FROM THE RECTOR: ANNIVERSARIES

In Newbury Frost Read’s The Story of St. Mary’s (1931) we read, “On the Patronal Festival [Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary], Thursday the Eighth of December, 1870, the Church was opened and dedicated by the Right Reverend Horatio Southgate, sometime Bishop of Constantinople, who officiated in the absence of the Right Reverend Horatio Potter, D.D. LL.D., D.C.L, Bishop of New York” (page 26). There was a single newspaper article concerning this “opening and dedication,” published in the New York Herald the following day, December 9. Mr. Read noted that the article is “apparently the most complete that has survived,” adding that, “although [the story the Herald] leaves much to be desired, [it] is very different from what that great newspaper would publish today” (Ibid.).

Things were certainly different when our second church home opened on Sunday, December 8, 1898, the Second Sunday of Advent. The day was also a commemoration of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many newspapers covered the opening in 1895. Unfortunately, we do not have any record of the service beyond those journalistic accounts. The first service here did not include the dedication of the church. On Thursday, December 12, 1895, Bishop Horatio Potter’s nephew, the Right Reverend Henry Codman Potter, VII Bishop of New York, dedicated and consecrated our present church home.

In 1883, Bishop Horatio Potter called for the election of an assistant bishop because of his failing health. His nephew, the Reverend Henry Codman Potter, rector of Grace Church, New York City, was elected assistant bishop. He became the seventh bishop of New York upon the death of his uncle in 1887.

Here’s the opening paragraph of the article in the New York News: “The new church of St. Mary the Virgin was consecrated today by Bishop Potter. The church was filled to its capacity, many of those present being from out of town. A few minutes before eleven o’clock the orchestra began the prelude, and this was followed by the procession of vested choir, the clergy, and bishops. First came the acolytes, bearing crucifix and thurible, then followed the choir and the clergy, the Rev. Thomas McKee Brown, rector of the church, and the Rev. Fathers [Arthur] Mason and [John A.] Stanton, [Jr.], curates in the parish, and about fifty clergymen from other churches in this and neighboring cities. In the procession were many students from the General Theological Seminary. At the end of the procession was Bishop Potter” (Read, Story, page 126).

On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the Most Reverend Frank Tracy Griswold III, XXV Presiding Bishop & Primate of the Episcopal Church, was celebrant and preacher for the Solemn Mass on our patronal feast. Father Matt Jacobson and I were attending priests for the bishop. The Right Reverend R. William Franklin, the XI bishop of Western New York, and a former member of this parish was in choir, as was Father Jay Smith, who was nursing an ailing back. Mass was preceded by an organ recital performed by Dr. David Hurd, who played his composition Te Deum Laudamus. The work is in four movements and is based on verses of that ancient Latin hymn. David premiered the work at New York’s Riverside Church on July 20, 1982. There is a tremendous and energetic joy to the piece, entirely appropriate for this great feast day. The musical setting at the Solemn Mass was the Missa Alma redemptoris mater of Tomás Luís de Victoria (c. 1548–1611).

After the service, for the first time since Candlemas, February 2, 2020, we gathered in Saint Joseph’s Hall for refreshments. What I did not know in advance was that three of my former colleagues here at Saint Mary’s, Bishop Allen Shin, Father John Beddingfield, and Father Matthew Mead, along with Father Jay Smith, had prepared remarks and had a gift for me. In addition, they had contacted former colleagues and seminarians who contributed kind remembrances of their time here at Saint Mary’s while I have served here as rector. Board Vice President Dr. Mark Risinger was the master of ceremonies during our time of fellowship, and he also made some very kind remarks. Bishop Griswold also spoke. I had the chance to speak words of thanks for the welcome and support I have received as a rector and publicly to give thanks for the grace that brought my husband, Richard Mohammed, to Saint Mary’s for Sunday Evensong many years ago.

