FROM FATHER SMITH: SAINT MARY’S INTERIM RECTOR

On Wednesday afternoon, January 12, I spoke with Father Sammy Wood via Zoom. Father Wood is the newly appointed interim rector here at Saint Mary’s, so we had a lot to talk about. I’d not met Father Sammy before—he prefers Father Sammy—so we spent some time introducing ourselves to each other. You can read a short biography of him here. Father Sammy then asked me to tell him about Saint Mary’s and our team of staff, volunteers, and clergy. He was interested to hear about our history and traditions. He listened carefully and asked really good questions. He was also, I soon realized, taking notes. He tells me that he is eager to come to New York, to begin work, and to meet all of you. He also wants to spend some time getting to know how things work here, and so we decided, tentatively, on the following schedule.

After saying goodbye to his parish in Nashville on February 6, he will come to New York, probably with one of his teenage children, and begin moving into the rectory and getting acquainted with life here at the parish. (His wife, Renée, and his other two children will follow shortly thereafter, after they’ve had a chance to wrap things up in Nashville.) At the Solemn Mass on Sunday, February 13, Father Sammy will sit in choir and will be introduced to the parish. I feel sure that he will want to speak to the congregation at that time. On Sunday, February 20, he will be the celebrant at the Solemn Mass. Sister Monica Clare, CSJB, will preach. On Sunday, February 27, he will preach and celebrate at Solemn Mass at 11:00 AM. I will also work with him on the weekday Mass schedule, and he will begin celebrating the noonday Mass not long after his arrival.

I think I will leave it up to Father Sammy to tell you about his vision for his ministry as interim rector. But I think I can tell you that I found him very easy to talk to. He listens well. (Perhaps too well for his own good. We spoke for two hours, much of that time spent with me telling him about the amazing and varied thing that is life and ministry here in Times Square. I fear that I tired him out.) I believe that he wants to help the parish to move with hope into this next chapter in the parish’s history. And I heard him speak more than once about the foundation of his ministry: the proclamation of the love of God for the world and for all of you. Please keep him and his family in your prayers as they prepare to move to New York. I look forward to helping the members of the Board of Trustees to introduce Father Sammy Wood to Saint Mary’s. — Jay Smith

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR Stephanie, Nina, Alfonso, John, Jason, Grace, Trevor, Ricardo, Luis, Aaron, Marie, Emily, Philip, Fidel, Sylvia, Pat, Karen, Shalim, Brian, Carmen, Jean, Patrick, Penelope, Greta, Liduvina, Marilouise, Quincy, Florette, Peter, George, Abraham, Dennis, Emil, Ethelyn, Gypsy, Hardy, Margaret, and Robert; Sammy, Randall, and Louis, priests; Andrew, bishop; all victims of natural disaster; all who work for the common good; all the friends and members of this parish; and for the repose of the souls of Margaret Easton Isenberg, Linda Lou Mudd, and J. Robert Wright, priest. Your prayers are also asked for those who suffered in the fire in the Bronx and for the repose of the souls of all those who died their . . .  GRANT THEM PEACE . . . January 16: 1873 Georgianna Hempstead; 1880 Elizabeth Karl; 1920 Clara Janes; 1931 Beatrice Trippe; 1955 Ada Evelyn Dellegar; 1976 Michael McGrath.

IN THIS TRANSITORY LIFE . . . Linda Lou Isenberg Mudd, the mother of parishioner, Jason Mudd, died after a long illness on January 10, 2022. She was seventy-three years old. Margaret Easton Isenberg, Jason’s grandmother, died just days before her daughter, Linda. In addition, Jason has been recovering from a COVID infection. It has been a difficult time for him and for his wife, Grace Mudd. Please keep them in your prayers. A brief obituary of Mrs. Mudd may be read here.

THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD: BURTON ABELSON . . . Burt Abelson’s funeral will take place on Saturday morning, January 15, at 10:00 AM in the church. Burt had a long career as a reference librarian, working primarily in the New York Public Library system. He is remembered at the parish for his kindness, gentleness, and intelligence. He loved music, books, and art. To have a conversation with Burt was to experience the possibility for learning and growth and the reality of grace. He is sorely missed here at Saint Mary’s. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. — JRS

REMEMBERING FATHER WRIGHT . . . The Reverend Canon J. Robert Wright, Saint Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery Professor of Ecclesiastical History Emeritus at the General Theological Seminary, died peacefully at his home here in New York on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. A remembrance of Father Wright issued by the dean of General Seminary may be read here. Father Wright belonged to a group of Episcopal church historians of a certain generation that had read so deeply and so widely in the sources that they were able to speak knowledgably not only about Gregory of Nyssa and Julian of Norwich, but also about Richard Hooker, John Henry Newman, Michael Ramsey, Barbara Harris, and Pope Paul VI. If one reads the many testimonials to Father Wright that have appeared on social media in the last two days, one sees clearly that he not only knew things, but he also had the ability to teach those things to several generations of seminarians. He seems to have been able to make ancient and sometimes obscure things compelling, inspiring hundreds of students to love their tradition, to analyze that tradition critically but respectfully, and to be curious about the world beyond the boundaries of the Anglican Communion. Father Wright himself famously engaged in a number of ecumenical dialogues and wrote often about ecclesiology and the exercise of authority in the church. He is remembered with affection and great respect by a great many of the students whom he taught over the years. A public memorial service is to take place later this year. The time and place of the service have not yet been announced. — JRS

