Music Search Report

Next week five persons will be at Saint Mary's to audition and to be interviewed by me and the Music Search Committee for the position of organist and music director.  The five come to us from the search process that was initiated to find the best possible candidate in North America and Britain.  I am looking forward to meeting the candidates.

The audition will be both organ and choral.  Candidates will play selections designed to show their strengths and their abilities to play our organ and the music of our tradition.  Each candidate also will rehearse and conduct choral pieces with a group of eight professional singers from another congregation.

The auditions will be in the church on Tuesday, March 20, from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM and from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Wednesday, March 21, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  There will be some breaks in the schedule.  The church will be open during the auditions.

Some newer members of the congregation may not know that in an Episcopal Church it is the rector's responsibility to hire and supervise church staff members, clergy and lay.  In our parish, I am accountable to the Board of Trustees for doing this job well.  But in the end it is my responsibility to fill this position and to fill it in a way that most fits the needs of Saint Mary's today and into the future.

PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked for Beatrice, Jack, Nolan, Harold, Olga, Carl, Harold, Frank, Eleanor, John, Barbara, Roy, Peter, John, Jonathan, Bill, Melanie, Joe, Elwyn, Shirlah, Joyce, Kersten, Scott, Daisy, Naomi, Madelyn, Rodney, priest, and Charles, priest, and for the repose of the souls of George and Myrtle.

GRANT THEM PEACE  . . . March 18: 1947 Howard Place, 1965: Marie Barreaux, March 20: 1954 Karl Irving Bennett, March 22: 1971 Mary Fargher, March 24: 1952 Ida Mary Steifel.

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . The Sunday Proper: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 103:1-11, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 . . . Confessions will be heard on Saturday, March 17 by Father Shin and on March 24 by Father Garrison.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . There will be an interment service for former Saint Mary's parishioner, Donna Zito, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 24 at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch . . . The Wednesday evening Spiritual Formation series continues with Father Breidenthal.  The study asks what it means to share Jesus' suffering beyond the walls of the Church.  Following the 6:20 PM Mass, the class meets in Saint Benedict's Study from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. . . . Stations of the Cross and Benediction are at the Church of the Transfiguration this Friday, March 23, at 7:00 PM . . . Mabel Hawkesworth Lewis, secretary of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, is requesting that all members attend either the Lenten Quiet Day on March 17, or the Lenten Retreat at Saint Hilda’s House on March 23-24 as part of their Lenten exercise. . . Plan now to have a hand bell for the Great Vigil of Easter.  Don't ask.  Just bring a loud, beautiful or obnoxious hand bell . . . A schedule card for Holy Week 2001, modeled on our Ash Wednesday card, is now at the printers.  As with the remaining Ash Wednesday cards, please feel free to take several of these to give to coworkers, friends or family.  These cards serve as an attractive and easy way to invite people to Saint Mary's . . . If you called the church office on Thursday or Friday of this week the pleasant voice you heard on the phone belongs to Ms. Eida Diaz, who has been helping us while Eileen Sorensen has had jury duty . . . Attendance last Sunday 181.

NEW FRIENDS, NEW AND RECENT MEMBERS, INTERESTED OTHERS . . . Invitations have been mailed to new and prospective members for supper at the rectory on Saint Joseph's Day, Monday, March 19 at 7:00 PM.  One doesn't need to have received an invitation to attend, but please call the church office to let us know that you (and your guest) are coming.  This will be a fun time to get to know one another, meet the Trustees and learn more about why people at Saint Mary's are so excited about being here!

RETREAT AT SAINT HILDA'S HOUSE . . . It's not too late to sign up.  Saint Mary's Lenten Retreat, "Life's Spiritual Paths," led by Sister Catherine Grace, Community of the Holy Spirit, will be held at Saint Hilda's House March 23-24.  So far five people have signed up.  A few more would make it a nice group.  Don't be scared away by the (optional) 7 AM Mass on Saturday morning!  The fee for the retreat (with meals and overnight accommodations) is $60.00.  Please contact Father Shin today or tomorrow if you are interested.

Holy Week 2001

APRIL 8: THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION:

Sung Morning Prayer 8:30 AM

Blessing of the Palms and Sung Mass 9:00 AM

Blessing of the Palms, Procession through Times Square

  and Solemn Mass 11:00 AM

Solemn Evensong and Benediction 5:00 PM

APRIL 9–11: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week

Daily Offices 7:40 AM, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Masses at 8:00 AM, 12:15 PM and 6:20 PM

APRIL 11 Wednesday in Holy Week

Office of Tenebrae 7:00 PM

APRIL 12: MAUNDY THURSDAY

Morning Prayer 8:30 AM

The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper 6:00 PM

The Watch Before the Blessed Sacrament

APRIL 13: GOOD FRIDAY

Morning Prayer 8:30 AM

Celebration of the Passion of the Lord 12:30 PM

Celebration of the Passion of the Lord 6:00 PM

Confessions will be heard following the liturgies of the day.

APRIL 14: EASTER EVE

Morning Prayer 8:30 AM

The Great Vigil of Easter 7:00 PM

      Easter Reception follows the Vigil.

      APRIL 15: EASTER DAY

      Sung Morning Prayer 8:30 AM

      Said Mass 9:00 AM

      Sung Mass 10:00 AM

      Procession and Solemn Mass 11:00 AM

      Solemn Paschal Evensong and Benediction 5:00 PM

The Calendar of the Week

Sunday            The Third Sunday in Lent

Monday                      Saint Joseph's Day

Tuesday                      Weekday of Lent

Wednesday                 Weekday of Lent

Thursday                    Weekday of Lent

Friday                         Weekday of Lent                                               
Lenten Abstinence

               Stations of the Cross & Benediction at the Church of
               the Transfiguration, 7:00 PM

Saturday                    Weekday of Lent

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, The Reverend J. Barrington Bates, assisting priests, The Reverend Canon Edgar F. Wells, rector emeritus.