FROM THE RECTOR: SESQUICENTENNIAL PLUS

On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, The Society of the Free Church of Saint Mary the Virgin will celebrate the beginning of the one hundred fifty-second year of witness and ministry in this neighborhood and the wider fellowship of people who have found this to be a place of prayer and service. Except for those new to the parish and its newsletter, you will know that our first church was located at 225 West Forty-fifth Street, on the other side of what was then Longacre Square. The Square got its new name in 1904 when a new building for the New York Times opened on the east side of Seventh Avenue and the west side of Broadway between Forty-third and Forty-second Streets. You can read Newbury Frost Read’s (1887–1950) The Story of St. Mary’s (1931) online here. The photographs in his book are also online with the text.

On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will be the celebrant and preacher for the 12:10 PM Daily Eucharist. That evening, the Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold, XXV Presiding Bishop and Primate, will be celebrant and preacher for the Solemn Mass at 6:00 PM. Dr. David Hurd will play a recital at 5:30 PM. For the first time since February 1, 2020, the Eve of the Presentation, we will have a time for conversation and beverages in Saint Joseph’s Hall, spilling over as needed into the nave of the church. I hope that this feast marks the return of Saint Mary’s evening celebrations on the greater feast days of the church year.

In his history, Newbury Read wrote, “Most surprisingly, the only official record of the very beginning of St. Mary’s which appears to have survived is that written by Fr. Brown, the original of which was placed in the cornerstone of the old Church on West 45th Street” (page 16). The text itself begins with these words: “The result of several conversations between Mr. Henry Kingsland Leonard and the Rev. Thomas McKee Brown, concerning the establishment of a Free Church in this City of New York, to be worked on a thoroughly Catholic basis, was the receiving advice from the Bishop[ Horatio Potter (1802–1887; VI Bishop of New York, 1854–1887)], who pointed out the locality where such a church would be most likely needed” (page 16).

Father Brown continued, “Upon a clear, cold and windy afternoon of November 1867, the two gentlemen above named started upon a tour of inspection, to find out a suitable position” (Ibid.). We know quite a bit about Father Brown. We know little about Henry Leonard Kingsland. I found his family’s burial plot on findagrave.com. He and his wife had no children—and I could not find any record of his siblings having children. He is described in census records as a “general insurance broker.” There is a record of him and Father Brown attending a meeting of the American Church Union, a group of Anglo-Catholic clergy and laymen in June 1870 (New-York Tribune, January 15, 1870, page 7).

Mr. Leonard was also one of the original trustees and served for a year as the treasurer. He is last mentioned in the minutes of the meeting of January 9, 1871: “In spite of the somewhat old-fashioned formality and restraint of the language of the Minutes, it is not hard to see that all was not running smoothly with the young organization. On the 8th March, 1871, Henry K. Leonard resigned as a Trustee in a letter that is such a model of brevity that one cannot forego the conclusion that it meant more than it said” (Read, 30).

I’ve quoted the following words more than once from Father Brown’s account of the founding of the parish: “The Rev. Flavel Scott Mines is to be the Associated Priest in Charge, with the Revd. Mr. Brown, who enter upon the work, not only with the intention of preaching the comfortable Gospel of Christ, and of ministering his Holy Sacraments to His people, but also, of restoring to its proper place and importance the Worship of God—the rendering Adoration to Him as a Congregational and ceremonial act—(made beautiful, majestic and impressive by all the outward adornments, which are called the Beauty of Holiness, springing from the heart-love, within); but, which in later times have been forgotten” (page 17).

