Get to church or synagogue early; houses of worship open in Phase 2 at 25% capacity

From New York-

The Episcopal Diocese of New York will open its churches on July 1, according to dioceseny.org. 

After July 1, state guidelines will determine the number of people allowed to gather for in-person worship. Masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing will be required at houses of worship, according to the website.

It’s recommended you check your individual house of worship for guidelines.

More here-

https://www.silive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/get-to-church-or-synagogue-early-houses-of-worship-open-in-phase-2-at-25-capacity.html

St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the Bronx Has Lost 21 Members to Coronavirus

From The Bronx-

There is no shortage of volunteers at St. Luke's Church in the Bronx. It's the largest parish in the city’s Episcopal diocese. The need in this community is great. Since the pandemic began, the food pantry line stretches three blocks. The soup kitchen has more visitors than ever. 

Father Pierre Andre Duvert said his congregation is eager to help, especially because it knows the pain this health crisis is causing. Twenty-one of its members have died from the coronavirus.
“When it hits home, that’s when we understand,” said Duvert.

The parishioners who fell victim were young and old. They came from all over the world. Donald Bookal, the church administrator, was among them. For more than 40 years, he organized most of the church's activities and outreach programs.

“I don’t want to say he was the first one, but he was the first that we knew. Then, other folks started getting sick,” said Duvert.

More here-

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/coronavirus/2020/05/22/st--luke-s-episcopal-church-in-the-bronx-has-lost-21-members-to-coronavirus

Reggae the best music for quarantine – Episcopal priest - Father Mark Bozzuti-Jones names Tosh, Marley

From Jamaica-

A Jamaican pastor, the Rev Dr Mark Bozzuti-Jones, is being hailed for his conscious reggae talk from the pulpit as he delivered a sermon to the faithful about the positive effects of the music created in the land of his birth. The priest at Trinity Wall Street parish in New York City, where he is the director of core values and also the director of Latin American and Caribbean relations, served up some listen-to- reggaemusic-and-chill, quarantine advice. 

“I am not sure if you are aware of this, but it is written, and if it is not written, then it should be written, that the best music during the time of quarantine is reggae music. So you should be listening to reggae music at home. I want to invite you to listen to two of my favourite pieces of music,” the Episcopal priest said while addressing his congregation virtually.

One of the pieces was Redemption Song, the final track on Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1980 Uprising project, the last album released by the reggae icon during his lifetime. The priest soberly quoted some of the lyrics of Redemption Song: “How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look, some say it’s just a part of it we’ve got to fulfil the books.”

More here-

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20200517/reggae-best-music-quarantine-episcopal-priest-father-mark-bozzuti 

After surviving wars, pestilence, religions use technology to beat pandemic

From Reuters-

Contrary to some polls showing declines in virtual religious attendance since the virus outbreak, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan has seen an increase in online worshipers for its Episcopal services, said the Rev. Patrick Malloy.

"One of the great things that's happening on Sundays is we have people from all over the world, and thousands of them sharing of worship with us every Sunday," said Malloy.

“For the first time, I heard a confession by Skype," he added. "You know, you have to do what you have to do.”

Like other clerics, Malloy says he has seen more spirituality in the flock during the pandemic.
“When you're locked in your house, and especially when you're locked in a small New York apartment by yourself, day after day after day, you come to think about the bigger questions,” he said.
When the crisis ends, Malloy said he expects to see the church at least as full as it was before because "people really do miss one another.”

More here-

https://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2020/may/12/after-surviving-wars-pestilence-religions-use-technology-to-beat-pandemic/1017112/

Staten Island pastor welcomes homeless people into church amid coronavirus

From New York-

Rev. Terry Troia refuses to be cowed by the coronavirus.

The Episcopal pastor and her 15 volunteers are helping more than 250 homeless people per day, using a loyal network of faith-based emergency shelters on Staten Island that she has cultivated for nearly 40 years.

It’s a relationship that has remained resilient during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic as most churches and houses of worship in the rest of the city shut down their emergency homeless programs in March when the contagion started to spread.

“For years there was no place for homeless to go to on Staten Island,” said Troia, 62, who heads up the non-profit, interfaith Project Hospitality. “But necessity really is the mother of invention because since 1984, we have forged a strong relationship with these churches.”

More here-

https://nypost.com/2020/05/02/nyc-pastor-welcomes-homeless-into-church-amid-coronavirus/

NYC church has a unique way of lifting the city’s spirits

From New York (with video)-

It’s music to anxious New Yorkers’ ears.

Although St. George’s Episcopal in Gramercy Park closed its doors three weeks ago in the wake of the coronavirus, the church is still lifting the spirits of the neighborhood with pealing chimes.

