FROM FATHER STEPHEN MORRIS: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

Dearly beloved:

When we are baptized, we affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed and when someone else is baptized, we re-affirm our faith in these same words. We recite the Apostles’ Creed twice a day, in Morning and Evening Prayer. The words of the Apostles’ Creed are easily some of the words most frequently uttered in the Episcopal Church.

The third stanza of the Apostles’ Creed goes:

“I believe in the Holy Spirit,
    the holy catholic Church,
    the communion of saints,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting. Amen.”

These aspects of the Christian faith are not simply the loose odds-and-ends stuck on to the conclusion of the Creed. These aspects of the faith—the Church, the communion of saints, forgiveness, our coming resurrection, and life everlasting—are all linked to the Holy Spirit. These are the ways in which the Spirit reveals himself to us. These are the places in which we can be sure that we will find the Spirit and experience his power. These are how we know the Spirit is present among us. These are all ways the Spirit communicates the holiness of God to us.

At this time of year—as we celebrate All Saints and All Souls—we are especially conscious of the communion of saints and the resurrection of the dead. We are united in the communion—the fellowship—of the saints by the Holy Spirit. We will be raised at the Last Day by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are able to ask the saints to pray for us because we are united in one Body with them by the Holy Spirit and we are able to pray for the dead awaiting the coming resurrection because we are united with them in one fellowship by the Holy Spirit. Asking the saints to pray for us or offering our own prayer for the deceased is one way we experience the Holy Spirit here and now.

We know that the saints hear us because they—being members of the Body of Christ—are everywhere Christ, the Head of the Body, is. The dead know that we are praying for them (or lighting a candle for them) because they are members of that same fellowship, that same Body. They experience the effects of our prayer more clearly than most living people experience the effects of our prayer when we pray for them.

Even the dead who were never baptized in their earthly lifetimes know that we are praying for them (or lighting a candle for them) because we all—the baptized and the non-baptized—will be raised at the Last Day by the Holy Spirit and, once we are dead, we all begin to share in that fellowship to a greater or lesser extent.

We talk a lot about the Holy Spirit in the spring or early summer when we celebrate Pentecost. But the Spirit is the one who makes possible our experience of holiness, our experience of resurrection at this time of year as well. We experience the total fellowship of God and the human race, the living and the dead because the Spirit unites us and communicates divine life to us all.

How can we not rejoice if we have the opportunity to celebrate THAT? — SM

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints, Margaret Street, London, and for the Church of the Province of West Africa, in the Anglican cycle of prayer. We pray for those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Elliot, Grady, Chris, Chuck, Nick, Dolores, Violet, Tod, Peter, Tim, Phoebe, Peter, Pat, Allen, Vanessa, Melvin, Vicki, Helen, Brendon, Nadia, Christian, Carol, Giovanna, Mary, Priya, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Marty, Lexi, Georgia, Desarae, David, Claudia, Nettie, Chrissy, Tony, Rick, Jan, Carlos, Liduvina, Quincy, Leroy, Margaret, and Robert; Victoria, Suzanne Elizabeth, and Laura Katherine, religious; Lind, deacon; and, Jay and Stephen, priests.

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died and for those whose year’s mind is on November 2: John Craig (1894), Sarah Ward Searles (1902), Duncan Elliot (1919), Laura Taylor Carey (1925), Mabel Amelia Hoover (1960), John Arthur Schwartz (1970), Doris White (1973), Howard Montague Smith (1973), Winona Claire Peterson (1976), Robert William Kennedy (1982), Marie Anne Andokian (1983), Clasine Adriana Van de Geer (1987), and R. Martin (2013).

SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE MELISSA

We pray for the victims of Hurricane Melissa and offer Food for the Poor and Episcopal Relief & Development as suggestions for ways to financially support those who have been affected.

AROUND THE PARISH

All Saints’ Day with Organ Recital and E&B — All Saint’s Day will be transferred to this Sunday, November 2. In addition to the Rite I Mass at 9:00 AM, and Solemn Mass at 11:00 AM, Bruce Neswick will offer an organ recital at 3:30 PM, which will be followed by Evensong & Benediction at 4:00 PM. Click here for more details about the 2025-2026 feast day organ recitals.

All Souls’ Day and Requiem Masses — All Souls’ Day will be transferred to Monday, November 3. In addition to the 12:10 PM Mass, there will be a High Mass offered at 6:00 PM. On the five weekdays that follow All Souls’ Day, our annual Requiem Masses will be celebrated according to the following schedule based on the last name of the person making the request: Tuesday (A-E), Wednesday (F-K), Thursday (L-N), Friday (O-Q), and Saturday (R-Z).

Annual Requiem Mass for the Guild of All Souls — The Annual Requiem Mass of the Guild of All Souls will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Church of the Resurrection on 119 East 74th Street. The sermon will be offered by Fr. Martin Yost, Rector, St. Paul’s, Troy, New York, and Resurrection’s Professional Choir will support the liturgy.

Adult Formation — This Sunday, Fr. Sammy Wood continues his series on the Nicene Creed in honor of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. A playlist for the series has been posted on Spotify. More details about the class and our 2025-26 formation program can be found here. Adult Formation takes place on Sundays at 9:45 AM in Saint Joseph’s Hall.

Fleece be with you — Winter is coming! Join a group of crafters at 10:00AM on Saturday, November 8 to knit and crochet cold weather accessories for our Neighbors in Need program. Coffee, snacks, and patterns will be provided. Some yarn will be available, but BYO hooks and needles. For more information or to RSVP, contact Grace Mudd.

