News from the Congregation February 18, 2022
‘‘ ‘Thanks to Cecilia and Bob - Leaders in the Church’ ; ‘Morning and Evening Prayer: It works!’ ” | Volunteer at CCC’s Sunday Soup Kitchen, Columbarium Access | Sunday Programs: 8:30 am Genesis Bible Study (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)
Bob Deming
Cecilia Amadi
This past Tuesday evening, the vestry elected Susan Sobolewski as clerk and Gerhard van der Poel as treasurer. The election of these new officers marks a new era for the vestry and its leadership of the Congregation.
I'd first like to thank Bob Deming, who has done a wonderful job as clerk of the vestry. This past year, he has been an outstanding junior warden. Bob combines wisdom, administrative ability, and humble servant leadership. We have all been blessed by his contributions to this newsletter. I am pleased that Bob has accepted my request for him to join the Congregation's Admin Team, so you and I have not heard the last of him. Thank you, Bob!
Since 2005, Cecilia Amadi has been the Congregation's treasurer. Until her recent retirement, Cecilia worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a senior supervisory revenue agent. This meant that Cecilia made sure the Congregation had strong audit and financial controls. I will never forget coming into my office on Saturday mornings and seeing Cecilia processing donation checks, paying Congregation invoices, and inputting all this information into ACS, the Congregation's accounting system.
Her work became exponentially more complicated once the Congregation switched from ACS to Realm, an online membership database and accounting system. After the switch, Cecilia had to learn an entirely new accounting system and create new financial processes. Her Saturday mornings in my office sometimes stretched into Saturday afternoons. Thanks to her commitment, the Congregation was able to transition successfully to this digital system just months before the pandemic changed our world.
When Cecilia decided to step down as treasurer, I asked her to remain on the vestry to complete her term. I am so grateful that she agreed. Her deep commitment to Jesus Christ, her incredible work ethic, her financial knowledge, and her experience as treasurer, will serve this vestry and our Congregation well. Thank you Cecilia for all you have done as treasurer, and for your continued service as a vestry member!
Both Bob and Cecilia exemplify what it means to be a leader in the church: someone willing to bear the burden of decisions. Even if they did not always agree with the decisions, whether mine or the vestry's, both Cecilia and Bob were willing to do the work required by their roles, with joy, humor, grace, and high competence.
A Message from the Wardens
Senior Warden Marsha Ra on her "Thoughts about Prayer and Community"
Since my baptism in 1973 I have wrestled with trying to understand what Christians mean when they proclaim that “prayer works!” I have been skeptical about these convictions. If prayer “worked,” I argue, no baby would die of cancer and peace would prevail throughout the world. We would all stop sinning and hurting each other. No one would be homeless or mentally ill. So in that sense how can we say that prayer works at all? If, as the prayer book says, “God knows our needs before we ask” why do we even bother to ask? Absolutely unnecessary! And yet, dear friends, I pray all the time. Just as a person might reflexively call for her mother in a dangerous or frightening situation, I call upon God. I remember having what seemed to be a heart attack a few years back and as I fell to the floor the only words in my head were “oh no, God please no!” It was certainly a prayer in need said reflexively, and it turned out not to be a heart attack at all.
I do firmly believe that in prayer there is a strengthening of my relationship with God. As Jesus’ life, death and resurrection tells us clearly, God is with us in it all and calling upon Him, even if the situation will not change, is very important. And even if nothing is materially altered by prayer, like Saint Paul I try to accept that “His grace is sufficient.”
Now prayer when I am alone is very different from prayer in community. Over the past two years I have become more and more convinced that praying together consistently is powerful and can build us up in love. For almost two years now the Cathedral has supported Morning and Evening prayer on ZOOM. This started because of the pandemic but has continued even after in-person worship was re-instated. New people join the group from time to time and some quickly become regulars who take their turns officiating, responding or doing the readings.
As you know, at Morning or Evening Prayer we read scripture together paragraph by paragraph, word by word—including much that is never read at Sunday services. All the hard stuff, all the stories that raise questions are included. We also say the psalms responsively. As the weeks go on, every psalm is read and then we go back to the beginning and read them all again. There are the beautifully worded “collects” including the collect for peace, the collect for mission, the collect of the week, etc. We pray what are called “the suffrages,” formalized prayers every day. All in all, the language of the daily offices is lovely, the scripture challenging, the psalms often filled with familiar phrases, praises of God and some very honest expressions of anguish and rage.
Finally, near the end of the daily office the leader says “Let us now name aloud or hold in our hearts our own intercessions and thanksgivings.” There are around 20 people who regularly attend the daily offices, yet the total group is probably closer to 30 or more, since people come and go. Through these personal intercessions we learn what is of concern to each member of this on-line community. As time has passed, the sharing of these intercessions has grown in length and importance. A few months ago a member of the community got sick and lost her voice. Many of the “regulars” knew her prayers and said them for her. At this moment again one of the members is unable to speak and he types his prayers in the chat. Another member gives voice to his prayers and reads them aloud. A deacon who lives on the West Coast has begun to keep the list of prayers for healing, both for those who participate and the people they pray for. She regularly offers prayers for healing and lists them all. Today I counted 24 names. But what is remarkable is that we know each name that she lists and the problems each is facing. There are several people who always begin their lists with thanksgivings. A priest up in Westchester who has been joining us since 2020 always starts with thanksgivings for all the blessings of this life and then lists the ones she is aware of before than asking for prayers for loved ones who are sick or grieving. In the sense that we have gotten to know each other through the open, shared voicing of our concerns and needs, I would say that this little on-line group has become a true community. It is a manifestation of the fact that there is “power” in prayer and that prayer “works” in the building up of the Body of Christ.
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org)
Columbarium Visits - Please Schedule in Advance
Due to cleaning and ongoing construction at the Cathedral, some areas may occasionally be inaccessible. Anyone wishing to visit a loved one in the Columbarium is strongly encouraged to schedule their visit in advance via this Columbarium Visit Registration form.
NEWS FROM THE DEAN - Celebrate Marsha Ra’s 80th Birthday on Sunday, February 27
The Dean will be hosting a festive celebration for Senior Warden Marsha Ra's 80th birthday on Sunday, February 27 after the 10:30 AM service in the Nave. All are invited.
NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE Home - Episcopal Diocese of New York (dioceseny.org)
NEWS FROM THE COMMUNITY
The New York Chapter of the National Black MBA Associates is hosting a virtual career fair on Thursday, February 24, 2022. For more information about this event and other offerings visit nyblackmba.org
NEWS FROM THE VESTRY
GIVE/SERVE
Questions about Realm, the Congregation’s Online Hub for Giving, Volunteering, and Reaching Out to One Another
The Admin team would love to hear from you. Whether you need help making the shift to online donations, setting up your account, or just want to know what Realm can do for you, please contact Laura and Bob at this email address: info@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!
THIS SUNDAY, February 20, 2022
In-Person Worship at the Cathedral
10:00 am - Doors to Cathedral open.
10:30 am - Eucharist Service (apprx. 1 hour)
The Cathedral requires those entering its buildings to show proof of vaccination and to wear a mask.
You can also watch a Livestream of the Cathedral Worship Service
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/StJohnDivineNYC
On the Cathedral website: http://www.stjohndivine.org
WEEKLY CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION PROGRAMS
Monday-Saturday | 8:30 AM Morning Prayer | 5:30 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesday 7:30 pm Bible Study | Paul’s Letter to the Romans | Congregation Zoom Link (Returns March 9)
Sunday 8:30 am Bible Study | Genesis| Congregation Zoom Link