“Church bells are historically rung to call people to prayer, in times of celebration, and in times of sadness,” Reverend Jacob Andrew Smith told The Post. “We wanted to specifically play some comforting songs that reminded us [of hope] during sadness. We’re tapping into the tradition to ring the bells during a tragedy — I would say we’re in a time of tragedy.”

So every day — at 9am, 10am, 3pm and 6pm — electronic bells ring out songs of comfort, including traditional hymns.

More here-

https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/nyc-church-has-a-unique-way-of-lifting-the-citys-spirits/

Trinity Church Wall Street: Can reporters solve the case of the missing Episcopal rector?

From Get Religion-

It was a strange way to announce one’s resignation, I must admit.

On Jan. 5, the rector of the richest Episcopal church in the country was standing before his congregation in downtown Manhattan giving some rather banal parish announcements. Then, he added, he knew that some folks had heard that he was leaving and yes, this would be his last Sunday there. Comparing himself and his wife to the Mary, Joseph and Jesus trio in terms of being on the move toward Egypt (and away from Herod, one supposes), he said they were going to take a sabbatical and that he wished the church well.

It was clear that many in the church had no idea what was going on, including the choir that was awkwardly standing by, waiting to sing an anthem during the offering. (You can see all this go down in this video. Start at the 50-minute mark).

More here-

https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/1/20/trinity-episcopal-church-wall-street-can-reporters-solve-the-case-of-the-missing-rector

A silent worship revival at an Episcopal church for the deaf

From The AP-

The Lord’s Prayer ended with the bang of dozens of fists that landed on open palms after a circular motion and a thumbs up in a joint “Amen!” 

Not a voice could be heard inside the cavernous sanctuary of Holyrood Episcopal Church-Iglesia Santa Cruz in Manhattan. There was no need for words: From the altar, the deaf congregants led the hearing ones, who from the wooden pews repeated the silent movement of their hands. 

Music, sermons, prayers, even confessions make up much of the experience of a typical religious service. So, for the deaf, how does faith flourish in an environment that so revolves around sound?

More here-

https://www.heraldnet.com/life/a-silent-worship-revival-at-an-episcopal-church-for-the-deaf/

Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email Copy Real Estate How ‘Night Before Christmas’ creator also spawned NYC’s Chelsea

From New York-

To keep the city from riding roughshod over his farm, he took the central orchard and donated it the Episcopal Church to build the General Theological Seminary, established in 1817. But that still left much of Moore’s land ripe for development. As the 1820s progressed and New Yorkers began moving uptown, Moore began to have second thoughts about the evils of real estate. Instead of visions of sugar plums, he saw dollar signs.

Around this same time, Moore wrote “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.” He was probably inspired by the traditions (and stout figure) of a groundskeeper who worked on the Chelsea farm and was a descendant of an old Dutch family. The poem kept alive the Dutch tradition of Saint Nicholas as the bringer of presents. Moore even gave the reindeer Dutch names: Donder and Blixem (better known as Donner and Blitzen) mean thunder and lightning. It was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel in December 1823. For years, historians have questioned whether Moore is the poem’s true author, though he did publish a version of it under his own name in 1837.

More here-

https://nypost.com/2019/12/18/how-night-before-christmas-creator-also-spawned-nycs-chelsea/

With dust gone, cathedral‘s tapestries take spotlight

From New York-

Think your home furnishings are a dust magnet? New York‘s Cathedral of St. John the Divine just spent 16 years cleaning and conserving its rare, supersize wall hangings.

Now the historic house of worship is inviting the public to enjoy the fruits of its labor — “The Barberini Tapestries, Scenes from the Life of Christ,” which once graced the Vatican and European palaces. They were designed by baroque master Giovanni Francesco Romanelli; created by weavers for Francesco Barberini, the nephew of Pope Urban VIII, from 1644 to 1656; and donated to the cathedral in 1891, a year before its cornerstone was laid.

Centuries ago, tapestries were appreciated not only for their beauty but also for being a warm buffer against chilly palace walls.

These days, they‘re kept well-groomed by experts at the Gothic cathedral‘s textile conservation laboratory — a labor-intensive process using dental probes, tweezers and a HEPA vacuum with microsuction attachments.

More here-

https://stockdailydish.com/with-dust-gone-cathedrals-tapestries-take-spotlight/

In Year of Apology for its Role in Slavery, New York Episcopal Diocese to Revive Rejected Anti-Slavery Motion from 1860

From New York-

In September 1860, John Jay II—grandson of the founding father and first US supreme court chief justice—introduced four resolutions condemning slavery and the slave trade (see link below) at the Episcopal Diocese of New York's annual convention in New York City. 

Although the slave trade had been illegal in the state of New York since 1799 and the last enslaved persons had been freed in 1827, Jay's resolutions—so uncontroversial today—did not pass.

