News from the Congregation September 2, 2022
‘‘‘ Community at the Crossing’ ; ‘Communities in Christ’ ” | Fall Holy Cross Retreat w/Brother Ephrem, Funeral Service for Percy Lambert, Installation Service for the Cathedral’s New Community at the Crossing, UN Sunday, Homecoming and Congregation’ s 30th Birthday, Other Dates to Remember| Sunday Programs: 10:30am Worship Service - In-Person and Online, 4:00pm Evensong | Weekday Programs: M-S Morning and Evening Prayer (Zoom)
Canon Lee
It is a privilege to worship at the Cathedral because we are a church for a parish (the Congregation of Saint Saviour), for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and even, at times, for the nation and for the world. If you look at the listing of events below, you will see that in just the first few weeks of September, our Cathedral will be reaching each of these communities.
I am still in shock that Pope Francis will be speaking to us by video at the launch of the Community at the Crossing on September 8. I remember meeting Father François Michon and Father Etienne Vetö of Chemin Neuf several years ago in Dean Malloy's apartment as we began informal discussions about Dean Malloy's idea for an intentional community on the Cathedral Close.
It seems miraculous that from such small seeds like this--several people having a convivial and spirited conversation in an apartment--an initiative has burst forth which has captured the imaginations of the Pope in Rome, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and so many others who have started to pray and to give for the program's success.
I highly recommend this Episcopal News Service article about the Community at the Crossing published this past week. I hope you can join us in person (you can reserve a seat here) or watch this historic service by livestream on September 8.
If you will be at church this Sunday, you can meet some of our friends from Chemin Neuf who will be worshipping with us. They have moved onto the Cathedral Close as of this weekend and are now beginning their ministry with us.
A Message from the Wardens
Community seems to be an ever-present theme this fall. The Community at the Crossing is beginning this week with the arrival of Chemin Neuf clergy who will be leading it. The Congregation of Saint Saviour, the resident worshipping body (community) at the Cathedral, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and a retreat on community will be offered at Holy Cross Monastery October 29-31.
What does church mean to you? Isn’t it about community to some extent? I came to the Cathedral for the first time in October, 1972 after an experience in which I was certain that God was calling me. After years of being an avowed agnostic (atheist would be going too far) I suddenly knew in my heart, in my bones, that God was real and that He knew me. I came to the Cathedral because I needed to worship God. It was as simple as that. I didn’t think about what suddenly believing in God would mean for my life going forward, how my attitudes and behavior might change. I certainly didn’t think about community.
I just needed to worship, which I did, and continue to do, week by week, day by day. The very “Jewishness” of Jesus was striking to me. I felt that very first Sunday that I was home. We sang “A mighty Fortress is our God” as it was Reformation Sunday. All those unfamiliar hymns, yet we sang something I already knew—the melody anyway. A reading from Deuteronomy about being kind to strangers was another gift and sign that I, a stranger, had found a home. And people were indeed kind to me.
I didn’t think about what the church would give me, and I didn’t think about how I might be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. That came later. I didn’t think about community. Yet immediately I found I was part of a community. I became an acolyte and so all the other acolytes became my community. Dean Morton held a very special Eucharist on Thursday mornings in Saint Saviour chapel. That was another community. Slowly the need to reach out to the poor took over my consciousness. We started the Soup Kitchen. Another group started a men’s shelter and there was a group of “friendly visitors” who visited older shut-ins in the neighborhood. The community desired to become a parish within the Diocese of New York. That happened too, in 1992, twenty years after my introduction to the Cathedral. Despite the recent pandemic and shut down, despite the steady turnover in members as people come to New York for a while and then move on, we are still a wonderful community with a long future ahead of us. We have to continually recommit and rediscover how to keep our community alive, well, active and loving. I am optimistic that we can and will do that!
I recently received an email from Cathedral Community Cares volunteer coordinator Vanessa Greco. Her message was so gratifying, considering that we were able as a community to pull off the back-pack project in the middle of the summer when so many were on vacation. After filling all the packs there were extra notebooks and pencil and other miscellaneous supplies, and even a few empty backpacks. Vanessa writes:
“I wanted to let you know that your extras came in super handy! I was able to make an extra 10 packs with the goods AND all the extra books and folders left have been given to the immigrants that we have been seeing to keep all their papers in order. All the extras were a super blessing and we thank you again!”
