FROM FATHER SAMMY WOOD: TSUNDOKU AND STORY

At long last, we’ve come to my favorite time of the year. As we move deeper into December, the days grow infinitesimally shorter until the solstice, and I love winter—the darker and colder, the better! Christmas is still out in front of us, and I prefer my gratification delayed yet a little longer still, thank you very much. And by now packages have begun appearing under the rectory tree. Some of which are book-shaped!

A while ago, I collected a wonderful word—Tsundoku: n. “Leaving a book unread after buying it, typically piled up together with other unread books.” I love the word for the same reason I love these last days of the year and the run-up to Christmas—the sense of anticipation. Everything is potential.

I first came across the word in a review of Nassim Taleb’s The Black Swan. The reviewer, Maria Popova, quoted Taleb writing about medievalist and author Umberto Eco:

Eco belongs to that small class of scholars who are encyclopedic, insightful, and non-dull. He is the owner of a large personal library (containing thirty thousand books), and separates visitors into two categories: those who react with “Wow! Signore professore dottore Eco, what a library you have! How many of these books have you read?” and the others—a very small minority—who get the point that a private library is not an ego-boosting appendage but a research tool. Read books are far less valuable than unread ones. The library should contain as much of what you do not know as your financial means, mortgage rates, and the currently tight real-estate market allows you to put there. You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly. Indeed, the more you know, the larger the rows of unread books. Let us call this collection of unread books an antilibrary.

I think about that this year as I watch deepening divides in our country over immigration, the economy, cultural clashes, politics—you name it, we find a way to disagree about it. The thing about books is not just that they can teach us truths. They can also correct misperceptions we may not even know we have. I forget who said it (Mark Twain?), but the quip seems more axiomatic to me this year than ever: It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.

Thus, the appeal of tsundoku. It’s an act of humility to build a library of what you don’t know.

If you have room under your tree, maybe buy a copy of Alan Jacobs’ Breaking Bread with the Dead. Jacobs is one of my favorite writers (his The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis was a gift from Renee one Christmas and was a favorite read that year). Jacobs’ thesis in Breaking Bread is that life in an environment of “high informational density” like ours, where we’re awash in a sea of information from X to The News Hour, tends to produce people of “low personal density.” Without density or ballast, we’re all too often whipsawed by the most recent “fact” we’ve encountered, and we’re subject to manipulation.

Jacobs: “A World that seems to give us infinite choice actually makes a choice nearly impossible: the informational context chooses for us. And what that means is . . . our web of information determines what we love.” So he proposes we read broadly, and specifically that we read old books, voices from outside our time, speaking from without our presuppositions and biases. It’s a necessary corrective to our wandering hearts, a way to cultivate virtue, which Augustine called “rightly ordered love.”

I would add to Jacobs’ proposition my own invitation for you to enter fully into the liturgies that remain this Advent and await us throughout Christmastide. Indeed, worship and liturgy are ways we retrain our hearts in order that our loves become rightly ordered. James K. A. Smith, in his seminal work Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, says:

Doctrines, beliefs, and a Christian worldview emerge from the nexus of Christian worship practices . . . Over time, when worship confronts us with the canonical range of Scripture, coupled with its proclamation and elucidation in the sermon, we begin to absorb the story as a moral or ethical compass . . . Because we are story-telling animals, imbibing the story of Scripture is the primary way that our desire gets aimed at the Kingdom.

At Saint Mary’s this time of year, we’re immersed in the greatest story ever told. A world in existential crisis. Evil forces gathering. Angels and shepherds. The scandal of a teenage pregnancy, and a humble birth in a backwater town. A murderous king and a dangerous refugee journey. The God who hurled the stars, constrained by swaddling bands. These are the elements of the story we live by, the story we absorb at the Mass and in praying the Daily Office. And the more we live that story, the more density we have. The more our desires get indexed to the Kingdom. And the more we find our hearts belong to Him.

Come live the story. That’s your invitation.

