News from the Congregation November 15, 2019
Episcopal Diocese of NY sets aside funds for Reparations; Cathedral Young Adults Brunch, LGBTQ+ Fellowship Brunch and Meeting, Newcomers Brunch, Pathfinders - Children’s Bible Study, CCC-Food Needed for Thanksgiving Meal, World AIDS Day Commemoration, Advent Bible Study Schedule, Radical Love Live Premiere, Stop by the Congregation Table!!
From Canon Lee
At Diocesan Convention this past weekend, Bishop Dietsche announced a proposal, which passed with near unanimity, to take 2.5% out of the diocesan endowment fund or 1.1 million dollars, and set it aside for reparations for slavery.
Following the Bishop's address, a priest stood up and offered to contribute $101 out of his own pocket to the slavery reparations fund. In subsequent emails among the priests of the diocese, others expressed a similar desire.
This issue is so fraught and complex, however, that this gesture of a $101 donation has generated controversy. One priest even went so far as to criticize it as an easy way out, a cheap way to avoid taking full responsibility for the horrors of slavery.
I think people of goodwill should be able to disagree with the Bishop's decision, or about the best way of doing reparations for slavery, without rancor and recrimination.
In the coming weeks, therefore, I will be working on the formation of a task force to help us develop a process for honest and respectful conversations, not just on the issue of reparations, but also on the larger question of making our Cathedral Congregation a more inclusive and diverse community.
Of primary importance to me is that we attempt to live together in bonds of love and affection, even as we may be deeply divided over politics, ideology, class, theology, liturgical practice--the list can go on.
As Christians, while we are not called to like our enemies, we are called to love them.
The Rev. Canon Steven Lee
Canon Pastor and Vicar
CONNECT
Cathedral Young Adults
3rd Sunday Brunch
Sunday, November 17 at 12:30 PM
Meet after the 11 AM service by the coffee hour station then head out to brunch sponsored by the Congregation.
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LGBTQ+ Fellowship
Lunch and Meeting
Sunday, November 17 at 12:30 PM
Cathedral House Conference Room
Just a friendly reminder of the next LGBT Fellowship brunch and meeting planned for this Sunday, November 17 after the 11am service in Cathedral House. The group is in the process of working on a mission/ministry statement and should be able to vote on a new name and mission/ministry statement at this meeting.
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Newcomers Brunch
Sunday, November 24 at 10:00 AM
Cathedral Nave
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Celebration in Honor of Tim Dwyer
On His Retirement as Head Usher
Sunday, November 24 at 12:30 PM
Cathedral Nave
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Cathedral Young Adults
Friendsgiving Brunch
Sunday, November 24 at 1:15 PM
Cathedral Young Adults are invited to a fabulous Friendsgiving brunch on Sunday, November 24th at 1:15 PM in Cathedral House. There will be turkey, pie, wine, and more of the Thanksgiving favorites you're already craving! Help us gauge how much food to prepare by emailing us if you're thinking about joining us by next Monday, November 18th. And please let us know if you have and dietary restrictions we can accommodate! Gobble gobble!
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Cathedral Young Adults
Christianity in the Vineyard Wine Tasting
Saturday, December 7, 2019
2:30 pm - 4:00 pmLe Grande Triage1657 1st Ave
New York, NY 10028
Join other Cathedral Young Adults to taste and learn about the fascinating intersection between wine-making and the Church that forever marked the French winescape. The class will be led by a certified sommelier and includes 6 glasses of wine, plus a small antipasti plate to snack on during the tasting. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions in advance in the memo section, and we will be happy to accommodate. Only 2 spots left!
EXPLORE
Advent Bible Study with Cathedral Clergy
The Gospel of Matthew
10:00 AM
Cathedral Nave
December 1: Dean Daniel
December 8: Sub Dean Malloy
December 15: Canon Lee
December 22: Canon Welch
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Pathfinders: A Program of Spiritual Exploration for Children at the Cathedral
This Sunday, Jennifer Allen will teach both the Little Pilgrims (3 - 7) and the Next Step (8 - 12) classes. Everyone will meet at 10:00 AM in the Cathedral. The class will use paint pens, so please have your children dress accordingly!
For more information and to register, please contact Donna Devlin, Director of Christian Education.
