The Baptism of Our Lord - Holy Eucharist 8:30am 9 January 2022
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Baptism of Our Lord
Holy Eucharist
8:30am
9 January 2022Welcome Welcome to St John’s in the Village, a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, part of the world-wide Anglican Communion. This order of service will guide you through the Eucharist. All baptized Christians, of any Christian denomination, are welcome to receive Communion at this Eucharist. At present, due to Covid protocols, we receive in one kind only (bread alone). If you would like to come to the Altar to receive a blessing (rather than Holy Communion) please do so with your arms crossed across your chest. There are small red dots on the three sides of the Altar platform. Standing by these at Communion lets us maintain six-foot distancing at that time. Covid-19 We must all be fully vaccinated and continue to wear our face-coverings indoors but need not wear them outdoors or while actively eating or drinking. We are no longer required to keep six-foot physical distance, except when receiving Holy Communion around the Altar platform.
THE WORD OF GOD Acclamation: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen. The Celebrant says The Collect for Purity All say Gloria in Excelsis Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your
beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his
Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior;
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
All sit.
The First Reading Isaiah 43:1-7
Thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, "Give them up,"
and to the south, "Do not withhold;bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth--
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
All say
Gradual Psalm: from Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, you gods,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name;
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders;
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;
the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.
The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.
The Lord shall give strength to his people;
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.The Epistle Acts 8:14-17
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and
John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as
yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning
John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with
water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to
clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with
unquenchable fire."
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a
voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Homily: The Reverend Ryan Bennett SSM, Associate Priest
5The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. All genuflect or bow the head as able. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. All arise. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People Form IV
The response to Lordin your mercy is Hear our prayer.
These are the names of those who have asked for our prayers: the sick, the infirm, the
departed, general concerns, and thanksgivings. At the appropriate place offer
intercessions, petitions, or thanksgivings.
The sick
Kyle DeBlasio and family, Jay Campbell, Ann Davis, Barbara Davison, Wanda Eaton, Linda
Filippelli, Harold Grossarth, Steve Jones, Norman Kahn, Kathleen Kelley, Richard Lipscomb, Bob
Mathis, Bob Ochiltree, Geoffrey Ream, Leonard Reitz, Andrew St John, Joel Schlosser, Marsha
Serafin, Susan Stinson.
The aged, infirm, and vulnerable
Maria Bruni, Beverly Campbell & Gretchen Phillips, Ellen Carollo, Carmen Grange.
Community
Fr Alan and Jenny Dennis, Terry Greiner, the Mathis family.
Departed
Those who have died recently in disease, fear, or pain. All killed at the hands of violence. Gary
Stokes and Betty White, recently departed.
7The Confession of Sin and Absolution
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. All
kneel, as able.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in
thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we
have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are
truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of
your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Celebrant pronounces the Absolution.
All stand for
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And
also with you.
Welcome and AnnouncementsCELEBRATION OF THE HOLY COMMUNION
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer B
The Celebrant and People say
The Sursum Corda
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
In the midst of the Prayer all say
Sanctus & Benedictus
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.The Celebrant introduces
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
The Fraction:
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.
Those participating via our live-stream and unable to receive Holy Communion make
An Act of Spiritual Communion
God of infinite mercy,
we thank you for Jesus our Savior,
who feeds us and gives us eternal life.
Though I cannot consume the gifts of bread and wine,
I thank you that I have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence, the
forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion. Grant that
we may continue for ever in the Risen Life of our Savior, who with you
and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.Post-communion Prayer
Let us pray.
All stand.
Lord of all time and eternity,
you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father
in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:
by the power of your Spirit
complete the heavenly work of our rebirth
through the waters of the new creation.
God of heaven, dwelling among us,
we thank you for feeding us with this holy food.
By your grace keep us ever faithful
to your Word made flesh
that as his body in the world
we may bring your presence to all people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All remain standing for
The Blessing and Dismissal
All responding:
Thanks be to God.
