From Father Beddingfield: The Power of Conversion

I’ve only met a few people who have experienced a real religious conversion.  I grew up mostly around other Christians.  I, and others, might have experienced changes in our spiritual lives.  We might even have had renewals or awakenings of some kind.  But very few have had what might be called a real, life changing, “the old is dead, the new has come,” conversion. 

From Father Beddingfield: Living Stones

Villanueva is a section of Tegucigalpa, Honduras that does not appear on official maps of the capital city.  It was formed as a squatter’s village on steep sides of the mountainous outskirts.  Some 200,000 people live there in quarters that range from shacks of tin and cardboard to small dwellings of cinderblock.  Some have electricity.  Few have plumbing.  The first working toilet in the area was installed last year in the Episcopal Church of San Juan Evangelista. 

Truth and Unity

The Rev. Paul James Francis Wattson, S.A., born Lewis Wattson, was still an Episcopal monk and priest, in 1908 when he suggested that the week between the January feasts of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (now known as the Confession of Saint Peter on January 18 and the Conversion of Saint Paul on January 25) be observed as a “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.”  But Wattson by this time was on his way to Rome.  And in 1909 his Episcopal religious community, the Society of the Atonement, was received into the Roman Catholic Church.  He continued to work for reunion throughout his life.  He died in 1940.

From Father Beddingfield: Why Mission Matters

“Why should we do mission in far away places when there is so much need right here at home?”  The question was asked at a meeting with Canon Sylvia Vasquez, last March at Saint Mary’s, when we first began to think and pray about a mission trip to Honduras.  The person who asked the question went on to say, “I mean, there is hunger and homelessness and teenage pregnancy and drug abuse and poverty of all kinds right in our own neighborhoods.  Why are we talking about going to another part of the world?”  Canon Vasquez then said very gently to the person,

Suddenly and Unprepared

As we go to press on Wednesday, December 29, the death toll in South Asia from the tsunami that hit on Sunday continues to rise.  The number of deaths this morning is estimated to be about 70,000.  The enormity of the tragedy will unfold for several generations. 

Commitment Sunday

This Sunday, November 21, 2004 is the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Church year.  If you are a part of the local congregation or can be in New York this week, please bring your pledge card to Mass and plan to stay for a little while at Coffee Hour and celebrate the various ministries of the parish.  Completed cards can be placed in the offering plate at Mass or if you live outside the city or will be away, please return your pledge by mail.  If by chance you have not received pledge materials for 2005, it may be that we do not have a correct mailing address for you.  If you let the parish office know, we will send you a packet.

The Great Liturgical Parish

Saint Mary’s is not always easy to describe.  Through its history many have tried.  One phrase often used was “The Cathedral of Anglo-catholicism.”  That was good.  Saint Mary’s has since its inception been a leading parish in the Episcopal Church.  What goes on here has mattered for others.  I can attest that I have followed Saint Mary’s since my seminary days at Nashotah House. I never visited the parish until I came here to interview for my current position. 

Concerts at Saint Mary’s

Earlier this year two different people, one a parishioner and one a friend of Saint Mary’s, both spoke to me about the need to get a concert series going here.  People often speak to me about things they think the parish should be doing, but this was different: these two promised to write checks to help make it happen.  This got my attention.  Robert McCormick and I went to work.

Saints and Souls

Almost all Episcopal parishes will celebrate Sunday, November 7, as “All Saints’ Sunday.”  The Prayer Book allows this provided there is also an observance on All Saints’ Day, November 1.  Sadly, almost everywhere the transfer occurs and November 1 is mostly ignored.  There are lots of reasons for this.  It simply takes an extraordinary commitment for any Christian to organize his or her life around the life of his church community.  I suspect it always has.

From Father Beddingfield: Why do we bow?

