Culmination Service

On Sunday, November 14th , we marked the culmination of the parish’s bicentennial celebrations with a festal Eucharist celebrated by the Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori. The full parish choirs, two dozen acolytes, and twenty clergy associated with St. James’ processed through an overflowing church to celebrate not only the achievements of the last 200 years, but also the promise of the years to come. In her sermon, Bishop Jefferts Schori dwelled on the continuity and change that such an anniversary captures: the parish has been one “body” of the faithful for 200 years without a break, but at the same time has always been growing and renewing itself, never exactly the same from one Sunday to the next. She challenged the parish to draw on both qualities, building on a history of witness and leadership to respond to the world’s challenges in new ways and continue the “holy recycling” that defines the Church. In a way, this message summed up the entire bicentennial year, in which so many people have both given thanks for the parish’s many gifts in worship, mission, education, and fellowship, and have applied those gifts with so much faith to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Sunday’s service was a joyful celebration of the parish’s past and a powerful reason to look ahead to its third century with excitement.
Jonathan Bays

A Special Day of Music and Celebration

The inaugural concert of the St. James' Bicentennial Organ, with Ken Cowan performing, filled us with wonder and inspiration. But it was the morning services that prepared me to appreciate the musical offerings of the day and gave insights into the music that we hear at every church service. The Rev. Canon Victoria Sirota was our Bicentennial guest preacher; she also led the adult education forum between the services. She maintained that music is the fastest way into our faith—a portal to what is holy—and that listening will help us hear the voice of the divine in new ways. When we allow ourselves to be inspired and sing together we are getting a glimpse of heaven, and organ music brings us to God in other ways. Everyone is not a gifted musician, myself included, but coming together in song or in inspirational listening brings the liturgy alive in very special ways. I know that I will be listening anew and maybe trying to sing a little more.

Charlene Simonian

Voice of the Divine

Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace to you and peace! It is with great joy that I prepare to be with you this Sunday. Your gifted organist Davis Wortman has shared CDs of two of your amazing recitals and concerts. The glorious sounds of superb music-making resound in my ears as I write this. The St. James' Compostela Choir has mastered the beauty of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Duruflé's Requiem, and your talented organists are using the varied sonorities—thunderous and majestic as well as soulful—of a great musical instrument, your new gallery organ. Sunday will be a day of wondrous celebration of the completion of the entire St. James' Bicentennial Organ!

I rejoice to share with you what I have learned—first as a musician and organist who plays recitals in the United States and abroad (my training was at Oberlin, Boston University, and in Paris and Amsterdam), and then as a priest (at Harvard Divinity School and Episcopal Divinity School as well as an Associate at Saint Margaret's Convent and as a member of the Order of Urban Missioners). I have learned of the power of music to draw us into a spiritual realm, and how music in liturgy connects us directly to the fullness of the Body of Christ. Although I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, I was blessed as a church musician to discover the Episcopal Church, a place where intellectual discourse is encouraged, the Eucharist is central and all of the arts are lifted up as reflecting the glory of God—architecture, music, stained glass windows, poetry, literature, dance, etc. Our worship together is an opportunity to express gratitude to the Almighty with the best fruits of our labor. Nourished with the body and blood of Christ, fed and blessed, we then go out into the world seeking to reflect in our work, play, and prayer life our gratitude to God for gifts given and our desire to embrace all we encounter with Christ's love.

Your deep and profound relationship with New York City as well as troubled areas in the world—South Africa during the years of apartheid, Haiti and Malawi—shows an eagerness to share the kingdom of God beyond the walls of the church. Your love of good music as expressed in the gift of this magnificent instrument and your support of St. James’ excellent music program indicate your desire to listen for the voice of the Divine and to sing together gloriously as one body in Christ.

May this new instrument be blessed with a vibrant artistic, liturgical and spiritual life surrounding it, and may you be blessed as joyful people singing God's praises. Thank you for inviting me to join in the celebration!