Since the first church opened on December 8, 1870, and the second on December 8, 1895, people have prayed and worshiped here in the beauty of holiness. Our worship is sacramental, congregational, and straightforward. We are blessed with a wonderful building, a fine organ, great acoustics, fine musicians, and a truly diverse congregation. The present design for the painting of the interior of the church, and especially of its ceiling, in 1998 is taken from the underside of the canopy of the tabernacle on the altar that was erected in the first church in 1872. The canopy was added in 1921 (Nicholas Krasno, A Guide to the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin New York City [1999], 27). The greatest sign of Christ’s presence in this place is the daily assembly of the People of God here for worship. —Stephen Gerth

IN THIS TRANSITORY LIFE . . . Parishioner Burton Abelson died peacefully on Monday, November 29, at the Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care in Bay Ridge after a long illness. He was eighty-five years old. Burt grew up in Boston and studied at Boston University and Simmons University, where he received a master’s degree in library science. He worked as a reference librarian for many years, first in Worcester, Massachusetts and then here in New York. He is survived by a number of nephews, nieces, grand nephews, and grand nieces. Funeral plans have not yet been finalized. Please keep Burt, has family and friends, and all who mourn in your prayers.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR Lee, Stephen, Emil, John, Karen, Hardy, Shalim, Margaret, Brian, Penelope, Greta, Larry, Pat, Liduvina, Jonathan, Emerson, Marilouise, Quincy, Florette, Peter, George, Abraham, Dennis, Ethelyn, Gypsy, William and Robert;  Randall and Louis, priests, all who work for the common good, all the friends and members of this parish, and for the repose of the souls of Burton Abelson and William Ellsworth Reid . . . GRANT THEM PEACE . . . December 5: 1945 Annie Mabel Long; 1969 Byron George Clark; 1989 Lorelle D. Brownell Britt.

ADVENT QUIET DAY . . . On Saturday, December 11, Sister Monica Clare, C.S.J.B, will lead a Quiet Day in person here at the church. Her theme will be the virtue of hope. Based on the scriptural foundations of Christian hope, her reflections will suggest some ways of keeping hope alive even in times of despair. The day will begin at 9:30 AM. There will be two reflections in the morning and one in the afternoon. Mass is at 12:10 PM, followed by lunch. Opportunities for prayer, reflection, and journaling will be provided. Reservations for the Quiet Day may be made by sending an e-mail to Father Jay Smith.

FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE. . . So far, the pledge campaign for 2022 is gaining momentum. This week we passed the half-way mark with a little over $204,000 pledged toward our goal of $400,000. We are delighted to see several new people who are members of our online congregation pledging their financial support to Saint Mary's! Thank you! If you haven't recorded your intentions for 2022 yet, please return your pledge card or contact Chris Howatt the parish administrator at 1-212-869-5830 or chowatt@stmvnyc.org. 

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 . . . Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:00 PM, Concert: New York Repertory Orchestra, Saint Mary’s Resident Orchestra, David Leibowitz, music director. The program includes the following music: Mauer, Women on a Journey (Kin Janabarhi Vra), NYRO Commission/World Premiere. In memoriam of Marguerite Iskenderian; Dello Joio, Meditations on Ecclesiastes; Still, Symphony 2 (Song of a New Race), Stephan Fillare, conductor . . . Sunday, December 5, The Second 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 are as follows: Baruch 5:1–9; Psalm 126; Philippians 1:1–11; Luke 3:1–6. The celebrant and preacher at the Mass will be Father Matthew Jacobson. Evening Prayer will be said in the church at 5:00 PM on Sunday . . . Tuesday, December 7, Racism Discussion Group Meeting, 7:00 PM via Zoom. For more information about this ongoing weekly meeting, please call the parish office . . . Wednesday, December 8, The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Celebration of the Founding of the Parish and the First Mass in the First Church on December 8, 1870. Said Mass 12:10 pm, Organ Recital 5:30 PM,  Solemn Mass 6:00 PM . . . Next 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