God bless and keep you these long winter nights —

~ SW

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints, Margaret Street, London, and for the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil, in the Anglican cycle of prayer.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Joshua, Irma, Ruth Ann, Laverne, Julie, Rosemary, Holy, Becky, Bill, Caroline, Pavel, Sheila, Elliot, Grady, Chris, Violet, Tod, Tim, Pat, Allen, Vanessa, Melvin, Vicki, Brendon, Nadia, Christian, Carol, Giovanna, Priya, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Lexi, Georgia, Desarae, David, Tony, Rick, Thomas, 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, especially Nettie and John Edward, and for those whose year’s mind is on December 14: James Campbell (1893), William Peper (1901), Susannah Willis (1903), Charles Champlain (1905), William Ward (1922), Florence Williams (1931), Charlotte Harriett Drummand Wegmann (1943), and Edward David Miller (1997).

SAINT MARY’S 2026 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN: A WEEKLY REPORT FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

In this past week, our numbers of pledgers have surged by more than 25%, yet we are still short of our $450,000 pledge total target. Several faithful pledgers who contribute higher amounts have yet to pledge, and we are contacting them, but we need support from everyone. Even if your credit card or bank will make a payment every month, we know that only when you fill out a pledge card online or in person. Fill out a pledge card online or in the church and help us to recognize your support.

Some vital facts                                                                   

$450,000 2026 pledge budget goal

By December 9 (fifth week of our campaign)
     $378,382 pledged
       80 pledges
       11 first-time pledges
       35 increased from 2025
       84% of the 2026 pledge budget goal

AROUND THE PARISH

Christmas at Saint Mary’s — On Christmas Eve, we will offer Lessons and Carols at 4:00 PM. There will be Christmas Music at 9:30 PM and Solemn Mass begins at 10:00 PM. On Christmas Day, Solemn Mass is at 11:00 AM. Click here for our full liturgical schedule throughout Christmastide.

Adult Formation — This Sunday, Dr. Meredith Linn concludes her two-part class on the history and archeology of Seneca Village, highlighting the role of All Angels’ Church in the community and as an example of mission in the nineteenth-century Episcopal Church. After this Sunday, class will be on Christmas break until January 18. In January, we will resume with a Foundations Course on the spiritual life taught by Fr. Sammy Wood. Adult Formation takes place on Sundays at 9:45 AM in Saint Joseph’s Hall. All are welcome.

Volunteers needed for Christmas — The Flower Guild needs many hands for helping move supplies into place and more cleaning and polishing at a parish work day this Sunday, December 14, after Coffee Hour. We also need help with getting branches and flowers into water—no skills needed—on Thursday, December 18, and Friday, December 19. There are always other tasks we need help with if you’re available to assist between December 20 and December 24. We always have snacks, lots of coffee, and a great time together making the beauty of Christmas come to life. Please contact Brendon Hunter if you can volunteer.

Donations for Christmas Flowers — Donations are needed for Christmas Flowers from members and friends of Saint Mary’s to make the festive decorations possible. Please click here for Saint Mary’s online donation page and select “Flowers” from the Fund menu and write “Christmas Flowers” in the Memo line. Any amount is welcome and will go to creating everything from the crèche installation to the wreaths and garlands that will adorn our buildings. Checks can be mailed to the church; please note “Christmas Flowers” on the memo line. Christmas flower donation envelopes will also be available at the back of the church and can be left in any shrine box or in the offering basket during services.

2026 Saint Mary's Calendars are now available! — The suggested donation for each calendar is $20 in-person and $25 online (which includes shipping) and $40 for international shipping. Click here to order your calendar online and here for a sample of the 2026 calendar. Calendars are available in-person after Solemn Masses and Evensong & Benediction in Saint Joseph’s Hall during the month of December 2025 and beginning of January 2026. Saint Mary’s Flower and Altar Guilds have produced the calendar and all proceeds will help fund critical guild restoration needs. Please contact Brendon Hunter with any questions about the 2026 Saint Mary’s calendar.

Rosary Guild — The Rosary Guild next meets on Sunday, December 28, after the 11:00 AM Mass, to pray the rosary. All are welcome.

Interested in being Confirmed? — Please speak with 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.

Hosts Needed for Coffee Hours — Community is a vital part of life in our parish, and every Sunday we host a Coffee Hour after the 11:00 AM Mass to welcome newcomers, foster fellowship, and build relationships among Saint Marians. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of Coffee Hour at Saint Mary’s, and we are building teams of at least two people to host once a month or so. That's why we need you! If you’d like to be on a team, contact Fr. Sammy or give your name to Renee Wood on Sunday in the Parish Hall.

