News from the Congregation February 12, 2021
‘A Year in Community - Annual Meeting' | CCC - Hats and Gloves Needed; Sunday Soup Kitchen Volunteers Needed, Valentine’s Day Cards for Seniors, Harlem Inter-Parish Council Lent Services, Private Baptisms on Easter Eve | Sunday Programs (9:30 am Vicar’s Open Space, 10 am Genesis Bible Study, 11 am Worship Service, 11:45 Vicar and Friends, 12 pm Coffee Half-Hour, 4:30 Valentine’s Day Renewal of Vows |Weekday Programs (M-S Morning and Evening Prayer; Wednesday: YESS Bible Study, Thursday: EfM Class, Friday: Midday Prayer and Meditation, Vicar’s Open Space).
Canon Lee
It was good to see so many of you at the Annual Meeting last Sunday. We had 71 people attend (by Zoom), the most in my 3 years as your Vicar. As reported, the congregation is in good shape financially, with giving lower than last year's banner year but still higher than 2018, despite the pandemic, economic crisis, and lack of in-person worship.
It is notable that giving to mission and outreach remains strong. We have already reached our target for the diocesan Blessed Absalom Jones challenge, described below, and we will continue to accept donations through March to buy as many winter hats, scarves, and gloves as possible for the clients of the Cathedral soup kitchen and clothing closet.
More importantly, our community's spiritual discipline over the past year has also remained strong. Each day, we have a total of 30 people doing Morning and Evening Prayer. Each week, we offer 3 different Bible studies, and almost every Sunday after coffee hour, we offer an in-depth adult formation class.
Out of this strengthened faith life, the congregation's service to the Cathedral and our community has expanded. We now have weekly volunteers to the Cathedral soup kitchen, a new relationship to the nursing home across the street, and developing relationships with churches and community groups in Harlem.
From this service, we are becoming compelling witnesses to Jesus Christ. Your example gives me hope for the coming year, as we continue our journey as disciples on the Way.
Marsha and Bob
Our Senior Warden on community:
How does community develop and become strong? Is church community any different from other types of community?
Last Sunday more than 70 members of our worshipping community gathered for the Congregation of Saint Saviour annual meeting. It was exciting to have to flip between three screens to see everyone! I have to ask myself what it is that makes us particularly “Saint Saviour” and how this community differs from other communities we experience.
The human quality that moves us to come together to share and often to support one another is the basis of community. Many ephemeral communities form all the time, but also easily dissipate. For example, three weeks ago I found myself sitting in a corridor at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital with a large group of people waiting for our first COVID vaccine. The people present had a lot in common. All were 75 or above and all were cancer patients. Everyone was in his or her own bubble, looking at their smart phones, knitting or reading and naturally everyone was masked. What broke the ice was the challenge of listening for one’s name to be called. Here’s a little secret: just as most people need reading glasses once they pass their 45th year, most people at 75 are in need of hearing aids. However, during the pandemic, most of us are unable to wear these expensive gadgets because they fall out when you pull off or put on your mask. These old ladies and gents assembled in that corridor were really struggling to hear their names. The anxiety was palpable. We ended up exchanging names so we could alert one another if we heard a name called that matched one of us. This was a tiny, short-lived community drawn together out of need. It was at least a reminder that human beings, even total strangers, are capable of mutual support. It lasted maybe 15 minutes.
Haven’t we all experienced this kind of community-- in a waiting room, on jury duty, on a tour? Perhaps something funny happens on a city bus and riders find themselves talking and laughing together for a few stops. Those of us who were in New York after 9/11 remember the ease with which total strangers struck up conversations in the aftermath of this traumatic event—a broad sense of community was awakened in the wake of tragedy. More lasting communities develop around common experiences and goals, at work, in schools, in political clubs.
In church the common goal may be a little different for each of us, but at its best the goal is to grow closer to God and to support one another in this endeavor. Father Daniels challenged us in his Howard Thurman class to imagine how the Congregation of Saint Saviour might embody the Holy Spirit. We were divided at random into break-out rooms on ZOOM and discussed this challenge. When we got back together I was surprised that one of the groups was focused on prayer and meditation while two others were focused on the work that we felt we should do. Another was concerned about how diversity was embodied or missing in our community. They identified areas where we seem to fall short. Yet all these groups had one common goal: to embody Christ--only the emphasis of each differed.
Today as we live in a virtual church world I find that a deep sense of community happens through our daily prayer, our coffee hours, Bible study and adult formation classes. In our ZOOM meetings we can hear one another and learn from one another. I have enjoyed and learned much from the presentations our clergy make, from Steven’s Bible study where he takes a line from one part of scripture and shows us how the concept is reflected throughout the Bible; from Canon Malloy’s lectures on church history, liturgy and the Eucharist. Father Daniels is challenging us with very scholarly presentations most recently on Howard Thurman. Yet it is also true that I learn as much from the thoughts and reactions of lay members of the community, even from the questions they pose. To me this is a vital example of mutual support in our individual and community efforts to grow closer to God and to discover how best to live out our lives being Christ’s hands and feet in the world. As in the break-out rooms in Father Daniels’ class, there is much diversity in how we each try to grow—but we all try to grow. I believe this is how we embody the spirit and how we are the Congregation of Saint Saviour.
