SD
October 1, 2015
NEWS from the CATHEDRAL
Stewardship Sunday was a great success and a wonderful beginning to this season of generosity and gratefulness. It is our hope that each week one of our parishioners will share with us what it means for them to embody the Cathedral of the Incarnation.  Please email your reflections on I Am the Cathedral to Shirley White at shirley@incarnationgc.org
St. Francis Day Evensong and Blessing of Animals
Our annual St. Francis Day Evensong and Blessing of Animals will take place at the Cathedral this Sunday, October 4th at 4:00 PM.

And yes - you should bring your pets to church for the service! This event is specially tailored to the average dog or cats attention span, so it is considerably shorter than our regular Evensong. We hope that you will join us next Sunday afternoon for this annual favorite.

As autumn arrives, people in various places may notice something odd. A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of Pets. This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures. Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey.
 
Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God's living things. "All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures." And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi's canonization that referred to her little cat!
 
The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye-to-eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are at two creatures of love. No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated.  
I AM THE CATHEDRAL 
The cathedral is woven into the fabric of my life. My parents joined seeking what I had asked for, "a real Sunday school", which our local, aging parish did not provide. My mother and father had been actively involved in the cathedral growing up as representatives of their parishes on the Diocesan Youth Council so the cathedral was the natural answer to their prayers.
 
My entire religious upbringing has been here at the cathedral. I vividly recall the 9:30 services in the cathedral house with Father Rick playing the guitar. My First Holy Communion was such a special day in my life. The next highlight was my Confirmation and Father Lowry preparing our class for this sacrament. Of course, I must not forget to mention the ever present Dean Wilshire at the altar. Sadly, the third sacrament I celebrated here was the funeral of my father, shortly after, who passed away suddenly at an early age. It was a devastating time for me and my mother. We had so many questions about why this could happen and how we could go on. With God's help, we summoned up the strength and courage to face the future one day at a time. Because the cathedral was in the midst of appointing a new ministry, we were further challenged and felt lost. We sought out a new church but never felt the comfort the cathedral had provided so we returned "home". It was my comfort 5 years later at my grandmother's funeral. The cathedral is the place to which I have come to celebrate the happiest and saddest times of my life.
 
There is something magical about this place, regardless who is at the pulpit: the sights, the sounds, the smells are overwhelming and often bring tears to my mother's and my eyes. On the bright side, I recall celebrating the sacrament of marriage at the cathedral on November 6, 2010. My husband and I are about to celebrate our 5th anniversary and have beautiful memories of that day and Father Picken. Our pets also attend the cathedral's annual Blessing of the Animals, so they too are a part of this place.  
 
The cathedral is such an important part of my life. I am so happy to have Father Bruce, Father Michael and Father Andrew leading our parish now and look forward to meeting the new Dean. I hope they all remain with us for a long time. My husband and I take pride in participating in the service as we carry the elements to the altar. I am proud that my mother is on the Cathedral Council, an usher, and a lector. They are special privileges and we are honored to serve the cathedral and be woven into the fabric that is the cathedral. Kimberly Wade
 
Welcome Little Ones! The Cathedral Church School invites you to Join Us! Weekly classes for 3 & 4 year olds are being offered from 10:30-11:30 Sunday mornings at the Mercer School.

For more information contact  Kristin Ochtera  
 
Click Here to Register!
           Embracing Forgiveness
 
            What Forgiveness is and is not
                                  How to find and give forgiveness
                                                When reconciliation is possible
 
Based on the book, Embracing Forgiveness by Rev. Barbara Cawthorne Crafton
 
Two Wednesday Evenings from 7-8:30
September 30th and October 7th

Co-Facilitated by
The Reverend Michael F. Delaney   &    The Reverend Christina van Liew
Cathedral of the Incarnation                         Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
 

                                                     Join us at
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
147 Campbell Avenue at Center Street
Williston Park, NY 11596
www.resurrectionwillistonpark.org 
Save the Date: 
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry will resume on Sunday, October 11th in the Chapel of the Resurrection at 10:15am. All are welcome, experienced knitters, crocheters and beginners. Fr more information, please contact Kathy Janoff at 516.485.4352.

Conversations in Scripture begins October 14th-Join us as we take a closer look at the "Faith of our Mothers". This six week series will provide us with a feminine narrative of the Old Testament from some of its most notable women. Add your voice to the conversation. We meet each Wednesday in Cathedral House from 7-8:30. 
Please Pray For...
...the Church: Katharine, the Presiding Bishop, Michael, the Presiding Bishop-Elect, Lawrence, our Bishop; Michael, our Dean Designate; Bruce and Michael, and Andrew our Cathedral Clergy; 
the Cathedral Staff; Shirley, Kristin, Larry, Vince, Charlie, George, and Rafael;
...the Nation: Barack, our President; Andrew, our Governor; Nicholas, the Mayor of Garden City and, the members of our Armed Forces, especially Deepak, Raymond, Jason, Thomas, Liam, Adam, Charles,  and their families;  
...In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we remember the Diocese of Sunyani, Ghana, West Africa in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we remember St Francis Church in North Bellmore; For those who have asked of our prayers, especially Peggy, Dianne,  Diana, John R, John C, Lisa, Danielle, Kathy, Pat, Brenda, Thomas, Linda, Lauren, Bob, Carey, Elizabeth, Elinor, Andrew, George, Dorothy, Barratt, Tommy, Ricky, Emma, Jean,  Louis, Hank, Kerry, Gregory, Niyjah, Bridget, for all those who in transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity, may they find healing, patience and strength in the days to come. 
...and for those who have died, especially the victims of the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon and for those who are grieving the death of a loved one, may they find comfort and peace.    
The Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
Sunday, October 4, 2015
                              
  8:00am: The Holy Eucharist, Rite I
  9:30am: The Holy Eucharist Rite II
10:30am: Church School at Mercer School of Theology
10:30am: Coffee Hour in the Undercroft 
11:15am: The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
  4:00pm: St. Francis Day Evensong and Blessing of Animals  
     
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated this week in the Mercer Chapel on Tuesday at 8:45am, Wednesday at 12:15pm and Thursday at 12:15pm.
Cathedral Office Hours
   Monday - Friday
   9:00am to 4:30pm
50 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, New York, 11530  516.746.2955