News from the Congregation December 17, 2021

Dec 17

Written By Steven Lee; Marsha Ra & Bob Deming

‘A Wonderful Buzz’; ‘50 Christmases at the Cathedral’ | Adult Baptism and Confirmation Class Preparation, Volunteer at CCC’s Sunday Soup Kitchen, Serving on the Vestry | Sunday Programs: 8:30 am Genesis Bible Study - Returns Jan 2 (Zoom), 10:30 am Worship Service - In-Person and Online |Weekday Programs: M-S Morning and Evening Prayer (Zoom), Wednesday: 7:30 pm Romans Bible Study (Zoom) - Returns Jan 5, Thursday: 7:30 pm YESS Bible Study (Zoom)

Canon Lee

It was good to see so many familiar faces in church last Sunday. I saw people I haven't seen in almost two years, and people I first met at the Cathedral just a few weeks ago. There were so many people in attendance that extra seats had to be put out. Many thanks to Richard Awe for providing the coffee at coffee hour, to Marsha Ra for baking cookies, and to Barbara Trelstad for her warm hospitality as host. There was a wonderful buzz before, during, and after the service. What a privilege to worship God and encounter Jesus Christ in this great Cathedral.

A Message from the Wardens

Senior Warden Marsha Ra on Christmas:

Our King and Saviour now draws near;
Come let us adore Him!

Last week I decided that it was time to leave the Upper West Side to venture to mid-town and see the tree at Rockefeller Center. I hadn’t done this in years since I tend not to like to be in crowds, especially now that I have what are euphemistically called “mobility issues.” But I need an excuse to get out of the apartment and move as much as I can. Here is what I found: a combination of good cheer, pandemonium, commercialism, a rather feverish energy and an undercurrent of danger. The tourists were back. Fifth Avenue, even on a Monday morning, was very busy, with people taking pictures of the store windows and the tree. One lonely Salvation Army bell ringer was standing next to her enormous kettle. No one seemed to notice her. One could barely hear her recorded music. I wondered, what happened to the little brass bands that used to represent the Salvation Army? And I saw no sidewalk Santas at all. I did have a very friendly interaction with a beggar who had a cheerful and rather whimsical expression and we bid each other a good morning. I walked into a large department store and was struck by the tasteful and rather over the top materialism—a store filled with very expensive stuff that no one needs. The windows, that everyone seems to be raving about, were gaudy and filled with things like evening gowns. When I reached the tree I found that it was surrounded by police officers carrying assault rifles—not over their shoulders but in their hands, ready to fire. They were joined by an officer with a large bomb sniffing dog from the Canine unit. Merry Christmas New York!

There could not be a greater contrast between what goes on in the church at this time of year and what goes on in the “world.” The interaction with the pan-handler was the most honest and Christ-filled moment of that morning. And it brought to mind how I came to understand Christmas once I found myself on the inside. That is, after I converted to Christianity when I was 30 in 1972.

I wrote a memoir a few years back which I called “A Jewish Child’s Christmas.” I described what it was like to grow up in a Jewish home that did not observe Christmas-- watching everything Christmas seemed to be about when viewed from the outside. My parents were not religious people, but they were very devoted to the tribal aspect of being a Jew. It was their goal to prevent their children from succumbing to the attractions of the majority culture and Christmas was a big problem. Christmas trees, Santa Claus, gift-giving, wreathes, colored lights, bells-ringing, excitement all around. Those were the days before there was any sensitivity or interest in Americans who were not part of the majority culture. Political correctness did not exist. In those days in the Detroit Public School system, although there was no prayer in the schools, a big deal was made of Christmas. We learned real Christmas carols, put up Christmas decorations and had Christmas parties. After Christmas break, we came back and learned what our Christian school friends got for Christmas. Somehow the potato pancakes and chocolate coins that we had at Chanukah couldn’t compete in my child’s eyes with the bicycles, toys, sleds, etc. that my gentile friends reported on. It was my distinct impression that Christmas was about getting presents. It was about a wondrous tree right in your house, but it was also, definitely about stuff.

