FROM INGRID SLETTEN: AN INTRO CLASS ON SPIRITUAL JOURNALING

Class Description

In Father Sammy’s third session of the Foundation Course: The Spiritual Life, he spoke about the importance of reflection as one of the pillars of Christian formation. Reflection can take many forms, whether it’s meditation, silence, writing, creative arts, or conversation with another person. There are many ways to connect with the Spirit.

This spring, as part of our spiritual direction offerings, we will conduct a class on one of these methods: spiritual journaling. The class is for anyone interested in spiritual growth, whether because of your participation in Father Sammy’s class or by the gentle nudge of the Spirit. There is no “right way” to write a journal, as we will note in class. We will read two books about spiritual journaling and will experiment with several types of journaling practices. The class will be an opportunity to experiment with your own journaling, share your work in a small group, and gain insights from others.

The class will be held over three Tuesday evenings from 7:00–8:00 PM on Zoom: April 28, May 12, and June 2.

If you have any questions about the class, please reach out to me directly via email at Ingridannsletten@gmail.com. You may also be interested in visiting the Spiritual Direction page on the parish website to learn about the parish process for connecting you with a spiritual director. — IS

Book List

Ron Klug, How to Keep a Spiritual Journal  (Fortress Press, 1993, revised 2001)
“A journal is… a tool for self-discovery, and aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, a training ground for the writer, and a good friend and confidant. This book will show you how to begin a journal and how to use it for spiritual growth.”

Marianne Heib, Inner Journaling through Art-Journaling (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005)
“Now, bringing art-journaling as a prayer form to you, I share my belief that our innate creativity is at the heart of spirituality. I propose that inspiration is closer to us than we suspect, and that the Holy is ever ready to reveal its presence when we take a moment to invite wisdom.”

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints’, Margaret Street, London, and for the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola, in the Anglican cycle of prayer.

We pray for those who are preparing for confirmation: Elena, Sam, Tom, and Yue.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Willie, Sue, Sumar, Christine, Emilie, Sharon, Cal, Eric, Hamida, Monique, Khalid, Cassius, Lisa, Sue, Ruth Ann, Rosemary, Holly, Becky, Bill, Grady, Chris, Violet, Pat, Allen, Vicki, Brendon, Nadia, Giovanna, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Desarae, David, Tony, Jan, Carlos, Quincy, Leroy, Margaret, and Robert; Victoria and Laura Katherine, religious; Lind, deacon; and Beth, Jay, and Stephen, priests.

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died, especially Matthew, and for those whose year’s mind is on April 12: Frances Greenfield (1881), Rebecca Nicholas (1890), Emma Caroline Haines (1900), Ellen Gunn (1924), Robert Kane (1929), Carlotta Cowing Coerr (1943), and Viola Codney (1975).

THANK YOU

The parish clergy would like to thank all those who worked so hard to help us “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2, 96:9) during Holy Week and Easter. We would especially like to thank the flower guild (and all the additional volunteers who helped the guild prepare the church!), the ushers, the livestreamers, and the altar servers. Of course, we are also very grateful for Dr. Hurd and the Choir of Saint Mary’s. Thank you also to all who joined us for these most important liturgies of the year!

AROUND THE PARISH

Congratulations, Yue! — Congratulations to Yue Yu, who was baptized at the Great Vigil of Easter!

Volunteers needed this Sunday — Volunteers are needed this coming Sunday, April 12, after Coffee Hour, which follows the 11:00 AM Mass. We will be dismantling all of the Easter flower decorations around the church. No experience or skills are needed. Come join our team and enjoy some great fellowship as we close out the Octave of Easter. To help with planning, please let Brendon Hunter know if you can help.

Gallery 35 Art Exhibit — Gallery 35, an artist collective in Manhattan, will open a month-long exhibition at Saint Mary’s beginning April 10 in Saint Joseph’s Hall. Parishioner Ingrid Sletten is part of the collective and writes, “This show may resonate with your own spiritual journey. The artwork will explore themes related to individuals, groups, places of residence, frequently visited locations, objects or collections that evoke emotions, and significant events that have left an impression on you. If you are unable to attend the opening on April 10 from 6:00-8:00 PM, the artists will be present at coffee hour on April 12. They feel grateful for the opportunity to showcase their work within our community.” Click here for Gallery 35’s website.

Thursday Bible Study resumes on April 16 — Thursday evening Bible study has been on Easter Break and will resume on April 16. We meet over Zoom at 6:00 PM. If interested, please email Fr. Wood for the link.

Adult Formation returns on April 19 — Adult Formation starts up again following Easter Break on April 19 when Fr. Matt begins his five-part series on Saint Catherine of Siena. We meet in Saint Joseph’s Hall at 9:45 AM, between the two Sunday Masses. Click here for more details about Adult Formation. All are welcome!

