FROM THE ANTI-RACISM GROUP: A MEMBER’S GIFT TO GOD IN ART AND POETRY

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which was observed on Monday, the Anti-Racism Group offers an example of one member's call to action. Ingrid Sletten, a founding member, is also an artist and a poet. She felt a sense of call from God to make art and write poetry around racism.

Last month, Ingrid participated in an exhibit at Gallery 35 in Manhattan, where she showed one of her poems and an accompanying image. The poem, White Man's Lamentation, talks about the hard truth that Ingrid came to after many months of readings and discussions in the racism group, that as White people today, we are not at fault; we were not there during slavery. Still, if we are committed to the removal of racism against Black people from American society, White people must look into themselves and heal the vestiges, often unconscious of their White supremacy behavior. Ingrid's further insight was that this White person's dilemma has mirrors in Jesus's persecution for things that were not his fault. He was unjustly accused and suffered for it. White people today had nothing to do with what happened in the past, but they carry it with them, and so we, as Jesus, must do what is necessary to heal our community.

White Man's Lamentation by Ingrid Sletten

Lord, I was not there
I did not do this
It is not my fault.
Yet I weep for my bleeding friends
I see them broken and suffering deeply and for long
How can I relieve their suffering?

I see that you, Lord, were not at fault either
Yet you hung there as though you were
You suffered and died.

May I see this as my cross, as you did
May I see your model and take courage
To go inside, to see the blood inside me
To heal it, stop the bleeding
May I begin the cycle
That will heal my friends.

As you did, Lord, may I be willing
To suffer within, then to heal.
So that others may heal, too.

Lord, I was not there
I did not do this
It is not my fault.

The painting, Man with Red Spirit, is Ingrid’s depiction of a White man struggling with this spiritual dilemma; the image shows him plagued by and indeed nearly consumed by the vapors of the past, which he did not create but are lodged within his spirit. The prayer of the image is that the White Man will take on the ‘vapors’ and allow the Holy Spirit to heal him from it.

The Anti-Racism Group has been a part of Saint Mary's since its inception in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. Membership in the group is open to parishioners as well as others who are interested. Please send an e-mail to Ingrid Sletten with any questions about the group.

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for the people of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and all the people of southern California, in this time of devastation, displacement, and destruction. We pray for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints, Margaret Street, London, UK.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Jon, Benjamin, Susan, Grace, Glenna, Henry, Caroline, Giovanna, Jorge, Aston, Lexi, Vicki, Carl, Georgia, Desarae, Jane, Ruth Ann, David, Michele, Barbara, Steve, Shalim, Beverly, Claudia, James, Leroy, Jose, Renee, Maddie, Nettie, Chrissy, Molly, Tony, Robert, Duncan, Justin, Audy, Russell, Sharon, Rick, Susanna, Rolf, Adair, Jan, June, Carlos, Pat, Marjorie, Liduvina, Quincy, Margaret, and Robert; for Eleanor, Barbara Jean, Curtis, Laura Katherine, and Keith, religious; for Lind, deacon; and for Robby, Jay, Julie, and Stephen, priests.

We pray also for the repose of the souls of Gypsy da Silva, Riley Wills, William Feuss, and for the souls of those whose year’s mind is on January 26: Thomas Trimble (1895), Hubert Alexander Ewer (1895), Emma Baufield (1903), George Poppie (1908), Samuel Lenox Tredwell (1917), and Abbie Knight (1929).

IN THIS TRANSITORY LIFE

As we were going to press, we learned that Gypsy da Silva died recently at the Van Dyk Park Place in Hawthorne, New Jersey, where she had resided for the last few years. Gypsy faithfully worshiped with our weekday congregation for many years and volunteered in our parish office. She had relationships with several parishes throughout the city including Saint Edward the Martyr and the Church of the Transfiguration. Gypsy was also an Associate of the Order of the Holy Cross. Please keep Gypsy, her sister Ginger, and all who mourn in your prayers.

AROUND THE PARISH

Newcomers Reception . . . Father Sammy and Renee Wood will host a reception in the rectory for newcomers on Sunday, January 26, after Solemn Mass. This is an opportunity for those who are new to the parish to get to know us better and to learn more about Saint Mary’s. Please let Father Wood know if you plan on attending.

Up next in Adult Formation . . . This Sunday, January 26, we will begin a six-week series focused on evangelism (January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 2). This is the second part of the year’s foundation course and is based on videos produced by the Episcopal Church on “Embracing Evangelism.” We will watch the videos together and discuss them. Specifically, we will examine a particularly Anglican definition of evangelism, assess the need for it, and introduce various methods for sharing the gospel. Led by Father Sammy Wood.

Pilgrimage to Assisi . . . Brother Thomas Steffensen, SSF, will be leading a pilgrimage to Assisi for brothers in his community who are nearing the end of their novitiate and he would like some Saint Marians to join them. The dates have not yet been finalized. If you might be interested, please join Brother Thomas and Father Matt after Solemn Mass on Sunday, February 2, for an information session. We will meet in Saint Benedict’s Study.