So we reached out to children and as a community we ended up helping immigrants as well.
I came across this picture yesterday. It was taken at the end of the 20th anniversary party of the Congregation of Saint Saviour. I think it includes the vestry of the time and a few who had also served on vestry recently. If you look closely you will see some of us who are still coming to the Cathedral. Three of our past vicars are in the picture. Two members who unfortunately have died (Catherine Scott and Nat Queen) are there and several people who have moved away. In the center, in red, is Rhonda Rubinson, our first warden, who is now a priest in the Diocese of New York. It was a wonderful party on a Saturday. Our new Diocesan Bishop, Andy Dietsche, preached at a service in Saint James Chapel and then we had lunch in Synod Hall. In just two weeks, Sunday September 18, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary. Weather permitting it will happen on the lawn across from Cathedral House after the 10:30 Eucharist service.
There are many ways to become part of this community. Worshipping together is of course the most important thing we do. We also offer hospitality to one another and to the many visitors that appear Sunday after Sunday to worship with us. Be part of that hospitality team. Talk to strangers! It’s really fun. You get to see the Cathedral and our hospitality through their eyes. If you want to help with the 30th anniversary luncheon or with our weekly hospitality, contact me. Then, consider joining a group that will be going on retreat the last weekend in October to Holy Cross monastery where a monk will lead us in thinking about community.
More information on the retreat is available on REALM https://onrealm.org/TheCongregation/ where you can sign up. (Sign up is required by October 1 so we can let the monastery know how many of us will be attending.)
Why do you come to church? What does belonging to a congregation/community mean to you?
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org)
Updated COVID Policy
Given current conditions in New York City and nationwide, the Cathedral will end our vaccination mandate for visitors and guests as of Thursday, September 1, 2022. While this change reflects a positive trend towards an end to the pandemic, we remain mindful that COVID-19 is still a very real presence in our community and around the world.
Although the Cathedral is no longer checking for proof of vaccination for COVID, all visitors to the Cathedral are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated. Masks remain required for all visitors over age 2 inside the Cathedral, even if fully vaccinated.
Dates to Remember
Sep 8 | Community at the Crossing: Opening Service (RSVP here)
Sep 16-18| Vergers' Conference
Sept 18 | Homecoming to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Congregation
Sept 21 | Memorial service for Joan Didion
Sept 23 | Funeral for Constance Coles, former Canon for Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Sept 24 | Episcopal Diocese of New York Service of Ordination to the Priesthood
Sep 25 | UN Sunday with the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
Oct 2 | Saint Francis day. Blessing of the animals on the Cathedral Close. There will have a Congregation table outside to greet the many people coming with dogs, cats, birds, etc.
Oct 9 | Bishop Shin's episcopal visitation to the Congregation. He will preach and preside at the 10:30 AM service before meeting with the vestry.
Oct 12 | Installation of the Head of the Cathedral School
Oct 28-30 |Congregation of Saint Saviour retreat at Holy Cross Monastery led by Brother Ephrem on Community.
Nov 1| All Saints Day Service
Nov 2 | All Souls Day Commemoration
Columbarium Visits - Please Schedule in Advance
Due to cleaning and ongoing construction at the Cathedral, some areas may occasionally be inaccessible. Anyone wishing to visit a loved one in the Columbarium is strongly encouraged to schedule their visit in advance via this Columbarium Visit Registration form.
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR UKRAINE
Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting Action by Churches Together (ACT Alliance) as it provides critical assistance to support people affected by violence in Ukraine. Working through ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) and other local organizations, ACT Alliance is providing emergency assistance such as food, shelter, water and basic supplies to refugees and people displaced within Ukraine. Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund will help the organization and its partners continue to provide assistance to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine.
NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE Home - Episcopal Diocese of New York (dioceseny.org)
NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATION
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 (apprx. 1 hour)
11:30 am - All are Welcome Coffee Hour
4:00 pm - Evensong
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
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 summer break, returns in September)
Sunday 8:30 am Bible Study | Genesis| Congregation Zoom Link (On summer break, returns in September)