THE ANGELUS
Volume 7, Number 3, December 12, 2004
The Weekly Newsletter from the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin

Rejoice

The first word we hear at the principal Mass on the Third Sunday of Advent is, in English, "Rejoice." We will actually hear it sung in Latin, "Gaudete." It is an imperative. It comes from Paul's Letter to the Philippians. It is a passage of instruction and admonition, which is probably familiar to most readers.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

As in Lent, there is one Sunday, which has a change in color and tone. On the Fourth Sunday in Lent the Mass begins with an admonition to rejoice from Isaiah 66:10, in Latin, "Laetare." On the Fourth Sundays in Lent and the Third Sundays in Advent rose-colored vestments are worn and flowers are used at the altar.

Given the rich complexity of Christian worship, Lent is pretty straightforward. It is the season the Church prepares those whom God is calling to faith for Baptism at the Easter Vigil. People are preparing to die and to rise. Curiously, the custom of the Church giving itself a break from the ritual austerity of the season seems to have little to do directly with compassion. It seems the custom is originally connected with a non-Christian springtime ceremony in Rome. Flowers had arrived. In any case, it inspires welcome break from seasonal discipline. Because Advent evolved into something of a "Little Lent," some customs and disciplines, like rose vestments, were carried over, but not all of them.

"Alleluia" is always sung in the Western Church during Advent, but not in Lent. For reasons not entirely clear, the gospels and most of the other lessons appointed for Mass on the first three Sundays in Advent have more to do with preparation for Baptism than they have to do with preparation for Christmas. The Eastern Church associated Baptism with Epiphany. In the fifth century, Epiphany in Spain and in Gaul (but not in Rome) was a date for Baptism. It's one thing to imagine Baptism in a Mediterranean city in an unheated church in January. It's quite another thing to imagine it in England. Advent remains a season of preparation for Christmas with perhaps not the most ideal set of Scripture readings. The late biblical scholar Raymond Brown gently suggested that perhaps we should be reading Matthew and Luke's preparatory material for the birth Jesus. I think he was onto something.

I write this on the morning after our wonderful celebration of our patronal feast with our Bishop, the Right Reverend Mark S. Sisk. He reminded us of God's particular preparation for our salvation by planning for the incarnation and resurrection before the beginning of time. As we look ahead to the new year and the challenges we face as individuals, as a nation, and as a Christian community, we can do no better than to hear the command of Saint Paul to the Philippians as an admonition for us today, "Rejoice."

Bishop Sisk's presence was a particular and personal sign to me that it's going to be okay. We are in God's hands. He has given us talents and opportunities. We are not accidents; we are God's children. Yes, it's not always easy. Sometimes it's very hard and sometimes it's awful. In the midst of life and death and of good and evil, God's victory in Christ calls us to rejoice.

In the name of the Church I invite you to prepare for Christmas and for the new civil year by renewing the joy you have known in your life. And if you are not sure where that joy is, I ask you to pray for God to show it to you more plainly. I believe it's there. Happy Advent. Stephen Gerth

PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked for Brenda and Charles, PRIEST, who are hospitalized, and for Cecil, Ibo, Deborah, Dick, Mary, Rick, Pamela, Charles, Gloria, Penn, Gilbert, Robert, Margaret, Jason, Bart, Hugh, Marion, Mamie, Christine, Judith and Thomas . . . GRANT THEM PEACE . . . . December 11: 1962 Carol Elizabeth M. Irwin Hollister; December 12: 1961 Jeanette Bolton, 1962 Martha R. Townroe; December 14: 1952 Amy Florence Nicholas, 1997 Edward David Miller; December 15: 1989 Mrs. Lorel D. Brownell Britt; December 16: 1959 Emily Cooper Campbell, 1996 Viola Douglas.

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . THE SUNDAY PROPER: Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:4-9, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 . . . Father Mead will be celebrant for the 9:00 AM Mass and our seminarian Clare Nesmith will be the preacher . . . Father Gerth will be celebrant and preacher for the 10:00 AM Sung Mass and the 11:00 AM Solemn Mass . . . Father Beddingfield will be the celebrant and Father Mead will be the preacher at Solemn Evensong & Benediction at 5:00 PM . . . On Saturday, December 11, Father Gerth will hear confessions . . . On Saturday, December 18, Father Mead will hear confessions.

