Building Renovation News

 

Share your ideas for public space in New Paltz

 

Hello and welcome!

 

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, located at 163 Main Street in the Village of New Paltz, has the opportnity to renovate its buildings and property. The Building Committee is exploring ways to redesign the space to better serve both our congregation and the broader community.

 

To inform our work, we are reaching out to individuals and organizations to share where they see needs for space. We are exploring space for one-off activities, part-time, and/or full-time use of spaces suitable for bringing people together.

 

Please take the survey (click below) to help the Building Committee.

 

Sincerely,

Reverend Allison, Tyler, MaryAnn + Noa

 

 

 

 

Work for Justice

Action Items

Actions we can take to incarnate God's love and care:

 

 

All Episcopalians invited to send origami cranes to the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia by April 10       All Episcopalians are invited to create origami cranes (tsuru) and mail them to the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia (1551 10th Ave. E, Seattle, WA 98102) to arrive by April 10. The cranes will be strung together and displayed outside the DHS detention center in Tacoma, Washington. Instructions for making an origami crane can be found HERE and HERE. The project is part of the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander leaders retreat this April in Tacoma, Washington. All are welcome to attend a vigil during the retreat on Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church Tacoma. The Rev. Jo Ann Lagman, missioner for Asiamerica Ministries, will lead the vigil, and the Rt. Rev. Allen Shin will preach. The retreat, based in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia in cooperation with the church’s Asiamerica Ministries, offers a sacred space for clergy and lay leaders of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage to explore AANHPI history, worship together, and translate collective stories into advocacy for migrant communities. For more information, contact Adrienne Elliott, canon missioner for creation care and environmental justice, frontdesk@ecww.org.

 

 

MOMENTUM IS ON OUR SIDE

 

Urge Lawmakers to Support NY’s Living Museums

 

Now is when your voice can make a difference Take action to support New York’s beloved zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, arboreta, and nature centers.

 

 

 

 

New York’s zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, arboreta, and nature centers are more than places to visit—they’re treasured spaces vital to connecting people with nature, inspiring conservation, and providing education for all ages. They’re also essential to local economies, creating jobs, and supporting communities across the state. That’s why we’re excited to share that the New York State Assembly and Senate both proposed increases to for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquariums (ZBGA) Program in the FY26/27 budget. It shows the state’s commitment to our environment and protecting the places that connect people to nature and provide important educational opportunities, all while enhancing a critical economic engine for NY. This positive turn of events happened just in time for the negotiations beginning between legislative leaders and Governor Hochul! Keep the energy high by adding your name today, and encourage the Albany lawmakers to adopt increased funding for New York’s living museums.

 

 

Urge state lawmakers to adopt increased funding for EPF and ZBGA in the final state budget.

 

ACT NOW

 

 

With your help, we can ensure these amazing places remain accessible, protect nature, and keep offering incredible educational experiences for locals and visitors alike. Thank you for helping to protect the places that bring us closer to the natural world and each other. Sincerely, John F. Calvelli Executive Vice President, Public Affairs Wildlife Conservation Society

 

 

Keep New York’s zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums thriving.

 

Add your name

 

 

 

 

 

As you may have seen in the Bishop’s Monday Morning note, EDNY is supporting the proposed “Protecting Our Sensitive Locations Act”, pending in the New York State Legislature. This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location (including places of worship, schools, health care facilities, and other places) except in exigent circumstances, such as the imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person.

 

Please join the Diocese by signing on to this letter of support and sharing it widely. This bill will go far toward restoring a sense of safety in our sacred spaces.

 

Bishop Matt Heyd sends Monday Morning Notes via email every week to anyone who wants to receive them; it highlights diocesan activities and includes the bishop's schedule.  SIgn up by emailing  info@dioceseny.org.

 

 

 

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Here's a diocesan wide Lenten study about how White Christian Nationalism doesn't align with  The Episcopal Church by grounding ourselves in Scripture, Episcopal theology, and Christ’s call to love God and neighbor. 

 

The foundation for this study is a diocesan read of The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith Refounding Democracy by Jim Wallis supplemented by The Crisis of Christian Nationalism Report from The House of Bishop Theology Committee edited by Allan K. Shin and Larry R. Benfield, forward by Michael B. Curry.

 

Curricula  are available for two approaches: a six-week book study of The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith Refounding Democracy  by Jim Wallis,  or a group discussion based on the ChurchNext course Exploring Christian Nationalism with Jim Wallis.  Also, there is an option to explore the content on the White Christian Nationalism Resource List and generate our own parish conversation(s).  Allison is exploring a discussion group either with the deanery or local churches. More info at this website:

https://dioceseny.org/resources/lenten-study-2026-white-christian-nationalism/

 

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