News from the Congregation July 1, 2022
‘‘ ‘Christian faith is either an encounter with Him alive, or it does not exist.’ ; ‘Independence and Interdependence ’ ” | Online Jul 13: Learn About the Cathedral’s New Community at the Crossing, Schola Cantorum Seeks New Choristers, Aid for Ukraine, Columbarium Access | Sunday Programs: 10:30am Worship Service - In-Person and Online, 4:00pm Evensong | Weekday Programs: M-S Morning and Evening Prayer (Zoom)
Canon Lee
With this edition, the Congregation newsletter takes a summer break for the next two months. It will return with the beginning of the program year in the fall.
Please note that starting this Sunday, the Cathedral Sunday worship schedule will have one change. Evensong returns at 4:00 PM and will replace the Compline service that took place at 7:00 PM.
If you need summer reading, I highly recommend the apostolic letter Desiderio Desideravi issued by Pope Francis earlier this week. Given the subtitle, "On the Liturgical Formation of the People of God," this astonishing and beautiful letter describes the Biblical and theological foundation for why we gather each Sunday at the Cathedral--to have a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ:
Here lies all the powerful beauty of the liturgy. If the resurrection were for us a concept, an idea, a thought; if the Risen One were for us the recollection of the recollection of others, however authoritative, as, for example, of the Apostles; if there were not given also to us the possibility of a true encounter with Him, that would be to declare the newness of the Word made flesh to have been all used up. Instead, the Incarnation, in addition to being the only always new event that history knows, is also the very method that the Holy Trinity has chosen to open to us the way of communion. Christian faith is either an encounter with Him alive, or it does not exist.
The Liturgy guarantees for us the possibility of such an encounter.
I want to leave you with these words from the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. He is a former Vicar of the Congregation, and I know many of you remember his time fondly. In a recent letter to his diocese, Bishop Wright shared this excerpt from one of his books:
I wonder how anxiety has shaped you, is shaping you, your family, your work? Our anxieties drive our relationships with God, reality, and one another more than we know. They can keep us meek rather than bold; coy rather than candid; fearful when faith is needed. The leadership Jesus practiced invites us to increase our capacity for holding steady in the face of personal and institutional anxiety. Holding steady is not the performance of calm. It’s not inaction or indifference, it's a proactive stance. The chess player waiting for his turn to move is not inactive. The scientist waiting for the results from her latest experiment isn’t being passively inactive. Holding steady is not rigidity. Rigidity is an inability to bend. Holding steady is an embodied spiritual stance on the way to adaptation. Holding steady is what the Apostle Paul is referring to when he says, “…having done everything to stand, stand therefore" (Ephesians 6:13). Which is, having executed the plan according to the purpose, now actively waiting and watching for intended impact and new iterations.
I hope you have time for rest and refreshment this summer. I hope also, in the midst of this exciting and potentially anxiety-producing time of transition at our beloved Cathedral, you remember to hold steady in the embrace of the God who has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
A Message from the Wardens
Marsha and Joan
Senior Warden Marsha Ra on "Independence Day":
“O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law. “(Katherine Lee Bates)
[This second verse of America the Beautiful, found in our hymnal, is rarely if ever sung in public schools]
When a holiday like July 4 occurs, I find myself contrasting the country I thought I knew as a child and the country I know now—the stresses I felt decades ago, the wonderful changes that have occurred and recent distressing developments.
My first memories of July 4 celebrations are from the 1940’s and 50’s. These celebrations were much like they have always been across American cities and towns: parades, barbecues, fireworks. It was not an innocent time because there are no innocent times. But celebrating this anniversary of our forefathers’ declaration of independence was certainly a lot of fun. My father flew the American flag from our front porch in the working class neighborhood in Detroit where I grew up. We had sparklers that we lit after dark. July 1 is Canada Day and so a joint Freedom Festival was celebrated with our Canadian neighbors to the South--Canada is actually a little bit south of Detroit. We would drive down to Windsor, Ontario, get a good spot in Dieppe Park on the Detroit River. We would picnic, and watch boat races during the day, and when the sun set there would be fireworks over the Detroit River. Canada and the United States were, after all, free countries and shared an open border across the entire North American continent. If my parents thought about what was imperfect in our country, what was unfair, unjust, and just not free at all, they didn’t share this with the kids. My mother, an immigrant, was particularly grateful to be in the United States and never ever wanted to go back to visit her original town in Eastern Poland. We kids did sense our parents’ nervousness, their lack of ease, when Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were arrested and ultimately executed. Would these Jewish spies, who had supposedly delivered information on the atomic bomb to the Russians, reflect badly on the entire Jewish community? Thus in this “innocent” time, I was already aware of both the existential threat of nuclear war and the presence of anti-Semitism. There were also dangers lurking in diseases that could kill us, like polio. Before vaccines were developed in 1959, we avoided crowds in the summer. Sitting in our own car in Dieppe Park wasn’t dangerous. Going to the beach in the summer was.
