Parish Letter
August 2010

(Click here for the list of past newsletters.)


Dear Friends,

Because I have been out of the parish much of May and June, enjoying my sabbatical, I thought it would be worthwhile to produce a special summer edition of the Parish Letter while I am in New York in July.

Even though our weekday activities have entered the summer lull, many people have been active in keeping worship services going (and surprisingly well-attended), the office open, magazines delivered to the patients at NYU Medical Center, and so on.

Special thanks to the office volunteers who ensure that our phone is answered by a person 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday—and many other times as well. When no one is on duty, of course, the answering system records general messages and directs specific messages to senior staff.

Volunteers under Jonathan Vaughan have been working on the new web site, which will be refreshed in design and will hold more information in a more accessible form. The design will also allow staff to add material, so that the site will always be up-to-date.

The first major renovations in many years in the rectory are nearly complete—at minimal cost, thanks to the Building Committee and Enrico Shillingford, Sacristan. As the personal beneficiary of this work, and also as one grateful for the gift of sabbatical time, I would like to show my thanks by inviting all members of the parish to my apartment for drinks on Tuesday, September 28.

This event will replace the customary Homecoming Luncheon; I want to have a welcome-back event that no one has to work on and that everyone can enjoy. More information on the party in the next Newsletter—in the meantime, please save the date.


FROM THE ASSOCIATE RECTOR:

Just a reminder: the nursery is open year-round, every Sunday from 10:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. During the summer, when Sunday School is not in session, we welcome children of all ages in the nursery. Of course children may also accompany their parents to worship. Maria Molina is our current nursery care-provider.

Vacation Bible School (VBS), “Baobab Blast,” will be held Monday, August 9 through Friday, August 13. We will meet each day, from 9:15 a.m. until 12:00 noon, at the Parish House. Please help spread the word: VBS is open to all children, ages 3 through 10; the cost is $50 per child. Registration forms can be downloaded from the church’s website, www.churchoftheincarnation.org, or picked up from the church or Parish House. See the enclosed “VBS Wish List” and contact me with any questions, 212-689-6350 or
amanda@churchoftheincarnation.org.

Twenties and Thirties will meet at my apartment on Tuesday, August 24, at 7:30 p.m. for a cook out. This evening will not have a topic of discussion; it will be a purely social event! To receive directions to my place or to be added to the 20s/30s mailing list, email amanda@churchoftheincarnation.org.
The Adult Education Forum will resume Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in September. We will be referencing Diarmaid MacCulloch’s Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years. You need not purchase the book or read it in its entirety to participate, but I am looking into securing copies at a reduced price.

Lastly, Incarnation will be participating in another New York Cares day of service on Saturday, October 23. New York Cares is the city’s leading volunteer organization; their October day of service is aimed at revitalizing New York City public schools. Mark your calendars and I will send registration information as the date approaches.



— The Rev. Amanda Kucik



* * * * * *

MEN’S GROUP
The first autumn meeting of the Men’s Group will be held on Monday, September 13, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. I will begin a discussion of the topic, “Possible New Evidence for Life After Death,” based on a recent study by a cardiologist.
All men of the parish and their friends are welcome to attend any of our meetings. Free refreshments are provided.

* * * * * *

Our former seminarian, Sandy Webb will be ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Saturday, September 25, at 10:30 a.m. The following day, at 11:00 a.m., Sandy will celebrate the Holy Eucharist for the first time in our church. He will also preach on that day. I know that many of you will want to be present on both occasions.

* * * * * *

THANKS TO

***Brian Lamb and Andy Roberts, for all their work in the garden this summer.
***Laurie Mygatt for organizing the Crafts Night in July.

 

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC:

Summer can be a great way to hear music in New York City, even when everything is “out of season.” Concerts in Central Park, along with other outdoor venues, provide music in an informal setting to many people who might not otherwise buy tickets for concerts. And the same is true at Incarnation. Even though the choir is off for the summer, it’s a great way to hear the individual soloists sing for the Sunday morning services. So far this summer, we’ve had songs and arias of Mozart, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Bernstein, Copland, and Rossini, to name a few.

The Incarnation Choir returns for Sunday mornings beginning September 19, and we are already busy planning things for the upcoming season. Some notable dates are November 7, when we observe All Saints’ Sunday with special music, and our Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 19 at 5:00 p.m. Watch for more details on the coming season in the next newsletter.

Wishing you all a restful and productive summer,

--Matthew Lewis

More and more books are coming in to our Lending Library, so I will repeat the announcement from the last Parish Letter:

LENDING LIBRARY
Are you a reader or a keeper? Incarnation has launched a book exchange/lending library for those who don't have the room or don't want to keep books once read. The bookcase is located on the first floor of the Parish House next to the piano. We are looking for current fiction and non-fiction or favorite authors from an earlier period but no textbooks, reference books or magazines.

Please sign in donated books and sign out those you wish to read. You don't have to donate in order to avail yourself of the library. If you have any questions, please contact Janet Loengard or Sandy Cecchini.

 

Finally, I am pleased and excited to announce that my elder son, John Ousley has recently become engaged to Naomi Hirabayashi. Naomi and John met in an Incarnation Coffee Hour; Naomi is known to most of you through her participation in various parish activities. They are planning to be wed (by me, I’m happy to say) in the summer or autumn of next year, possibly at the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Best wishes for a restful remainder of the summer.


Faithfully,

The Rev. J. Douglas Ousley


The Reverend J. Douglas Ousley
Rector
The Church of the Incarnation
209 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
telephone: 212-689-6350
fax: 212-689-7311
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