Blessings and love,
Vicki Sirota+
The Reverend Canon Victoria Sirota
Canon Pastor and Vicar
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

Mission as Pilgrimage

Today we welcomed the Rt. Rev. James Tengatenga, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Malawi, as our Bicentennial Preacher and Forum Speaker. In her introductory words at the start of the forum, the Rev. Brenda Husson, Rector, reminded us that it was five years ago that with the generous gifts from two parishioners, our Partners in Mission programs were formed. These programs are about establishing and developing long-term partnerships involving people coming together in worship and fellowship, and in mission projects. In Bishop Tengatenga, we found an inspiring church leader who shared this vision and believed that the congregations in his Diocese would embrace such a partnership with St. James’ parishioners.

The Bishop mentioned in his presentation that, while he was invited to St. James’ as part of its Bicentennial celebration, the Anglican Church in Malawi was celebrating its own anniversary this year. 150 years ago, in 1860, Charles Mackenzie left England as head of the Universities' Mission to Central Africa. He was consecrated bishop on January 1, 1861 and, following Dr. David Livingstone's request, Bishop Mackenzie took on the position of being the first missionary bishop in Nyasaland (now Malawi). Bishop Tengatenga reflected on the change that has occurred since then. Mission in the 19th century was about bringing the Gospel to people of the world, while in the 21st century, mission, as the title of the forum states, is pilgrimage—Christians undertaking faith journeys and finding God in the places they visit.

Bishop Tengatenga then posed the question “How are your relationships?” Using today’s Gospel reading from Luke 16:1-13 about the manager of the rich man’s wealth who, when accused of mismanagement and frightened that he was having his position taken away from him, decides what he can do to ensure that he would be welcomed into people’s homes, Bishop Tengatenga felt that the underlying message was the fact that without relationships, the man felt that he had nothing. Bishop Tengatenga stressed the fact that for this reason, he does not see a long-term benefit of simply being presented with a check to fund mission projects. He believes that in Christians coming together, there is a longer-lasting legacy in the relationships formed. Since 2005, nearly ninety parishioners, clergy and staff have traveled from New York City to visit the Diocese of Southern Malawi, three Malawian priests have joined the clergy team at St. James’, and Bishop Tengatenga, his wife Josie and their children are cherished visitors to our church and in our homes, as we are in theirs.

Following the worship services, a pot-luck lunch was prepared and enjoyed. As bread was broken and gifts given and received, stories were shared from the first five years of this relationship. Bishop Tengatenga had during his presentation reminded us that the source of the word enthusiasm is the Greek enthousiasmos, which ultimately comes from the adjective entheos, "having the god within," formed from en, "in, within," and theos, "god". Bishop James is not only a Bishop, but also chairs the Anglican Consultative Council. The enthusiasm he displays for these roles is evident: God is truly in him. Looking around the room today, I experienced the enthusiasm we collectively feel, from teenagers to older parishioners, for our partnership with the Diocese of Southern Malawi—God in us.

Patrick Kidd
Partners In Mission—Malawi

Food for Thought

In 1977, I came to a friend’s wedding in the chapel at St. James’ Church. The priest was Carol Anderson. I knew nothing about St. James’ or Carol Anderson then. I have since learned about Carol and her important place in the history of St. James’ and the Episcopal Church. I was thrilled to meet her and to hear her speak today.

Carol’s messages looked to the future – exactly where the St. James’ community should be looking and going! She asked, “What do you really want from Jesus?” and indicated that the raised expectations here point to more than we settle for. The Gospel (John 5:1-9) is primarily an Easter story of new life. In the forum, The Church Tomorrow, she talked about how continuing as we have in the past will not be the answer to meeting the needs of the most involved, the marginally involved or the searching. She threw out lots of ideas and questions that are definitely food for thought. Here are some that struck me: aim resources at the very best; address the needs of people yearning to get to know God; become churches that are “lean, mean and centered;” continue worship in a variety of forms as central to our faith; work towards more in-depth projects in conjunction with other churches to make a difference, rather than duplicating entry level projects at each church; fine-tune and maintain church web sites that will become more and more valuable, not just for information but for teaching and classes; offer opportunities in varied locations, meet people where they are; teach parishioners to become self-feeders and to nurture each other.

