News from the Congregation January 6, 2023

Jan 6

Written By Steven Lee; Marsha Ra & Joan Adams

‘‘‘Peacock Retirement’ ; ‘Happy Epiphany!’ ” | Dates to Remember | Sunday Programs: 10:30am Worship Service In-Person and Online, 11:30am All Are Welcome Coffee Hour | Weekday Programs: Wed Bible Study on Paul’s Letter to the Romans, M-S Morning and Evening Prayer (Zoom)

Canon Lee

Please find below a press release that went out earlier this week about the Cathedral peacocks:

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine to Bid Fond Farewell to Feathered Friends

Trio of resident peacocks will retire to Animal Nation sanctuary

(New York, NY) Birds nationwide are beginning seasonal migrations as they head to their wintering locations, and another change in the avian population of New York City will soon take place as the three peacocks of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine move into their well-deserved retirements at Animal Nation, an animal sanctuary in South Salem, NY, after more than twenty years of residence on the Cathedral Close.

They’re exotic creatures, but peacocks have been a familiar sight on the grounds of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine since 1972, when the first flock was introduced. Today, three of these majestic birds wander the expansive grounds. Jim, Harry, and Phil, the Cathedral’s current trio, were hatched in 2002 and were gifted to the Cathedral by students of The Cathedral School. The three peacocks, named after two of the Cathedral’s previous deans and a former head of The Cathedral School, have lived long, peaceful lives on the grounds. Now that the birds are reaching their senior years, the Cathedral is planning for their retirement to a wildlife sanctuary to ensure that they receive the best possible quality of care as they age.

The Cathedral has cared for the three peacocks with the expert aid of the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. In recent years, Jim St. John suffered a foot injury which required months of recuperation. Harry St. John also recently received ongoing medical attention at the Center.

Peacocks in the wild can live to 15 years or more, but peacocks in captivity may reach 25 or older with the proper care. In the knowledge that the current three birds are nearing their golden ages, the Cathedral has sought to find a place where they can continue to roam freely and will receive the best possible medical attention and treatment as they grow older. While Jim, Harry, and Phil will be missed, the Cathedral is glad to provide them with a safe, comfortable retirement at Animal Nation.

Animal Nation is a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run wildlife, farm, and domestic animal rescue facility, sanctuary, and adoption center with a mission to eliminate cruelty to animals while spreading compassion into the hearts of all beings. For the past twenty years, Animal Nation has provided a home to hundreds of animals both great and small, becoming the go-to resource in Westchester, Rockland, Fairfield, and surrounding counties when it comes to wildlife, farm animals, and other creatures. After much careful consideration of the Cathedral peacocks’ medical needs and age, the Cathedral and Animal Nation partnered on a plan for their move upstate.

After assessing the three peacocks’ current health status and needs for their best quality of life, the Cathedral and Animal Nation have decided to transfer the birds to the sanctuary in mid- to late January. Celebrations of the peacocks and their importance to the Cathedral and New York City community are being planned. The 10:30 am Holy Eucharist on Sunday, January 15 will end with a reception in honor of these beloved birds. A day of fun for young people will follow on Saturday, January 21. More details will be shared early in the new year in an announcement and on the Cathedral’s website.

Even with a change in the peacocks’ living quarters, the Cathedral and the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine intend to stay in touch with these valued creatures and check on their health and happiness at their new home. Experts from the Center will remain involved in the transition of the birds’ healthcare and maintenance. Animal Nation is no stranger to providing care for animals with special needs, and with vets and physical rehabilitators on hand, will be able to provide for the peacocks’ well-being as they continue to age.