Visitors to Saint Mary’s sometimes ask, “Why do people bow and nod and kneel so much here?”  I usually explain that it has to do with piety and the way many of us try to enact our beliefs, connecting word with body, prayer with posture.  (I also choose to believe that the nodding of heads at random times during my preaching has to do with piety rather than the unfortunate combination of a large breakfast and a boring sermon!)  I know that it is sometimes frustrating for newcomers that there is no manual or guide to gesture and posture in worship,

From Father Beddingfield: The Multiplication of Saint Marians

As Saint John tells the story, they were on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and a whole multitude had followed them.  It was almost time for Passover and expectation must have been hanging in the air.  The people were hungry.  Jesus could see that.  They were hungry for food, but they were also hungry for miracles, for wonders, for love—hungry for God.  As Jesus looked out on the multitude he must have been near despair. 

From Father Beddingfield: ROI at SMV

The other night I went to a college alumni/alumnae function.   As I talked with old friends and met some new ones, they were intrigued that I serve a parish in Times Square.  I talked with several people about weddings and talked about our music.  I talked about the history of the church.  And with several people, I talked about money. 

Dedication

It’s remarkable that the way Saint Mary’s plays with the Church calendar is to observe the first Sunday in October as the Feast of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church.  It isn’t.  Our present and second church home was consecrated by the Bishop of New York, the Right Reverend Henry C. Potter, on December 12, 1895, four days after the first service was held in the building on December 8, 1895.  From 1896, December 8 was celebrated as our patronal feast and as the anniversary of dedication, again curiously, since the Church calendar seems to have been followed very strictly, then as it is now.

Our Contribution

I rejoice in the diversity of the parish and the many different ways in which individuals really can participate as members and as friends.  Our parish community is unusual in many respects.  One of the most striking, I think, is how many members are here only on occasion for worship.  That’s due to many factors, especially the shape personal and professional life takes here in New York. 

From Father Beddingfield: What music should we choose?

There is a radio program called Marketplace that discusses financial news and stories relating to the economy.  In the segment called “doing the numbers” it reports on the day’s activity on the stock market and major economic indicators.  The background music for this report depends on the mood of the day.  If the market is up and the economy robust, the music played is “We’re in the money.”  If the indicators are bad and the outlook is poor, one hears the more melancholy “Stormy weather.”

Ordination of a Priest

Matthew Mead is to be ordained priest on Saturday, September 18, at 10:30 AM at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.  He will serve as celebrant and preacher at the Eucharist for the first time here at Saint Mary’s on Sunday, September 19, at 11:00 AM.  I hope very much that many of you will be able to be at the Cathedral for the Ordination of Priests (nine of them!) and for Matthew’s first Mass on Sunday.

September at Saint Mary’s

September 2004 brings for our community services of remembrance for our city and the victims of the terrorists attack of September 11, 2001.  We are also looking forward very much to the joyful event of at the Cathedral on Saturday, September 18, when Matthew Mead is to be ordained priest.  In addition to the Sunday Masses, two important feasts occur this month.  Holy Cross Day is Tuesday, September 14.  The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels is Wednesday, September 29.

From Our Seminarian: Discoveries

This summer, part of my work at Saint Mary’s has been to work with the textile curator on the vestment conservation project.  It has been a time of discoveries for me.  I grew up Methodist and never had given vesture a great deal of thought.  One of the great joys of being at Saint Mary’s has been learning first-hand what vestments have to do with worship and what they have been traditionally thought to signify.  Many of you reading this may be smiling in pity that I had such an impoverished worship life.  Many of you may remember when you, too, first encountered the rich worship of this place.

Wow

It didn’t rain in midtown Manhattan between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Sunday, August 15, 2004.  It threatened.  Sometime during the 11:00 AM Mass the rain came, but our procession through Times Square was spared.  The sky may have been gray.  There was one huckster yelling at us.  But the square was filled with joyful Christians who seemed to genuinely welcome the witness of this community.  One doesn’t expect people who are driving cars to slow down and so obviously sing along, but many did.  It was just great.

The Assumption of Mary

The Episcopal Church observes August 15 as the “Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Here at Saint Mary’s we name the feast by its more usual title, “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”  We celebrate God’s work in Mary’s life and we pray that we may share with her in the glory of God’s kingdom.