News from the Congregation January 24, 2020
The Limits of Transcendence, Notice of Annual Meeting, Vestry Candidates, Sunday Programs (10 am Sunday Bible Study, 10 am Pathfinders, 12:45 pm - Cuba Mission, 7 pm - Radical Love Live) Second Sunday Brunch, Saturday Morning Meditations, Volunteer at St. Michael's Saturday Kitchen, Raising My Voice: A Harlem Re-Entry Initiative
Canon Lee
When people come to the Cathedral and tell me how much the experience of worship in the Episcopal tradition brings them spiritual transcendence, I am so happy they have discovered the power of our liturgy.
But I am also a little worried.
I am reminded of what Anthony Lane, the movie critic for the New Yorker, once wrote about the poetry of one of my favorite writers, Sylvia Plath:
For those slouching toward middle age, Plath’s poems are no longer guaranteed to provide either solace or provocation; she herself, like a war poet, was granted no middle age, and we can never know how the riper Plath might have chosen to outgrow, or even disown, the bitter fruits of her youth. Hers is a country for young men and, more obsessively, for young women; I now suffer from a constitutional aversion to her poetry, as one should to any art or writing that casts a spell on one’s teen-age years, and the extremity of her self-absorption, which a movie as careful and sociable as “Sylvia” can never properly catch, seems as likely to repel as to entrance.
As someone who is now "well-slouched" in the middle age of the Christian life, I find myself wondering if the experience of spiritual transcendence can be described as a similar "youthful" enthusiasm for new Christians.
A temporary high that will fade, and disappoint, with time.
What the mature Christian learns through life in a Christian community is that following Jesus is not only, or primarily, about experiencing a spiritual high.
Following Jesus, instead, is about choosing to carry our own Cross until our old selves are crucified upon it. This is the Way of self-sacrificial love that Jesus teaches will bring us new life.
It is counterintuitive, to be sure. But the profound joy of living in Christian community comes when we experience sorrow or disappointment or pain, and then, rather than responding in kind, we choose instead to love.
When we do this, we can say with St. Paul:
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways... And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Canon Pastor and Vicar
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, February 2 | 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Chapel of St. James
Pursuant to the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the Religious Corporation Laws of the State of New York, official notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Cathedral Congregation of Saint Saviour will take place on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at 12:30 PM.
We will meet to consider the year past, look ahead, and elect new members of the Vestry. A light lunch will be served, and our Vicar will preside. We are grateful for the service of those who are now stepping down: Gale Kenny, Paula Mackenzie, and JoAnn Bell. All are welcome!
In case you are a newcomer or simply in need of a reminder, the Congregation’s Bylaws and the Religious Corporation Laws of the State of New York hold that to be eligible to vote in the election, you must be:
on record as a member of the Congregation
a baptized Christian who is 18 or older
a contributor of record (by pledging or otherwise) for at least 12 months before the election
in regular attendance of worship services at the Cathedral
Nominee for Warden
Tim Dwyer: 2-year term
Nominees for Vestry
Sonia Omulepu: 1-year term
Blake Jones: 2-year-term
Gail Felix: 3-year-term
Winston Nguyen: 3-year-term
Mark Dilcom: 3-year-term
Kevin de l'Aigle: 3-year-term
Candidate Statements
THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 26
10:00 AM - Sunday Morning Bible Study | Cathedral Nave
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. All are welcome. This week's Bible Study is led by Senior Warden Marsha Ra.
10:00 AM - Pathfinders Sunday School | Cathedral Nave
Little Pilgrims and the Next Step will meet this Sunday as a single class led by Wisdom Year Resident Jennifer Allen. For more information and to register, please contact Donna Devlin, Director of Christian Education.
12:45 PM - Global Mission: Presentation on the Current Missionary Context in Cuba | Cathedral House Conference Room
The Episcopal Church of Cuba was recently re-admitted to the Episcopal Church as a constituent diocese of our church. Come and learn how the Cathedral Congregation can participate and mutually benefit from developing a relationship with the Episcopal Cathedral in Havana, Cuba. Lunch will be provided!
