A Letter From Fr. Steve | St. Mary's Episcopal Church in-the-Highlands

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A Letter from Fr. Steve

Beloved Parishioners of St. Mary’s,

After some deep, personal losses, that of my good friend, colleague, and mentor Fr. Frank last

November, my father, Phil, in 2023, and now with Doug’s health issues, I find myself needing more time for rest, reflection, and renewal to care for my family and myself. After much prayer and consultation with my spiritual advisor, Bishop Heyd, and regional Canon Owen, along with the Wardens and Vestry, I have decided that it is time for me to step down as your rector, effective July 31, 2026.

My last Sunday here with you will be the celebration of the Mass for the Third Sunday of Easter, April 19 @ 10 am, with the Rev. Canon Sam Owen joining me as the Homilist. The Wardens and Vestry invite you to a reception afterwards.

Again, it is with heartfelt reflection, along with the counsel and advice of my colleagues, that I have concluded that this will provide an opportunity for new leadership to guide St. Mary’s to a new place, more importantly, into a new tomorrow. As we hear in the book of Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season.”

St. Mary’s first welcomed me as a supply priest for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter in 2019. A few months later, your Vestry called me as a half-time Priest-in-Charge; a year later, as three-quarter-time; and two years ago, as the full-time 15th Rector of the parish.

In God’s ecology, we experience birth, life, and death, and as Christians, we acknowledge this perpetual cycle of death and resurrection, death and rebirth.

As humans, it is our tendency to want to keep ‘things the same’ because, I think, it gives us a sense of security in our lives, most especially in these times, when much in this world seems so out of control.

But for those of us of riper years, we have learned of God’s gentle humor, that when we think

everything is in our personal control, God throws us that curve ball, to remind us by saying, “that wasn’t what I had in mind,” and lets us figure out a new path, using God’s grace, wisdom, and love as a trusted guide.

That’s the thing, God gives us all the opportunity to try new ways of being and experiencing, which opens up our curiosity and learning, every day. While tradition is a good and stable force, exploring new ways of being also has its rewards. As I have often said during my tenure at St. Mary’s, “Today is a new day!”

Sundays from April 26 through August 2 will be covered by supply clergy while I’m on sabbatical. During this time, the Diocese will work with the Vestry to plan the next steps in discerning the way forward for this parish.

It has been my joy to work with, and lead you, the good people who are St. Mary’s parish, the

Philipstown Reform Synagogue, my ecumenical colleagues, and the Cold Spring community, these past seven years, as we, in the words of St. Teresa of Avila, “... work to be Christ’s eyes, hands, feet, and heart in the world!”

Also, we can remember the wisdom of Julian of Norwich, who said, “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well,” and we again affirm, “Today is a new day!”

I leave you with this scripture from the New Testament, St. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

With God’s love, grace, and peace, I am faithfully yours,

Fr. Steve+

The Rev. Steve Schunk, 15th Rector

St. Mary in-the-Highlands Episcopal Church

384 Annual Meeting, Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026

1 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516

Mailing Address: PO Box 351, Cold Spring, New York 10516

Email Us: office @stmaryscoldspring.org Call Us:(845) 265-2539