What Don't You Believe?

I don’t often write about church, but that’s what I feel called to do today-please bear with me this once. We are spending time trying to help Old Whalers’ Church stay current in today’s climate of fading faith and lackluster church attendance. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in Sag Harbor – an architectural gem- one of the finest representations of Egyptian Revival architecture on the outside and Greek on the inside – a National Historic Landmark of which there aren’t very many in these parts. A radiant relic of the days of whaling wealth and religious enlightenment. A step inside nearly takes your breath away as the grand and simple design stands testament to the dream and passion of those who came before us. On many of the pews, etched on silver plates, are the names of the families who helped to support this vision, along with the cost, of building the church- Cooper, Fahys, Sage, Huntting and many more. A deeper dive would tell you how each of these families were part of the growth of this community and the remarkable legacy that draws people to this once small and sleepy village. Rarely a week goes by without some architectural enthusiasts coming by to ask if they can take a peek. And here it sits, right in the heart of Sag Harbor.

Should I write more about this edifice, it would bleed into volumes and I am a bit less of an expert than those whose passion it has been to keep its history alive and archived. One donation from a generous benefactor helped us paint the front facade, and more recently another kind benefactor donated the funds to paint the front steps – others are generous week to week- but the remaining three sides of the church need attention along with ongoing concerns within the building. We continue to hope for some big-hearted folks to reach out.

Some might wonder what I am doing there-raised across the street at Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church -faithful servant for more than half of my life-I had attended a two-year program called Pastoral Formation with the Diocese of Rockville Center-training lay people to take a more active role in the church. After completion of that rather strenuous coursework the men in my class were invited into the deaconate and I was not due to the pure and simple fact that I was female. You see ever since I was a tiny kid, I had dreamed of being a priest-my friend and I created our own church out of a dirt pile across the street from her house-and we even fashioned communion hosts from Wonder bread. I think that is often the way it happens-that calling-it starts very young and follows you around until you figure out a way to heed the call. That’s when I attended One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in Manhattan for two years and became an ordained Interfaith Minister. For much of my Catholic upbringing I was-we were- told to stay away from other churches- many joke that the roof might fall in-lightening might strike but with my combined credentials and my love of Sag Harbor, Old Whalers’ invited me to be an occasional guest minister when the need arose. And I’m happy to report the roof remains intact, we’ve kept lightening at bay and the steeple blew off way before my time. We have worked tirelessly to keep this old gem standing and current in the world today – as they one day hope to find that Presbyterian Pastor who loves this place as much as I do. It was a brave leap for me as well, but the God that I am at home with knows that there are no suburbs in heaven and my greatest call is to be part of this village and this community as it undergoes so many changes and redefining.

I would say that Old Whalers’ welcomes everyone-newcomers, faithful, curious, searchers, and also stands as a refuge for those who knew Sag Harbor when… It is a place of community most of all-a gathering place for people to be part of a group of folks sojourning together to find their own truth. So many churches are suffering now with low attendance and ageing historic buildings that need much TLC. I wonder sometimes if people think that you need undying faith in order to attend- but I would say of course not. Faith has taken some hits these days in the world of science- and busy, busy lives and changing priorities. But as I sit with dozens of families who have experienced loss-I still think faith has its place in our lives and perhaps most especially the lives of our children.

I am not speaking for the church-I am not their spokesperson-but I am speaking as a lifelong resident and lover of Sag Harbor. We are all on this journey together- you don’t need to be Mickey Mantle in order to play baseball-you don’t need to be Celine Dion to sing a song-you don’t need to be Rembrandt to paint and you don’t need to be Mother Theresa to go to church. In my mind church can be a place to just be- or grow -or uncover-you don’t need to be there already. This is a place to help unearth what might be stored within-this is a place to perhaps hear something interesting or new, this is a place to be part of a community that looks out for one another. And as much as I would love to see you in one of our pews- I must say any pew will do. I guess I am wondering if people are not attending churches because they feel in order to do so they need to have reached their destination-they need to have undying faith- rather than taking steps to explore what is within. These beautiful old buildings need you-it is surely not time to scuttle in the other direction. You can help by joining in the mission-showing up- or perhaps donating to the cause- these buildings are part of the history of your town, your village, your corner of the world and right now, they need you- an hour on Sunday morning might be doable. And if anyone out there reading this needs a cause to support-we’d love to hear from you. We want these beautiful churches to continue to shine in the Sag Harbor (or wherever you might call home) sky.

We meet every Sunday at 10 AM -no talons or gardening hooks- just a welcoming smile. This summer we’ve been exploring a Summer Series with guest speakers and/or guest musicians every week. A lovely social hour follows each service and I’ve heard told that we well may serve the very best cup of coffee in Sag Harbor! Hope to see you there!


Nancy Remkus2 Comments