KAREN BENSON, 1939 - 2001

Karen Benson died on Sunday, November 4, at Saint Vincent’s Medical Center from complications following surgery.  A Requiem Mass will be offered on Tuesday, November 27, at 6:00 PM.  She will be cremated and her body will be buried in the graveyard of the Community of Saint John the Baptist, Mendham, New Jersey.  She had been a member of Saint Mary’s since 1996.

Karen had been mostly homebound because of medical conditions since before I came to the parish.  But she still managed occasionally to be at Mass in a wheelchair – which is not at all easy to do in our building.  I saw Karen most often in the hospital as her pastor.  Despite the challenges of her physical condition,

she could smile.  She had a particular reverence and devotion for Holy Communion.  I know she liked being upfront during Mass – not simply because that was where her wheelchair was placed.  That’s where she wanted to be.

She is survived by her brother James Benson and his wife, Lynne Conybeare.  They will be here, of course, for the Requiem.  I am so very glad those who knew Karen will have this opportunity to pray for her and to greet her family.  May she rest in peace.  Stephen Gerth

PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Patrick, Edward, Christopher, Andrew, Robert, Joseph and Mark; we also pray for Howard, Alex, Marion, Harold, Olga, Carl, Eleanor, John, Peter, Michael, Kenneth, Ursula, Tessie, Jennifer, John, Jolene, Dorene, Christina, Julia, Maureen, Marie, Rick, Arthur, priest, and Charles, priest, and for the repose of the soul of Karen . . . GRANT THEM PEACE  . . . November 15: 1959; Irene Helen Williams; 1972 Wallace Charles Taylor; l973 Estelle Moore; 1983 Ralph Burus Smith; 1997 Noel J. Blackman.

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . The Sunday Proper: Job 19:23-27a, Psalm 17:1-8, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5, Luke 20:27-38 . . . Confessions will be heard on Saturday, November 10 by Father Gerth and on Saturday, November 17 by Father Smith . . . NOTES ON MUSIC . . . The Prelude before the Solemn Mass on Sunday will be A Meditation on ‘Brother James’ Air’ by Harold Darke (1888-1976) and the Postlude will be Toccata from Symphonie IV by Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937).  This is another Toccata by Widor, not the more famous one from his Fifth organ symphony.  The Mass setting is Missa ‘Cantabo Domino’ by Ludovico Viadana (c. 1560-1627) and the Anthem at Communion is Hide not thou thy face by Richard Farrant (c. 1530-1580).

AROUND THE PARISH . . .The Women’s Group begins this Thursday, November 15, at 7:00 PM.  The group will meet with Lauren Winner in Saint Benedict’s Study at 7:00 PM . . Saint Mary's Guild will meet on Saturday, November 10 at 10:30 for frontal repair and discussion for making covers for the smoke room shelves.  We will also install the drawer liners for the new vestments at that time . . . We are aware that the delivery of AVE has been affected by the attack on our country’s postal service.  Some people have received it and we expect the rest of the parish community to have it very soon . . . Saint Vincent’s Guild (the altar servers!) will meet at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, November 24 to prepare for the ordination and the P.B.  Help is needed with brass and other cleaning duties . . . Many thanks to all who worked to make the Masses on All Saints’ and All Souls’ so very special . . . Journey in Faith meets on Sundays at 1:00 PM in Saint Benedict’s Study . . . The Rector concludes a Wednesday evening teaching series at Trinity By-the-Cove Church, Naples, Florida, on November 14.  He leaves on Tuesday afternoon and returns Thursday afternoon . . . Attendance: All Saints’ Day 268, All Souls’ Day 181, Last Sunday 176.

MAJOR CONCERT AT SAINT MARY’S . . . We are pleased to announce that Saint Mary’s will host a concert by the American Boychoir on Thursday evening, December 13.  The American Boychoir is one of the world’s finest choirs of its type, and is widely recognized as the United States’ premier concert boys’ choir.  The Choir is based in Princeton, New Jersey, and is conducted by Vincent Metallo, who assumed that position earlier this season.  The American Boychoir tours and records extensively, and frequently appears with major orchestras in the city and abroad.  We are fortunate that they will be presenting a full concert (rare for them in New York) here at Saint Mary’s.  The program will include something to please everyone, including music of Christmas.  Tickets are $25 ($15 seniors and for students with a valid ID) and are available by calling the church at (212) 869-5830, extension 25.

SATURDAYS AT SAINT MARY’S . . . November 17 will be the first of this year’s Saturday afternoon offerings in Christian Formation.  Join us for an introduction to liturgical music led by Mr. Robert McCormick.  The class will examine the different types of music we use, and discussion of particular aspects that enhance or detract from the liturgy.  An in-depth look at hymns and psalms will be included.  If there has ever been something you wanted to know about the music we sing and hear every week, this is the perfect time to ask! . . . SAINTS ALIVE! . . . Wednesday evening, November 14 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in Saint Benedict’s Study.  This is the second of two evenings, led by Mr. John Beddingfield.  Join us for a discussion that will look at the role of saints in the history of the church, in the context of the Anglican tradition and in our own lives.

The Calendar of the Week

Sunday             Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost

            Monday                     Charles Simeon, Priest

Tuesday                     Weekday

Wednesday               Samuel Seabury, Bishop

Thursday                  Weekday

Friday                        Margaret, Queen                                                            Abstinence

Saturday                   Hugh, Bishop

The Parish Clergy

The Reverend Stephen Gerth, rector, The Reverend Matthew Weiler, curate,

The Reverend Canon Maurice Garrison, The Reverend Amilcar Figueroa, The Reverend Rosemari Sullivan, The Reverend James Ross Smith, assisting priests,

The Reverend Canon Edgar F. Wells, rector emeritus.