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May 2003
Letter from
the Rector
My dear friends,
This month I write concerning several things coming up in
the life of the parish during May and June.
The Christian Formation Committee has prepared two classes
for your edification and enjoyment during May. By the time
you get this Messenger, the first one will have transpired.
The two classes are on the subject of Judaism, the mother
of our Christian faith and today one of the world's major
religions. The influence of Judaism in New York cannot be
overemphasized and I think that we need to know something
about their faith and practice. The second class is a general
introduction to Judaism, its holy days, basic theology, and
spiritual practice. We welcome Rabbi Niles Goldstein to our
parish as the teacher of this class. His picture appears on
the front page of this edition. We will have a number of his
book, Lost Souls, available for purchase by those who wish
to take the class. In fact, it will help if you have read
at least some of his book before you come to the class, although
this advance preparation is not mandatory. The class will
be on 14 May 2003 in the parish hall following the healing
liturgy. Liturgy begins at 6:15 p.m, the class at 7:00p.m.
Even though the class will have happened by the time you
read this, you may find it interesting to know that David
Curzon, another teacher of Judaism taught a class on 30 April
on the subject of midrash. Midrash is something you have heard
of around St. John's. It is a way of looking at religious
events by telling stories which make comments upon them, illustrate
them, and apply them to our lives. One example of Christian
midrash is the story of the three kings at the Epiphany. The
three kings story tells how it was that Christian faith became
known in cultures beyond Judaism, and the story is told with
reference to three sages or kings from foreign cultures who
were drawn to Jesus. Whether the story actually happened in
history is not as significant as the point it makes: that
Christianity became a universal faith with a claim upon all
men and women. In this way, midrash is a literary method to
understand some parts of the Bible which seem not to have
historical foundation.
On 18 May after the 11:00 Eucharist, we will have a festal
coffee hour to celebrate the new parish website www.stjvny.org.
Take a look at the new site and plan to join us in the celebration
on 18 May.
On 25 May, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, we will keep Rogation
Sunday. There will be the usual liturgies in the morning and
the Blessing of the Animals in the afternoon. Rogation Day
has an interesting history. Rogation Days, traditionally the
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day, but extended
to include the Sunday before, were, in medieval England, the
time when the parish clergy went out and beat the bounds of
the parish, praying for crops, herds and a productive harvest.
In recent years, these days have become of interest to those
concerned with ecology and preservation of the natural order.
Most of us do not have a responsibility for crops and herds,
but many of us live with animals (some having four legs) and
so this day became associated in our parish with the blessing
of pets and other domestic animals.
Our animals are important to us. For many who live alone,
animals are the most consistent source of companionship and
affection. Some hospitals invite trained pets into their wards
and rooms, having observed that patients who play with and
pet animals tend to recover more quickly. Many people rely
upon service animals to assist in overcoming disabilities.
For many others, our animals are our main connection to creation,
other than the occasional potted plant. Having an animal for
whom we care is a reminder that we similarly are called to
care for all the created order because we are called to be
stewards of creation. Although many parishes bless animals
on St. Francis' Day, we keep Rogation Day because it connects
us to an interesting English tradition and because during
Eastertide, we are already giving thanks for God's new creation
in the resurrection of Jesus which celebrates the restoration
and renewal of all life. The animal blessing is held in St.
Benedict's Courtyard, a delightful interior garden space within
the St. John's Close.
And a few things to think about for June . . . The last Sunday
in June will be Gay Pride Sunday and we want to have a good
presence in the Gay Pride parade this summer, as we did last
year. The liturgy for that day will make particular reference
to giving thanks for the witness of gay men and lesbians in
the life of the church and will pray for equality and justice
for all men and women in our church and in our society. The
Sunday of the parade will be 29 June, and the liturgies that
day will be as usual—8:00 and 11:00—the ll:00 eucharist
being the main celebration of the day.
So, put some of these dates on your calendar and join us
as we carry forward the celebration of Easter—the resurrection
of Jesus and the gift of new life to the world.
Faithfully,
The Rev'd Lloyd Prator
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