News from the Congregation May 5, 2023
‘‘‘Episcopal Credit Union’ ; ‘ ’ ” | 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)
Canon Lee
Canon Lee
In his new book, Poverty, by America, the sociologist Matthew Desmond describes how payday loans trap the poor into a cycle of poverty:
You take out a small loan, usually for less than $500, and are typically charged a percentage or fee per $100 borrowed. A charge of $15 per $100 lent might sound reasonable, but it equates to an APR of 400 percent. The loan officer requires a way to claim payment when time is up—access to a bank account or a postdated check for the full amount of the loan plus fees. Most loans are for two to four weeks, until the next payday, hence their name.
Except that when the loan comes due, you usually still happen to be broke. So you ask for an extension, which will cost you. If you took out a two-week $400 loan with a $60 fee ($15 per $100), the loan officer might allow an extension if you pay the $60 fee when the original loan comes due. Then he will issue another fee, say for an additional $60. Just like that, you are charged $120 for borrowing $400, and that’s if you ask for only a single extension.
Four in five payday loans are rolled over or renewed. Because payday loan services have access to your bank account, they can overdraw your account, piling bank fees on top of loan fees. Roughly a third of all payday loans are now issued online, and almost half of borrowers who have taken out online loans have had lenders overdraw their accounts. The average borrower stays indebted for five months, paying $520 in fees to borrow $375. Keeping people indebted is, of course, the ideal outcome for the payday lender. It’s how they turn a $15 profit into a $150 one.
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The mission of the New York Episcopal Federal Credit Union is to provide low to moderate income members an opportunity to use and control their money to improve their economic and social condition.
The credit union is a fresh expression of the Church's mission to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the poor and to set the captives free. The credit union offers people who are stuck in a cycle of using payday lenders a way out toward financial freedom.
I am excited that the Cathedral will be one of the locations where the New York Episcopal Federal Credit Union will operate. The credit union gives the church an opportunity to live out and practice what it proclaims and believes.
Message from the Congregation
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org
DATES TO REMEMBER
Blessing of the Bicycles: May 6, 9:00 AM All bikers, skaters, scooter-riders, and users of self-propelled vehicles are welcome. More information here.
New York Episcopal Federal Credit Union Launch: May 18, 4:00 PM The mission of the Credit Union is to provide low to moderate income members an opportunity to use and control their money to improve their economic and social condition. More information here.
Consecration of the Bishop Coadjutor: May 20 The Rev. Matt Heyd is consecrated Bishop Coadjutor.
PRIDE MONTH EVENTS AT THE CATHEDRAL
Pride Eve Celebration: May 31, 2023 Opening of art exhibit Queer Icons by local artist Gabriel Garcia Roman; the event will include cocktails and remarks, and culminate with lighting the Cathedral interior in pride colors.
Pride Family Day: June 3, 2023 Held in partnership with the Cathedral School, the Cathedral will host a family day featuring an ice cream truck, a special section of resources for LGBTQ+ families, book readings, games, dancing, and a performance by the Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band.
Faith Perspectives Panel: June 5, 2023 Moderated discussion with leading LGBTQ+ religious thinkers on the intersection of the LGBTQ+ community and religion. This event will also be livestreamed and recorded to reach as many people as possible.
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 DIOCESE Home - Episcopal Diocese of New York (dioceseny.org)
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
THIS SUNDAY
In-Person Worship at the Cathedral
10:00 am - Doors to Cathedral open.
10:30 am - Eucharist Service
11:30 am - All Are Welcome Coffee Hour
4:00 pm - Evensong
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 Hiatus until April)