Instead, they were tabled, in the face of insuperable opposition from an overwhelming majority of the assembled Episcopalian clergy and laity, many of whom continued to have an interest in the slave trade, which in 1860 continued unabated in the port of New York in spite of its illegality and violation of the "teachings of the Church …and the laws of God."  

More here-

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-year-of-apology-for-its-role-in-slavery-new-york-episcopal-diocese-to-revive-rejected-anti-slavery-motion-from-1860-300950007.html

Renowned Chelsea church makes history by naming its first female, Asian-American pastor

From NYC-

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea has announced a new priest-in-charge, who will break barriers as its first ever female pastor and its first Asian American priest.

Rev. Christine Lee will be formally commissioned at St. Peter’s Chelsea, which is at 346 W. 20 St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., during a service set for this January.

This isn’t Reverend Lee’s first time making history. In 2012, she became the first Korean-American woman ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church.

Lee was recently vicar at All Angels Church on the Upper West Side. She is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at California’s Fuller Theological Seminary, where she focuses on leading organizational and congregational change.

She will bring that focus on change to St. Peter’s Chelsea, starting a new church vitalization program that includes a Sunday School for kids, leadership training and other congregational development programs.

More here-

https://www.thevillager.com/2019/09/renowned-chelsea-church-makes-history-by-naming-its-first-female-asian-american-pastor/?fbclid=IwAR1i3D2ct0ALGdWwiLfZB0zVoX9aHx6tbUHFZ3fKNpk-Gw67cqAR-GGSFRM

St. John the Divine Cathedral Is in Recovery Mode

From New York-

All eyes are on Paris’s fire-ravaged Notre-Dame, which President Emmanuel Macron of France has pledged to restore in five years. But a great cathedral in New York is also recovering from a conflagration that occurred on Palm Sunday — one day before the medieval French Notre-Dame was overcome by flames.

The fire at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, a Gothic-style landmark in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, was far less catastrophic. It was confined to a windowless room in the crypt, and no one was injured. The cause has been declared unknown.

Still, oil paintings and an 18th-century icon were destroyed and other artworks damaged. And the plumes of smoke that rose up through heating vents in the floor into the cathedral’s vast interior left soot everywhere.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/arts/design/st-john-the-divine-cathedral-fire.html

On Madison Avenue, an Episcopal priest blesses passersby

From RNS-

Russell Lupis stopped mid-jog when he saw the Rev. Adrian Dannhauser standing outside her Madison Avenue church with her “Ask Me For a Blessing” sign.
 
As she finished blessing someone else, Lupis stepped forward for a short conversation.
There was something on his mind — a tiff with his sister over their parents’ gravesite. 

Dannhauser listened intently. Then she locked hands with Lupis, closed her eyes and prayed. She ended by making the sign of the cross on his forehead.

Lupis is not a member of Dannhauser’s Church of the Incarnation, where she serves as associate rector. He’s not even an Episcopalian. But he welcomed the chance to receive a blessing.

“She’s worth waiting for,” said Lupis, who has received her blessings before. “People like that have an even closer connection than the norm.”

More here-

https://religionnews.com/2019/06/27/on-madison-avenue-an-episcopal-priest-blesses-passersby/

Citing ‘aging and diminishing’ congregation, St. Simon’s Episcopal Church to close

From New York-

The 165-year-old St. Simon’s Episcopal Church in Concord is set to close on July 7, according to the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

“The catalyst [for the church closing] is a steadily aging and diminishing congregation, which has gotten to the state where it simply isn’t sustainable anymore,” said Nicholas Richardson, director of communications for the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

“There’s always a sadness when churches close. ...The hope is any of the resources left over can be directed to other parishes on Staten Island,” he added.

The church is working with several groups that rent space in the church for meetings and other services to find new homes, he said.

The Rev. Mary Hansen, pastor of the Amazing Grace Interfaith Ministry, said her group has rented space for her interfaith services and events, such as feeding the homeless, from St. Simon’s for more than 20 years. The group is now in search of a new meeting place, she said.

More here-

https://www.silive.com/news/2019/05/saint-simons-episcopal-church-to-close.html

As Paris Reels From Notre Dame Fire, NYC Sees It's Own Iconic Cathedral Reopen

From NY1-

The fire at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris brought back painful memories for the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

It was in 2001 when a fire damaged the Diocese’s own iconic Cathedral, Saint John the Divine. The 127-year-old building, one of the largest churches in the world, is known for its long center aisle, massive columns and stained glass windows.

“Seeing the Notre Dame on fire I said, ‘You know, that could have been us, that could have been us again and how lucky we were,’” said Lorraine Simmons, a sub-deacon at St. John the Divine.