Celebrant: Fr Graeme Napier, Rector
Preacher: Fr Ryan Bennett, SSM, Associate Priest
Server: Paul Reitzfrom Sunday 9 January
Sunday 9
The First Sunday after Epiphany 8.30am Eucharist (said) (both in-person and streamed)
The Baptism of Our Lord 11am Sung Eucharist (both in-person and streamed)
followed by
12.45pm The Blessing of the Waters (Pier 45)
6.30pm Dignity (LGBTQ+ lay-led Roman Catholic service)
7pm Red Door AA (gallery)
Monday through Thursday 11am-3pm Gallery open
Monday through Friday 8am Morning Prayer (both in-person and live-streamed)
12 noon Noonday Prayer with Br Andrew (FaceBook)
4.30pm Evensong (both in-person and live-streamed)
at any time Compline by Candlelight (webcast only)
Monday 10 7pm Narcotics Anonymous (gallery)
Tuesday 11 8pm Concert: North/South Chamber Orchestra (church)
Wednesday 12 6.15pm Eucharist of St Kentigern
7pm Debtors Anonymous (gallery)
8pm Opening: Addresslessness (theater, but online only)
NB Greenwich Village Chamber Singers
do not meet this evening
Thursday 13 7pm Red Door AA (gallery)
8pm Addresslessness (online only)
9pm Crystal Meth Anonymous
Friday 14 7pm Red Door AA (gallery)
8pm Addresslessness (online only) pay-what-you-like
Saturday 15 10am Vestry Meeting (Zoom)
4pm Addresslessness (online only)
Sunday 16
The Second Sunday after Epiphany 8.30am Eucharist (said) (both in-person and streamed)
11am Sung Eucharist (both in-person and streamed)
followed by refreshments in the gallery or courtyard
4pm Addresslessness (online only)
6.30pm Dignity (LGBTQ+ lay-led Roman Catholic service)
7pm Red Door AA (gallery)You must be fully vaccinated to attend any service or event at St John’s. Please be ready to show proof of full vaccination. Face-coverings are required in church. Face-coverings are optional outdoors or when actively eating or drinking. For the time being there will be no indoor dining at St John’s.
Annual Parish Meeting Sunday 30 January 2022 at 2pm (Zoom)
Report to the Parish from the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is pleased to report the following slate of candidates for
election at the Annual Parish Meeting (APM) on 30 January 2022:
One Churchwarden (for a 2-year term):
Margot Shields
Two Vestrymembers Class of 2025 (for 3-year terms):
Gerald Dilley, Richard Lipscomb
Note that Margot, Richard, and Gerry are presently incumbent in these positions and
are each eligible for re-election under the parish by-laws. Candidate biographies will
be prepared and published. In addition to the slate presented by the Nominating
Committee, nominations from the floor may be made at the APM by eligible voters.
In discussion with the Rector, the Vestry has decided that Covid constraints dictate that
this APM be held virtually rather than in-person, just as was done in January 2021.
Pursuant to the parish by-laws, details and protocols of the meeting will be officially
announced by Fr Graeme in mid-January, e.g. the business to be conducted, poll
opening and closing times, on-line voting procedure, voter eligibility, etc., etc.
In the interim, please mark your calendars for the APM on Sunday 30 January 2022 at
2pm via Zoom. This starting time was chosen in order to give most people time
enough to get home after the 11am liturgy. Of course, since this meeting is virtual, it
can be attended by smart phone or laptop from any location, including our St
Benedict’s Courtyard, Revelation Gallery, or Common Room, which all have free wi-
fi.
My thanks to my fellow nominating committee members for this important parish
work:
Fr Graeme (ex officio), Kyle DeBlasio, Patrick Merry, Carol Quatrone.
