The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk with
Michael Sabatino, Rafaella Sabatino
and Robert Voorheis.
Woman Confirmed by Bishop Sisk at 89 Years of Age
On Dec 10, Bishop Mark Sisk visited Zion, Dobbs Ferry. Among those
confirmed or received were Raffaella Sabatino, Michael Sabatino and
Robert Voorheis. In the fall of 2003 after Michael and Robert were
married in Canada they were expelled from a Roman Catholic Church
Choir in the Bronx for going public with their marriage. This turned
out to be a life changing experience for the better. Many different
denominations offered them to join their congregations and they decided
to join Zion.
Michael’s mother Raffaella (89) was an inspiration.
She said “If they don’t want my ‘sons’ they
don’t want me. After all you don’t worship somewhere
you are not welcome.” This was a difficult transition for her
but was made a lot easier with the support of the members of Zion
Church. “They made me feel welcome from our first visit. They
are a bunch of very caring people. It is truly a community, where
children are warmly nurtured in their faith, where young couples
bring their families, older citizens meet with their peers and a
priest who loves his work. At my age I have had some illness, every
time I have been sick, Richard (McKeon) made it his business to visit
me either at home or in the hospital. He is truly a shepherd that
looks after his flock. It truly is a Christian experience.”
Michael & Robert have become active members of the congregation
singing in the choir. Michael is a lay minister and on the vestry.
Others received or confirmed that day were Daniel Hemerlein, Scott
McKenna, Jessica Saraceni and Robert Mercurio from St. John’s,
South Salem
Edith Stone
Bishop Commends OldestMember of Manhattan Parish
Edith Stone, of Calvary St.George’s,Manhattan, received a special
Letter of Commendation from Bishop Sisk thanking her for her service
to the Diocese, on her 100th birthday on December 3.
Mariners receive record number of handmade Christmas
gifts
The Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey
is proud to announce that Christmas 2006 gifts to mariners reached
a record 16,210 handknit items, homemade cookies, and cards from children.
The Institute distributed 7,996 knitted gifts to deep-sea mariners
and 4,264 knitted scarves to America’s river mariners. Gulf Coast
mariners received 3,950 gifts that included homemade cookies.
“These handmade gifts make a lonely, isolated and dangerous job working
on the waters on Christmas Day a bit brighter. Mariners treasure these gifts
that show they are not forgotten. They carry this witness of God’s love
with them on the high seas and on America’s rivers,” said the Rev.
Jean R. Smith, SCI’s Executive Director.
The Institute received hand-made presents from almost 4,000 knitters
representing every state as well as gift items from River Friendly Churches.
The Seamen’s Church Institute distributes the Christmas gifts to
seafarers coming into the Port of New York & New Jersey and to America’s
river mariners along 2,200 miles of America’s inland waterways
from Pittsburgh to New Orleans to Houston.
The tradition of hand-knit gifts for the Christmas-at-Sea program stretches
back to its beginning in 1898 during the Spanish American War when it
was started. Today, the knitted items including hats, scarves, vests,
and socks collected year-round at the Institute’s international
headquarters in Lower Manhattan.
Founded in 1834, the Institute is a voluntary, ecumenical agency affiliated
with the Episcopal Church that provides pastoral care, maritime education,
and legal and advocacy services for mariners. To learn more about SCI,
please visit www.seamenschurch.org.
Epiphany Celebration Yields Both Music and Art at Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Members of the HASK Drum Circle during a performance.
The HASK Drumming Circle
At the Epiphany Celebration held at the Cathedral of St. John the
Divine on Saturday, January 6 the walls, floor and ceiling resounded
with the mesmerizing, infectious rhythms of the Holy Apostles Soup
Kitchen Drumming and Art Group from the Church of the Holy Apostles,
Manhattan.
Part of ArtSpirit’s “Rhythm for Recovery program”,the
group meets weekly following lunch at the Soup Kitchen for one hour
of drumming followed by one hour of art-making.
Masks on display in the “Transformations” exhibit.
“Transformations” – An Exhibit of Masks from the HASK Drumming
and Art Group
Throughout the Epiphany season, the north wall inside the Cathedral
has been “transformed” by a long line of masks, lit dramatically
from above--most of which were created by participants in the Epiphany
drumming circle—masks which draw you to them as soon as you
enter the Cathedral. This exhibit will remain in place through February
23.
Center for Jewish-Christian-Muslim Understanding Holds Benefit Concert
(left
to right): The Rev. Charles Colwell of St. Barnabas, Irvington, president
of the CJCMU; event coordinator and CJCMU Board member Joyce Needleman
Stanton; Anne Azema, a singer with the Boston Camerata; CJCMU founding
Board member Dr. Muhjahbeen Hassan; and Joel Cohen, musical director
of the Boston Camerata.
A special holiday concert hosted by the Center for Jewish-Christian-Muslim Understanding (CJCMU) at the Tarrytown Music Hall on December 10, highlighted the centuries-old links among Judaism, Christianity and Islam, known as the three Abrahamic faiths. The concert, entitled “A Mediterranean Escapade,” featured a rich program of sacred and secular music of medieval Spain, where the three religions influenced each other greatly, and from other countries along the Mediterranean. It was performed by the internationally acclaimed Boston Camerata in collaboration with the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble. About 350 people attended the event, proceeds of which benefited the CJCMU, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2001 by a group of concerned Westchester residents representing all three faiths, in response to the tragic events of September 11. It was the second annual interfaith concert sponsored by the organization.
The General Theological Seminary submitted to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission a revised proposal for construction of a new mixed-use building along the Ninth Avenue side of its campus located in Chelsea between 20th and 21st Streets. The revision also includes plans for a smaller building on the Seminary grounds facing 20th Street near the corner of Tenth Avenue. The proposed Ninth Avenue building will replace the existing building known as Sherrill Hall, a severely
deteriorated 1961 building
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk with members of the JUBILATE choir.
On December 17, the walls of Christ Church,Warwick resounded with the fresh and beautiful sound of a youth choir new to the region’s musical scene. “
JUBILATE, The Community Youth Choir of Warwick”, made an impressive debut during Advent services at the church, as 14 gifted young singers from grades 5 through 12 presented a short program of vocal music exhibiting a range of performing styles from Praetorius’ graceful “Jubilate Deo”, sung a capella with choir members positioned around the church and in the choir loft, to a rousing African folk tune, accompanied by pulsating percussion instruments playedby Connor Crone. The packed church included parents and friends of the performers, the Rev. Scott Barker, Rector of Christ Church, Bishop Mark Sisk, and the Rev. James Dietsche.
HUNTINGTON SERMON CELEBRATED
Bishop Stephen Bouman of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
America
consecrates the bread during the Eucharist held at the William Reed Huntington
Sermon on January 24 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Manhattan.
Bishop E. Don
Taylor of the EDNY and Bishop Victoria Matthews of the Anglican Church
of Canada look on. Bishop Matthews delivered the sermon, which honors
the
Rev. Huntington, the sixth rector of Grace Chuch, Manhattan.