Close attention to the peacocks’ well-being is nothing new for the Cathedral. The three birds received a new hutch in 2017, designed to match the Cathedral’s Gothic appearance by Ryan Lewandowski and Paul Scrugha, the winners of a design competition by Ennead Architects. The new hutch was blessed in an outdoor ceremony by The Right Reverend Andrew Dietsche, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

As symbols of the Cathedral and The Cathedral School, the peacocks will always be part of the history and legacy of this Manhattan landmark, and discussions are underway about the possibility of a future flock of the beloved birds coming to the grounds. In the words of Flannery O’Connor, inducted into the Cathedral’s American Poets Corner in 2014, “I intend to stand firm and let the peacocks multiply, for I am sure that, in the end, the last word will be theirs.”

***

As mentioned above, there will be a coffee hour in honor of the peacocks after the 10:30 AM service on Sunday, January 15. This will be the opportunity for members of the Congregation to gather together in thanksgiving for all the peacocks have given to our community, to acknowledge what they have meant in our lives, and to celebrate their well-deserved retirement. The peacocks will be departing the Cathedral Close for Animal Nation during the week of January 23, so this will be our chance to remember them.

If you would like to make a gift in honor of the Cathedral’s flock and to help defray the cost of Harry’s medical care--running upwards of $8,000, which includes a 3-D cast that will need to be changed every two days--please click here, visit the Cathedral’s website (please choose Peacock Fund from the drop down menu) or send a check payable to the Cathedral. Please indicate on the memo line: “Peacock Fund.” Checks may be sent to:

Cathedral of St. John the Divine
c/o Development Department
1047 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10025

Finally, please note that Cathedral leadership is in active discussions about the possibility of a future flock of peacocks joining the grounds.

A Message from the Wardens

Shall return next week

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

DATES TO REMEMBER

Jan 6 - Epiphany service at the Cathedral
Jan 14 - Funeral of Kristin Stanton Jones in St. James Chapel
Jan 22 - Religious Life Sunday with Dialogue Sermon at the Cathedral
Jan 28 - Diocesan Chorister Festival at the Cathedra
Feb 1 - Cathedral Planned Giving seminar on Zooml
Feb 5 - Annual Meeting of the Congregation of Saint Saviour at the Cathedral
Feb 14 - Renewal of Vows service at the Cathedral
Feb 15 - Mother Eva Suarez begins at the Cathedral

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR UKRAINE

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting Action by Churches Together (ACT Alliance) as it provides critical assistance to support people affected by violence in Ukraine. Working through ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) and other local organizations, ACT Alliance is providing emergency assistance such as food, shelter, water and basic supplies to refugees and people displaced within Ukraine. Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund will help the organization and its partners continue to provide assistance to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine.

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

NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATION

The Weekly Sunday Hospitality continues.

Research shows that the more you give the more you get. The more you help, the more invested you become in your church and the more it feeds you. Isn’t that amazing? Do you enjoy the coffee and the treats--the time together every week for conversation and welcoming of visitors? To keep this ministry going we need to expand the number of people involved. If you are on the list of helpers and providers of snacks, THANK YOU! If you haven’t volunteered yet— why not join the team? There is nothing exclusive about it. All are welcome to help out. If you can come once a month or every 6 -8 weeks to set up before the service and clean-up after the coffee hour, please contact Marsha Ra or Sue Sobolewski. Or talk to us on any Sunday. We will get you started on this ministry.

NEWS FROM THE VESTRY

The Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the following candidates for Warden and Vestry to be elected at the Annual Meeting on February 5. Candidate biographies will be available on the Congregation website in the coming days.

Warden: Robert Deming

Class of 2024: Michael Nixon

Class of 2026: Paula McKenzie, Cecilia Amadi, Gail Felix

From the bylaws: "The Nominations Committee shall also post as nominees the names of any other qualified lay voters who have been proposed in writing by not less than ten qualified voters; any such names must be received not less than two Sundays prior to the Annual Meeting and shall be promptly posted. No other nominees shall be considered at the Annual Meeting."

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

THIS SUNDAY

In-Person Worship at the Cathedral
10:00 am - Doors to Cathedral open.
10:30 am - Eucharist Service
11:30 am - All Are Welcome Coffee Hour

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