Formation for Mission

One of the things that has surprised me about Saint Mary's is how small our congregation really is.  When I looked at the statistics before becoming rector I had a nagging suspicion about how small we really were, how few members of the congregation would regularly be able to be here on Sunday.  I continue to be amazed at how few people have committed themselves financially to supporting Saint Mary's.

 

Brothers and sisters, we share an enormous mission as the parish community of this place, a mission which in every rational way is much larger than our resources of people and money.  How you and I choose to respond to the challenges of our choice to be here will shape the course and scope of our community's presence and ministry here in New York and in the Episcopal Church.

 

There are ways you and I can choose to help this community dispose itself for growth and a great contribution to our city and to the wider church.  You and I can choose to be optimistic about the work in front of us.  We could also choose to pretend we don't have the opportunity to do something to make the future happen.  You and I can't control the future, but you and I can choose to be open to it in ways that may help others find Christ here and serve Christ here.

 

If you and I want to be used for the mission of Christ at Saint Mary's one place to begin is a prayer to ask God for a deeper knowledge of how we can know and serve him here.  I want you to know also that I am going to be asking you to pray about increasing your financial commitment to Saint Mary's.  Historically, Anglo-catholics are tithers.  It's just what committed Christians do or work at doing.  Saint Mary's mission needs your sacrificial financial commitment.

 

And I invite you to participate in the parish's increasingly rich formation programs.  During Lent there will be a second Sunday morning class, a Bible study group, at 10:00 AM in addition to the class I teach.  If the response is good we will plan on having more classes at 10:00 AM in the fall.

 

Saint Mary's mission is going to be shaped by the commitment of those who pray, give, work and study here for the future.  The Sunday Mass shapes us.  Our daily prayer shapes us.  Our stewardship shapes us and so does our study.  All of these things have the potential to help us grow our parish's mission and service to Christ and for Christ. 

 

PRAYER LIST…Your prayers are asked for Jack who is hospitalized and for Olga, Helen, Margaret, Shirley, Hannah, Dawn, George, and Yamily, deacon.

 

GRANT THEM PEACE . . . March 4:1989 Timothy Francis Meyers.

 

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . The Sunday Proper: Hosea 2:14-23, Psalm 103:1-6, 2 Corinthians 3:4-4:2, Marks 2:18-22 . . . 9:00 AM Celebrant: Father Shin, Preacher: Mr. Lawson, 10:00 AM Celebrant & Preacher: Father Breidenthal, 11:00 AM Celebrant & Preacher: Father Breidenthal, 5:00 PM Celebrant & Preacher: Father Shin . . .. On Saturday, February 26, Canon Garrison will hear confessions . . . On Saturday, March 4, Father Gerth will hear confessions.

 

AROUND THE PARISH . . . Flowers are needed for this Sunday, February 27.  If you wish to give them please call the parish office ASAP! . . . Jack Matthew's, a three year-old cousin of Father Gerth's, is recovering from surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Medical Center.  Please keep him in your prayers . . . Many thanks to Christine Hansen for taking charge of coffee in the Rector's Class on Sunday mornings . . . The Mardi Gras Party on Tuesday, March 7, is the first of what we hope will be monthly gatherings of twenty and thirty-year olds in the parish community.  Details from Father Shin . . . The Rector will return from the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes meeting on Sunday evening, February 27 . . . Music Committee Surveys should be returned no later than Sunday, February 27.  Additional survey forms are available on the ushers' table or by calling the parish office . . . Attendance last Sunday: 158.

 

ANOTHER SEMINARIAN . . . We are delighted that Mary Haddad, a candidate for Holy Orders from the Diocese of Los Angeles and a senior at the General Theological Seminary, is serving this semester as one of our two parish seminarians.  You've seen her at the altar at the Solemn Mass.  She is now officially on board.  Mary, welcome!

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION THIS WEEK . . . On Sunday, February 27, Richard Lawson will again be leading the Rector's Class.  He will be speaking on Baptism . . . Journey in Faith, our primary adult formation group, meets on Sundays following the Solemn Mass from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Saint Benedict's Study.  You are invited to join them . . . Father Breidenthal's class on Christian Householding continues on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM.

 

NOTE FROM THE RECTOR, February 17th . . . When I reread The Angelus after it had been published and sent, I noticed that I had made an error in writing out the censing directions, an error I don't make, I might add, when I am actually doing the job.  When one censes a group (or the Book of Gospels) the double swings are first to the center, then to the left, then to the right.  Some people at SMV will have noticed the mistake and I want to set the record straight as soon as possible because there will be questions about it if I don't.  And if this does not concern you at all you have your Rector's admiration.

 

Worship at Saint Mary’s

 

The Holy Eucharist

On Sundays Mass is said at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  A Solemn Mass is offered at 11:00 AM.  Monday through Friday Mass is said at 12:15 PM and 6:15 PM.  On Saturdays Mass is said at 12:15 PM.

 

The Daily Office

On ordinary Sundays Morning Prayer is said at 8:30 AM and Evening Prayer at 4:45 PM.  Monday through Friday Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30 AM, the Noonday Office at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 6:00 PM.  On Saturdays the Noonday Office is offered at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 5:00 PM.

 

The Reconciliation of Penitents

Confessions are heard on Saturdays between 11:30 and 12:00 and between 4:00 and 5:00.  Appointments can also be made with members of the parish clergy for the Reconciliation of Penitents at other times.

 

Friday Abstinence

The ordinary Fridays of the year are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial in commemoration of the crucifixion of the Lord.

 

 

The Calendar for the Ninth Week after the Epiphany

 

Monday                               Weekday

Tuesday                               Weekday

Wednesday                        David, Bishop

Thursday                            Chad, Bishop

Friday                                  John and Charles Wesley, Priests

Saturday                             Monthly Requiem

 

 

The Parish Clergy

The Reverend Stephen Gerth, rector,

The Reverend Allen Shin, curate, The Reverend Thomas Breidenthal, assistant,

The Reverend Arthur Wolsoncroft, The Reverend Canon Maurice Garrison,

The Reverend Amilcar Figueroa, assisting priests, The Reverend Canon Edgar F. Wells, rector emeritus.