Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to find all victory in You, and through You to conquer all by faith.
We have true
victory in Jesus.
For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Who is the winner? That is a frequent question in our world. It is also a great worry. We see greater and greater disparity between the rich and the poor. We see working people’s wages remaining the same year-after-year while the very few get more and more. Many may feel like David did at his darkest hour. He recounts in Psalm 13:
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Jesus knew His followers might feel the world winning, evil overcoming good, especially at His trial and crucifixion. That is why in the hours before His arrest He reclined with them at table and taught them. He said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He wanted us to share the peace His victory would win.
John echoes the words he heard Jesus speak at the Last Supper telling us that we are now God’s children, begotten and adopted in the blood of Jesus and fellow conquerors by our faith in Him. We have the strongest of affirmations, that no other person is the conqueror of the world but Jesus. We fully share in that victory by faith. No sports star relying solely on his or her physical abilities is a true conqueror; no rich man or woman relying on their skills and abilities in worldly things alone is a true winner. Wealth, wins, being in the 1% is not mark of real victory, only belief that Jesus is the Son of God and trusting in Him as the only source of life, righteousness, and salvation. The world with its allures and false promises for victory has been overcome.
Today, Heather and Alyson make a decision to believe in and trust in Jesus, to be on the winning team, to be victors in Jesus Christ. Because of this decision they will be regenerated, will be born again and made new in the image of Jesus. They will share in His life and by living in a constancy of faith they will overcome death and conquer the world. They, like Thomas, will say before the world that Jesus is their Lord and God and in reply will hear the words Jesus spoke in today’s gospel being applied to them as it is to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.†Blessed and victorious!
Highest ever number of jobs at Dr. King Career Fair!
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Career Fair, to be held on April 16, will be the biggest yet with 150 businesses ready to hire for more than 3,000 available Capital Region jobs.
“Our economy is growing and, especially here in the Capital Region, businesses are expanding and looking for more talented workers,†Governor Cuomo said. “Businesses come back each year because they know they can find good workers here and, with such a wide range of jobs available, I strongly encourage anyone looking to advance their career to attend this event.â€
The Career Fair will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. The event is free for job seekers and businesses. Job seekers are encouraged to pre-register on-line early.
Participating businesses come from 16 industry sectors, including:
The Dr. King Career Fair is sponsored by the New York State Department of Labor in collaboration with the Office of General Services.
Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino said, “Now in its 16th year, we have expanded our space for the Dr. King Career Fair to allow more businesses in than ever before. This growth of the event is a testament to the success businesses find when they participate in our recruitment events.â€
In addition to meeting with businesses, job seekers can attend workshops before doors open, starting at 11 a.m. Workshops offered by career search experts will include “Use Your Resume to Sell Your Skills,†which will teach how to write a strong resume, and “Find Success with Jobs Express,†which will show how to navigate Governor Cuomo’s Jobs Express website to find the best job leads. There will also be resume review services and on-site interviews with several participating businesses.
For more information about career services and hiring events, please call the Department of Labor at 1-888-4-NYSDOL or visit the Department of Labor website.
Albany County Civil Service Exams
New exam announcements have been posted on the Albany County Department of Civil Service website.
New York State Department of Civil Service Exams
Open-Competitive Examination Announcements:
25-970, Compensation Claims Investigator Trainee
25-966, Compensation Investigator 1
25-921, Law Department Investigator 1
25-920, Law Department Investigator Trainee 1
25-860, Public Buildings Manager 1 and 25-861, Public Buildings Manager 2
Open-Competitive Continuous Recruitment Examination Announcements:
20-147, Environmental Engineer
20-145, Environmental Engineer 1 and 20-146, Environmental Engineer 2
Schenectady County Department of Public Health – Public Health Nurse
The Schenectady County Department of Public Health has a full-time opportunity available for a Public Health Nurse (BSN) committed to the provision of public health programs based on evidence and best practice.
Salary: $48,561-$57,451
Filing Deadline: April 16, 2015Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Special Requirements: License and current registration to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State Possession of a valid New York State driver’s license and car. Candidates must: Be self-directed, creative and highly motivated. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a team responsible for the implementation of population based strategies for policy, systems and environmental changes. Have strong writing and oral communication skills. Public Health Nurse Position includes opportunities to work on a variety of agency initiatives including communicable disease surveillance, lead poisoning prevention and chronic disease mitigation. Individualized orientation to all public health programs provided.