In July 2021, when I began to think about my last Sunday here, I thought at first that it would be the Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, which is also the anniversary of the dedication of our church home. Later, I realized that the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, was the anniversary of Father Brown’s death in the rectory in 1898 from pneumonia. I have lived in the same rectory as our Father Founder for many years now. Father Brown was, and is, an inspiration to me. This is true, also of my immediate predecessor, Father Edgar Wells, who died on Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2020, though not, of course, in the rectory. His funeral was celebrated on August 21, 2021. I am one of nine rectors of the parish. The photographs of my eight predecessors hang in the rectory. I think about them often, and it was a grace for me to be able to preach at Father Wells’ funeral, and to give thanks for the ways in which he helped me over the years.

My thoughts about my predecessors and their dying is not just about their deaths, it is about the communion of saints and our life in Christ. That is the most important thing, when I celebrate and preach as a pastor at any funeral—“pastor” is the primary description in our tradition of a presbyter’s ministry. As a young rector in a small city, I would be called to the hospital during the night when someone was gravely ill. Responding to those calls, I realized that I was a priest because I was a pastor, not that I am a pastor because I am a priest. My learning continued in my years here at Saint Mary’s, for which I bless God and the people I have had the privilege to serve. —Stephen Gerth

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR Lee, Pat, Eloise, Sylvia, Emil, Renée, Barbara, John, Karen, Hardy, Shalim, Margaret, Brian, Penelope, Greta, Larry, Liduvina, Jonathan, Emerson, Marilouise, Quincy, Florette, Peter, George, Abraham, Dennis, Ethelyn, Gypsy, William and Robert; Lucas, religious, Stephen, Randall and Louis, priests, for all who work for the common good, for all the friends and members of this parish, and for the repose of the soul of Lee Griffith . . GRANT THEM PEACE . . . December 12: 1887 Charles Emery Soule; 1907 Charlotte Andrew; 1914 Lawrence Baker; 1916 Arthur Haight; 1931 Herman Brandt; 1959 Hilda Morris Carswell; 1961 Jeannette Bolton; 1962 Martha Townroe; 1980 Jane E. Thomas.

SAFE PRACTICES AT SAINT MARY’S . . . On Friday, December 10, the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, and Mary T. Bassett, M.D., M.P.H., Acting Commissioner of Health of State of New York, issued a Commissioner’s Determination on Indoor Masking Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.60. The portion of the document pertinent to life at Saint Mary’s reads, “7a. After careful review and consideration of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide, and in alignment with CDC recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission, all persons, over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering/mask, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear an appropriate face covering/mask while in any indoor public place. b. This requirement shall not apply to any indoor public area that requires proof of vaccination as a condition of entry. c. For purposes of this determination “indoor public place” shall mean any indoor space that is not a private residence. d. This requirement shall be in effect until January 15, 2022.”

This means that until further notice both clergy and people should wear a mask when in the church, unless they are actively eating or drinking, reading the Scripture, or presiding at the Eucharist. (The music director and the members of the choir have developed certain safe practices, including masking, and have been following those practices in the choir loft for some time.)

DIRECT CHARITABLE GIFTS FROM IRAs: IRA gifts are not recognized as income and will reduce your 2021 tax liability. If you are 70.5 or older, you can make a gift from your traditional IRA account. And if you are 72 or older, your IRA donation is a compassionate way to fulfill your required minimum distribution for the year. Please be sure to consult with your tax professional. In addition, many friends of this parish contribute in this way.

THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARY’S . . . Sunday, December 12, The Third Sunday of Advent. Adult Education 9:30–10:30 AM in the Arch Room on the second floor of the Mission House. Solemn Mass, 11:00 AM. The readings at the Solemn Mass are as follows: Zephaniah 3:14–20, Psalm 85:7–13; Philippians 4:4–9, and Luke 3:7–18. The celebrant and preacher at the Mass on the Third Sunday of Advent will be Father Stephen Gerth. Evening Prayer will be said, though not sung, in the church at 5:00 PM on Sunday . . . Tuesday, December 14, Racism Discussion Group Meeting, 7:00 PM via Zoom. For more information about this ongoing weekly meeting, please call the parish office . . . Next Sunday: December 19, The Fourth Sunday of Advent. Solemn Mass, 11:00 AM. The readings at the Solemn Mass are as follows: Micah 5:2–4; Psalm 80:1–7; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39–56. The celebrant and preacher at the Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent will be Father Stephen Gerth. This will be Father Gerth’s final service at Saint Mary’s. Evening Prayer will be said, though not sung, in the church at 5:00 PM on Sunday.

ABOUT THE MUSIC . . . Sunday’s organ voluntaries are both from the North German Baroque school and are based upon Luther’s chorale Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (“Come now, Savior of the Gentiles”). This chorale (54 in The Hymnal 1982) is Martin Luther’s sixteenth-century adaptation of the fourth-century Latin hymn Veni Redemptor gentium attributed to Ambrose of Milan (55 in The Hymnal 1982). Today’s prelude is an extended Choralfantasia by Nicolaus Bruhns (1665–1697). Bruhns was a highly regarded virtuoso of both keyboard and stringed instruments of the generation before J. S. Bach (1685–1750). He was known to play the violin while accompanying himself on the pedals of the organ. His Choralfantasia is a monumental example of its genre. Each of the chorale’s four melodic phrases is set for two manuals and pedals in its own separate section and embellished thoroughly. The postlude today is the third of the three settings of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland from the Great Eighteen Leipzig Chorales of J. S. Bach. (The first and second of this set of three were played as voluntaries two weeks ago on the First Sunday of Advent.) This third setting, BWV 661, is a vigorous fugue for the hands under which each of the four phrases of the chorale in turn is stated boldly in long tones played on the organ pedals.

The choral Mass setting on Sunday morning is the recently published Mass by American composer Randall Svane (b. 1955). The date of composition is January 19, 2005. The setting is dedicated to Dr. Brian Harlow and the Choir of Saint Luke’s Church, Gladstone, New Jersey. These settings of Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei are essentially scored for four voices but, in course, they branch out into divisi scoring for richer harmonic expression. The tonal center of the setting, as a whole, may be A minor, but the music liberally exploits chromatic pitches along the way. Randall Svane is an active organist, conductor, and teacher. Born in Philadelphia, he holds degrees in organ performance and composition from the Manhattan School of Music and New York University, respectively. His orchestral, chamber, operatic, and choral works have been performed internationally to public acclaim.

The motet at Communion on Sunday was composed by the Sottish-born composer Robert Ramsey (c. 1590–1644). Ramsey obtained the bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge in 1616 and was organist of Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1628 until 1644 as well as Master of the Children from 1637. The Great “O” antiphons traditionally surrounded Magnificat at Vespers on the seven evenings before Christmas Eve. Each is addressed to Christ, by way of one of his scriptural attributes, summoning him to come. O Sapientia (“O Wisdom”) is traditionally sung on December 17, the first of the Great “O” antiphons. Ramsey is one of many who have composed choral settings of these famous liturgical texts. His stately setting of O Sapientia employs a rich five-voice texture.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED . . . We hope to receive donations of new or lightly used winter coats during the winter months. The coats should be clean. Their pockets should be empty, and the zippers, if any, should be in good repair . . . At our monthly Drop-by Days, we distribute clothing, toiletry, and hygiene items—and Metro Cards when they are available—to those in need in the Times Square neighborhood. Our next Drop-by Day is scheduled for Friday, December 17. Volunteers work from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM. Our guests are invited into the church at 2:00 PM, and we close our doors at 3:00 PM. We need six (6) volunteers for each Drop-by. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Marie Rosseels, MaryJane Boland, or Father Jay Smith. You may reach them by calling the Parish Office at 212-869-5830. The January Drop-by will take place on Friday, January 21.

