News from the Congregation October 8, 2021
‘The Law of Praying Shapes the Law of Believing’; ‘St Francis Day 2021’ | Global Mission Fair; Volunteer at CCC’s Sunday Soup Kitchen, Cathedral Workshops on Writing, Cathedral Welcomes Monica Butta, VP in Development Office | Sunday Programs: 8:30 am Genesis Bible Study (Zoom), 10:30 am Worship Service - In-Person and Online, Virtual Coffee Hour |Weekday Programs: M-S Morning and Evening Prayer, Wednesday: 7:30 pm Paul’s Letter to the Romans Bible Study (Zoom)
Canon Lee
Newcomers to the Episcopal Church, especially those from other Christian traditions, often ask me for book recommendations to learn more about Anglican theology. My answer is always the same: "To understand our Church, worship with us." The Prayer Book is a primary source of the Episcopal Church's theological beliefs.
More importantly, however, our liturgy shapes us at a level deeper than conscious belief. As one priest put it, the "rituals and rites of meaning... in their poetry address people at the level where change operates." This principle is articulated by Prosper of Aquitaine in the 5th century and is best known in its abbreviated form: lex orandi lex credendi. The law of praying shapes the law of believing.
Our new pattern of Sunday worship is a single service at 10:30 AM. The principle of lex orandi lex credendi suggests that as we live into this new pattern of prayer, we will change. Up until March 2020, the Cathedral liturgy made us into a certain kind of people. During the long period of online-only worship, whether we knew it or not, we were re-shaped and made anew. Now, as we live into this new pattern of worship, we can expect further transformation.
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I am excited to celebrate the Sunday morning Eucharist for the first time since we have re-gathered. To reflect our broader pattern of pre-pandemic worship, I will be saying the Great Thanksgiving, and several sections of the service (such as the Creed and the Lord's Prayer) will be said, rather than sung. I very much look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday
A Message from the Wardens
Our Senior Warden, Marsha Ra, on St. Francis Day:
O, heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath;
guard them from all evil,
and let them sleep in peace. (Albert Schweitzer)
Is it not the case that the bluest skies are the skies over New York City in October? And is it not true that this October, due to an abundance of rain, the trees and shrubbery around the city are as lush as they can be—almost tropical. It was under such a blue blue sky on the greenest ever lawn, that Saint Francis Day was celebrated last Sunday.
Because the space within the Cathedral is limited due to the work inside of the dome, and because of the lingering issues related to COVID, the Chapter decided that the service would be mounted within the nave, but that the entire congregation would watch it on giant screens set up on the pulpit green. And this is what they did. Hundreds of people gathered and sat on chairs or on the lawn, many with their dogs, cats and other pets. In this relaxed yet magical atmosphere the service was celebrated. I particularly enjoyed the site of a fellow sitting on a blanket with his pit bull, a breed unfairly reviled by some. The dog was relaxed and sleepy sitting right next to another gentleman who had a small parrot on his shoulder. It was a lovely foreshadowing of the peaceable kingdom of which we dream.
After the service working animals were represented by a carriage horse that drew up onto the North Drive pulling his carriage behind him and parking right next to the ASPCA van which was full of kittens for adoption. Father Paul Daniels offered the horse a blessing. His owner and a representative of the Transit Workers Union were on hand to answer questions.
It is a difficult fact that we love and enjoy animal companions, yet we also abuse and exploit many creatures—domestic animals through factory farming and wild animals through destruction of habitat. Even without factory farming or destruction of habitat, in the world we inhabit very few creatures can live without taking the life of other creatures. The bird eats the worm, the cat eats the bird, and so on up the food chain. For years I tried to be a vegetarian. I continued to eat dairy and then learned that the dairy industry feeds the veal industry and so I couldn’t feel entirely virtuous by not eating meat. Very few human cultures have been able to avoid killing animals to survive. The strictest vegetarians in the world are those who follow Jainism—not even eating plants that must be uprooted and killed to be eaten. How many others are able to follow this extremely strict way of living lightly on the earth: very few. I have been told that creatures die in the simple act of harvesting grain. This knowledge is hard. Yet it moves many of us to at least simplify our diet and treat all living creatures with respect. It makes even more beautiful the vision of a day when all creatures great and small will praise God together, free of the need for predation. Saint Francis Day is a glorious reminder of that day for which we long.
