FROM THE ANTI-RACISM GROUP: SACRED GROUND

The Anti-Racism Group at Saint Mary's is beginning a new program called Sacred Ground. The group and this new program are open to all members. Sacred Ground, a program of the Episcopal Church, is an eleven-part online course that looks into issues and possible healing for all people. The Sacred Ground website describes the program as follows:

Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The eleven-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.

Please know there are no prerequisites to join us. We meet from 7:00 – 8:30 PM over Zoom and the following dates are planned:

February 18, March 4 and 18, April 1, 15 and 29, May 13 and 27 (May 27 is a tentative date), June 10 and 24, and, if needed, July 8.

If you are interested in joining the group for the Sacred Ground series, please get in touch with Pat Ahearn. We pray that the Spirit will move you to join us.

As February is Black History Month, the Anti-Racism Group has also compiled a reading list of the books that the group has read since they formed in 2020. Please click here to download the list. They are sharing this with the wider parish community both as a resource of suggested readings, but also as examples of the types of books they read together in case others might feel called to join the group. Included are brief excerpts from some of the books. If you are interested in learning more about the Anti-Racism Group at Saint Mary’s, please contact Ingrid Sletten.

PARISH PRAYERS

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 Roy, Larry, Benjamin, Susan, Grace, Henry, Caroline, Giovanna, Jorge, Lexi, Vicki, Carl, Georgia, Desarae, David, Steve, Beverly, Claudia, Jose, Maddie, Nettie, Chrissy, Molly, Tony, Sharon, Rick, Rolf, Adair, Jan, June, Carlos, Pat, Liduvina, Quincy, Leroy, Margaret, and Robert; for Eleanor, Barbara Jean, Curtis, Laura Katherine, and Keith, religious; for Lind, deacon; and for Robby, Jay, and Stephen, priests.

We pray also for the repose of the souls of those whose year’s mind is on February 9: Wanda Marguerite Goodrich (1903), Etta Dinning (1904), John Louis Scholz (1964), and Percy Gould Rigby (1970).

AROUND THE PARISH

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 this 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.

Super Bowl Party . . . The Young Saint Marians will be hosting a Super Bowl party in Saint Joseph’s Hall this Sunday, February 9, at 6:00 PM. This is not just for young adults; all are invited! Please bring food and/or drink to share. No need to RSVP.

Second Sunday Tour . . . We offer guided tours of the parish on the second Sunday of the month after Solemn Mass. The next tour is this Sunday, February 9. Please meet by the ushers table.

Guild of All Souls Lunch . . . Our next Requiem Mass will be Saturday, February 15, at 12:10 PM in the Mercy Chapel. Following Mass, the Guild of All Souls will gather in the parish hall for lunch. During lunch, Ingrid Sletten will speak to the group about spiritual direction. All guild members are encouraged to attend, though this event is open to everyone. In fact, this is a great opportunity for those who have been interested to learn more about the guild. Please RSVP to Father Sammy by February 13.

Congratulations to Chris Edling! . . . Our seminarian Chris Edling was recently admitted as a postulant in the Diocese of New York by Bishop Heyd. This is an important step in the process towards Holy Orders. Congratulations, Chris!

Adult Formation . . . We continue our six-week series focused on evangelism (every Sunday through 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 are watching the videos together and discussing them. Specifically, we are examining a particularly Anglican definition of evangelism, assessing the need for it, and introducing various methods for sharing the gospel. Led by Father Sammy Wood.

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.

Neighbors in Need . . . 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.

Lenten Quiet Day on March 15 . . . Please save the date for next Quiet Day on Saturday, March 15. Father Matt will offer the reflections. More details to follow.

Would you like to donate the altar flowers on a Sunday? . . . Dates in March that are still available are the Annunciation on March 25 and the Fourth Sunday in Lent on March 30. The customary donation is $250. Please call the Parish Office (212-869-5830) or email Chris Howatt for more information and for additional dates beyond March.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

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.

“A Call to Courage” . . . There will be an interfaith vigil next week at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Wednesday, February 12, at 7:00 PM. We will hear stories and music inspired by the immigrant experience, and together pray for God’s grace and courage to stand up for the rights and dignity of immigrants, migrants, and asylees. The service will feature the voices of Rabbi Hilly Haber, the Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Simran Jeet Singh, Adama Bah, the Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Dr. Sandra teresa soledad Montes vela, the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, among others. You can RSVP here or watch the livestream here.

Visit to the Museum of Jewish Heritage . . . The Diocese of New York’s Jewish/Episcopal Dialogue group, part of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission, invites you on a special field trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage on March 6 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Visitors will enjoy a guided tour of the museum’s exhibit, The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do. Space is limited to 30 participants, so don’t miss this opportunity to reflect on history and its relevance today. The cost of the visit is fully covered by the Commission. For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact The Rev. Posey Krakowsky.

ABOUT THE MUSIC AT THE SOLEMN MASS ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025, THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) composed nearly a dozen organ settings of Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, the popular German chorale which paraphrases Gloria in excelsis (All glory be to God on High). This chorale had been adorned with organ arrangements before Bach’s time and, in our own day, one finds its melody paired with translated and paraphrased texts in the hymnals of many denominations. Sunday’s prelude is a setting of Allein Gott from Bach’s miscellaneous chorale preludes. It is a bicinium, a piece in two voices. The upper voice is a modestly ornamented version of the chorale melody; the lower voice’s accompaniment clearly outlines the harmonies which support the melody. The postlude is another setting of the same melody which is found among Bach’s miscellaneous chorales. In this short piece, Bach separates phrases of the chorale melody, stated in surprisingly vivid harmony, with free fantasia passages which sound very much like they might have been improvised.

The setting of the Mass on Sunday is Missa Ecce quam bonum of Hans Leo Hassler (1564–1612). Born in Nuremberg and baptized on October 26, 1564, Hassler’s musical career bridged the late Renaissance to the early Baroque periods. His initial musical instruction was from his father, Isaak Hassler (c.1530–1591). Hans Leo left home in 1584 to study in Venice with Andrea Gabrieli (c.1532–1585) and became a friend and fellow pupil with Gabrieli’s nephew Giovanni (c.1554–1612). Thus, Hassler was one of the first of a succession of German composers to experience in Italy the musical innovations that were shaping what would later be identified as baroque style. Hassler was recognized in his day not only as a composer, but also as an organist and a consultant on organ design. Although he was a Protestant, Hassler’s early compositions were for the Roman church. His Missa Ecce quam bonum was first published in Nuremberg in 1599 as the fifth of his Missae. It is scored for five voices with two soprano parts. It is a “parody” Mass, deriving many of its musical elements from the motet after which it is named. Hassler’s motet Ecce quam bonum, voiced identically to the Mass, will be sung as the Commuion motet. It is a setting of Psalm 133, first published in Hassler’s Cantiones sacrae of 1591. The style of the music of the motet and Mass is more chordal than polyphonic, with voices often singing text in rhythmic alignment. Imitative passages along the way suggest the Venetian polychoral style for which Hassler was also known. — David Hurd

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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.