St. Mary’s Hosts Free `Enquirers’ Dinners’ Oct. 15 and 22^nd to Acquaint Public with the Episcopal Church and Anglicanism

    The Episcopal Church of St. Mary-in-the-Highlands stands atop the hill at the center of Cold Spring, its lawn an informal village green, its bells a ringing Sunday fixture and its spire a landmark on the horizon. This month, those who wonder what goes on inside the red doors or have questions about the religious belief that inspires it will get a chance to learn more when the parish holds two Enquirers’ Dinners, Wednesdays Oct. 15 and 22.

   At the dinners, to occur in the Parish Hall at 6:30 p.m., Father Shane Scott-Hamblen, rector of St. Mary’s, will present a “crash course” to introduce others to the Episcopal Church, the wider Anglican Communion to which it belongs, and its Catholic and Protestant heritage. A similar dinner last year, the first in recent memory, filled the Parish Hall.

    Enquirers’ Dinners are a traditional activity at Episcopal Churches prior to the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, and those at St. Mary’s this year will precede the visit, on Oct. 26, of Bishop Catherine S. Roskam,  suffragan of New York, on Sunday, Oct. 26, to celebrate Mass and preside at three inter-related events: Confirmation, the formal reception of several parishioners into the Episcopal Church, and the welcoming of newcomers to the parish itself.

    As the host of the Enquirers’ Dinners, to last about two hours each, Fr. Shane promises “a stimulating evening, with both food for thought and food for dining in the fine, communal style long hallowed at St. Mary’s.” After his presentations, he will answer questions from attendees, who will have the option of either voicing them directly or writing them down anonymously, on paper provided, to be read from the lectern and thus addressed. A former teacher at both the high school and college levels, Fr. Shane has training as a Benedictine monk and has worked in Rome and at parishes in England and Indiana, as well as at St. Mary’s.

    Though the overall format of the programs will be the same, Fr. Shane will cover different material at each and participants are encouraged to attend both dinners. The menus also will change: The first dinner (Oct. 15) will be a potluck, while the second (Oct. 22) will feature a spaghetti supper, with desserts and refreshments served at both.

    St. Mary's is located at the corner of Route 9D (Morris Avenue-Chestnut Street) and Route 301 (Main Street) in Cold Spring.