--Paul Reitz, Chair (ex officio)Fr Ryan Bennett SSM, Associate Priest, will be leaving us in mid-January 2022 to commence his doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh (UK). Sad to see him depart, we wish him well on this new venture. He will be licensed by the Diocese of Edinburgh (Scottish Episcopal Church) to assist in parish life within the Diocese. St John’s has made a gift to assist with his tuition expenses. Individuals wishing also to give should do so through Saint Thomas Church (5th Avenue) where Fr Ryan also serves, and not through St. John’s. Note that the link to donate to this fund (printed earlier here) does not work, and we have been advised that it is best to mail checks as follows: Saint Thomas Church, Attn: Bruce E. Smith, Chief Advancement Officer, 1 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019. Checks should be made payable to Saint Thomas Church, with a note or post-it stating it is for Fr Ryan Bennett’s PhD studies. Mr. Smith will ensure that checks go to the fund for Fr Ryan’s PhD studies. Saint Thomas’s will be maintaining this fund, which has been set up to allow lay persons who wish to assist with Fr Ryan’s tuition expenses to do so, so you may contribute whenever (and as often as) you wish, and such donations are tax deductible. Fr Ryan’s last day with us will be Sunday 9 January (The Baptism of Our Lord) at the11am Sung Eucharist followed by the Blessing of the Waters and lunch (see below for details and booking). Donations are still being accepted for Christmas flowers through these forty days of the Christmas season. You can give toward Christmas flowers by using this donate button on the parish website (stjvny.org) and clearly annotating you donation Christmas flowers in the additional information field. Alternatively, monies still can be given to Margot Shields following the 11am Sung Eucharist or to the Rector following any service, using one of the Christmas flowers envelopes found at the back of the church by the Font and also in the Gallery.
Our New York Gregorian Chant Project resumes in 2022, but due to changes in the pandemic is suspended until February. Interested singers are welcome to participate in our Community Chant Choir, which has practice times that can accommodate a variety of schedules. You are welcome to visit a practice session to see how it operates. We are also recruiting more singers (by audition) for the Men's Voices Gregorian Chant Choir. Please contact Lawrence Harris (ChantProject@stjvny.org) for more information. The Learn About Chant seminar (formerly scheduled for January) which will take a look at the history of Gregorian chant, performance practices, and medieval manuscripts, and will also include the opportunity to join in singing will be rescheduled soon. Our Come Sing Chant sequel remains on the afternoon of Sunday 20 February. Wednesday 5 January was Twelfth Night, the Eve of the Epiphany of Our Lord. You can still view the Sung Eucharist with Blessing of Chalk here. Blessed chalk will be available this coming Sunday (9 January) at both Eucharists. Chalking of doorways (20+C+M+B+22) is suitably done at any time in the Epiphany season. Tonight, Friday 7 January, our 12-step group Alcoholics Anonymous meets in Revelation Gallery at 7pm. If interested in attending contact by email (zoom@reddoorgroup.org) or look online (nyintergroup.org) for up to date information. This is an LGBT+ friendly AA group but everyone is welcome. Our Saturday 8 January the concert by Swiss-American violinist Aniela Eddy performing and her string trio has had to be cancelled. One of the musicians tested positive for Covid-19 and is thus unable to participate. Sunday 9 January is the First Sunday after Epiphany, also known as The Baptism of Our Lord. Eucharist at 8.30am (said). The 11am Sung Eucharist is followed by the traditional Blessing of the Waters (in our case the Hudson River) at the end of Pier 45 in Hudson River Park at 12.45pm. The Blessing of the Waters, which includes the traditional casting of the cross into the river and the release of the single white dove, is followed by a simple pasta lunch at Malatesta Trattoria on Christopher Street. This is our Farewell Lunch for our Associate Priest Fr Ryan Bennett SSM. Lunch ($10) must be pre- booked, general registration is also helpful, and full information (including menu) can be found here: www.hudson2022.eventbrite.com Later on Sunday Dignity (LGBTQ+ Roman Catholic lay-led worship) meets at 6.30pm in the church and AA (Red Door) in the gallery at 7pm.
