News from the Congregation March 19, 2021
‘Humility’| Service of Prayer and Witness Against Anti-Asian violence, Sunday Soup Kitchen Volunteers Needed, Harlem Inter-Parish Council Lent Services | Sunday Programs (9:30 am Vicar’s Open Space, 10 am Genesis Bible Study, 11 am Worship Service, 11:45 Vicar and Friends, 12 pm Coffee Half-Hour, 12:30 pm Adult Formation-Liturgical Year |Weekday Programs (M-S Morning and Evening Prayer; Wednesday: 6:30 pm YESS Bible Study, 7:00 pm Vicar’s Open Space, 7:30 pm - Bible Study - Paul’s Letter to the Romans, 8:30 pm Compline; Thursday: 6:30 pm EfM Class, Friday: Midday Prayer and Meditation, 12:15 pm Vicar’s Open Space).
Canon Lee
This week, I commend to your attention our Senior Warden Marsha Ra’s reflection. I also invite your prayers for the repose of the soul of the Dean’s mother, Evelyn Vann (Lancaster) Daniel, who died this past Monday. The Sub Dean has written a brief tribute to her life, which you can find below. Finally, I call your attention to the statement by the Bishop Suffragan, the Rt. Rev. Allen Shin, on the killings in Atlanta and increased Anti-Asian violence in our country, as well as the supporting statement by the Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Dietsche, and the Bishop Assistant, the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool.
The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Canon Pastor and Vicar
Marsha and Bob
Our Senior Warden on Humility at church:
Humility is a tricky thing for a 21st Century American who enjoys privilege. We are told in our culture to do our own thing and that we are free. The Christian message can buck up our self-esteem too. After all, God loves us. We don’t have to do anything to deserve it. God just loves us, beautiful creatures that we are, made in God’s image! But in a way it takes real inner strength to be humble, to accept that while I am God’s gift to the world, I am also NOT God’s gift to the world—certainly not God’s only gift to the world.
It seems to me that to be an Episcopalian--especially an Episcopalian who has made the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine her spiritual home--requires a good dose of healthy humility. It means accepting that we have little say about what happens in “our” church. What the Bishop says goes. What the Dean of the Cathedral says goes. We have no formal input into decisions and, thank God, we also have no responsibility for those decisions. It is not for us to say whether the Cathedral raises and spends $15 million to fix the dome over the Crossing. It is not for us to say what background the Music Director should have and what type of music he chooses to play. We do not have anything to say about who will be the director of facilities, or whether or not to expand the columbarium. It is not our decision to charge or not to charge tourists who come in to look at the architecture and enjoy the stained glass windows as though the Cathedral were a museum.
We make decisions as a community through our vestry, but these decisions are very circumscribed and deal only with how we will build and sustain that community. To be sure we volunteer to help the Cathedral put on worship services, greet visitors on Sunday, make sandwiches to feed the hungry. I can add value to all of these things, but I cannot control them. If it is important to me to have a say in all of these things, perhaps the Cathedral is not the right place for me. If I don’t like hierarchy, perhaps I should find a congregational church. I suspect there are other types of problems in such worshipping communities, but having to accept decisions from Bishops and Deans would not be among my problems. In fact, it isn’t important to me that I have no formal means to express my opinion. I express it freely anyway. It sometimes leads to something changing, but usually it does not. I can accept that. As long as the leadership of the Diocese and the Cathedral are people of good will I can accept their decisions.
I come to the Cathedral so that I can worship God and learn from clergy and congregation members alike. I am also here to be supportive to staff and clergy in any way that I can. This arrangement has served me very well, thank you. I am not here to concern myself with the challenges of running a very complicated institution that serves a much broader community than baptized Christians. I am happy to make my contribution and concentrate on worship, Bible study and building community. I hope that you are too. God Bless.
NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE
Service of Prayer and Witness Against Anti-Asian Violence
Tuesday, March 23 2:00 PM
Cathedral Steps
Bishop Dietsche, Bishop Shin, and Bishop Glasspool will lead the service.
Sponsored by EAST: Episcopal Asian Supper Table
Lenten Wednesdays Worship with the Harlem InterParish Council - Wednesdays at 7PM
March 24 The Rev. Mary Foulke/St. Mary’s
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL
New Cathedral Trustees Announced
At the Trustee meeting this past Tuesday, it was announced that three new Trustees are joining the Cathedral Board this month – Peter Gevalt, Angie Karna and Jennifer Potter. The Development and Nominating Committee spent several months cultivating these individuals, who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their new positions. The Congregation offers its prayers and best wishes to these new Trustees.
