FROM THE RECTOR: EPIPHANY 2021

I usually go to the gym first thing in the morning, right after coffee and Morning Prayer. But Wednesday, January 6, was the Feast of the Epiphany. I was on my Sunday schedule: up early for coffee, Morning Prayer, and to finish writing a sermon. I got to the gym about 3:00 PM, entirely unaware of what was going on in Washington. I walked over to the rows of elliptical machines and treadmills. Above them is a row of five television sets. A mob of Americans had invaded the Capitol and shut down the Congress of the United States. My eyes teared up. The Capitol was breached “at 12:53 PM, led by a group in tactical gear” (“Riot at the U.S. Capitol,” Wall Street Journal, January 7, 2021). This had been going on for over two hours. How could the President, upon hearing this news, not immediately order whatever forces were on hand to secure the Capitol and then go to the White House Briefing Room to address the nation and condemn the insurrection?

About ten years ago, I made an overnight visit to D.C. I was still able to jog back then. After checking in at my hotel, I changed clothes and headed out to the National Mall for a run. I hadn’t been there for some years, and I remember being astounded at the security that had been put in place at the White House and the Capitol in the years that had followed September 11, 2001. I couldn’t help remembering that last week as I stared at those television screens at the gym. I remain astonished that the Capitol could have been overwhelmed as it was on Wednesday.

In 1966, my family moved from Virginia Beach to a newly developed area of Fairfax County, Virginia. I was twelve. Washington D.C. was a special place to go. When I was old enough to drive, and during my college years, the National Mall was a great place to be with a couple of friends on weekend nights. The Capitol was always lit. You could sit on the steps of the building’s East Front. There were always people around. I remember that our family went to see the fireworks on July 4, 1976. We sat near the Tidal Basin. The National Gallery of Art remains a favorite museum. It’s worth seeing the cherry blossoms there in bloom at least once in your life. When you fly into Washington, the Washington National Cathedral dominates the skyline of the city. I treasure those memories of our nation’s capital and its beautiful, even sacred, sites.

Some years ago, I discovered the prayer, “For Our Country,” in the Prayer Book. It was written by the Reverend George Lyman Locke (1867–1919). In The Oxford American Prayer Book Commentary (1950), the Reverend Dr. Massey H. Shepherd, Jr., wrote that this prayer, “Though it has the timeless ring of true liturgical prayer, it reflects no less truly the expansive and turbulent era of our national history in which the prayer was composed: the rapid development of the West, the tremendous influx of foreign immigration, the rise of ‘big business,’ the violence attendant upon the organization of labor, the corruption and scandals in high places, and not, the least, the emergence of the United States as a world power” (page 36–37). As officiant, I used this prayer at Evening Prayer on Epiphany, in place of the General Thanksgiving:

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP [1979], 820).

Dwight Eisenhower was president when I was born. If I’ve counted correctly, in ten days President Biden will be the thirteenth president in my lifetime. I’m scheduled for the noonday services on January 20. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to watch the inauguration live. At that hour, I’ll be at the altar. In a way, it’s a good thing. Along with our small but faithful congregation, I’ll be praying for our nation. —Stephen Gerth

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR William, Burton, Marilouise, Barbara, Quincy, Florette, Janice, Carmen, Shalim, John, José, Margaret, Ethelyn, Robert, and Hardy; for all who suffer from COVID-19; for Scott, Gaylord and Louis, priests, and Charles, bishop, for all those who work for the common good, and for all the members and friends of this parish. . . GRANT THEM PEACE . . . January 10: 1894 Charles Wright Kirby; 1895 Katherine Harris; 1900 Beatrice Wright; 1917 Elida Clark; 1994 William Lata.

THE ORDINARY FRIDAYS OF THE YEAR are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial in commemoration of the Lord’s crucifixion.

THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARY’S . . . Sunday, January 10, The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mass 11:00 AM. The church opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 12:30 PM. The preacher is the Reverend Stephen Gerth. The service is played by Dr. David Hurd. He will be joined by cantor, Dr. Mark Risinger, bass. This service is live-streamed.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . Parishioner Barbara Klett remains at Lenox Hill Hospital, where she underwent surgery to repair a fractured hip. We are unsure when she will be discharged from the hospital. Please keep her in your prayers . . . We heard this week from parishioner Peter Ruane. Peter is now living close to his parents in his hometown, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Peter is an attorney. He’s been working for some time for the United Nations, at the moment for UNICEF. He hopes to return to New York, and to Saint Mary’s, at some point . . . Parishioner Eric Littlefield recently began a new job as Senior Onboarding Manager for eShopWorld, whose headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Eric, however, will remain here in the States. Congratulations, Eric! . . . It makes us very happy to be able to open our doors again for public worship, on weekdays as well as on Sundays. The surge of infections in our city and around the country is concerning. We have committed ourselves to redoubling our efforts to keep every member of the community safe and healthy. If you are at all unwell, do not come to church. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your primary-care physician and get tested. If you have a fever of 103.5, which is not being handled by an analgesic, and/or you are having difficulty breathing (by difficulty we mean you must stop talking in order to focus on your breathing), go to an emergency room immediately.

THE GIFT OF FLOWERS . . . We are hoping to receive donations for altar flowers for many of the Sundays in January and early February. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Chris Howatt in the parish office. If you are interested in the work of the Flower Guild, please speak to Brendon Hunter, Grace Mudd, Marie Rosseels, or Brother Thomas.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED . . . We’re saying a big thanks be to God and to God’s people after an amazing outpouring of support for our outreach to our Neighbors in Need. A number of very generous friends have made substantial contributions to the fund that will now allow us to order new socks, underwear, thermal wear, winter hats and gloves, and hygiene items for those we serve. In addition, people continue to bring their contributions of gently used clothes. We can always use clothing of all types. Currently, we have particular demand for winter coats (our supply is holding out so far, but we can store what we can’t distribute immediately), jeans or other sturdy trousers, and shoes, especially water-resistant types in larger sizes. All of your gifts are making a real difference. We have made several changes to our distribution process to increase the safety of our guests and volunteers as our city continues to deal with the challenges of COVID. In order to have more volunteers available for each event, we’ve temporarily reduced the frequency of distributions to once per month, and we’ve created additional space in the layout of our events, which are now being held in the spaciousness of the main church. Dedicated Saint Marians assisting guests trying on coats and shoes is as holy a sight as any we’re so used to seeing in our beautiful church home. As always, if you’d like more information on donating or volunteering for this important work, contact Brother Damien, Brother Desmond, or Brother Thomas. Your neighbors thank you . . . Saint Mary’s has long provided assistance to our neighbors at the Saint Clement’s Food Pantry, sending cash donations, but also receiving non-perishable food items which were then delivered to the Pantry. The pandemic has made collecting and delivering difficult for a number of reasons. However, since food insecurity has increased in the city—also because of the pandemic—we would like to re-double our efforts in assisting the Saint Clement’s program. Cash donations are gratefully received. Please put Saint Clement’s Food Pantry in the memo line or field when you make your donation, and we thank you.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION . . . Please note: all the adult-education classes this year begin at 9:30 AM, NOT at 10:00 AM. They normally conclude at 10:30 AM, allowing those attending the class to serve at the altar or to attend Mass in the nave.

If you would like to attend Brother Damien’s five-week series via Zoom, please send an e-mail to Grace Mudd or to Brother Damien, who will send you a link.

Brother Damien writes, “This Sunday, we begin our five-week introduction to mystical theology in the Western Christian tradition, “Christian Mysticism and the Secret of Knowing God.”. Our first session together will consist of a broad overview of mysticism in this context, which will provide a backdrop for our glimpses into the writing of five Franciscan mystics in the weeks to follow. In this introduction we’ll explore the scope and definitions of mysticism. What does it mean for theology to be mystical, Christian, and Western? We’ll trace a very brief history of mystical thought in early Christianity and through the Latin (Western) tradition. We’ll introduce some key concepts and themes of mystical thought, including the theology of negation (knowing what is beyond knowledge), divinization (union and identification with the divine), and models of the soul’s ascent to God. We’ll touch briefly on key examples of mystical thinkers in the church, and suggest ideas for further study and practice.  The plan for succeeding weeks is: January 17, Ascensio – the soul’s ascent into God: Clare of Assisi (1194–1253); January 24, Contemplatio – fixing the mind on God: Ramon Llull (1232–1315); January 31, Dilectio – the delights of God’s love: Bonaventure (1221-1274); and February 7, Ablatio - knowing God in suffering: Angela of Foligno (1248–1309).