On Monday 10 January at 7pm our Narcotics Anonymous 12-step group Cover to Cover meets in Revelation Gallery. For more information on Narcotics Anonymous see here or contact by telephone (800 307 7195). Later, at 7.30pm, Tapestry, one of our choirs-in-residence, meets in the church for its weekly rehearsal. On Tuesday 11 January at 8pm we welcome the North/South Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Max Lifchitz for a concert program highlighting vocal and instrumental music by Robert Martin. Featured will be Martin’s emblematic Emerson Songs for soprano and mixed ensemble, as well as other solo and chamber works. Distinguished performers include soprano Sandra Moon; harpist Susan Jolles; flutist Lisa Hansen; violinist Arthur Moeller; violists Colin Brooke and Yumi Oshima; guitarists Jordan Dodson and Dan Lippel; as well as cellist Michael Haas. The concert is streamed live to YouTube and is free to view at 8pm or any time thereafter. See here for full details. https://www.northsouthmusic.org/calendar#event1 On Wednesday 12 January we anticipate the Feast of St Kentigern (Mungo the Loved One), 6th century Scottish bishop, with a Eucharist at 6.15pm. This This Eucharist is in- person only and not webcast, and is open to the vaccinated only. Face-coverings must be worn. Greenwich Village Chamber Singers, one of our choirs-in-residence, does not meet in the church for their weekly rehearsal. They resume on Wednesday 26 January. Also on Wednesday 12 January our 12-step group Debtors Anonymous meets in the Gallery at 7pm. On Thursday 13 January our gardening volunteers meet in the Courtyard for a casual and friendly two hours of gardening, 1pm to 3pm weekly. There are tasks for every level of horticultural skill and experience. You do not need to be a worshipper at St John’s to engage in this rewarding activity. All are welcome. If interested in joining the Thursday gardening team contact Jean Tucker (nyokie1@gmail.com) or the parish office.
Also on Thursday 13 January we open our next production in the theater: Addressless. This is an online-only experience (no in-person audience). Created and directed by Martin Boross and written by Jonathan Payne, Addressless is an interactive, “choose your own adventure” theatrical game in which audiences encounter first-hand the complex challenges of homelessness. Much like in Dungeons and Dragons or other role-playing games, audiences are asked to follow a character and make a series of decisions over the course of the game, such as: Will their character sleep on the street or sleep in a hostel? Will they ask people for money or try to find work? While some decisions might earn the character money, they may also take a toll on their life expectancy and physical wellbeing. Addressless speaks to the growing issue of homelessness in New York, while aiming to shift conversations around homelessness, promote a deeper understanding of the difficulties faced by those living without a fixed address, and fight against harmful prejudices that make coexistence difficult. The show opens on Thursday 13 January and runs until 13 February. Saturdays and Sundays 4pm. Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays 8pm. Tickets ($20 - $30) here: https://www.rattlestick.org/20212022-season/addressless Pay-what-you-can ($1 minimum) shows: 14, 21, and 28 January; and 4 and 11 February. Also on Thursday 13 January 12-step group Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 7pm. If interested in attending contact by email (zoom@reddoorgroup.org) or look online (nyintergroup.org) for up to date information. This is an LGBT+ friendly AA group but everyone is welcome. Also on Thursday 13 January Crystal Meth Anonymous (NYC Unwired CMA Group) meets in Revelation Gallery at 9pm. Contact by email (nycunwired.12step@gmail.com) if interested in attending. On Friday 14 January Alcoholics Anonymous meets in Revelation Gallery at 7pm. If interested in attending contact by email (zoom@reddoorgroup.org) or look online (nyintergroup.org) for up to date information. This is an LGBT+ friendly AA group but everyone is welcome. Also on Friday 14 January at 8pm we offer one of our pay-what-you like performances of our on-line theatrical production Addressless. See above (13 January) for details. $1 minimum (normal price: from $20). On Saturday 15 January the Vestry meets by Zoom at 10am.