After I was baptized I actually tried to become part of this wild exchange—our own version of the famous Potlatch that Pacific Northwest Indian tribes are said to engage in. However, I was gently told by my new Christian friends at the Cathedral, that they already had long Christmas lists and couldn’t possibly fit me in. If I gave a gift, the recipient would feel obligated to give me one and they didn’t want to. Ouch! I satisfied my need to give by baking and giving away packages of cookies and dropping money in the Salvation Army kettles. In the meantime, I had become an acolyte. I served in all three Christmas services: lessons and carols with blessing of the crèche; the “almost” midnight mass with candles and incense attended by thousands; then Christmas Day—a very small affair in Saint James Chapel with a good sermon by Canon West.

As I was about to go home, several acolytes asked me “what are you doing for Christmas?” I was startled. Didn’t we just “do Christmas?” Of course for many people who spend a lot of time in church and love the services, Christmas is primarily about family. Thinking back, that’s what Chanukah was about, but I was too young to understand that. For me Christmas can never be about my biological family, or sentimental memories of celebrating Christmas with them, but I’m quite all right with this. I am nourished by the Cathedral services. At this time of year I am especially filled with gratitude for the sacrifice that God made through Jesus, not only on the cross, but with His whole life, from the very beginning: His birth in poverty in a society under foreign occupation, through His teaching and healing and finally His death on a cross. I feel privileged to spend the weeks from Advent through Epiphany contemplating this gift to all of us and to pray with you and sing with you—my church family. And the truth is, after nearly 50 Christmases, I too have sentimental memories of these remarkable days-- and they all take place at the Cathedral.

NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org)

ADULT BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION CLASS

Adults who are interested in Baptism or Confirmation at the Easter Vigil 2022 should contact the Vicar. The class will begin in the New Year.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE Home - Episcopal Diocese of New York (dioceseny.org)

NEWS FROM THE VESTRY NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation of Saint Saviour will be held on Sunday, February 6, 2022 after the 10:30 AM service. At the Annual Meeting, vestry elections will be held.

The Congregation’s vestry is made up of twelve people which includes the Vicar. New members are elected each year for up to a three-year term, and two wardens lead the vestry, and each serves a staggered two-year term.

What does the vestry do? Since the Cathedral has a Board of Trustees responsible for many of the things that vestries of parish churches deal with—namely all matters related to the building—our vestry is in the enviable position to deal primarily with issues related to building community and encouraging spiritual growth. The vestry therefore has a special charge to offer welcome to potential new members and visitors alike. The vestry also manages the congregation’s assets—primarily the money collected through our stewardship program. To serve on the vestry:

• You must be a baptized Christian and a member in good standing of the Congregation for at least one year prior to the election.
• To be a warden you must be a confirmed Episcopalian and you must have served as a member of the vestry in the past.
• You must be able to regularly attend vestry meetings. Vestry meetings are held online in the evening of the third Tuesday of every month, unless otherwise noted. The meetings in 2022 will be on January 18th; February 15th; March 15th; April 19th; May 24th; June 21st; September 20th; October 18th; November 15th; and December 20th.
• Each vestry member also serves on at least one subcommittee, and these meetings take place regularly throughout the year.

Four vestry positions (one for a three-year term, two for a two-year term, and one for a one-year term) and one warden position for a two-year term are up for election at the Annual Meeting in February 2022.

If you are interested in serving on the vestry, please contact the chair of the Nominations Committee, Sonia Omulepu by January 7, 2022.

GIVE/SERVE

Questions about Realm
Christopher Clowdus and Neil Reilly invite your questions about Realm, the Congregation's giving database, at this email address: stewardship@saintsaviour.org.

CCC - Volunteer Opportunity at Sunday Soup Kitchen
Join us at CCC's Sunday Soup Kitchen (8:30 am - 11:00 am) to help prepare and distribute food and to staff Saint Saviour's Table. Please CLICK HERE to sign up! Shifts are open through the third week in February. Thank you so much for volunteering!