Living in a Midwestern industrial city decades ago, I was barely aware of the diversity of the population in the United States. We did hear about the melting pot in school, but really, I didn’t see the pot filled with much that wasn’t of European origin. Detroit was quite segregated. Until I went to middle school the only Black person I knew was Mr. Ivy the mailman. The only Asians were the Chinese men who ran King Fong Chinese restaurant a block away. They were quite mysterious and I loved the egg foo young. I had never heard of gay people until I moved to New York when I was 21. All I knew of diversity was that there were Catholics, Protestants and us Jews. At Detroit Recreation Camp there were no Black kids, but there were Catholics, Protestants and Jews. There were wishing stones on the way to the beach that were identified as C, P, J, so you knew which one to stand on when you made a wish. When the Civil Defense Department gave us those dog tags to wear in case of a nuclear attack, they each had our name, our blood type and C, P or J. That was the extent of diversity in my young life.
Today, how much richer I find my life in this mish mash of people that surrounds me. In addition to my Serbian primary care physician, I am treated by an Italian American orthopedic surgeon, an Arab rheumatologist, a WASP oncologist, a gay nurse practitioner, a Pakistani physical therapist--complete with hijab. Not to mention that I married a Korean and was surrounded for 30 years by Korean family and friends. You, my church family, come directly or indirectly from just about everywhere on the globe and are every color of the rainbow. I know that I am not alone in loving our beautiful mosaic, our Congregation of Saint Saviour crazy quilt!
Yet we all know that not every American celebrates this diversity as we do. White supremacy, white Christian nationalism, have grown ever more visible and active. There are threats around us from people who are racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic and misogynistic. Of course I understand that the KKK and other racist organizations have existed in the United States for over a century and that our country was founded on the economic and humanitarian sin of slavery. I understand that over 300 million of us live in this nation after displacing another people who were here first. All of this is true. But it is shocking to me that there is controversy in parts of this country over openly acknowledging these clear, sad, historical facts. I see one of our challenges as Christians is to change this, to help others see the country as it is, acknowledge our national sins and, as the lyric in the hymn America the Beautiful puts it: ask that “God mend its every flaw!”
I pray this Independence Day that Americans everywhere will overcome these evils--that those who do not yet accept, but fight our rich diversity will soon join us in celebrating the wonderful family that we actually are. In the words of our prayer book:
“Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.” (BCP, p 820)
So: happy Independence Day my friends! I wish you all a beautiful summer and, as vacations allow, I hope that we will see each other Sundays in our hot, sticky, glorious Cathedral, celebrating the Eucharist together and sharing a cup of iced tea!
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org)
Healing Our Divided Faith Today: The Community at the Crossing
Wednesday, July 13th — 3:00-4:00pm ONLINE
Two crises are eroding our ability to navigate societal issues through the lens of our Christian faith: a generational decrease of participating in faith communities and the toxic divisions across Christianity faith traditions. With decreased participation and a sense that Christians are hopelessly divided and unable to offer answers to the questions of the moment, people, especially young people, can easily reject faith as a mediator for our societal conflicts.
However, we have known since Jesus issued his Great Commandment to love one another that forming communities based on this love is the only way to confront these crises and tackle the most challenging of societal divisions. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is excited to share more about this work through a new program called the Community at the Crossing.
Modeled after a successful program created by the Most Rev. and Right Honorable Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, called the Community of Saint Anselm (CoSA), the Community at the Crossing will represent a variety of Christian denominations living, praying, working, and serving together; they will be a model of what is possible and a witness to hope, unity, and healing - to witness to the love Jesus calls for in the Great Commandment.
Join us for this workshop to learn more about the Community at the Crossing. We will share how the community will be formed and what its role on the Cathedral Close and in the City of New York will entail. We hope the Community at the Crossing will inspire your congregation and community to imagine ways you can form intentional communities that will share the love Jesus requires of his followers. Our panel will share not only about this groundbreaking new program, but also how you and your parish can be part of this radical expression of hope and love.
Panelists include:
Patrick Malloy, Ph.D. - Acting Dean; Cathedral of Saint John the Divine; New York, New York
Hannah Spiers - Community at the Crossing Residential Director; Chemin Neuf; Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, France
Ignacio Fantaguzzi - Alumnus; Community of Saint Anselm (CoSA); Houston, Texas
Monica Butta - Vice President of Development; Cathedral of Saint John the Divine; New York, New York
Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/376934931527
Schola Cantorum - Open Children’s Choir
Schola members perform with the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra for our Christmas and Spring concerts, and participate in regularly scheduled services, including Christmas Eve and Easter. St. Francis Day, a landmark New York City event, is a highlight for our Schola singers! This enthusiastic group of young singers ranges in age from middle school through high school. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 4:15-5:30 pm at the Cathedral. Contact Samuel Kuffuor-Afriye at skuffuor@stjohndivine.org further information and to reserve a place for the upcoming 2022-2023 season!
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.
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 COMMUNITY
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
THIS SUNDAY
In-Person Worship at the Cathedral
10:00 am - Doors to Cathedral open.
10:30 am - Eucharist Service (apprx. 1 hour)
11:30 am - All are Welcome Coffee Hour
4:00 pm - Evensong
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 (On summer break, returns in September)
Sunday 8:30 am Bible Study | Genesis| Congregation Zoom Link (On summer break, returns in September)