This Sunday, the Feast of the Epiphany, St. Andrew's Anglican Church, meeting at Memorial Park Baptist Church (1013 Front St., Vestal) will be celebrating the manifestation of the Christ to the world. We will read the Epiphany Day gospel with its visitors from the East and rejoice that Jesus came to show the entire world the way of salvation.
A few hours later, at 401 Mirador a visitor from the North will be coming to close another church building of the Diocese of Central NY. Bishop Skip Adams will visit the former buildings of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for the stated purpose of a "closing service." I would expect the bishop to be at an emotional fever pitch, and who knows, with the right evocation of sentimentality and nostalgia maybe he can dragoon enough former parishioners to return. That would relieve the diocese of a $44,000+ tax bill for buildings not being used for a religious purpose. It might help to pay the two mortgages that the diocese is currently responsible for (the rectory and the community center). Maybe there will be enough folks to do the needed maintenance on the three buildings. Or maybe the rectory will soon be sold and it proceeds can go into the maintenance of the other two buildings. Whatever happens, I expect that the DCNY will continue to muddle along with or without a parish in Vestal.
It is a strange choice of a date for a church closing, but maybe a good one for a church reopening.
If only the diocese had the authentic Christian gospel.
Happy Epiphany!
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