Confessions in the Easter Octave — Confessions during the Easter Octave are by appointment only. Regular Saturday Confessions at 11:00 AM return on April 18.

Rosary Guild — The Rosary Guild next meets on Sunday, April 26, after the 11:00 AM Mass, to pray the rosary. All are welcome.

Neighbors in Need — As we enter warmer weather, you may have lost interest in your winter coat, but we have not. We can store coats until next winter—and we would love to! Please bring us your lightly-used coats and jackets. We accept all kinds of casual clothing: jackets, pants, tops and shoes, but we do not need professional clothing or children’s clothing. Thanks to many wonderful cash donations, we are able to purchase toiletries and underwear. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information or send an email to neighbors@stmvnyc.org.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

2026 Vocations Day: Listening Hearts Retreat — On Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at Christ Episcopal Church (20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie, NY), join us for an intentional gathering to help those who are beginning to discern a call to lay or ordained leadership in the life of the Church. Seekers will hear from the Bishop and members of the Commission on Ministry about the ministry of the Laity and Clergy, the expectations of the Commission on Ministry for those seeking ordination, and clear and practical next steps. There will be prayer, a plenary session, breakout groups, and lunch. Break out groups will include sessions exploring priesthood, the diaconate, and discerning lay leadership for your community’s needs. Seekers are encouraged to attend with their clergy person, and the expectation is that participants will be present the whole day. Parking is available. Click here to register and learn more.

Spirit of the City: Annual Benefit for the Cathedral — On Wednesday, May 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, join the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine for their annual benefit, Spirit of the City. This year, instead of a traditional seated gala dinner, the Cathedral will fill with community members, partners, congregations, and friends from New York and beyond, to celebrate what brings our communities to life. Complimented by sumptuous hors d'oeuvres, mocktails, and cocktails, attendees will explore the Cathedral throughout the evening and discover opportunities to interact with stone carving and artistic experiences, before gathering together to recognize the incredible honorees: The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde and Dr. Elizabeth Alexander. Click here to learn more and to buy tickets.

Law Day Celebration at the Cathedral — The 2026 Law Day Evensong and Celebration will be on May 17 at 4:00 PM. Bishop Matthew F. Heyd will lead the evensong service to celebrate Law Day and the work of attorneys in the Diocese. Reception to follow at 5:00 PM. Click here to register by May 15.

ABOUT THE MUSIC ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

The organ prelude on Sunday is from the Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book) of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). This collection of forty-six organ pieces, mostly composed while Bach was in Weimar between 1708 and 1717, is a small fraction of the originally intended project which would have included 164 settings of chorales spanning the liturgical year. Nonetheless the Orgelbüchlein stands as an extraordinary body of shorter chorale preludes and a compendium of the compositional techniques pertinent to that genre in Bach’s day. In addition to serving as a practical collection of organ music for church services, the Orgelbüchlein has also been considered to be a treatise on composition, a faith statement of its composer, and a manual for instruction in organ-playing. Christ ist erstanden (Christ is arisen) is a three-stanza Easter chorale, found in The Hymnal 1982 at #184. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein setting, played for the prelude this morning, treats each stanza separately in three individual sections. A form of the chorale melody is featured in the uppermost voice of each section.

The setting of the Mass is the four-voice Missa secunda of Hans Leo Hassler. Born in Nuremberg and baptized on October 26, 1564, Hassler’s musical career bridged the late Renaissance to the early Baroque periods. His initial musical instruction was from his father, Isaak Hassler (c.1530–1591). Hans Leo left home in 1584 to study in Venice with Andrea Gabrieli (c.1532–1585) and become a friend and fellow pupil with Gabrieli’s nephew Giovanni (c.1554–1612). Thus, Hassler was one of the first of a succession of German composers to experience in Italy the musical innovations that were shaping what would later be identified as baroque style. Hassler was recognized in his day not only as a composer, but also as an organist and a consultant on organ design. Although he was a Protestant, Hassler’s early compositions were for the Roman church. His Missa secunda, first published in Nuremberg in 1599, is a model of efficient and concise text setting. The text is mostly set syllabically, and much of the musical texture is homophonic and rhythmically energetic. Often Hassler has the higher two voices and lower two voices singing phrases in playful alternation. These aspects all help to set forth the text with particular clarity.

Jacob Handl (1550-1591), also known as Jacobus Gallus, is credited with over five hundred compositions, both sacred and secular, including twenty masses and hundreds of motets. Slovenian by birth, Handl’s compositions incorporate the influences of the leading Franco-Flemish and Venetian musical schools of his time. His motet Stetit Jesus from Opus musicum III (1587), sung during the administration of communion, sings the post-resurrection appearance of our Lord reported in John 20:19-20. Handl’s motet captures the drama of the narrative.

Click below, where you can make a one-time or recurring donation.
We are very grateful to all those who make such donations and continue to support Saint Mary’s so generously.

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 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.