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Radical Love Live
First Live Show
Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Cathedral Nave
Teaser Trailer coming soon!
GIVE
STEP 1: Pledge Online to the 2020 Campaign
http://www.saintsaviour.org/giving
STEP 2: Four ways to Fulfill Your Pledge
Method 1 - Give through Realm (preferred)
Method 2 - Give through Paypal
Method 3 - Give by check
Method 4 - Give with giving envelope
Contact pastoralcare@stjohndivine.org for help.
SERVE
Thanksgiving at the Cathedral
Cathedral Community Cares will be offering its Thanksgiving meal on Sunday, November 24 and is asking us to help by providing much of the food. Here is the list of what they need.
15 cooked chicken
4 cooked hams
Assorted (15- 20) cakes, pies and cookies to feed 230 people
Coffee for the coffee urn
You can let us know what you plan to bring by signing up at the Congregation table over the next two weeks.
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World AIDS Day Commemoration
Sunday, December 1 at 1:00 PM
Cathedral Nave
Join the Cathedral Congregation as it commemorates World AIDS Day with special artistic guest Jody Sperling and Time Lapse Dance, with guest Scott Johnson on cello.
Choreographer Jody Sperling and her all-women company Time Lapse Dance presents excerpts from “Wind Rose” which visualizes and sonifies wind patterns that are changing dramatically along with the earth's climate. Sperling also shares a duet created in collaboration with cellist Scott Johnson for the occasion of World AIDS Day. The elegiac work explores themes of grief, isolation, and transcendence.
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"Saturday Church" Film Screening
Sunday, December 8 at 2:00 PM
Cathedral House Conference Room
For more information about the film, see this review in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/movies/saturday-church-review.html
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Raising My Voice: A Harlem Re-Entry Initiative
Pilot Partnership with the Cathedral Congregation,
the J.C. Flowers Foundation, and Circles of Support
Begins January 2020
From Marsha and Tim
Come to the Table!
After the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services two tables are set up toward the back of the nave. One contains coffee, tea and cookies. The second table has been called the Welcome table, or the Congregation table. It is here that information is made available about programs and projects that the Congregation of Saint Saviour is undertaking. This time of year is especially busy. Newcomers and visitors stop by to learn about the Congregation. Congregation members come to pick up information, sign-up for various volunteer opportunities and to leave donations to Cathedral Community Cares. For the next few weeks you will find Stewardship Pledge cards, information on food needs for the CCC Thanksgiving meal as well as information on the annual toy drive. Bring unwrapped toys for children ages toddler to teen. A box will be available to receive the toys.
Get involved in the Crafts Fair. Crafts at the Cathedral is the Congregation’s major development campaign which brings in thousands of dollars for the Congregation and the Cathedral. The Congregation uses this money for out-reach programs, ACT camp scholarships and other good works. Now in its 23rd year, the event needs 50 volunteers in various roles from making sandwiches to helping us get the word out on email lists and social media. Everyone can help in some way. Stop by the Congregation table and we will help you figure out what part you can play and sign you up.
Diocesan Convention report. The annual Diocesan Convention took place on Friday and Saturday, November 8-9 in Tarrytown. The Cathedral clergy and the senior warden attended. In addition to the normally expected business (passing a budget, electing people to various Diocesan committees) there were several resolutions. The most important was a resolution related to the part the Diocese of New York played in slavery. Many of the leaders in the 19th century, right before the Civil War, owned slaves and were involved in the slave trade, even though it had been made illegal decades before. There were even churches that owned slaves. In 1860, John Jay II (a slave holder himself) tried to present a resolution to convention condemning slavery. The resolution failed and was tabled. The minutes of that convention argument were read from the minutes and the result was both informative and shocking. At this our 2019 convention, the resolution was taken off the table and was passed unanimously. Then the Bishop presented another resolution to take 2.5% out of the Diocesan endowment (about $1.1 million) and use it for reparations. A special task force will determine how the money will be used. We expect the bishop to write to the parishes in the diocese to consider adding funds to this reparation fund. We will share this with our members and discuss if and how we might participate in a meaningful way. We cannot undo the past, but we must face it and make amends, even if they are symbolic.
Time to bundle up and stay warm!
See you Sunday,
Marsha and Tim
NOVEMBER 14, 2019