News from the Congregation January 31, 2020
Sunday Programs (10 am Bible Study, 10 am Pathfinders Sunday School), Annual Meeting,Divine Fellowship-SAGE Table Valentines Cards, Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration, Harlem Renaissance at 100 Celebration - Volunteers Needed, Second Sunday Brunch, Adult Baptism and Confirmation Class, Saturday Morning Meditation, Raising My Voice: A Harlem Re-Entry Initiative
Canon Lee
The beauty of the "Say Yes" philosophy comes, not only from new initiatives taking place, such as happened last week:
Saturday morning - YESS (Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour) volunteering at St. Michael's Church
Sunday morning - Divine Fellowship hosting the Welcome Table
Sunday afternoon - Cuba Mission meeting
Sunday night - Radical Love Live Premiere
Monday night - Circles of Support
but also from the newfound sense of possibility that comes from believing our dreams can be realized.
As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of the Little Prince, is thought to have said:
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the people to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.
The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Canon Pastor and Vicar
THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
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 Canon Lee.
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 and to register, please contact Donna Devlin, Director of Christian Education.
12:45 PM - Annual Meeting | Chapel of St. James
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! See Candidate Statements to learn more about the nominees.
CONNECT
Harlem Renaissance at 100 Celebration - Congregation Welcome Table | Saturday, February 1 | 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
This Saturday, February 1st from 2:30PM to 4:30PM, the Cathedral will host the Harlem Renaissance at 100 Celebration. Parishioner Andi Dixon will greet visitors at the welcome table nearby the main entrance from 2PM to 5PM in half-hour shifts. If you are available to help greet visitors and invite them to participate in our congregational life, please contact adixon3@gmail.com for details!
Divine Fellowship - Valentine's Card Writing for SAGE | Thursday, February 6 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Cathedral House
All are welcome to join the Divine Fellowship, the Cathedral Congregation's LBGTQ+ community, for a Valentine's Card Writing party for SAGE, a national advocacy and services organization that’s been looking out for LGBT elders since 1978.
Diocese of New York - Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration | Saturday, February 8 | 10:30 AM | Cathedral
The joyous and life-giving service commemorates the Feast of Blessed Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in the Episcopal Church. The Diocesan Festival Choir will sing, under the leadership of Jeannine Otis, Director of Music at St. Marks in the Bowery, and Bill Randolph, Assistant Cathedral Organist.
Cathedral Congregation - Second Sunday Brunch | Sunday, February 9 | 12:45 PM | Cathedral House
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 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 - 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
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
This Sunday we hold our annual meeting and vestry election. We hope as many of you as can will come to Saint James Chapel at 12:30 p.m. for a light lunch and the meeting. We will be introduced to the new baptism/confirmation class, receive copies of the annual report, talk a bit about our plans and hopes for the year ahead, and answer any questions.
At its January meeting the vestry voted to again donate $2,500 to the ACT program for their summer camp scholarship fund. Last year two young men were able to attend the camp because of our donation. Also of note is the exploration of a possible companion relationship with Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Havana, Cuba. This year the Church in Cuba is being reintegrated into the Episcopal Church of the US after a 50+ year separation that had lots to do with secular politics and not much theology. This past Sunday Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba made a presentation to 10 members of the Congregation over pizza. Canon Steven Lee will be going to Cuba with the Bishop in March to meet with their bishop and talk to the clergy at their cathedral. This is an interesting development and may lead to a mission and outreach project on an international level. We haven’t done this sort of thing since our relationship with the Cathedral in Dodoma Tanzania where we supported elementary education for AIDS orphans.
If you came to church last Sunday you will have noticed a newly configured Welcoming table. We are trying to strengthen welcoming by sharing the work (and fun) of doing it. Each Sunday a different group will take responsibility for the table and will also greet people as they walk in the door and hand them a service leaflet. Last Sunday's group was Divine Fellowship, the Cathedral Congregation's LGBTQ+ community. They will be a hard act to follow! The bright rainbow-colored banner we made for the Stonewall 50 Pride Parade was hard to miss. There was excellent feedback from worshippers who enjoyed the new energy and warmth.
Blessings to all,
Marsha and Tim
Wardens
JANUARY 31, 2020