Sunday 16 January is the Second Sunday after Epiphany. Eucharist at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung). Full choir has now resumed for the Sung Eucharist. The Sung Eucharist is followed by refreshments in either Revelation Gallery or St Benedict’s Courtyard. For the time being, for Covid-19 safety reasons, there will be no indoor dining. Receptions and refreshments will be outdoors as much as possible. Later on Sunday Dignity (LGBTQ+ Roman Catholic lay-led worship) meets at 6.30pm in the church and AA (Red Door) in the gallery at 7pm. Spiritual Direction Brother Thomas Steffensen of the Society of St Francis (SSF: a religious society within the Episcopal Church) will be with us on the third Friday of each month and available for Spiritual Direction. Br Thomas is a trained spiritual director, based in Poughkeepsie, but belonging to the SSF mother-house in San Francisco. Sessions are typically one hour long with a suggested anonymous donation to the Society of $50 (though this is never inspected and never addressed by the spiritual director). Br Thomas also offers spiritual direction by Zoom on days and at times of mutual convenience to director and directee. Br Thomas can be contacted by email (ssf.br.thomas@gmail.com). YouTube All our streamed liturgies are accessible on our YouTube channel (youtube.com/stjvny). It is worth bookmarking, saving, or subscribing to that channel (subscription is free). The channel presently has just over 2.2K subscribers. Facebook Our Facebook page has some 1.3K likers, who find Facebook a useful way of keeping in touch with the many services and events taking place at St John’s. We usually make only one or two posts per day, alerting friends to up-coming events. If you would like to keep in touch that way, please like our Facebook page: facebook.com/stjohnsinthevillge
E-Bulletin
We issue a weekly e-bulletin, usually on Thursdays or Fridays. If you would like to
receive information in that way please email our Administrator (admin@stjvny.org) and
ask to be subscribed.
Our Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute (PSI) continues to offer psychotherapy
services from St. John’s Counseling Center, with offices located in Wade House,
accessed through the ‘horse walk’ at 222 West 11th street, though now mostly remotely
(eg by Zoom or Skype) rather than in person. PSI has established a strong reputation for
spiritually informed psychotherapies and pastorally grounded treatment. PSI therapists
are experienced in incorporating clients' spiritual interests and concerns in their work of
healing, recovery, and overall well-being. For more information see out PSI website,
psinyc.org. To speak to a therapist or make an appointment for a confidential
consultation, call 212 285 0043.
• Our therapy sessions are offered on a sliding scale.
• All PSI therapists are licensed in the State of New York.
• Some of our therapists accept in-network insurance coverage; all are
eligible for out-of-network coverage, depending on the client’s plan.The Daily Office (Daily Prayer) The Daily Office is now both in-person and live-streamed. Morning Prayer is at 8am Monday to Friday and Evensong at 4.30pm. It is best to approach the live-stream via the parish website here when wishing to pray the daily office from home (either at the time it is live or at any time thereafter). If you live or work near St John’s we welcome you to the daily office in-person once more. Clergy and laity pray together the ‘offices’ of Morning Prayer and Evensong every weekday at St John’s. From our earliest Anglican beginnings in the mid-16th century a distinctively Anglican spirituality arose in which lay people (rather than clergy and monastics only) began to pray these short services of Bible readings, psalms, canticles, prayer, and praise, either in church or at home. That spiritual tradition is strengthening once more today after a period of some falling off. The offices allow us to round the day in prayer and praise and also give us a continuous reading of passages from the Bible (two daily, or four each day if we pray both offices) which allow us to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scripture much more than we might otherwise. As the pandemic has encouraged us to participate in more and more activities from our own homes, so participation with others in the Daily Office has become easier – as, since the office is webcast, one does not need to travel to church. The Offices from St John’s are available via the parish website (stjvny.org) from 8am (Morning Prayer) and 4.30pm (Evensong). They can, of course, be participated in at any time thereafter. This allows Morning Prayer and Evensong to be available to people of very diverse diurnal routines. A good spiritual habit is to choose the time of Morning Prayer and/or Evensong which best suits your particular routine and try to be consistent in that. Morning Prayer should precede the main activities of the day. Evensong is a threshold between the day that is past and the evening that lies before us, where we give thanks for what is past and pray for what is to come. Evensong at St John’s is usually sung simply to the timeless music of plainsong (but you do not need to sing to participate!). In addition to Morning Prayer and Evensong, St John’s offers Midday Prayer with Br Andrew Jones OSF via his Facebook Page (facebook.com/ap.jones), a pause for prayer as ‘time-out’ of the busy-ness of the day, and Compline, the service (invariable in its format and readings) which ends the day, and is best participated in just before retiring for the evening.
You can also read