The fire at St. John the Divine has some parallels to the fire at Notre Dame. It started in the wooden trusses in the ceiling, destroyed the gift shop and damaged the cathedral’s center aisle and chapels.

“We literally thought we were going to lose the cathedral, you can see the flames and the firemen and everything that was going on,” said Harry Johnson, a member of the cathedral.

More here-

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/04/16/as-paris-reels-from-notre-dame-fire--nyc-sees-it-s-own-iconic-cathedral-reopen

tate grant helps Monticello church resurrect altar window

From New York-

A Monticello church’s patron saint is about to go in for some much-needed surgery.

Since St. John’s Episcopal Church was built in 1880, an image of its patron saint has occupied a stained-glass window behind the altar in the sanctuary.

Over time, the St. John’s window has cracked, the lead holding it together has fatigued, and the glass has warped.

But soon, that part of the church will look 140 years younger.

Courtesy of a $10,000 Sacred Sites grant from The New York Landmarks Conservancy, the St. John’s window and the wood around it will be restored to its original state.

It’s not the only stained-glass window at the church that needs rehabilitation, but it is the oldest and most important, according to the Rev. Diana Scheide.

More here-

https://www.recordonline.com/news/20190303/state-grant-helps-monticello-church-resurrect-altar-window

Episcopal bishops object to same-sex spouses’ disinvitation to global conference

From Sight-

Three bishops from the Episcopal Diocese of New York have written an open letter to their clergy and parishioners to express their dismay at a request by the Archbishop of Canterbury that two gay bishops not bring their spouses to the Anglican Communion’s Lambeth Conference in July, 2020.

The letter also explains why, despite consideration of boycotting the meeting, all three New York bishops will attend.

“We have concluded that we cannot in conscience remove t
he voice of the Diocese of New York from the larger conversations at Lambeth,” the letter reads, “regarding sexuality and the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the full sacramental life of the church.”

The Lambeth Conference convenes bishops from the worldwide Anglican Communion once a decade in Canterbury, England. The issue of homosexuality has dominated the last two gatherings, exposing deep differences between bishops from the global South and the US and Canada.

More here-

https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/11611-episcopal-bishops-object-to-same-sex-spouses-disinvitation-to-global-conference

Letter about Lambeth from Diocese of New York

From New York-

To Our Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Diocese of New York,

 

Many of you will have learned by now that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has invited all active bishops in the communion, including gay bishops, to attend the 2020 Lambeth Conference. That is a positive development, since that was not true of the last Lambeth in 2008, when Bishop Gene Robinson was pointedly not invited to attend and participate. However, we are alarmed that at the same time he has said that spouses of bishops who are in same-sex marriages will not be invited. As of this writing that ruling affects a single bishop and spouse in the Anglican Church of Canada, and a single bishop and spouse in the Episcopal Church - Mary Glasspool and her spouse Becki Sander of our own diocese (though note that the bishop-elect of Maine is in a same-sex marriage, and when he becomes the bishop, this will apply to his spouse as well). 

 

In two weeks the House of Bishops will hold our spring meeting in North Carolina, and we expect this matter to occupy some of our time. However, as so many of you have contacted us to know the response we will make from this diocese, we are writing this letter now to inform you of our thinking, understanding that we have not yet been in conversation with the full community of our fellow bishops. 

 

More here-

 

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/A-Word-About-Lambeth-2020.html?soid=1102067254998&aid=IbSUjLmHC0A&fbclid=IwAR0BaDP4p11W740m7Nt-6-lzNB4xVnk4xjMC34hTI5tdjIVqhkQ67yheNZs 

Where We Wor­ship… And Who We Are: Christ Epis­co­pal Church and San Mar­cos

From New York-

We are the church with all the ban­ners and signs,” said The Rev­erend Su­san Cop­ley, Rec­tor of Christ Epis­co­pal Church on South Broad­way in Tar­ry­town. A rain­bow flag hangs in front of the church, and, among other signs that have graced the front wrought-iron fence over the years is one stat­ing “Im­mi­grants and Refugees Wel­come.”

Christ Church has a rich his­tory. Built of brick in 1837 in vil­lage Gothic Re­vival style, lu­mi­nous Vic­to­rian stained glass win­dows grace its walls. The founder of Amer­i­can lit­er­a­ture and his­to­rian, Wash­ing­ton Irv­ing, was a pa­tron and early war­den. (His pew is tucked into a cor­ner of the Church by the dec­o­rated Vic­to­rian bap­tismal font.)

More here-

https://thehudsonindependent.com/where-we-worship-and-who-we-are-christ-episcopal-church-and-san-marcos/?fbclid=IwAR0cOsKQlgo1BLBauIirspVeFLErhMQ4cVbtAkt_VNeNM8qCXfiOf6P1k5A