News from the Congregation February 14, 2020
Letting Our Word Be Yes!; Sunday Programs (10 am Bible Study; 10 am Pathfinders Sunday School, 12:45 pm YESS Bring-A-Friend Brunch, 12:45 pm Adult Baptism and Confirmation Class: Session 3 - The Bible) Lenten Programming, Forgiveness Reading Group, Harlem Inter-Parish Council Eucharist and Dinner Schedule, Seniors and Retired Persons Meetups, YESS Meetups, Radical Love Live, Saturday Morning Meditation, Pledge Online Through Realm
Canon Lee
At the Annual Meeting two weeks ago, I mentioned that one sign of the Congregation's renewal was a significant increase in giving over the past two years. As you can see from the chart below, last year's giving was the highest going back to 2009, the furthest our current database goes.
An even better sign of health might be our new vestry's commitment to learning and to trying new things. As a sign of this commitment, over the next few months, the vestry and I will be discussing in our monthly meetings Invite Welcome Connect: Stories & Tools to Transform Your Church by Mary Parmer.
Developed in the Diocese of Texas, this ministry teaches churches how to be more intentional in their efforts to welcome newcomers and to connect them to the community.
It is easy for a church to believe that it is a "friendly community," when, in reality, it might be better described as a "community of friends."
There is much to be gained by being the latter, of course, but there is also much that makes such a community hard for newcomers to join.
Once the vestry and I have worked through the book together, we hope to expand this ministry initiative to the entire Cathedral Congregation. Stay tuned.
The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Canon Pastor and Vicar
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THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16
10:00 AM - Sunday Morning Bible Study | St. James Chapel (note location!)
Our Congregation's wonderful bible study/discussion group are a great opportunity to explore the lectionary in a little more depth, learn from each other, and get to know others in the congregation. This week's Bible Study is led by Warden Tim Dwyer and will meet in St. James Chapel.
10:00 AM - Pathfinders Sunday School | Cathedral Nave
Little Pilgrims and the Next Step will meet this Sunday led by Donna Devlin and Jennifer Allen. For more information, please contact, Donna Devlin, Director of Christian Education.
Little Pilgrims are asked to learn the words to the 23rd Psalm. All who make an attempt will get their choice of a prize. The contest will end at the end of February.
The Next Step group are asked to learn the 23rd Psalm PLUS Psalm 100. Everyone who makes an attempt will get their choice of a prize.
12:45 PM - YESS (Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour) Bring-a-Friend Brunch
If there’s someone you’ve been meaning to introduce to the young adult community at Saint Saviour, now is your chance! YESS invites you to bring a friend who might enjoy worshiping at the 11AM service, and then inviting them for a bite with other young adults somewhere in the neighborhood. Meet by the welcome table after the 11AM service ends (around 12:45 PM).
12:45 PM - Adult Baptism and Confirmation Class: Session 3 - The Bible | Cathedral House Conference Room
The adult baptism and confirmation class meets this week in Cathedral House. This week's topic is Reading the Bible as an Anglican.
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LENT WITH THE CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION
Lenten Bible Study with Cathedral Clergy - Sundays, March 1 to March 29 | 10:00 AM | Cathedral Nave
The Cathedral clergy will lead the Congregation's bible study/discussion group for the Sundays in Lent.
Forgiveness Reading Group - Every Other Tuesday, February 25 to April 7 | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Cathedral House Dining Room
How do we understand forgiveness and grace? During Lent the Cathedral Congregation of Saint Saviour will be reading Grace Will Lead Us Home, The Charleston Church Massacre and the Hard, Inspiring Journey to Forgiveness by Jennifer Berry Hawes. This informal reading group will meet on every other Tuesday starting 25 February (March 10; March 24; April 7). The group will be led by Elizabeth Howard, the Madeleine L’Engle Fellow at the Cathedral. If you are interested in attending, please contact Hope Chang.
Harlem Inter-Parish Council Eucharist and Dinner - Wednesdays in Lent | 7:00 PM
March 4 | Church of the Heavenly Rest | 2 E. 90th St
March 11 | Church of the Crucifixion | Convent Ave and 149th St
March 18 | Holyrood/Santa Cruz Church | 715 W. 179th St.
March 25 | St. Mary’s Manhattanville | 521 W. 126th St.
April 1 | All Souls’ Church | 88 St. Nicholas Ave.
Seniors and Retired Group - Friday Mornings in Lent, February 28 to March 27 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Cathedral House Conference Room
All senior members of the Cathedral Congregation community are invited to a new group launching this Lent for fellowship, community, learning and fun. This informal group will meet with the Vicar each Friday morning during Lent. If this pilot program goes well, we hope to continue the group throughout the program year. For more information, please contact the Vicar.
YESS - Friday Evenings in Lent - Sushi Dinner with the Young Adults Network
Join other young Episcopalians around the Diocese for a short evening service (15-30 minutes) followed by sushi dinner on Fridays during Lent.
