News from the Congregation June 26, 2020
Episcopal Church Panel Discussion on Racial Equity; Digital Church Task Force Established; Queer Liberation March for Black Lives, Sunday Programming (Bible Study on Genesis, Worship Service, Coffee Half-Hour, Adult Formation Class on the Eucharist), YESS Bible Study, Reading Group - J.B. by Archibald Macleish
From Canon Lee
As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, we have exciting news to share with the Congregation. Please tune in to this Sunday's 11am service for the announcement!
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Next Wednesday, July 1 at 3:00 PM, I will be moderating a conversation with church leaders on the subject of racial equity. The discussion is hosted by the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, the largest network of resourced institutions from across the Episcopal Church. Below, you can find a brief description of the free program and a registration link.
From Empathy to Engagement: Calling Christian witness beyond book clubs and committees
Join our panelists for a discussion of how an overwhelmingly white church can move from concern and conversations to genuine community engagement. The group will explore ways lay and clergy alike can lay a foundation for meaningful and sustained steps to appreciably address systemic racism in our church, community, and nation. The participants varied perspectives will encourage attendees to ask the right questions as they seek to make meaningful changes.
Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/110813245400
The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Canon Pastor and Vicar
THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 28
(To access each program on Zoom, click the link in the title.)
10:00 AM - Integrity in Crisis: A Bible Study on Job
Join the Vicar for a series of classes on the Book of Job and learn how this timeless text can address our suffering in this difficult time.
11:00 AM - Congregation Watch Party for Cathedral Worship Service
Watch the Cathedral worship service on Zoom with other members of the Congregation.
You can also watch the Cathedral Worship Service
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/StJohnDivineNYC
On the Cathedral website: http://www.stjohndivine.org
12:00 PM - Digital Coffee Half-Hour
Join us at this week’s Coffee Hour hosted by the Congregation's LGBTQ group, the Divine Fellowship.
12:30 PM - Adult Formation Class
Join Sub-Dean Malloy for the second class in a series on the Eucharist.
WEEKLY CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION PROGRAMS
Tuesdays | 6:00 PM - YESS Bible Study
This Wednesday | 7:00 PM - Congregation Reading Group
"The one thing God can't stomach is a man, That scratcher at the cracked creation! That eyeball squinting through into His Eye, Blind with the sight of Sight!"
- Archibald MacLeish, J.B.
The Congregation Reading Group will continue its "sensational" dramatic reading of MacLeish's Pulitzer- and Tony-award-winning play, J.B., which re-imagines Job as a prosperous businessman in post-war America. Please join us! Show off your acting chops or just come to listen. The play is available on the Reading Group’s Slack Channel, or by contacting lafresem@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Wednesdays | 8:30 PM - Congregation Compline
Reminder: you can find a directory of weekly programs with links to each program’s Zoom by clicking here.
PRIDE AT SAINT SAVIOUR
Members of the Congregation will be marching in the QUEER LIBERATION MARCH FOR BLACK LIVES AND AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY on Sunday, June 28. They will gather at 12PM for a prayer service at the corner of Greenwich and Fulton near the World Trade Center reflecting pools to affirm the sacredness of Queer & Black lives, and then join in the march organized by Reclaim Pride from Foley Square at 1PM. To get involved or join with Congregation members to march, please email vestry@saintsaviour.org. Watch the prayer service with other members of the Congregation via Zoom during the digital coffee half-hour.
Take a moment to watch this video of members of the extended Cathedral Congregation community wishing everyone a Happy Pride.
From Marsha and Tim
It is as if the Cathedral held us while we prayed together and shared the bread and wine. We looked up at the great pillars and at the stained glass window of Christ in his flowing scarlet robes, his arms raised in blessing and our hearts seemed to soar to heaven. Or we worshipped in a chapel and experienced the intimacy of a beautiful smaller space. Our worship was enhanced by the stately organ and by the talented choir. We could joyfully sing our hymns and hug our friends. There was coffee and too many cookies and bagels, tiny children running between our legs to grab another sweet especially after the 9:00 a.m. service. Lisa Chin’s wonderful cooking at Second Sunday. So when we dream of returning to worship in the Cathedral, this is what we imagine. (Today I feel like one of the ancient Israelites after they have crossed the Red Sea, remembering the fish, the cucumbers, the garlic that they ate in Egypt.) Yet this is not what it will be like at first, not until we are all vaccinated against corona virus or somehow “herd immunity” has been achieved. In the meantime, we will continue with our digital, virtual church and then a combination of the virtual with the actual. One day these days will be a blip in our history. In the meantime, how do we make the most of our time and the resources available to us to grow spiritually and to find solace in each other’s company.
The vestry established a task force to discuss and imagine re-opening. This congregation task force included the wardens (Marsha and Tim), Gale Kenny, Sydney Briggs, Kevin De l’Aigle, and Neil Reilly. The original idea was that we would feed our ideas to our Vicar who would bring them to the Cathedral’s Task Force and the Chapter so they could incorporate layperson input as they made final decisions. After our third meeting we came to the realization that we were not in a position to have a meaningful impact on the Cathedral Taskforce's decisions, so we have redirected our focus to expanding digital worship and mission for our Congregation. This seems like an important endeavor, given that digital church is likely to be in our future for much longer than we imagined when the pandemic began. Even after re-opening, those who cannot come to church will have to rely on social media to stay connected and to worship in community. How can we enhance and even re-work how we are doing virtual church? How has this new form of worship surprised us with unexpected opportunities?
As most of you know, there is a lot of praying going on in the Congregation of Saint Saviour and a lot of learning and socializing. Six days a week morning and evening prayer is offered over ZOOM. A “congregation” of perhaps 25 people attend regularly and, surprise of surprises, new people have joined this little Divine Offices congregation from other congregations and other states. The Congregation enjoys Compline once a week with some music and a hymn. A book group meets weekly. On Sunday Bible study has morphed into a very serious 12 week course given by the Vicar which is attended by 30 people. After the Cathedral service we enjoy virtual coffee hour (conversation, usually in “break out” rooms”) often followed by a lecture offered by Canon Malloy. The Music Department is streaming weekly Tuesday evening concerts. To our surprise, in our virtual church we are getting to know each other in a new way and some deep sharing occurs.
So now we are considering how we are using virtual church as a community and how can we improve it. Are there changes we should make? Do you have ideas for other group activities, discussion groups, etc. that can easily be scheduled on ZOOM? How do we bring in the Congregation members who have not found a way to connect through these offerings? What is missing? Do we want to start discussion opportunities for “affinity” groups (like OPUS)? Do we want to have a weekly virtual hymn sing? How do we attract and welcome in new members? Do let us know what you think. Is there a group or activity you would like to see tried over ZOOM or other social media? We welcome your thoughts. Please email them to vestry@saintsaviour.org.
Blessings from your wardens!
Marsha and Tim