News from the Congregation September 23, 2022

Sep 23

Written By Steven Lee; Marsha Ra & Joan Adams

‘‘‘ Helping to Fund the Episcopal Credit Union’ ; ‘30th Anniversary Celebration Thank Yous’ ” | Fall Holy Cross Retreat w/Brother Ephrem, UN Sunday, Other Dates to Remember| Sunday Programs: 10:30am Worship Service In-Person and Online, 4:00pm Evensong | Weekday Programs: Wed Bible Study on Paul’s Letter to the Romans, M-S Morning and Evening Prayer (Zoom)

Canon Lee

What a wonderful celebration last Sunday for the Congregation's Homecoming and 30th anniversary. I am so grateful to the hospitality committee for their ministry of welcome and community building. They deserve all of our thanks for putting together a memorable event.

I am also so proud of the Congregation for its commitment to ministering to our local community. This past Tuesday, the Vestry voted to donate $15,000 over 3 years ($5,000 per year) to the Proposed New York Episcopal Federal Credit Union. I serve as a member of the Credit Union Task Force, which has been working to create an independent, federally accredited credit union to serve the communities within the Diocese of New York. The Credit Union will open banking services to the underserved, while providing low-cost emergency loans and financial counseling. From Staten Island to Poughkeepsie, traditional banks exclude our people through financial requirements and unreasonable fees. The lack of access to basic banking tools disproportionately impacts people of color and New York’s most vulnerable, from formerly incarcerated individuals to survivors of domestic violence.

The establishment of a diocesan Credit Union was first called for in a resolution passed at Diocesan Convention in 2004. This resolution was reaffirmed at the 2014 Convention, after which the work as a Task Force began in earnest.

The chartering process is almost complete. The very last step is to gather the final $350,000 in donation pledge commitments from across the Diocese as required start-up capital. (Trinity Church Wall Street and the Diocese have already pledged $500,000 to this effort.)

If you would like to make an individual pledge to this diocesan-wide fundraising effort, please email me.

A Message from the Wardens

THANK YOU!

It is always risky to thank people by name when we have such a wonderful event as we enjoyed last Sunday. But I will try. First of all, thanks to the organizing committee: Karl Taps, Sue Sobolewski and Rick Awe. Mark Garrison and Bob Deming came to help set up. We decided to do a catered event and used our local friends at Westside Market. Goura Rivera and Chris Clowdus provided a personal touch with birthday cake and miniature cakes for everyone to eat or take home. Tim Farrell and Gail Felix brought additional desserts. We were joined by the musicians and choir members, by friends and members from years back who decided to come home. Cecilia Amadi and Paula McKenzie helped me fill out name tags for everyone who showed up. Cathedral Facilities and Cathedral Security were great supports to the event. Harry Johnson took the best pictures. If you haven’t seen them on Facebook or Instagram, many will be showing up on our website shortly. Clean-up became an all-hands project including the Vicar, and most of the original committee. Have I left anyone out? Yes: all of the people who came and enjoyed themselves in the sun. Thank God for all of you!

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.

Blessings to all,
Marsha and Joan

NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (stjohndivine.org)

Dates to Remember
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 19 | Evensong Commemoration for Queen Elizabeth II
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 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