The class will meet in Saint Joseph’s Hall, with face coverings and social distancing required.

For all these classes, seating in Saint Joseph’s Hall will be arranged to maximize social-distancing. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide refreshments. All those attending the class must wear a face covering.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS COVID-19 TESTING SITES . . . COVID-19 testing is walk-in only. No appointment is needed. Walk-in testing is available at no cost to you at NYC Health + Hospitals locations. Please visit the NYC Health + Hospital website for further information and for a listing of testing locations. The site also provides information about tests for children both above and below the age of two.

MUSIC AT SAINT MARY’S . . . The organ prelude on Sunday morning is from the Clavierübung, Part III, of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). It is an extended setting based upon the traditional melody for Martin Luther’s text on the baptism of our Lord, translated “Christ, our Lord, to the Jordan came” (The Hymnal 1982, #139). The chorale melody is played on the pedals of the organ, sounding in the alto register, while consistent scale-wise motion in the lower register, played by the left hand, suggests the flowing of the Jordan River. The right hand adds two more voices of rhythmic and harmonic texture in the upper register.

The musical setting of the Mass on Sunday is by the Australian composer Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003). This setting is the second of five settings for Holy Eucharist, Rite II, published by the Church Hymnal Corporation in 1976. Williamson was an interesting figure, having been selected to succeed Sir Arthur Bliss as Master of the Queen’s Music in 1975, the first non-Briton to be so appointed. Although he lived most of his professional life in England, he traveled extensively and retained a deep affection for his native Australia. His compositions included a diversity of instrumentations and voicings. He composed his unison Mass for the Episcopal Church at a time when there were few settings for the then recently approved liturgical texts. The Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from his setting will be sung today. Although these settings were not included in The Hymnal 1982, Williamson nevertheless is represented in the The Hymnal by music for the hymns “Christ whose glory fills the skies” (#6) and “This is my Father’s world” (#651).   

Sunday’s cantor is bass, Mark Risinger. During the Communion he will sing What Ruler Wades through Murky Streams by David Hurd, organist and music director at Saint Mary’s.  This setting was originally composed for The New Century Hymnal (1995). It was later expanded to be an anthem for unaccompanied mixed voices. The text is a three-stanza poem by Thomas Troeger (b. 1945) which reflects on the baptism of our Lord. Thomas Troeger, one of the most prolific contemporary American hymn authors, is an Episcopal priest and professor emeritus of Christian Communication at Yale University.

The postlude on Sunday, like the prelude, is a work of J. S. Bach. Bach’s Fantasia in C minor (the same key as today’s prelude) may well have been modeled after the five-part fugues of French organist Nicolas de Grigny (1672–1703). Its rich ornamentation, close imitation, and harmonic plan seem to combine features of the French, German, and Italian schools of Bach’s time. The Fantasia begins as an extended tonic pedal-point with four imitative voices entering one at a time above it. After arriving at a cadence on the dominant, a section follows which is similar to the first except that it is based upon a dominant pedal. From this half-way point forward, the pedal becomes a more active member of the counterpoint and the pace of harmonic activity quickens as the music gradually winds its way back to a final pedal point in the home key of C minor. A fugue was meant to follow this Fantasia, but only a fragment of said work exists.

More about today’s cantor: Bass Mark Risinger, a Texas native, has been a member of the Saint Mary’s choir since 2005 and is also currently a member of the Board of Trustees. He teaches music and English literature at St. Bernard’s School and serves on the Education Committee of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. As a soloist, he has performed opera and oratorio throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico, including appearances with New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Nashville Symphony, the New York Choral Society, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Opera Orchestra of New York, Boston Baroque, and the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. In addition to degrees in English literature, he holds a Ph.D. in musicology from Harvard University, where he completed a dissertation on the compositional process of G.F. Handel and where he was lecturer on music for five years. In addition to teaching and singing, he is a frequent guest lecturer for the Metropolitan Opera Guild and an editor of the Hallische Händel-Ausgabe.

If you would like to attend Brother Damien’s five-week series via Zoom, please send an e-mail to Grace Mudd or to Brother Damien, who will send you a link.

This edition of the Angelus was written and edited by Father Stephen Gerth and Father Jay Smith. Father Gerth is responsible for posting the newsletter on the parish website and for distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of Christopher Howatt.