FROM THE FLOWER GUILD. . . Donations for Christmas Flowers are most welcome from members and friends of Saint Mary's. No amount is ever too small (or too large!) and will be put to creating everything from the creche installation to the wreaths and garlands on the building exterior to the altar flower arrangements. Please go online to Saint Mary's donation page, click on "Give Now", and to the right of the amount entered select "Flowers" from the Fund menu. Checks can be mailed to the parish at 145 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036 and please note "Christmas Flowers" on the memo line. Flower donation envelopes are also available at the back of the church and can be left in any shrine box or in the offering basket during services. Volunteers for Christmas Flowers are needed for many different things - including plenty of non-creative items that do not involve any artistry. You do not have to have been a member of the Flower Guild or a member of the parish to help. The production starts Saturday, December 18 and ends with dismantling on Saturday, January 8 with many things in between. Please contact Brendon Hunter if you are interested in helping the Flower Guild this Christmas and to get a copy of the latest schedule of volunteer opportunities. Donations for altar flowers are available for many Sundays and feast days in 2022, including the Feast of the Epiphany, Baptism of Our Lord, and Sundays January 16, 23, and 30. The suggested donation is $250 which provides flowers on the high altar; shrines of Christ the King, Blessed Virgin Mary, and Sacred Heart; and/or other locations depending on the commemoration or feast on the calendar. The donation amount can be divided between more than one donor. If there is a special commemoration for a departed loved one, celebration taking place, or favorite feast day you would like to have in 2022, please consider reserving that now. To arrange a donation for the altar flowers for a Sunday or feast day, please contact Chris Howatt or Father Smith. For questions about flowers and the Flower Guild, please speak with Brendon Hunter.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION . . . This Sunday, December 12, the Adult Education class will meet in the Arch Room on the second floor of the Mission House. Access is via the sextons’ lodge at the east end of the narthex (vestibule) of the main entrance to the church . . . On Sunday, December 12, Father Peter Powell will continue his series on the Holiness Code, Leviticus 17–27. This will be the final adult-education class in 2021. We now begin the Christmas Break (December 19–January 2) . . . After the break, Adult Education will resume on Sunday, January 9, 2022, when the class will study and discuss the gospel lesson appointed for that day. This series, Reading Sunday’s Gospel and Getting Ready for Mass will continue until mid-February (January 9, 16, 23, 30, and February 6 and 13). The class will be taught by Father Jacobson, Father Smith, and Father Powell, who will take turns leading the class . . . Then on February 20 and 27, VK McCarty will lead a two-part series, Women Witnessed in the Ministry of Saint Paul, in which she will talk about women such as Lydia, Prisca, Phoebe, Euodia and Syntyche. VK’s book, From their Lips: Voices of Early Christian Women, was recently published by Gorgias Press . . . Father Powell will resume his series on the Holiness Code on the Sundays in Lent.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR . . . The Fourth Sunday of Advent & Father Gerth’s Final Day at Saint Mary’s . . . Tuesday, December 21, Saint Thomas the Apostle . . . Friday, December 24, Christmas Eve. Music for Congregation and Choir 4:30 PM and Procession & Solemn Mass 5:00 PM . . . Saturday, December 25, Christmas Day, Solemn Mass & Procession to the Crèche 11:00 AM . . . Sunday, December 26, First Sunday after Christmas Day, Solemn Mass 11:00 AM . . . Monday, December 27, Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (transferred), Mass 12:10 PM . . . Tuesday, December 28, Saint John the Evangelist (transferred), Mass 12:10 PM . . . Saturday, January 1, The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Said Mass 12:10 PM . . . Thursday, January 6, The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

SAINT MARY’S ONLINE CENTERING PRAYER GROUP . . . The Saint Mary’s Centering Prayer Group continues to meet! The group meets online, via Zoom, every Friday at 6:30 PM. If you are interested in participating, please send an e-mail to this address. The convenors of the group will then send the link to the Zoom meeting.

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