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

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.

Neighbors in Need — As it grows colder, the needs of our visitors change. Our first priority now is warm jackets and coats. We are also in serious need of men’s large winter tops and sweaters. 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

Installation of Canon Victor Conrado — Canon Victor Conrado, who previously served as an assisting priest and was in residence at Saint Mary’s, will be installed as Canon for New York City on Saturday, December 20, at 10:00 AM at Saint Philip’s Church in Harlem. The Rev. Yejide Peters Pieterson will preach. All are welcome.

Choral Evensong at the Cathedral: Our Wildest Imagining — The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine invites you to a special evensong featuring the New York premiere of Dominick DiOrio’s “Our Wildest Imagining.” It is a piece commissioned by a consortium of organizations, partners, and friends across the United States to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, and all LGBTQIA+ Episcopalians in the Diocese. The moving text is comprised of words from sermons, stories, and sayings by Bishop Robinson as well as quotations from Psalm 27. Sunday, December 21, at 4:00 PM. Livestream available here. All are welcome to attend.

ABOUT THE MUSIC AT SOLEMN MASS ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday’s organ voluntaries again are based upon Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Come now, Savior of the Gentiles), which has been referenced for the past two Sundays. This chorale (54 in The Hymnal 1982) is Martin Luther’s sixteenth-century adaptation of the fourth-century Latin hymn Veni Redemptor gentium attributed to Ambrose of Milan (55 in The Hymnal 1982). The Prelude is an extended Choralfantasia by Nicolaus Bruhns (1665–1697). Bruhns was a highly regarded virtuoso of both keyboard and stringed instruments of the generation before Johann Sebastian Bach. He was known to play the violin while accompanying himself on the pedals of the organ. His Choralfantasia is a monumental example of its genre. Each of the chorale’s four melodic phrases is set for two manuals and pedals in its own separate section and embellished thoroughly. The Postlude is a setting of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland by Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706). Pachelbel was born, flourished, and died in Nuremberg. His principal influences were southern German and Italian masters including Johann Jakob Froberger and Girolamo Frescobaldi, but he was also knowledgeable of the North German organ culture and especially the music of Dieterich Buxtehude. His setting of Nun komm, like many of his other chorale preludes, begins with a fugal section based upon the opening phrase of the chorale melody. Later, the chorale melody is stated in long notes in the bass register, played on the organ pedals, below free three-voice counterpoint played by the hands.

The Mass setting on Sunday is Missa Brevis, by David Hurd. This Missa Brevis was composed for and first performed at All Saints Church, Manhattan, where Dr. Hurd was Director of Music from 1985 until 1997. It is dedicated to The Reverend R. DeWitt Mallary, Jr. who was rector of the parish at that time. The musical themes of each movement of this setting are derived from the rendering of the letters of Father Mallary’s name as musical pitches. These pitches are intentionally arranged to achieve upward melodic gestures. The Kyrie is in Greek and is the most lyrical of the setting’s four movements. Its themes are stated in longer pitches by one of each of the four voices while the other three voices accompany in imitative counterpoint. The remaining Mass parts are in Latin. Each part is relatively compact and rhythmically straight-forward with the liturgical text presented directly in angular melodic shapes and lean harmonic textures. The entire Mass is scored for four-voice choir. Solo voices complement the choral parts in the Agnus Dei.

The highly regarded Scottish composer and conductor Sir James Loy MacMillan (b.1959) was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, and grew up in Cumnock. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and Durham University where he received a PhD in composition. His large catalogue of works, both sacred and secular, are widely performed and he has held prestigious positions including Associate Composer with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic. His four-voice setting of the Advent antiphon O Radiant Dawn, from The Strathclyde Motets, was composed in 2007 and dedicated to the Choir of Saint Columba’s Church, Maryhill, Glasgow. The Listening Project Blog says the following: “O Radiant Dawn by James MacMillan is a striking choral composition that showcases the composer’s distinctive harmonic language and expressive depth. Composed in a contemporary idiom, the piece draws inspiration from sacred texts, capturing a sense of anticipation and spiritual illumination. MacMillan’s work is characterized by lush choral textures, intricate harmonies, and a careful attention to the interplay between voices.”

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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.