A Brief Reflection

At the end of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus is with his eleven disciples and them alone.  Before giving them the Great Commission Matthew says the eleven worshipped Jesus, "but some doubted."  Here Matthew is speaking of the eleven, the apostles who were the great witnesses and missionaries of Jesus' resurrection.  Of them Matthew says, "but some doubted."

Doubt is not a controlling factor for the work of any of the eleven and it doesn't seem to have affected their worship of the risen Lord or to have affected Jesus' desire to be with them and to send them forth for mission.  It was not necessary that they had perfect faith.

If Saint Matthew can let the eleven apostles, remember Judas is dead, doubt, why is it that we expect so much perfection of ourselves.  I take strength and comfort from our Anglican characteristic to respect doubt and not to demand a perfection that Jesus himself does not demand in Matthew's Gospel.

Matthew records Jesus last words to the worshipping eleven, including the doubters among them, "Lo, I am with you always."

PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked for William, Shirley, Margaret, Warren, Myrian, Helen, Katherine Rose, Margo, Shirley and Nettie.

GRANT THEM PEACE . . . September 27: 1992 Howard Patch; October 1: 1996 William Wolf; October 2: 1961 Beatrice Irwin Packington, 1985 Herbert Eric Schmidt.

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . The Sunday Proper: Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32, Psalm 25:3-9, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 . . . 9:00 AM Celebrant Father Breidenthal, Preacher Mr. Lawson; 10:00 AM Celebrant and Preacher: Father Shin, 11:00 AM Celebrant and Preacher: The Reverend Allen Shin, 5:00 PM Celebrant and Preacher: The Reverend Allen Shin . . . On Saturday, September 25, Father Shin will hear confessions . . . On Saturday, October 2, Canon Garrison will hear confessions.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . Many thanks to Andrew Adams who was our guest organist last Sunday and will play again this Sunday.  Our soloist this Sunday will be Ed Turner, a member of the parish choir . . . Kenny Isler left us a special boat of incense in addition to a barrel full to keep us going through the year.  Kenny had asked Father Gerth what kind of incense he liked.  Father said simply, "The kind you make; the kind that makes a lot of smoke."  Well, Kenny, the Rector noticed.  It was a great blend.  There was tons of smoke on Sunday . . . Lots of folks doing jobs for the first time at the altar last Sunday.  Father Breidenthal served as deacon at the solemn Mass, Godfrey Gregg as MC and Andrew Thompson as thurifer . . . Many thanks to George and Helena Handy and to Eileen Whittle for their help with mailing of the Dedication letter . . . In the gift shop: Copies have arrived and are for sale of Aidan Kavanagh's The Shape of Baptism (the book the Rector talks about all of the time).  The bookshop has also ordered copies of Father Breidenthal's book, Christian Households, and we will let you know when they arrive . . . Bill Poston is at home and recovering his strength following his recent extended hospitalization.  He is the "William" on the prayer list and we ask that you keep him in your prayers . . . Reminder: American Guild of Organists program tour at Saint Mary's this Saturday at 3:00 PM . . . There will be no special service of Evensong & Benediction this year for the Feast of Dedication in order to bring the choral expenditures in on budget.  We spent more than we should have earlier in the year.  As we noted in last week's Angelus, with different planning we hope to bring back Evensong & Benediction more regularly in 2000 . . . Journey in Faith meets in Saint Benedict's Study following the Solemn Mass.  This class is for new Christians and persons who are new to Saint Mary's.  It may be appropriate for others too.  Please check with Father Shin . . . Several people have asked, "Where is Father Wolsoncroft?"  He is still recovering from a painful foot condition.  The Rector has spoken with him and we hope very much he will be back with us soon . . . Reminder: You are invited to attend a workshop on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd on Saturday, November 6, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.  Attendance last Sunday: 120.

THE RECTOR AWAY . . . Father Gerth is out of town through Wednesday evening, September 29, to attend a seminar in Family Systems Theory in Lost River, West Virginia.  He had hoped also to be able to visit relatives in Sampson County, North Carolina to continue some genealogical work in connection with this seminar.  The terrible flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd has meant that he has had to postpone this part of his trip.

THIS WEEK IN THE RECTOR'S FORUM . . . Come meet Father Tom Breidenthal and hear him speak on "The Lord's Peace and the People's Liturgy."  The Rector's Forum meets in Saint Joseph's Hall at 10:00 AM.  All are welcome.

FROM THE RECTOR: THE MUSIC PROGRAM. . . I expect to be able to announce to you next week the appointment of an interim organist and an interim choral director who will be leading the parish music program as we search for a new music director.  After the October meeting of the Board of Trustees, I plan to appoint a search committee to help me in the search for a new music director.  I hope that it will be possible for us to do a search not unlike the search done for the selection of a new rector.  I expect there will be a parish survey about music and I hope we will be able to have the help of outside consultants and experts to guide us in evaluating our present program and help us begin to plan to strengthen and expand our ministry of music.  Clearly we will continue to be a place for the great tradition of choral and organ music.  It would not be Saint Mary's without it!  There should be no better place to sing hymns in New York City.  There should be no richer choral music.  The liturgy deserves the best we can offer.  S.G.

Worship at Saint Mary’s

The Holy Eucharist

On Sundays Mass is said at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  A Solemn Mass is offered at 11:00 AM.  Monday through Friday Mass is said at 12:15 PM and 6:15 PM.  On Saturdays Mass is said at 12:15 PM.

The Daily Office

On ordinary Sundays Morning Prayer is said at 8:40 AM and Evening Prayer at 4:45 PM.  Monday through Friday Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30 AM, the Noonday Office at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 6:00 PM.  On Saturdays the Noonday Office is offered at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 5:00 PM.

The Reconciliation of Penitents

Confessions are heard on Saturdays between 11:30 and 12:00 and between 4:00 and 5:00.  Appointments can also be made with members of the parish clergy for the Reconciliation of Penitents at other times.

Friday Abstinence

The ordinary Fridays of the year are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial in commemoration of the crucifixion of the Lord.

The Calendar of the Eighteenth Week after Pentecost

Monday                               Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

Tuesday                               Weekday & Michaelmas Eve

Wednesday                       Saint Michael & All Angels

Thursday                            Saint Jerome

Friday                                  Saint Remegius

Saturday                             Monthly Requiem

The Parish Clergy

The Reverend Stephen Gerth, rector,

The Reverend Allen Shin, curate, The Reverend Thomas Breidenthal, assistant,

The Reverend Arthur Wolsoncroft, The Reverend Canon Maurice Garrison,

The Reverend Amilcar Figueroa assisting priests, The Reverend Canon Edgar F. Wells, rector emeritus.