MESSAGE FROM THE SUB DEAN
Monday morning, the Dean’s mother died in South Carolina. Evelyn Vann (Lancaster) Daniel was born in 1926. On Easter Day, Vann (as she preferred to be called) would have been 95. Ms. Daniel’s husband, the Dean’s father, died when she was only 51. She went on to earn a college degree, travelled to the Czech Republic to teach English as a second language, then returned to the United States. She continued her educational work here as an elementary school teacher. She retired to South Carolina to be near her daughter, the Reverend Patricia Daniel-Turk. It was there that she died yesterday morning. She was a member of the Episcopal Church her entire life. We give thanks that from her family our Church gained a bishop, our dean; a priest, Patricia; and a committed lay member, Robert.
The Book of Common Prayer gives us these words:
O God, the King of saints,
we praise and glorify your holy Name for all your servants who have finished their course in your faith and fear:
for the blessed Virgin Mary;
for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs;
and for all your other righteous servants, known to us and unknown;
and we pray that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and strengthened by their fellowship,
we also may be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Rev. Canon Patrick Malloy
Sub-Dean and Canon for Liturgy
GIVE/SERVE
CCC - Volunteer Opportunity at Sunday Soup Kitchen
Every Sunday from 8:30 am to about 11:00 am, Cathedral Community Cares needs 3 Congregation volunteers to help with preparing and distributing food, and, beginning this week, staffing St Saviour's own CCC table where clients can pick up winter wear, Bibles, and toiletries. Please CLICK HERE to access the new volunteer sign-up page on St Saviour's website. Shifts are open through the end of April. Thank you to all the volunteers from St. Saviour who have generously given of their time week after week!
CCC - February Clothes Drive
CCC requests warm hats, gloves, and coats for their Clothing Closet clients. The Clothing Closet accepts gently used, freshly laundered clothes. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, clothes MUST be laundered before donating. Drop-off Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SAVE THE DATE: Coffee Hour Conversation with the Cathedral’s Director of Development
Sunday, April 11 at 12:00 PM
What is the difference between giving to the Cathedral and giving to the Congregation? What are the benefits of giving to the Cathedral? To the Congregation? Come to this special coffee hour to meet Priscilla Bayley, the Cathedral’s Director of Development, who will be in conversation with the Vicar. They will address these topics and answer any questions you might have.
THIS SUNDAY, March 21, 2021
9:30 AM - Open Space with the Vicar
Join Vicar Lee and others for 30 minutes of conversation, community, and pastoral support. Come and go as you please!
10:00 AM - In the Beginning: A Study of Genesis
Join the Vicar for a study of the first book of the Bible. Discover Genesis, not as a collection of ancient mythological stories, but as the Word of God addressing our fundamental and deepest needs. This Sunday will focus on: Genesis 9 “The Promises of God, Part I”
11:00 AM - Congregation Watch Party for Cathedral Worship Service
Watch the Cathedral worship service on Zoom with other members of the Congregation. As a way to maintain a prayerful atmosphere, we will be turning off Zoom chat for the duration of the service.
You can also watch the Cathedral Worship Service
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/StJohnDivineNYC
On the Cathedral website: http://www.stjohndivine.org
11:45 PM - Vicar and Friends
Join the Vicar and occasional guests right after the service for a brief time to say hello and check in with other members of the congregation.
12:00 PM - Digital Coffee Half-Hour
Join us at this week’s Digital Coffee Hour to meet members of the congregation.
12:30 PM - Adult Formation - The Liturgical Year
Why do we celebrate Easter in the Spring? Was Jesus really born in December? What’s the difference between Lent and Advent? Canon Pat Malloy unpacks how the Christian calendar was developed and to what end.
WEEKLY CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION PROGRAMS
Monday-Saturday | 8:30 AM Morning Prayer | 5:30 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesdays | 6:30 PM - YESS Bible Study
Join the Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour as they read through the book of Exodus. This week, we focus on Exodus Chapters 11 and 12. No preparation needed.
Wednesdays | 7:00 PM - Open Space with the Vicar
Join Vicar Lee and others for 30 minutes of conversation, community, and pastoral support. Come and go as you please!
Wednesdays | 7:30 PM - Wednesday Bible Study
Join the Vicar for a study of Paul's Letter to the Romans. The source of so many changed lives and pivotal moments throughout Christian history, Paul's greatest epistle invites us to transformation in our own lives and time.
Wednesdays | 8:30 PM - Congregation Compline
Thursdays | 6:30 PM - Education for Ministry
Education for Ministry is designed for lay people who want to delve more deeply but are not necessarily interested in ordination; EfM classes provide a more formal study of scriptures and the history of the faith. Current Topic: “Living into the Journey with God”
Fridays | 12:00 PM - Midday Prayer and Meditation
The Angelus and 10 minutes of silent meditation.
Fridays | 12:15 PM - Open Space with the Vicar
Join Vicar Lee and others for 30 minutes of conversation, community, and pastoral support. Come and go as you please!