Today gave me lots to think about. I wonder how St. James’ unlimited future will differ from its faithful past? Future changes are inevitable. How will we look in our third century?

—Jan Golann

Wander Freely

On Sunday, April 18, The Rev. Michael Phillips, rector of Holy Trinity Church, joined us as guest preacher and speaker at the adult education forum. During the course of the morning, with great enthusiasm, he shared the history of our two churches and spoke eloquently and inspiringly about the importance of mission and vision of the Episcopal Church and our role in it.

The Rev. Phillips described the long standing relationship of our two churches that started when St. James’ supported Holy Trinity by providing clergy that allowed it to function as a mission church. Holy Trinity is an outgrowth of a gift of property originally intended to be used for the social benefit of primarily German immigrants to the Yorkville neighborhood. Our churches are linked by a long history of providing for our neighbors in the changing history of our city.

I was particularly struck by the biblical underpinning he provided for the message of how the modern church can view its role in the world. Using the story of Moses leading the Israelites in the wilderness after having been freed by Pharaoh, he pointed to the opportunity to wander freely, led by God, choosing where we will go and how we will live out our mission as Christians in the world.

Reflecting on the changes in our society during the past fifty years or so, the Rev. Phillips asked us “When people look back 100 years from now, what vision will we (St. James’) have left for them to see?” In this bicentennial year, he encouraged us to look to the future through the lens of our history and accomplishments. What is our mission today and for the future?

--Madeline Schroth, Vestry

A Church for Heritage

Today St. James’ was aglow with the sound of children’s voices. Today’s choir at the 9:10 a.m. service was made up of St. James’ children’s choirs along with children’s choirs from St. Paul’s Chestnut Hill and St. Thomas Church in Whitemarsh, both in Pennsylvania. No adults! And the music was wonderful. In addition, we had the pleasure of Michael Phillips, the Rector of The Church of the Holy Trinity, as our bicentennial guest preacher. Holy Trinity was a mission church of St. James’ from the late 1890s until 1951. In the late 1890s Serena Rhinelander owned a summer home on what is now E. 88th Street and decided that the immigrants who were moving north in Manhattan needed a church to remind them of their European heritage. She built a church and a community center complete with gymnasium and indoor swimming pool and then gave this complex to the Diocese of New York. The Diocese, not having the money to run this new church, asked St. James’ to take it up that work and to supply the clergy. As a result, Holy Trinity became a mission church of St. James’ until 1951 when a rector was called. In the forum, as the Rev. Phillips extolled our 200-year history, he also challenged us to look ahead and envision what St. James’ would look like in the next 100 years, keeping in mind our ever changing culture.

--Anne Anthony

St. James' Church in the City of New York 1810-2010

This book by Francis J. Sypher, Jr., with a foreword by Archbishop Emertus Desmond Mpilo Tutu, gives readers a fascinating view of the leadership and members of St. James’ parish responding to the dramatic changes of the 19th and 20th centuries. It’s a story of the arrival of the elevated train signaling the transformation of a small summer parish into a year-round church serving the wealthy of Fifth Avenue and the working classes of Yorkville. It’s a story of social change from the time of pew rentals, Plaza Hotel fundraisers, and ushers in cutaways to the development of ongoing local mission services for the poor, support for communities in Harlem and the Bronx, and involvement in women’s ordination in the United States and the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa. Sypher’s book offers an excellent view into the evolution of how Episcopalians on the Upper East Side of Manhattan understand their call to a Christian life.

--Suzanne Oliver, co-author of The Faith Club

On the Reconciliation Panel

Hope for a future without violence and fear resonated throughout the panel discussion on The Church and Global Reconciliation on March 7th at St. James'. Both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bishop Gordon McMullan go back thirty years or more with Bishop Rockwell and therefore with St. James’. While Archbishop Tutu and Bishop McMullan were actively engaged to stop the horrors within their countries and move to peace and reconciliation, Bishop Rockwell directed the attention of St. James’ and the Episcopal Church towards their courageous struggle.