ABOUT THE MUSIC . . . Georg Böhm (1661–1733) is remembered primarily as organist of the Johanniskirche in Lüneburg from 1698 until his death. A student of Johann Adam Reincken (1623–1722), Böhm is almost certain to have crossed paths with the young Sebastian Bach during the latter’s stay in Lüneburg. Böhm’s Partita: Freu dich sehr, O meine Seele is a set of twelve variations built upon the melody for Psalm 42 from the 1551 Genevan Psalter, a tune which has been attributed both to Louis Bourgeois and to Claude Goudimel in various sources. By the time Böhm wrote his partita, this melody had been harmonized in many ways, adopted by the Germans, put into equal note values, and paired with various different texts. Many know this melody today as it is found in The Hymnal 1982 at #67 with Catherine Winkworth’s translation of Johann Olearius’ paraphrase of Isaiah 40:1-5, a portion of scripture often read in the Advent season. The organ Prelude on Sunday morning will be Variations 1, 2,  and 12 from Böhm’s Partita on this hymn melody, commonly referred to as Psalm 42. Variation 11 will be played as the Postlude on Sunday.

The setting of the Mass on Sunday is Intercession Mass by David Hurd, organist and music director at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. This setting of the Rite II Ordinary was originally named Mass 1974, having been composed in that year for use at the Chapel of the Intercession (Trinity Parish), Manhattan, where Dr. Hurd was Director of Music from 1973 to 1978. The setting was originally designed for congregational singing with choral and organ support. Additional layers of choral and instrumental content were added to Gloria and Sanctus shortly after its initial use. Since its publication in 1979, when it was renamed at the publisher’s request, individual movements of this setting have been included in various liturgical music collections. The Lord’s Prayer from Intercession Mass, for example, is found at S-150 in The Hymnal 1982. The Sanctus and Benedictus of this Mass are especially distinctive for their exuberant organ accompaniment and gentle final Hosannas. On this second Sunday of Advent, Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei will be sung.

The motet Canite Tuba by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525–1594) will be sung during the ministration of Communion. This classic Advent motet “sounds the trumpet” thrillingly in five-voice chorus with two soprano parts. The motet begins with the three interior voices, to which soon are added the outer two. Palestrina alternates moments of full choir with trio passages featuring the upper three or lower three voices, almost giving the effect of a double choir. The text is the first antiphon at Lauds and Vespers for Advent IV and is derived from Joel 2:1 and Isaiah 40:4.

Today’s organ voluntaries are two of the three settings of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland from the Great Eighteen Leipzig Chorales of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). The 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). BWV 659, played for the prelude, presents a poignant ornamented version of the chorale melody above a walking bass and two accompanying voices. BWV 660, played for the postlude, is an animated trio featuring an ornamented version of the chorale melody above two quasi-canonic accompanying voices played by the left hand and on the pedals.

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.

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 don't involve any artistry. You don't 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're 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 5, 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, Father Peter Powell will continue his series on the Holiness Code, Leviticus 17–27. Father will teach until mid-December, and then the adult-education class will take some time off for the Christmas Break . . . 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 . . . Sunday, December 19, 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.

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.

THE THEATER AT ST. CLEMENT’S . . . On Wednesday, November 17, the Wall Street Journal’s theater critic, Terry Teachout, reviewed the current production of the Peccadillo Theater Company at St. Clement’s Church, 423 West 46th Street. Dan Wackerman is the company’s artistic director and a regular member of our Sunday congregation. Teachout wrote, “Paul Osborn’s Morning’s at Seven is a great American play that is not widely recognized as such. The original 1939 Broadway production was a flop, running for only forty-four performances, and even though Morning’s at Seven has since received two successful Broadway revivals, in 1980 and 2002, it has still never quite managed to establish itself as the modern classic that it is. I have heard of only one professional revival in the past fifteen years, by Philadelphia’s People’s Light in 2018, and that one, while it was outstanding, did not lead to a wider renewal of interest in the play. Now Morning’s at Seven is being performed off Broadway in a staging that features a highly distinguished cast and is directed by Dan Wackerman, whose Peccadillo Theater Company (which co-produced this revival) specializes in American plays of similar vintage and quality . . . If, as seems more than likely, you’ve never seen Morning’s at Seven, I recommend this revival, from which you will surely come away wondering, as I did back in 2018, why so fine and powerful a play is not better known.” The play continues through January 9, 2022.

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.