7:00 PM - Radical Love Live | Cathedral Nave
Radical Love Live is designed to create spaces for people to talk about spirituality in all its forms. It is a new ministry developed in partnership with the Cathedral Congregation. The first live episode features Professor John Thatamanil of Union Theological Seminary and Maria French of The Hatchery, and they will be joined by musical guest The Brilliance. For more information check out: https://www.radicallove.live/
CONNECT
Cathedral Congregation - Second Sunday Brunch | Sunday, February 9 | 12:45 PM | Cathedral House
All are welcome to join the Cathedral Congregation for our monthly "Second Sunday" brunch in Cathedral House. This is a chance to connect with fellow members and to meet new people over delicious food.
YESS (Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour) - Oscars Watch Party | Sunday, February 9
The newly branded Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour (YESS) group will be hosting an Oscars Watch Party. They will pick the venue depending on the size of the group, so please let them know by January 31 if you'd like to join by RSVPing to saintsaviouryoungadults@gmail.com.
YESS (Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour) - Escape Room | Saturday, February 23 | 7:30 PM
Calling all puzzle masters! Dig out your best Gatsby attire and help us escape from this 1920s speakeasy: https://cluechase.com/moonshine-madness/. RSVP to saintsaviouryoungadults@gmail.com by February 7th to join the team!
EXPLORE
Saturday Morning Meditation - Every Saturday | 11:00 AM | Cathedral House Conference Room (New location for this week!)
Join members of the Congregation and public for an hour of quiet meditation every Saturday morning. This week, the group meets on the second floor of Cathedral House.
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: Four ways to Fulfill Your Pledge
Contact pastoralcare@stjohndivine.org for help.
SERVE
YESS (Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour) - Volunteer at St. Michael's Saturday Kitchen (225 West 99th Street) | Saturday, January 25
Volunteer with YESS this Saturday at St. Michael's soup kitchen, which serves a free hot meal to all who are in need. Arrive at 8:30 AM to help set up, or at 9:45 AM to just help serve. Contact Andi Dixon directly to RSVP or with any questions: adixon3@gmail.com.
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.
Pilgrimage to England With Cathedral Choristers and Congregation - August 2021
The Music Department has invited the Cathedral Congregation to participate in a Pilgrimage to England in August 2021. For anyone interested in learning more or in helping to plan the trip, please email Warden Tim Dwyer.
Marsha and Tim
Winter colds and flu are moving through New York (and everywhere else) slowing us down, forcing us to stop and rest. And if we don’t take some time to recover, we miss the only reason to welcome a cold: a time to relax at home with hot tea and a good novel! In less than two weeks on February 2 the Congregation will hold its annual meeting in Saint James Chapel, an annual report will be distributed, elections for vestry and warden held and time taken to consider ourselves as a community. We are holding the meeting in Saint James Chapel because we have outgrown the space we were using in Cathedral House. Lunch will be served. We are, after all, The Congregation of Saint Saviour and we enjoy eating together. So let’s all get rid of those colds. We have work to do and food to enjoy!
Last Sunday we observed Martin Luther King’s birthday with the Cathedral’s special service in tribute to his life and work. The 11 a.m. service was crowded with visitors who had come for this special day. When we have a lot of visitors they may assume the presence of an active worshipping community, but there isn’t a lot of evidence of it in the hour and a half they worship along with us. Last Sunday, however, our presence was very clear during the announcements. Warden Tim Dwyer made the formal announcement of the annual meeting, listing all the candidates for warden and vestry. Then the Dean invited Mark Dilcom and Kelly Wilson to describe Radical Love Live which will have its launch this Sunday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. Then Laura Betz and Phoebe Robertson then invited people to the Young Adults luncheon which occurs every third Sunday. Finally, Ray invited the assembled to an organ concert this week. Welcome to our Church!
Why is welcoming strangers such a challenge? It is what we are called to do; we put it in our mission statement, but we don’t always do it very well. We not only want to smile and welcome people. We want them to know that we are hoping to get to know them and to connect them with our life at Saint John the Divine. This takes more than a smile (though that smile is extremely important). It takes intention, planning and process. At the annual meeting I hope we can talk about this some more and hear about the work that the vicar and committee chairs are doing to improve the invitation to connect with us.
Marsha and Tim
Wardens
JANUARY 25, 2020