News from the Congregation June 16, 2023

Written By Steven Lee; Marsha Ra & Joan Adams

‘‘ ‘Credit Union’ ; ‘Backpack Project Fundraiser!! ” | Dates to Remember | Pride Month Programing; Sunday Programs: 10:30am Worship Service In-Person and Online, 11:30am All Are Welcome Coffee Hour, 4:00pm Evensong| Weekday Programs: M-S Morning and Evening Prayer (Zoom)

Click here to support our Backpack Project Fundraiser

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June 16, 2023

Canon Lee


A few months ago, I heard a well-known priest from the Church of England make a provocative point about the future of the Church. 

He said that with the economic crisis in England, post-Brexit, the social welfare state in England was shrinking so much that the Church was being asked to do the "interesting bits" of ministry again.

Recall that for centuries in Europe, it was the Church that created and ran institutions like universities and hospitals. It was the Church that provided the social safety net for widows, orphans, and the poor.

This is what he meant by the "interesting bits." That the Church of England is stepping up to become, once again, a necessary institution in the wider body politic. 

This is counterintuitive. 

Much of the discussion about the future of the Church in the United States calls for its institutional disestablishment. Sell the buildings and rectories; meet as small groups in bars, restaurants, or parks; ask priests to take on a second career. 

Here was a priest calling for a different vision. 

What does it mean for the Church to do the "interesting bits" again? 

***

This past week, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) came to the Cathedral for the first examination of the New York Episcopal Federal Credit Union.

The NCUA is the federal agency that regulates credit unions. These examinations are akin to audits in the corporate world but are done by the federal government.

One often hears priests enumerate the "things I never learned in seminary." This past week, my list included corresponding with the Federal Reserve about the credit union. We didn't have any classes for that at General Seminary.

But I didn't have to worry. With me for the examination were talented Episcopalians, lay and ordained, who impressed the NCUA staff with their thorough preparation and deep knowledge. Among us were accomplished bankers and lawyers, the managing senior partner of an accounting firm, the former budget director for New York State, and so on.

It was inspiring to see the talents of the Diocese of New York used in the service of building an institution that will positively affect the lives of our  community members. The credit union is open not only to any member of an Episcopal church or related institution located within the diocesan boundaries (such as Episcopal Relief and Development, the Church Pension Group, Rural and Migrant Ministry, or any of the Episcopal schools), but also to the clients of the many services offered by our churches, such as our soup kitchens and food pantries. 

Here, then, is one answer to what it looks like for the Church to do the "interesting bits" again.

***

This is the last newsletter of the program year. It will return again in late August as the new program year begins. Since last September, the activity and pace of change at the Cathedral have been exciting and relentless. The summer provides an opportunity to slow down and to catch our breath while we prepare for a very full schedule of activity in the upcoming program year. I hope you have a wonderful summer.

The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Vicar

THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 18

In-Person Community

8:30 AM -  Volunteer at the soup kitchen of Cathedral Community Cares 

10:00 AM - Cathedral doors open 10:30 AM - Sunday service

11:30 AM - Coffee hour. All are welcome.

4:00 PM - Pride Evensong

Online Community

10:30 AM  -  Live-stream of Sunday service
Donate to Support Cathedral Pride 2023

Congregation Column


Summer hospitality

Happy summer everyone.  Although many of us go off on vacation, Cathedral Sunday services continue and visitors from around the country and the world will join us each week.  Our Congregation will continue its hospitality ministry, offering iced tea, coffee and snacks after the 10:30 services.  We welcome your help in this ministry.  If you are able to provide snacks, cookies, etc., or to help set up and break down once or twice over the summer, please contact Marsha Ra. We have several open Sundays in July and August when more help is needed.  Some people like to bake, some like to bring in donuts or other store-bought treats.  It’s all good.   Help us present this warm welcome to visitors and seekers on Sunday mornings!   

Support the annual BackPack project! 

The Congregation is excited to announce its annual  "Backpack Project Fundraiser." This year we hope to raise at least $5,000 to provide backpacks filled with school supplies for children through the Cathedral Community Cares program.   $100 buys a backpack and supplies needed for the 2023-2024 school year.  The children CCC is seeing these days are younger, and many of them are migrants.    Your tax-deductible donations are best made through our  online giving platform, Realm using this link or by visiting our website.   Checks can also be made out to Congregation of Saint Saviour with Backpack Project noted on the memo line.   Our timeline is to raise the funds in June, order the supplies in July and give out the back-packs in early August.     Anything above the $5,000 raised will  be used by CCC to support people who come to them for food, clothing and other aid. 
 
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NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org

DATES TO REMEMBER



PRIDE MONTH EVENTS AT THE CATHEDRAL 

Community Choir Evensong: June 18, 2023 LGBTQ+ Community Choir and Evensong service featuring works by queer-identified composers.
Film Screening: My Name Is Pauli Murray: July 1, 2023 Documentary screening ofMy Name is Pauli Murray, celebrating the feast day of Pauli Murry, the first African-American female Episcopal priest and civil rights leader who championed gender equality, and commemorating the close of Pride month.
“Divine Pathways” Ribbon Project: Opening Fall 2023. Brooklyn-based artist Anne Patterson’s large-scale multimedia installation of hundreds of ribbons suspended from the Cathedral’s ceiling, each ribbon inscribed with a wish, prayer, or hope from Cathedral community members.

Young Adults of Saint Saviour Bible Study (Meets once a month)

All members of the Cathedral Community and Congregation in their 20s and 30s are invited to a Bible study hosted by the Young Adults of Saint Saviour. Last month we discussed the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and his call for us to change our hearts.
Immediately after the service, we gather in the nave during coffee hour and walk over to the Chapel of Saint James in the Cathedral. 

No preparation or prior Bible study experience is necessary. All young adults are welcome!

 

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

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

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 Hiatus)

Steven Lee; Marsha Ra & Joan Adams
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