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL -
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is pleased to host three adult workshops this fall, focusing on both creative fiction and non-fiction writing and an introduction to computers and technology for novices. More information on the courses can be found here: https://www.stjohndivine.org/education/fall-workshop-series/
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine is pleased to announce the appointment of Monica M. Butta as Vice President, Development. Working with the Dean, senior staff, the Board of Trustees, and the development team, Monica will be responsible for strategizing, designing, and executing an ambitious development program to significantly increase and diversify fundraising revenue to support mission driven programming, capital projects and to embark on new initiatives in the coming year and beyond. She will begin at the Cathedral on October 11th. "We are delighted to have Monica join us at this juncture in the life of the Cathedral," the Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel III, Dean of the Cathedral remarked. “Monica brings exceptional skills in fundraising and executive leadership combined with a strong personal commitment to the Cathedral’s mission as a house of prayer for all people. She will play a key role in the critical work of building the Cathedral’s engagement with the next generations."
An accomplished fundraising professional, Monica brings 15 years of experience in major and principal gifts fundraising, volunteer engagement, and community building. She was part of the team that completed Johns Hopkins University’s first $6 billion campaign and has served as a fundraising consultant for churches and civic organizations in Baltimore. Key fundraising initiatives have included scholarship support for minority students, health equity programs, support for basic science, and capital campaigns.
With a master’s degree in business focusing on organizational development from the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, Monica has served as adjunct faculty in the Johns Hopkins Center for Leadership Education, Goucher College, and Harford Community College in Baltimore, MD. She has been a featured presenter at national conferences for IDX Corporation and the Council for Advancement and Support for Education (CASE), as well as author and host of webinars for the Baltimore philanthropy community, speaking on topics such as accountability in fundraising and relational leadership in philanthropy.
“Monica brings to the Cathedral an impressive track record of fundraising for academic and cultural institutions,” said Dean Daniel. “I look forward to her partnership as we build even greater support for the many programs, liturgical, civic, cultural, and capital that sustain this great Cathedral. The dynamism Monica brings to her work will serve us well in this next phase of our Cathedral’s life.”
Monica was the founder and inaugural board chair for Food for Thought Baltimore County, Inc., a local non-profit which engages the community in providing nourishing weekend meals for food-insecure Baltimore County Public School students.
Monica and her husband, the Rev. Christopher D. Tang, have four adult children living in four different cities. Chris is the rector at Church of the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in the historic Lutherville district of Baltimore County, MD, where he will continue to serve as the couple commutes between NYC and MD.
“It is a privilege to join the Dean and his leadership team at such an important moment for the Cathedral,” said Butta. “The Cathedral is deeply-loved by New Yorkers and others around the world, and, together, we will build on its rich history of spiritual, social, and intellectual engagement to strengthen philanthropic support for and community commitment to the Cathedral’s vital leadership.”
NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE
Episcopal Diocese of New York - 5th Global Mission Fair
Saturday, October 16, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
In-person at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine (also available via Zoom)
Featuring: The Rt. Rev. Dickson Chilongani, Bishop of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in Tanzania; A Conversation Between The Rev. Paul Anthony Daniels
Assisting Clergy at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and The Rev. Ranjit K. Mathews, Canon for Mission Advocacy, Racial Justice, and Reconciliation. The Episcopal Church in Connecticut; Voices of the worldwide Anglican Communion including a performance by the renowned Youth Choir Young at Arts and a presentation of international music by the Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Click here for more details and to register!
VESTRY MEETING NOTES
At the September Vestry meeting this past Tuesday, the Vestry discussed a proposal to amend the Congregation's bylaws so that three Vestry members are elected for a term of three years, rather than four members. This would mean a Vestry of 12 members rather than 15 members.
If you have any feedback about this proposal, please contact the Wardens, Marsha Ra or Bob Deming. The Vestry will vote on the amendment at the October Vestry meeting on Tuesday, October 19 at 6:30 pm on Zoom. All are welcome to attend.
GIVE/SERVE
Questions about Realm
Christopher Clowdus and Neil Reilly invite your questions about Realm, the Congregation's giving database, at this email address: stewardship@saintsaviour.org.
CCC - Volunteer Opportunity at Sunday Soup Kitchen
Join us at CCC's Sunday Soup Kitchen (8:30 am - 11:00 am) to help prepare and distribute food and to staff Saint Saviour's Table. Please CLICK HERE to sign up! Shifts are open through the first week in October. Thank you so much for volunteering!
THIS SUNDAY, October 10, 2021
In-Person Worship at the Cathedral
10:00 am - Doors to Cathedral open.
10:30 am - Eucharist Service (apprx. 1 hour)
The Cathedral requires those entering its buildings to show proof of vaccination and to wear a mask.
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
After the Sunday Service (11:45ish AM) - Digital Coffee Half-Hour Congregation Zoom Link
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
Sunday 8:30 am Bible Study | Genesis Congregation Zoom Link