Minorities are strongly encouraged to apply, Spanish speaking a plus. Competitive salary, NYS Retirement System, tuition reimbursement, health and dental coverage, gym reimbursement, Flex Spending plan
Application: Civil Service applications or resumes will be accepted from applicants who meet the minimum qualifications. Submit a cover letter with applications/resumes by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2015 to:
Please E-mail (preferred) or send resume to: Miriam Cajuste, Schenectady County Affirmative Action Office, 620 State Street, 2nd Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305
Our annual and ever popular Basket Social will be held this Sunday, April 12th at the VFW Hall at 1309 Fifth Avenue in Schenectady. Doors open at noon. Besides our usual wide array of baskets, there will be door prizes and great Polish food and homemade desserts from our traditional Polish kitchen. Come by and enjoy an afternoon of fun, good food, and plenty of chances to win one or more amazing baskets.
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, keep the answer and hope You have given us ever in our hearts and minds and grant that we may witness to it.
There is but one
answer and hope.
On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.
A quick check of Google, the Internet Search Engine, points to over 534 million websites that discuss the how, where, why, and when of ‘finding the answer.’ Finding the answer is important to us. Now in those 534 million answers about ‘finding the answer’ there is plenty of information about recipes, fixing things around the house, self-improvement, relationships, job strategies, raising children, and planning for retirement among those about faith, the Bible, and Jesus.
We long for answers to many ordinary things. We long even more for the answer and hope that will save us. What is the answer and hope we can rely on? What can we offer those searching?
Mary Magdalene, the Apostles, the disciples on the Road to Emmaus were all seeking answers and hope. The reign of God, the Kingdom seemed to be so close. It was almost in their grasp while Jesus was with them. Now He was gone, dead. What would happen to them? Where should they turn for the answer now? What hope was left?
They had duties to perform before they moved on or went back. The Body of Jesus needed to be anointed. So off the women went. The tomb is empty – and only more questions, no ready answers. Hope remained elusive.
Jesus came to them and made His resurrection apparent. He helped them to understand that He was the one answer and the fulfillment of all hope. By their witness we have inherited that answer and that hope.
The answer and hope all seek is rooted in the glory of this day. He has been raised. In Jesus’ death we have been reconciled with God. Everything that could possibly separate us from God has been removed. No wall, no curtain, no failing can keep us from God. When we fall the answer and hope is in Him. In Jesus’ resurrection we have a new hope. We too shall rise like Him. We will not just come back from the dead to mortal existence. We, like Jesus, will pass beyond death into everlasting life in God. Death has no claim over us. Like Jesus we have entered into an entirely new existence; an immortal existence in Jesus. Our story is no longer birth, life, death, and corruption. It is now birth, life, death and eternal life.
We have the one answer to every question and perfect hope. It is the resurrected Jesus. Christ is risen! Alleluia!
April begins in a few days. This newsletter arrives as we begin our journey into Holy Week. On Easter morning we will be reminded that we have been chosen by God to be witnesses to all His Son said and did. How will we live out that witness?
Our newsletter discusses that question. It also contains information on our Holy Week and Easter schedule, our upcoming Basket Social (only two weeks away), on those great Easter traditions that connect us to our heritage, and so much more. Come and witness to Jesus along with us right here in Schenectady.
You may view and download a copy of our April 2015 Newsletter right here.
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant that we may pour ourselves out and by doing so be joined more closely to Your sacrifice.
Let us be poured
out for Him.
When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.†They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me.â€
Twelve days after Christmas we celebrate the visit of the Magi, the Kings, the Wise men. They came to pour out their gifts for Jesus – gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. So too they poured out the time (almost a year), effort, and treasure it took to make the journey. Their gifts were poured out with joy in recognition of Jesus’ kingship and were also poured out in preparation for His burial.
Jesus comes to Jerusalem, well aware of what was to occur. As He enters the city the people pour out praise. They acclaim Him King, the One who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Today a woman comes and pours out costly perfume for Jesus. Mark notes that she anoints His head. John says she anointed His feet and washed them with her tears. In either case, she pours out her time, treasure, and tears for Jesus. She stands up to ridicule and pours out an embarrassing amount of love for Jesus, her Savior.
In Good Friday’s reading of the Passion we hear of Joseph of Arimathe’a and Nicode’mus who will come, risking their lives before Pilate and those who plotted against Jesus, asking for His body. Nicode’mus pours out a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight.
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry people came to Him. They poured out their sins, needs, troubles and tears. They poured out their expectations and their love. They poured out hatred and mistrust as well. For thousands of years since people have continued to do the same.
For all that humanity has poured out, Jesus came to pour out far more. He did not limit His ministry to what was being poured out to Him, but rather poured Himself out to take all darkness away. Through His pouring out we have been freed. Even what we fear to pour out is taken away. The deepest and darkest recesses of our lives – the places were sin and evil have taken root – Jesus came to take those away. Psalm 116 asks: What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? Let us pour out faithfulness, love, praise, worship and thanksgiving to Jesus who poured Himself out for us.