Listening to stories of loss, yet uplifted by hope and a sense of unity, a prayerful congregation gathered at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City on Saturday, February 19, for the "Service of Commemoration and Solidarity with the People of Indian Ocean Nations."
Episcopal Asian-American Ministries and the Diocese of New York sponsored the event in remembrance of survivors and victims of the
December 26 earthquake in the Indian Ocean near Sumatra, Indonesia, that triggered a massive tsunami.
"Especially in this season of Lent, may this service of tribute and hope be a sign of our common humanity and of the work of reconciliation and justice entrusted to all of us," said the Very Rev. James A. Kowalski, the cathedral's dean.
Attendees heard meditations, prayers, a performance of Faure's "Requiem" by the Jubilee Youth Chorale of New York, the Long Island Consort, Huang Ying, soprano with Yue Yue Ensemble, and Zheng Zhou, baritone with Jersey Voices.
Bishop Vicar E. Don Taylor of the Diocese of New York delivered the Sermon, based on a text from the Revelation to Saint John the Divine. "John's words resounded in my ears when he said God will wipe away every tear from their eyes," he said.
"We should not let this pass our memory," said the Rev. Dr. Winfred Vergara, missioner of the Episcopal Church Center's Office of Asian
American Ministries. "It speaks about our solidarity with people in South Asia who were affected. People now need to get back on their feet and rebuild their communities."
He also expressed pleasure in the "long term commitment" Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) has made toward helping the area recover.
"We all grieve for our brothers and sister," said Deacon Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, Anglican Observer at the United
Nations, who delivered the prayer. "Being here and hearing everything that was said you feel the pain of those who are not around...But in all that we know that we have a living God."
"It always strikes me as an incongruity-the beauty of a service like that with the background of the tragedy that caused it. But I think the only real explanation of how that makes sense in the mystery of God is precisely Bishop Taylor's wonderful image," observed Bishop Mark Sisk of the Diocese of New York. "I thought it was a beautiful, beautiful service."
A collection was taken near the conclusion of the service to benefit ERD's work in tsunami relief and recovery, and for the Diocese of New York's relief fund for their sister Diocese of Madras in India.