Rosary Guild . . . Seventeen members of the Saint Dominic’s Rosary Guild gathered last Sunday following Solemn Mass for their first meeting. They decided that going forward they will meet on the first Sunday of each month after Solemn Mass. The next gathering will be on February 2. In you are interested in learning more about the guild, please see the article in last week’s Angelus or speak with Father Sammy.

Candlemas . . . This year, the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, also known as Candlemas, falls on Sunday, February 2. The Presentation is one of the feast days that takes precedence when it falls on a Sunday (BCP p. 16). Our guest preacher at both Masses will be Mother Rita Powell, chaplain for the Harvard Episcopal Community. We will also offer a choral Evensong & Benediction at 4:00 PM.

Parish Conversation . . . When we implemented the last round of changes to our liturgy in Advent, we promised to host a forum to discuss the changes and hear from you. That conversation will take place on Sunday, February 9, at Coffee Hour following Solemn Mass. Please join Father Wood, Father Jacobson, and Dr. Hurd for an informal conversation about their own love of liturgy, our liturgy at Saint Mary's, and for a chance to ask your own questions.

Neighbors in Need . . . A drop-by day was held on January 17. Donations of coats of all sizes for both men and women are especially needed for the winter months. There is also a need for sensible shoes and men’s pants, especially sizes 34-38. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information. The next drop-by will be held on Friday, February 21.

Would you like to donate the altar flowers on a Sunday? . . . The customary donation requested is $250. Please call the Parish Office (212-869-5830) or email Chris Howatt for more information.

The New York Repertory Orchestra . . . NYRO, Saint Mary’s resident orchestra, will have their next concert on February 15 at 8:00 PM. The program features: David Diamond: The Enormous Room; Vitezslava Kaprálová: Rustic Suite; and Paul Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher (Masumi Per Rostad, viola). Admission is free but a donation of $15.00 (or more) is gratefully accepted.

By the Numbers . . . recently at Saint Mary’s, we’ve had:

• 3 new altar servers

• 17 new members of Saint Dominic's Rosary Guild

• 3 new ushers

• 1 new stove in the kitchen

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

Helping the victims of the fires in California . . . The Anti-Racism group has donated $750 towards helping those in California who are suffering from the ongoing wildfires. The parish has matched their donation, and $500 each has been given to three different groups in need: Fannie & Evette Turner, The Bill Washington Family, and Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Altadena. The Turner and Washington families are individual African American families who started GoFundMe campaigns after having been displaced from an area that had been a thriving community of Black families, many of whom had been forced to relocate from the Pasadena area decades ago when the land values there went up. Click on any of the above links to join Saint Mary’s in supporting them.

Absalom Jones Celebration . . . This year’s diocesan celebration of Absalom Jones will be Saturday, February 8, at 10:30 AM, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. From the Cathedral: “This meaningful service will honor the legacy of Rev. Absalom Jones, the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church, whose groundbreaking ministry paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive priesthood. Join us for this inspiring celebration of faith, perseverance, unity, and the richness of our shared diversity.” While registration isn’t required, RSVPing here will help the Cathedral to prepare. Absalom Jones’s feast day is on Thursday, February 13, and Saint Mary’s will commemorate him that day at Mass in the Lady Chapel.

ABOUT THE MUSIC AT THE SOLEMN MASS ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2025, THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Holy Apostles Mass, this Sunday’s setting, was composed by David Hurd, Organist and Music Director at Saint Mary’s, while he was director of music at the Church of the Holy Apostles, Chelsea, Manhattan. It was first sung at Holy Apostles Church on All Saints’ Day 2003. Commissioned by Holy Apostles parishioners Mary Anne and John Grammer, Holy Apostles Mass is a setting of the Rite II Eucharistic texts. It was originally scored for congregation, choir, organ, strings, flute, oboe, and horn, and was intended to be the setting for the parish’s Christmas Midnight Mass. From the time of its introduction, Holy Apostles Mass was sung in rotation with several other settings by the congregation and choir, sometimes with full or partial orchestration, or with organ alone. The original choral parts were later expanded in fulfillment of the original plan for the Mass, and the revised version was premiered by the choirs of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas, in April 2018. On Sunday at Saint Mary’s, this revised edition of the Gloria, Sanctus–Benedictus, and Agnus Dei will be sung by the choir with organ accompaniment.

The motet sung during Communion is a setting of Holy Sonnet XV, Wilt thou love God, by John Donne (1572–1631). This choral setting by David Hurd was commissioned by Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas, and premiered there on October 31, 2021. John Donne is considered the leading English poet of the metaphysical school and the greatest love poet in the English language. He is also noted for his religious verse, his treatises, and for his sermons which rank among the most noted of his time. He was dean of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London from 1621 until 1631. Wilt thou love God is the fifteenth of his nineteen numbered sonnets under the general heading of “Divine Meditations.” David Hurd’s motet exploits choral textures ranging from unison trebles at its outset to full eight-part mixed voices at its conclusion in setting Donne’s rich meditation.
— David Hurd

We need your help to keep holding our services. Click below, where you can make one-time or recurring donations to support Saint Mary’s. We are very grateful to all those who make such donations and continue to support Saint Mary’s so generously.

Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting 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. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.