Thursday Bible Study — Thursday evening Bible study in 2025-2026 will be based on the Sunday lectionary for the upcoming Sunday and generally will be led by the preacher for that day. We will meet over Zoom at 6:00 PM. If interested, please email Fr. Wood for the link.

Rosary Guild — The Rosary Guild next meets on Sunday, November 23, after the 11:00 AM Mass, to pray the rosary. All are welcome.

Saint Marians about Town — On Sunday, November 30, after Solemn Mass, we will see Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art & Life at the Morgan Library. Please contact Father Wood to RSVP for either visit or with any questions.

Grant Writer Needed — From time to time, Saint Mary’s becomes aware of grant opportunities, and we are seeking a volunteer to research these opportunities and write persuasive proposals. Key skills include strong research, writing, organizational, communication, and project management abilities, as well as a deep understanding of our parish mission. If you are able to help, please contact Chris Howatt in the parish office.

Interested in being Confirmed? — Please contact Fr. Sammy Wood if you are interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation or being received into the Episcopal Church (for those already confirmed in another Christian denomination). Confirmation class begins in early 2026 and will prepare candidates to be confirmed at Bp. Allen Shin’s visit on Pentecost.

Altar Flowers — November 16 is still available for a flower donation. The suggested donation is $250. Please contact Chris Howatt (chowatt@stmvnyc.org or 212/869-5830, ext. 10) to reserve a date and to have the dedication for your flower donation appear in the bulletin.

Neighbors in Need — As it grows colder, the needs of our visitors change. Our first priority now is warm jackets and coats. Our additional priority needs are practical shoes (no dress shoes or high heels), jeans and cords, and sweaters and tops. Thanks to a generous gift, at our October drop-by we were able to provide new jeans for every visitor. Thanks to your donations we are also able to purchase toiletries and underwear, especially thermals. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information or send an email to neighbors@stmvnyc.org.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

PIPES: David Hurd — Saint Mary’s organist and music director, Dr. David Hurd, will be honored with a concert at Trinity Church on November 4 at 6:00 PM. “Trinity organists past and present—Bruce Neswick, Alex Leonardi, and Alcée Chriss III—team with Trinity Choir to spotlight the artistry of another former Trinity organist: the incomparable David Hurd. A leading composer and organist in Episcopal church music for decades, Hurd will direct his own choral works, which blend spiritual depth and bold harmonies.”

Diocesan Convention — The Diocese of New York will have its annual convention on Saturday, November 15, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Please keep the clergy and lay delegates from Saint Mary’s, as well as the rest of the Diocese, in your prayers for convention.

ABOUT THE MUSIC AT SOLEMN MASS ON ALL SAINTS’ DAY

In his book The Organ Preludes of J. S. Bach, musicologist George Stauffer dates Bach’s Fugue in F, BWV 540b, from the years between 1712 and 1717, the same period during which Bach composed his remarkable Toccata in F. While Bach composed his Toccata and his Fugue in F Major in the same period, these two pieces were paired as what we now know as BWV 540 at a later time. The Fugue in F, Sunday’s organ prelude, is a double fugue in that it has two distinctly different themes, each of which is developed in the course of the piece. The Fugue in F begins with a very stately, mostly scale-wise theme. The second section begins in the dominant key of C Major and has a more melodically and rhythmically active theme. In the third and final section, Bach returns to F Major, skillfully bringing the stately and playful themes of the previous two sections together in stirring counterpoint.

The musical setting of the ordinary is Missa Brevis by Bruce Neswick (b. 1956). This setting of the Latin Mass for mixed voices and organ was commissioned by Saint Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego, and premiered there under the composer’s direction on Sunday, January 26, 2025. Today, its Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei receive their New York premiere at Saint Mary’s with the composer at the organ. Bruce Neswick is in tremendous demand as organist, improviser, choral conductor and trainer, commissioned composer, and hymn festival leader. He is a consummate church musician and has served as music director at several of our nation’s Episcopal Cathedrals in his distinguished career including our own Saint John the Divine in New York City. Mr. Neswick holds the Fellowship degree from the Royal School of Church Music and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2016 by the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at Saint James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, CA. Dr. Neswick will present an organ recital here at Saint Mary’s at 3:30 on Sunday before Evensong and Benediction at 4:00 PM.

The communion motet is Blessed are the Pure in Heart by Daniel Ficarri (b. 1996). Named one of the top “20 under 30” organists by The Diapason, Daniel Ficarri (b. 1996) is Associate Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NYC and a composer of organ, choral, and chamber music. Daniel’s compositions have been performed in venues from London to Los Angeles, with commissions from the Madison Symphony Orchestra, American Guild of Organists, and Choir & Organ magazine. He was chosen to write inaugural works for the Miller-Scott Organ at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and the Hazel Wright Organ at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA, where two of his works were recorded by Gothic Records. Ficarri studied composition with the late Rachel Laurin. Much of Daniel’s music is published by ECS Publishing Group. Visit Sheet Music for a list of all available works. Blessed are the Pure in Heart, the text of which is the first stanza of John Keble’s hymn referencing Matthew 5:8, is set for eight- voice choir. Composed in 2023, it is inscribed “In thanksgiving for 35 years of togetherness for Arthur and Kent, and for their companions on the journey: Sammy, Chloe, Himmelfahrt and Precious.”

The Post-Communion hymn, words by noted hymn author Carl P. Daw and music by David Hurd, was commissioned in 1997 by All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Torresdale, Philadelphia, in honor of The Reverend Dr. Edward Chinn who was rector from 1960 until his death in 2003. This hymn for All Saints’ Day was first published in Supplement 99 by Hope Publications.

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Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of Christopher Howatt, parish administrator, and parish volunteer, Clint Best. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.