News from the Congregation May 11, 2018
From the Vicar
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I can do no better this week than to commend to your attention our senior warden's beautiful reflection about the AIDS Memorial Quilt dedication happening this Sunday, May 13 at 12:30pm. I'd like to add my voice to hers in lifting up Kevin de l'Aigle, indefatigable vestry member and stewardship chair, for his tireless efforts to bring this vision to fruition.
I do have one announcement to make. On Sunday, June 10 after the 9am service, as well as during the Strawberry Festival after the 11am service, I will be formally thanking Donna Devlin for her many years of service to our community as the Director of Christian Formation, and welcoming her back as the teacher of our youth confirmation class for the upcoming program year starting this fall. Donna will work alongside me, Susan Stair, and our soon-to-be-named seminarian, in our efforts to rebuild a vibrant and vital Christian formation program for children and youth at the Cathedral. Details to come.
Blessings,
Steven
From the Wardens
Memorial Quilt dedication, this Sunday, May 13 12:30 in the AIDS Bay
Some of you know that your senior warden has been worshipping at the Cathedral for more than 45 years now. On Maundy Thursday it is my habit to walk through the Baptistery and St. Ansgar’s Chapel to visit friends whose remains are in the columbarium. There are so many now. I look at the name and remember the story. Two weeks ago, in preparation for the AIDS memorial quilt panels coming to the Cathedral, I walked through making an inventory of those friends who died of AIDS in the late 1980’s, early 1990’s. It seems a lifetime ago. There were more than a dozen. Bob Davis, an acolyte and visiting nurse; Leonard Davis (no relation) a wonderful painter who worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art information center; Pete Melendez and his wife Charmaine, who were guest volunteers in the soup kitchen when I was involved there. Then I began to remember others with whom I worshipped and laughed and cried such as John Griggs, a writer; Greg Chapman, a director; Benjamin Nistal-Moret, an architectural historian—the list goes on. There are those whose faces I remember, but not their names. Most appeared at the Cathedral when they knew there were dying. Maybe we had six months with them and then they were gone. I’m sure that many of you have names and faces, too, especially the older ones among you. Happily I now have a list of friends who have survived, who were still alive and holding on when the protease inhibitors were discovered. One friend who contracted HIV when he was 25 is now in his late 60’s and happily married.
Please join us this coming Sunday at 12:30 for a reception marking the installation of three AIDS Memorial Names quilts. Gerald Chapman’s name is on one of them. One has the name of Keith Haring whose wonderful triptych, his last work of art, is in St. Columba’s Chapel. One has the name of Robert Joffrey, the choreographer whose remains are in the columbarium. We will pray, read names, hear lovely cello music by Arthur Fiacco, and then have a marvelous potluck reception with the Cathedral Chorale in the nave. The wine will flow and we will thank God for His grace in giving us life, teaching us to love, and for all those whose lives were cut short but who live on in our memories, who we were so fortunate to know.
Special thanks to vestry member and stewardship chair Kevin de l’Aigle for his energy in making this day happen and to all of you who will bring a covered dish to share with the Cathedral Chorale, your fellow congregation members, and guests who will come to the dedication.
May 13 is going to be a very full day at the Cathedral. In addition to the dedication of the memorial quilt, in addition to the fact that it is Mothers’ Day, it is Episcopal Charities Sunday. Throughout the Diocese special giving envelopes will be distributed to raise funds for Episcopal Charities, which provides critical funding and operational support to strengthen nearly 100 local programs working to transform the lives of 900,000 people in need each year.
Finally, there will be a special guest preacher at the 11:00 a.m. service: The Rt. Rev. George Stephen, Bishop of Madras in the city of Chennai. At 4:00 p.m. Evensong, Bishop Dietsche will preach and will seat Bishop George Stephen in the International Cathedra.
Thursday, May 17, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Education for Ministry (EfM) Pre-Reformation Liturgy in the Cathedral House Conference Room
The EfM group at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, sponsored by the Congregation of St. Saviour, will have a pre-reformation liturgy, on Thursday, May 17 at 7:00 in the Conference Room of Cathedral House. The Rev. Tom Pellaton will be the presider. Come and experience what the Eucharist was like hundreds of years ago.
Looking forward to Sunday, May 20 AIDS WALK
Be part of a cheerleading squad or join the walk! As the marchers pass the Cathedral we will cheer them on with a bagpiper, and hand out have hundreds of specially designed Cathedral rose window fans. Since the bulk of the marchers will pass our way between 10 and 11 a.m., we can clap and cheer after the 9:00am service or before the 11:00am service. If you wish donate to the march contact Kevin de l’Aigle kevindelaigle@gmail.com. If you want to march, contact Lewis Salas lewissalas1991@gmail.com
for the meet-up time and place. Please join us in helping make AIDS history!
Blessings,
Marsha and Tim
MAY 11, 2018