Archbishop Tutu and Bishop McMullan described first hand the violence and fear that had had a strangle hold on their countries. In South Africa, it was based on the color of the skin (apartheid), in Northern Ireland, on religion -– Catholic vs. Protestant -- and politics. Many thousands died in South Africa, more than 3,500 in Northern Ireland.

What kept their sanity during this tragic time? Archbishop Tutu said it was his Christian faith and the knowledge that all over the world people were praying for him and for South Africa. Bishop McMullan’s Christianity is who he is. As people with major differences come together and talk, they discover that they have more in common than differences. It is this commonality that brings joy.

Tentatively, both men expect that there will be no turning back in their countries, as too many of their citizens experienced violence and now crave peace.

Bishop Rockwell said we take one step first and then another. A prophetic gift is accompanied by patience as well as humility. Forgiveness moves us toward a right relationship with God and our neighbors. But God does not make the world perfect, we must.

--Katharine Fleming, Mission Committee

Feeling a Whole Lot Better

On Sunday, February 21, I was feeling a bit under the weather, but was eager to hear The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, both preach and lead the forum. Boy, am I glad I got myself to church: at 10:30 in Coburn Hall there was a standing-room-only crowd for Dean Lloyd's presentation, "Signposts for a 21st Century Church." His theme was an ideal fit for our bicentennial, an incisive and inspiring invitation to congregational transformation and renewal for Episcopal parishes.

Dean Lloyd began by recalling St. James’ long history of notable leadership in the diocese and in the Episcopal Church and by noting how St. James’ both embodies continuity and also embraces innovation. And yet, he continued, even as the Anglican Communion is now the third-largest body of Christians in the world after the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox churches(!), the so-called “mainline” Protestant denominations continue to lose membership in the United States, because, he suggested, they have been reluctant to reinvent how they “do church.” He drew our attention to a two-sided handout that clearly and neatly summarized his points. First, he described the ideals and characteristics of “established” congregations: comfortable and cozy, but more dedicated to inward-facing self-maintenance than to spreading the Good News. He contrasted that twentieth-century model with the “intentional” congregation of the twenty-first century, which faces outward into the world on a dynamic pilgrim journey dedicated to Christian formation and living out God’s love. Congregations that offer an authentic experience of the Christian life are congregations that thrive with new members drawn by their vibrancy. Dean Lloyd outlined how this transformation could be accomplished with “ten shifts,” for example “from open doors to hospitality to the stranger,” “from pew rent to sacrificial giving,” and “from attending church to adoration.”

Dean Lloyd’s message was enthusiastically received: in looking forward to its next two hundred years, St. James’ has already embarked on some of these shifts, while others remain opportunities for future growth. As I tucked Dean Lloyd’s handout into my bag as food for more thought, I realized that thanks to hot tea, good fellowship, and a provocative invitation to consider how I could help St. James’ become a church for the 21st century and beyond, I was feeling totally energized, and a whole lot better.

--Sarah Cunningham, Vestry Member

Bicentennial Launch Sunday

What made the launch of the St. James’ Church Bicentennial memorable for me was how the everyday qualities of our parish made this special event so festive and joyful. Bishop Mark Sisk’s presence proclaimed this important milestone in our history. There were beautiful new banners in the procession. And Coburn Hall was filled with colorful balloons.

But central to it all was the wonderful St. James’ community -- our lively and engaged family of parishioners. As a greeter at the crowded and boisterous reception, I was struck that the 200 hundred years of accomplishments we celebrate all happened because of congregations of faithful, enthusiastic and dedicated parishioners, just like the people in the hall on January 10.

Many churches have been around for a long time in New York City, and they do wonderful things. But they don’t have us. I believe our community is truly exceptional.

As I looked over the crowd and spoke to many friends, old and new, I couldn’t help but think of the countless hours they dedicate to keeping our ministries fresh, challenging and effective. What a privilege to be part of a community that takes it commitment to learning, sharing and living out the gospel so truly. This commitment has given us our faithful past and is firmly in place for leading us into our unlimited future.

--Diane Lansing