Christus Vincit

“Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them,” (Psalm 146:3), says the Psalmist.  This Sunday the Church concludes its year with the celebration of the kingship of Jesus Christ, he who conquers, reigns and rules all from “before time and for ever.”  We believe in him.  He is our Savior.  He is the Lord.  I invite you to be here at Saint Mary’s this Sunday, the Solemnity of Christ the King.  From the beginning of the day at Saint Mary’s to the end, it is impossible to miss that we come to worship our King.  Christus Vincit: Christ conquers.

The first words of the day to be said at Saint Mary’s on Sundays are the words of the Angelus, which we say immediately before beginning Sung Matins, “The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.”  In Luke’s gospel, Gabriel said to Mary, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).

The largest image in our church is the great crucifix on the rood beam high over the chancel of the nave.  I can hardly wait until we stand before it on Sunday to offer God our love.  At 11:00 AM, under the rood we will sing, “Let every tongue confess with one accord in heaven and earth that Jesus Christ is Lord; and God the Father be by all adored.  Alleluia.  Amen.”  There will probably not be a dry eye or an unconverted life in the church.  Stephen Gerth

PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked for Bart who is hospitalized and for Judith, Thomas, George, Sarah, Julia, Grover, Annie, Paul, Robert, Eileen, Gloria, Jerri, Myra, Margaret, Marion, Olga, Rick and Charles, priest.  Pray for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Patrick, Edward, Keith, Christopher, Andrew, Robert, Joseph, Mark, Ned, David and John.  Your prayers are also asked for the repose of the soul of Michael . . . GRANT THEM PEACE . . . November 24: 1950 Harlan S. Perrigo; 1957: Frederick Delius; 1989: Aurora Emeralda Van Heyningen; November 26: 1998 Ronald L. Cox; November 30: Sarah Lucille La Bosse.

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . The Sunday Proper: Ezekiel 34:11-17, Psalm 95:1-7, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Matthew 25:31-46 . . . Confessions will be heard on Saturday, November 23 by Father Gerth, and on Saturday, November 30 by Father Weiler.

NOTES ON MUSIC . . . This week at the Sung Mass, played by assistant organist Robert McDermitt, the prelude will be Berceuse from 24 Pièces en style libre, Op. 31, No. 19 by Louis Vierne (1870-1937) and the postlude will be Trumpet Tune in C Major by David N. Johnson (1922-1987).  At the Solemn Mass, the prelude will be Tiento (Offertoire) and the postlude will be Acclamations, both from Suite Médiévale by Jean Langlais (1907-1991).  The entire suite is based on plainsong, the prelude on a Kyrie, and the postlude on Christus vincit (“Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules”).  The setting of the Mass ordinary is Missa ‘Simile est regnum’ by Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599).  The motet at Communion is O nata lux by Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585).  We continue our organ recital series before Solemn Evensong & Benediction.  This week, we welcome Mr. Rodney Ayers, organist and director of music of Saint Matthew’s Church, Wilton, Connecticut, who will play works of Marchand, Widor, and Tournemire.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . Our principal Thanksgiving service is Wednesday evening, November 27, at 6:00 PM (because of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – which closes Broadway) . . . Readers: Please remember the training meeting at 1:00 PM this Sunday, November 24 . . . The parish office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day . . . Attendance last Sunday 310.

READING WITH SAINT MARY’S . . . Last month, a number of members and friends of Saint Mary’s read the same book, shared comments, and met for dinner to discuss the book.  Our book for December will be Father Melancholy’s Daughter by Gail Godwin.  Because of the busy schedules during the holidays, the dinner and discussion of the book will be on Wednesday evening, January 15, 2003.  Check the Class Schedule segment of the Saint Mary’s internet site, www.stmvirgin.org, for more information on the book and our virtual reading group.

COFFEE HOUR: CAN YOU HELP? . . . Everyone knows that Coffee Hour after Sunday Solemn Mass offers something good to eat and drink, and provides a time for fellowship and a chance to make guests and newcomers feel welcome.  What everyone may not know is that Coffee Hour is the regular responsibility of a very small group of volunteers who do it all—shop, serve, and clean up afterward.  And they could use your help.  There are many ways to get involved: Join one of the Sunday teams to host a Coffee Hour; sponsor a Sunday with a donation (the church pays only for the coffee; all other refreshments are provided by parishioners); or contribute some baked goodies of your own—homemade or “almost homemade.”  If you might be able to support our Hospitality Guild in this vital and rewarding ministry, please call the church office at 869-5830 and leave your name and phone number.  Someone will call you back promptly to answer any questions you might have.  James Dennis, chairman, Brother Lawrence Guild

SUMMARY OF THE NOVEMBER 18, 2002 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES . . . At the November 18, 2002, meeting the Board of Trustees: 1. Heard that pledges we expect pledges to be close to budget for the year of $220,000.  2.  Heard a report from Mr. O’Dwyer, the Chairman of the Investment Committee, about the third quarter performance of St. Mary’s investments, which were down significantly during the quarter.  3.  Heard a report from Mr. Peelen of the Mission House Committee, regarding the prospective use of the buildings.  4.  Learned that a Stewardship letter will go out to the members of the Parish next week.  5.  Heard that there will be a special dinner, which will be held to raise funds for the organ, on January 10, 2003, the evening before the commemorative organ concert.  6.  Heard that Bishop James Montgomery, the retired Bishop of Chicago, will be celebrant at Saint Mary’s Patronal Feast, the Immaculate Conception, which will be held on Monday December 9, 2002 (transferred from December 8, the Second Sunday of Advent).  The Rector, Father Gerth, will concelebrate the Mass, along with Father Edgar Wells, the Rector Emeritus.  7.  Learned that Bishop Sisk will officiate at Stations of the Cross as Saint Mary’s on Friday March 7, 2003, the First Friday of Lent.  Leroy Sharer, secretary

The Calendar of the Week

                   Sunday             The Solemnity of Christ the King

Monday                     James Otis Sargent Huntingdon, priest & monk

Tuesday                     Weekday

Wednesday               Weekday

                                    Thanksgiving Eve Sung Mass 6:00 PM

Thursday                  Thanksgiving Day

                                    One Mass only 12:15 PM

Friday                        Weekday                                                          Abstinence

                         Eve of Saint Andrew’s Day 6:00 PM

                         Saturday                   Saint Andrew the Apostle

The Parish Clergy

The Reverend Stephen Gerth, rector,

The Reverend Matthew Weiler, curate, The Reverend James Ross Smith, assistant,

The Reverend Rosemari Sullivan, assisting priest, The Reverend Canon Edgar F. Wells, rector emeritus.