AROUND THE PARISH . . . On the afternoon of Monday, January 10, parishioner Stephanie Felshin was struck by a car, fell to the ground, and suffered lacerations to the back of her head. She was attended to by passersby and then taken to the emergency room at Bellevue Hospital, where her wounds were cleaned and stitched. The ER staff tested her to make sure that she had not sustained more serious injuries. She spent the night at the hospital and was discharged the following day. Those of you who know Stephanie will not be surprised to hear that her account of this frightening  incident is remarkably stoic. She reports that she is “walking well” and that she is taking it easy so that her “bruised-feeling head can recover.” Please keep her in your prayers.

THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARY’S . . . The Holy Eucharist and the Daily Office: The Angelus is recited Monday through Saturday at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 12:10 PM. Evening Prayer is said in the church Monday through Saturday at 5:00 PM, except on Federal holidays and certain holy days. A Solemn Mass is celebrated on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. On Sunday, January 16, The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, the Adult Education class will meet from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM in the Arch Room, on the Second Floor of the Mission House. Evening Prayer is said at 5:00 PM in the church on Sunday afternoons . . . This week, on Monday, January 17, we commemorate Antony of Egypt. Monday is also the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a Federal holiday: the church will open at 10:00 AM and close at 2:00 PM. Evening Prayer will not be said in the church that day. The parish offices will also be closed. On Tuesday, January 18, we celebrate The Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle, a commemoration that is also the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There are also several Lesser Feasts next week, Wulfstan of Worcester on January 19, Fabian on January 20, Agnes on January 21, and Vincent of Saragossa on Saturday, January 22 . . . Tuesday, January 18, Racism Discussion Group Meeting, 7:00 PM via Zoom. For more information about this ongoing weekly meeting, please call the parish office . . . Friday, January 21, Neighbors in Need Drop-by Day, 1:30 to 3:30 PM.

PLEASE WELCOME OUR GUEST PREACHER . . . This coming Sunday, January 16, the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, the preacher at the Solemn Mass will be the Reverend Dr. Patrick Cheng, an Episcopal priest, lawyer, and theologian who lives, works, and minisers here in New York City. He is an associate priest at our neighbor, the Church of the Transfiguration. He also serves as the Senior Vice President of Business Compliance at the Church Pension Group, the national benefits organization of the Episcopal Church. In addition, Father Cheng teaches at the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, and, since 2019, has served as the Theologian-in-Residence at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. He is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary (Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A.), Harvard Law School (J.D.), and Yale College (B.A.) and has written a number of articles, as well as three books, on queer theology. Father Cheng is a kind and pastoral man who contributes in many ways to the life of our diocese and of the wider church. It will be a pleasure to welcome him back to Saint Mary’s.

NEWS OF OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR . . . Our organist and music director, Dr. David Hurd, has not been away from Saint Mary’s much during the past two years, but he will need to be from the parish on three Sundays and one holy day in the next couple of months. On Sunday, January 23, at 4:00 PM, David will play a recital at Saint John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville, Florida. He will also be away on Sunday, February 13, for a workshop and a hymn festival at Old South Church in Boston. David will also be away from the parish on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, and on the following Sunday, March 27, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. He will be preparing for and then playing an organ recital at Mount Olive Lutheran Church inMinneapolis, Minnesota.

It is a source of pride for the parish that David is in such demand at churches around the country, and by supporting this ministry the parish helps to make an important contribution to the wider church.

We are very pleased that parishioner and accomplished organist, Mr. Clark Anderson, has agreed to play these four services so David can be away. We are very grateful to him for his help and his artistry.

You are also invited to watch an hourlong presentation on Youtube, which features our own David Hurd in converstation with Paolo Bordignon, the music director at Saint Bart’s, our neighbor on Park Avenue. It is a fascinating and lively conversation about David’s work as a composer and as a church musician. You will also notice that Father Peter Thompson is the facilitator for the conversation. Peter was an intern here at Saint Mary’s while he was a student at Columbia University. It is always good to see him. You may find the Youtube link here.