March 13 | St. John’s in the Village | 218 W. 11th Street | 5:45 PM
March 20 | Trinity Wall Street | 75 Broadway | 5:15 PM
March 27 | Grace Church | 802 Broadway | TBD
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CONNECT
YESS - Young Adult Reflection Day — The Beloved Community | Saturday, February 15 | 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM | Cathedral House
YESS is proud to be hosting the Episcopal Diocese of New York's (EDNY) Young Adult Network (YAN) for this year's Reflection Day in Cathedral House. This year's theme is the Beloved Community. The day will include coffee and light breakfast, lunch, a vertical tour of the Cathedral, and a closing Eucharist to send us back out into the world. This is a great opportunity to meet young Episcopalians from other parishes in the Diocese! Will we also be joined by Bishop Shin for part of the day. RSVP at this link.
YESS - Escape Room | Friday, February 21 | 7:30 PM (new date!)
Calling all puzzle masters! Dig out your best Gatsby attire and help us escape from this 1920s speakeasy: https://cluechase.com/moonshine-madness/. If you’ve never done an escape room before, it is a fun challenge!RSVP to saintsaviouryoungadults@gmail.com by February 7th to join the team!
EXPLORE
Radical Love Live - Recording of premiere now available!
A full video of the first live event from Sunday, January 26 is available on the website (https://www.radicallove.live) and a recording is streaming on major podcast platforms! The first event in the live series features conversations about the changing spiritual landscape with faith futurist Maria French of H&Co and author and theologian John Thatamanil of Union Theological Seminary, as well as music that inspires empathy from the band The Brilliance.
Saturday Morning Meditation - Every Saturday | 11:00 AM | Chapel of St. Ambrose (note location!)
Join members of the Congregation and public for an hour of quiet meditation every Saturday morning. This week, the group meets in the Chapel of St. Ambrose in the Cathedral.
Adult Baptism and Confirmation Class - Sundays, February 2 to March 29 | 12:45 PM to 2:15 PM
All adults interested in baptism or confirmation at the Easter Vigil are welcome to this 9-week class designed as an introduction to the Christian faith in the Episcopal tradition. To register, contact Canon Lee at slee@stjohndivine.org.
GIVE
Step 1: Pledge Online to the 2020 Campaign
Step 2: Give through Realm (preferred)
Contact pastoralcare@stjohndivine.org for help and for other ways to give, such as using giving envelopes.
SERVE
Raising My Voice: A Harlem Re-Entry Initiative - January 6 to March 23
This pilot partnership with the Cathedral Congregation, the J.C. Flowers Foundation, and Circles of Support brings together men and women recently released from incarceration with mentors from the Cathedral Congregation to form community across difference through sharing personal life stories.
Article about Raising My Voice in the Living Church
Pilgrimage to England With Cathedral Choristers and Congregation - August 2021
Warden Tim Dwyer is working with the Cathedral’s Music Department to coordinate our choirs’ next tour of the UK with a pilgrimage for lay people from the Cathedral community. Taking place during the last two weeks of August 2021, the journey will give participants the chance to see and hear our magnificent choirs up close during their residencies at Chichester and Canterbury Cathedrals and Westminster Abbey, meet the leaders and lay members of their communities, and visit nearby sites of religious, historical, and/or architectural and artistic significance. The trip is still in the planning stages, but if you think you might be interested, send a note to Tim at TimothyDDwyer9@yahoo.com with the subject heading “Pilgrimage” so you can be kept apprised as plans come together.
Marsha and Tim
Tuesday night the newly constituted Vestry had its first meeting. In addition to taking up the usual necessary business, the vicar is having the Vestry read and discuss articles on becoming a welcoming church. It is our hope that we are making progress in that area. Our welcome on Sunday morning has been beautifully augmented by having different congregation groups take responsibility on a rotating basis. The energy so far has been very good. Some of our newest members are taking on the task of welcoming everyone into “our” cathedral. “Welcome home everyone!”
At our last annual meeting we reported the good news that giving has gone up. This is one sign of growth and we are thankful for the generosity of the membership. It has enabled us to do more, both in the area of outreach and service as well as the equally important area of fellowship and the support of new, active groups.
Last week the pastoral office sent out giving statements. Most were sent by email. If you made donations in 2019 and did not receive your statement, please contact Hope Chang.
Bible study continues from 10:10 to 10:50 each Sunday with a rotating leadership. Last week Andrew Botros led a wonderful discussion of the daily lectionary which morphed into a fascinating consideration of the Resurrection. This coming Sunday Tim Dwyer will lead the group which will meet in Saint James Chapel. During Lent the clergy will take over and the group will return to the entrance of the Cathedral under the rose window.
Here is information on the Lenten retreat at Holy Cross Monastery, March 27-29. There are now just 5 spaces left, so let us know if you would like to come.
Blessings,
Tim and Marsha
Wardens
FEBRUARY 14, 2020