that best describe what we are doing. St. Francis will be our inspiration in that,” said Webster, adding that the church will continue to perform community outreach programs. “That clearly is going to be the focus of this congregation. It is going to be an exciting time for the St. Francis Church in Montgomery.”Also included in the day’s events will be a performance of the Sacrament of Confirmation by the Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor, vicar bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Webster said that, in total, about 40 congregation members will renew their confirmation vows. The Rev. Taylor will also dedicate the parish hall, which plays host to about 18 recovery group meetings each week. The hall will be christened as St. Andrew Hall in order to pay honor to the memory of those who built, maintained and worshipped there.The rededication and confirmation will take place at 9 a.m. on Sunday at 74 Wallkill Ave. in the Village of Montgomery

Presiding Bishop calls for immediate end to violence

We are deeply saddened by the first-hand reports we are receiving from Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza (operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem) about the casualties they are treating under the most horrific circumstances. Not only do they lack basic medical supplies, but with windows blown out they are even struggling to keep patients warm. The high number of civilian deaths and injuries, which continue to include noncombatants, women, and children, will only prolong the violence years into the future. Israel’s disproportionate response to the rockets being fired into its cities may well encourage violence beyond Gaza and Israel. The first steps toward peace will only come if all parties unite behind an immediate ceasefire. Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded the world that “an eye for an eye soon leaves the whole world blind.” May we seek to end this blinding violence.

January 5, 2009