I thank you all for helping me grow in Christ!
NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE
Lenten Wednesdays Worship with the Harlem InterParish Council - Wednesdays at 7PM
February 24 The Rev. Rhonda Rubinson/Church of the Intercession
March 3 The Rev. Matthew Paul Buccheri/St. Edwards
March 10 The Rev. Patrick Williams/St. Martin’s
March 17 The Rev. Terence Lee/St. Philip’s
March 24 The Rev. Mary Foulke/St. Mary’s
BAPTISM ON EASTER EVE Saturday, April 3, 2021
The Cathedral Chapter has decided to offer adult and infant baptisms on Easter Eve, the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Due to the pandemic, these will be private in-person baptisms, not open to the public. Anyone interested in having themselves or their babies baptized should contact the Vicar's assistant, Hope Chang. The Cathedral clergy will conduct baptism preparation classes during Lent.
GIVE/SERVE
Valentine’s Day Outreach for Local Seniors: Spread Valentine's Day love to our senior neighbors at Amsterdam House. For information about how to pitch in, please click here.
CCC - Hats, Gloves, and Scarves Drive
In honor of Blessed Absalom Jones, the Diocese has challenged congregations to raise money for local service projects during February and March. Our chosen beneficiary, Cathedral Community Cares (CCC), has an urgent need for warm gloves, hats, and scarves for their clients. While donations or gently used items is appreciated, we also hope to raise $1,500 so that we can purchase 360 sets wholesale. If you would like to contribute, please click on the Black Card located on Saint Saviour's GIVING PAGE.
CCC - Volunteer Opportunity at Sunday Soup Kitchen
Since December, Congregation volunteers have been generously giving of their time every Sunday at CCC to help with food preparation and distribution. Each Sunday from 8:30 - about 11:00am. CCC needs 3 Congregation volunteers. Please CLICK HERE to access the new Congregation Volunteer sign-up page. Or click on “Volunteer in the main navigation menu. Shifts are open through the end of March. Thank you to everyone who has continued to volunteer week after week!
CCC - January Clothes Drive
CCC requests warm hats, gloves, and coats for their Clothing Closet clients. The Clothing Closet accepts gently used, freshly laundered clothes. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, clothes MUST be laundered before donating. Drop-off Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
THIS SUNDAY, Feb 14, 2020
9:30 AM - Open Space with the Vicar
Join Vicar Lee and others for 30 minutes of conversation, community, and pastoral support. Come and go as you please!
10:00 AM - In the Beginning: A Study of Genesis
Join the Vicar for a study of the first book of the Bible. Discover Genesis, not as a collection of ancient mythological stories, but as the Word of God addressing our fundamental and deepest needs. This Sunday will focus on: Genesis 8:1 - “When God Seems to Forget”
11:00 AM - Congregation Watch Party for Cathedral Worship Service
Watch the Cathedral worship service on Zoom with other members of the Congregation. As a way to maintain a prayerful atmosphere, we will be turning off Zoom chat for the duration of the service.
You can also watch the Cathedral Worship Service
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/StJohnDivineNYC
On the Cathedral website: http://www.stjohndivine.org
11:45 PM - Vicar and Friends
Join the Vicar and occasional guests right after the service for a brief time to say hello and check in with other members of the congregation.
12:00 PM - Digital Coffee Half-Hour
Join us at this week’s Digital Coffee Hour to meet members of the congregation.
4:30 PM - Valentine's Day Renewal of Marriage Vows
Note: this will be on the Cathedral Zoom
All married couples are invited to a simple 30-minute service of scripture, prayer, and renewal of marriage vows. The service will be led by the Vicar and his wife. After the service, attendees are invited to share a toast of champagne or sparkling water over Zoom.
WEEKLY CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION PROGRAMS
Monday-Saturday | 8:30 AM Morning Prayer | 5:30 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesday | 6:30 PM - YESS Bible Study
Join the Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour as the read through the book of Exodus. This week, we focus on Exodus 1:8-22. No preparation needed.
Wednesdays | 7:00 PM - Open Space with the Vicar (Cancelled)
Join Vicar Lee and others for 30 minutes of conversation, community, and pastoral support. Come and go as you please!
Wednesdays | 7:30 PM - Wednesday Bible Study (Cancelled)
Join the Vicar for a study of Paul's Letter to the Romans. The source of so many changed lives and pivotal moments throughout Christian history, Paul's greatest epistle invites us to transformation in our own lives and time.
Wednesdays | 8:30 PM - Congregation Compline (Cancelled)
Fridays | 12:00 PM - Midday Prayer and Meditation
The Angelus and 10 minutes of silent meditation.
Fridays | 12:15 PM - Open Space with the Vicar
Join Vicar Lee and others for 30 minutes of conversation, community, and pastoral support. Come and go as you please!
Thursdays | 6:30 PM - Education for Ministry
Education for Ministry is designed for lay people who want to delve more deeply but are not necessarily interested in ordination; EfM classes provide a more formal study of scriptures and the history of the faith. Current Topic: “Living into the Journey with God”
Reminder: you can find a directory of weekly programs with links to each program’s Zoom by clicking here.