CLERGY NOTES . . . The Reverend Rosemari G. Sullivan was with us officially as an "assisting priest" for the last time at the patronal feast. Mother Sullivan will resign her position as Executive Officer of the General Convention and Secretary of the Episcopal Church in January to accept the position of director of alumni/ae affairs at the Virginia Theological Seminary. We are going to miss her. She has been a great and generous help to the parish and to the clergy for three years. Rosemari, we look forward to having you back with us to visit in the not too distant future. S.G.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . As we go to press, Father Charles Whipple continues at Saint Vincent's Medical Center in rehabilitation. (Father broke his hip.) Please continue to keep him in your prayers . . . Many, many thanks to Robert McDermitt and all of the members of our parish choir for the superb job at the Solemn Mass on our patronal feast. It was superb. Some may not know that our music director Robert McCormick was stricken with influenza (the real thing) and unable to be here. Robert McCormick's patronal feast included a trip to a physician and to an emergency room for treatment. As we go to press, he is at home recovering. Please keep him in your prayers . . . About twenty people attended last Saturday's Advent Quiet Day. Special thanks to Father Smith for his careful and thoughtful meditations . . . Many thanks to Penny Allen for the great reception after the patronal feast. Penny, thank you so much! . . . Saint Mary's parishioner Dale Bonenberger has been named interim organist of Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe, New York. We will miss seeing him as often on Sundays, but we know that the music in Tuckahoe is now in capable hands. Congratulations, Dale! . . . Please send in your requests for altar flowers for 2005. Even if you have given flowers before send in a new request directly to Sandra at the parish office - sschubert@stmvirgin.org . . . We are delighted that the Right Reverend David Stancliffe, bishop of Salisbury, England, will be with us on Sunday, December 19, as celebrant at the 11:00 AM Solemn Mass. Bishop Stancliffe presently serves as chair of the Liturgical Commission of the Church of England . . . Attendance last Sunday 278, Immaculate Conception 348.

NOTES ON MUSIC . . . As we go to press, the Mass ordinary scheduled for the 11:00 AM Solemn Mass is Missa `Ego flos campi', by Juan Guti,rrez de Padilla (c.1590-1664). The motet at Communion will be Vox clamantis in deserto by Juan Esquivel (c.1563 - after 1613).

CHRISTIAN FORMATION . . . This Tuesday at 7:00 PM Father Mead's "Birth of the Messiah" class continues. Last week we looked at the genealogies in both Matthew and Luke. This week we will concentrate on Matthew's account of the events surrounding the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SAINT VINCENT'S GUILD BRASS CLEANING . . . Looking for that inner light? Leave that to Brasso! Seeking that warming glow, as the days get colder? Leave that to Brasso! The Saint Vincent's Guild of altar servers invites all its members and friends for a morning of brass cleaning and candle trimming, Saturday, December 18, beginning at 10:00 AM. But wait there's more! Father Mead will be serving up sausages, eggs, and bagels for all those Brassophiles who help us polish and clean. Afterwards, the Guild will also have an afternoon of acolyte training.

NEED A CREATIVE AND MEANINGFUL GIFT IDEA? . . . Give a gift that honors someone and also helps other people. This year, since Saint Mary's is participating in a diocesan global mission trip to Honduras, we are offering a way for you to give a Christmas gift to someone and help the people of Villanueva, Honduras at the same time. You can provide paint ($25), cinder blocks ($50) or a new church pew ($100). Check the church web site for more information and a form or email Father Beddingfield at jbeddingfield@stmvirgin.org.

CHRISTMAS AT SAINT MARY'S . . . On December 24, Morning Prayer is said at 8:30 AM and the last Mass of Advent is celebrated at 9:00 AM. There are no noonday services. After the 9:00 AM Mass, the decorating of the church for Christmas begins. At 6:00 PM clergy, servers and others who may be here working to prepare for the first Mass of Christmas will sing the First Evensong of Christmas. Last year tourists and other people who were in the church visiting also joined us. Christmas carols and music for the choir and congregation begins at 10:30 PM. The Solemn Mass of the Nativity is at 11:00 PM. The Rector will be the celebrant and preacher for this Mass this year. On Christmas Day, the Reverend John Beddingfield will be celebrant and preacher for the 11:00 AM Solemn Mass. The music on Christmas Eve will be especially glorious. It includes Poulenc's Mass in G. Full details about Christmas and Christmastide can be found on the parish webpage, www.stmvirgin.org.