ORGAN RECITAL: JEREMY JELINEK . . . On Wednesday, February 9, at 2:00 PM, in the church, Jeremy Jelinek will play an organ recital in fulfilment of one of the requirements for the Master of Music (MM) degree in organ performance to be granted by The Juilliard School. Jeremy’s primary organ instructor is Paul Jacobs. Jeremy’s program will include works by Buxtehude, Duruflé, Cage, and Reger. All are invited and encouraged to attend! Jeremy is a good friend of Saint Mary’s, who often worships here along with his partner, Matthew Lobe, who was baptized here last Easter. Jeremy went out of his way to help us recently when he stepped in to play a Sunday service when David Hurd was ill. He is a very fine musician and scholar—he knows a great deal about Gregorian chant—and is a generous and kind person. I hope that many Saint Marians will be able to support Jeremy on February 9. Please keep him in your prayers. — JRS

ABOUT THE MUSIC . . . The organ prelude and postlude on Sunday morning are Felix Mendelssohn’s Prelude and Fugue in C minor. The prelude was composed in 1837. The fugue was composed a bit earlier, in 1834. The pairing is the first of three preludes and fugues that were dedicated to Mendelssohn’s friend, Thomas Attwood, the London organist and composer, who had studied with Mozart. The prelude is marked Vivace and has a stern, assertive nature. One wonders if Mendelssohn drew inspiration from Bach’s similarly muscular Prelude, BWV 546, in the same key. Mendelssohn’s Fugue in C minor is marked Con moto, and despite its dark key, it maintains the rhythmic character of a Gigue.

Calvin Hampton (1938–1984) was a vibrant member of the New York music community his entire adult life. A brilliant organist and imaginative composer, Hampton was music director at Calvary Church, Gramercy Park, from the early 1960s until shortly before his death. His dynamic musical voice was generously expressed in music for the organ as well as in varied concert and liturgical applications. The weekly Friday midnight organ recitals which he played at Calvary Church for several seasons are legendary. His distinctive art-song styled hymn settings and liturgical service music brought a bright spark to congregational singing in the years after the Second Vatican Council and the ecumenical wave of liturgical renewal which followed. Hampton’s Mass for the New Rite was composed especially for the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Eucharistic common texts which took hold in the early 1970s. It was published in 1976. The Creed from this setting, revised for the text of the present Book of Common Prayer and included in The Hymnal 1982, has become a staple for singing congregations far and wide, including the congregation of Saint Mary the Virgin, New York City. The other portions of Hampton’s Mass are less well known, perhaps because they appeared too challenging for regular congregational singing and did not significantly penetrate the repertoire of choral settings for which there has been little demand. On Sunday, the choir will sing the Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei of Hampton’s Mass for the New Rite, and we shall all sing the Creed together as is the custom at Saint Mary’s.

The motet at Communion on Sunday is also by Calvin Hampton. It is one of the yet unpublished choral pieces which he shared with the Mississippi Liturgy and Music conference in 1983. This was the first sign reflects upon Saint John’s account of the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed his first public miracle in changing water to wine (John 2:1–11), a bible passage which we hear at the Eucharist only in lectionary year C. — David Hurd

ADULT EDUCATION . . . The Adult Forum continues this coming Sunday, January 16, at 9:30 AM in the Arch Room on the second floor of the Mission House. Father Jay Smith will lead the class in a discussion of John 2:1–11, the gospel passage appointed for the day. Father Smith will be the principal celebrant on Sunday. The preacher at the Mass is the Reverend Dr. Patrick Cheng.

HELP WANTED! . . . Get involved at Saint Mary’s—Volunteer opportunities!

Whether you’re new to Saint Mary’s or a longtime friend of the parish, we welcome and invite you to get involved in one of the many parish guilds. No experience is required for any of these ministries. We will be happy to help train, answer questions, and assist you in getting started.

We feature two guilds this week:

• Saint Ambrose Candle Guild oversees the use of candles, both ceremonial and decorative, at Saint Mary’s. This includes maintenance of the office lights, hanging lamps, Advent and paschal candles, and creating displays of extra candles on the altar for major feasts. There is some flexibility about work schedules. Please contact Brendon Hunter to learn more.

• Saint Bede Guild of Readers is a faithful group of Saint Marians who read the lessons at Mass and other principal services throughout the year. Some members of the guild also chant the Prayers of the People at Solemn Masses and the Epistle on major feasts. This ministry is open to those who have worshipped at Saint Mary’s for at least six months and have made a commitment to the parish. Please contact MaryJane Boland to learn more.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION FOR ALTAR FLOWERS? . . . Many dates for donating flowers are available, including the following Sundays: February 6, 13, 20, and 27; and Sunday, March 27, The Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday). A number of Sundays in Eastertide are also available. The suggested donation is $250.00 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 calendar. The donation amount can be divided between more than one donor. Please contact Chris Howatt and Father Smith to donate the altar flowers. For questions about flowers and the Flower Guild, please speak with Brendon Hunter.

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, January 21. 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 February Drop-by will take place on Friday, February 18. The March Drop-by will take place on Friday, March 18.

This edition of the Angelus was written and edited by Father Jay Smith. Father Matt Jacobson is responsible for helping to edit and proofread the newsletter and for posting it 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.