The Lords Supper, or Holy Communion 11am 30 January 2022 - being the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - St. John's in the Village
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The Lords Supper,
or Holy Communion
as set forth in the
1637 Book of Common Prayer for Scotland
11am
30 January 2022
being the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
and the 373rd anniversary
of the Martyrdom of King Charles I
Welcome 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. For the time being there will be no indoor drinking or dining at St John’s. We are no longer required to keep six-foot physical distance, except when receiving Holy Communion around the Altar platform. There are small red dots on all three sides of the Altar platform marking where we stand. About Today’s Liturgy: King Charles I, and his father King James before him, had throughout their reigns wished to prescribe fixed forms of liturgy and prayer (as had long been in place in England) to their native Scotland. This was, as any student of history should know, a time of great religious upheaval and controversy. In Britain the forces of the Anglican Church were striving to maintain their relatively traditional liturgy against the rising tide of the Puritans in England and Presbyterians in Scotland, who both wished a state religion which was much more "Protestant" in character. In the background there was the always-present danger of a return to the Papacy. King Charles was firmly of a mind to extend Anglican forms to Scotland, particularly as expressed in the Book of Common Prayer, and the great majority of the Scottish people were equally determined to resist. Charles was not one for compromise, and so had the Scottish Bishops, with the approval of Archbishop William Laud, draw up a Book of Common Prayer for Scotland. This Book was promulgated in 1637 and was immediately denounced by the Scottish people; it was never even put into use. Today’s liturgy is not meant to be a performance, but a service of worship which looks very much like that of the reign of Charles I.
Rubric in red is from the 1637 Booke of Common Praier. Rubric in green is to help
guide worshippers through this unfamiliar liturgy.
Prelude Two Versets Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
All stand when the bell is rung.
The holy Table having at the Communion time a Carpet, and a fair white linen cloth upon it, with
other decent furniture, meet for the high mysteries there to be celebrated, shall stand in uppermost part
of the Chancell or Church, where the Presbyter standing at the north-side or end thereof, shall say the
Lords prayer with this Collect following for due preparation.
OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdome come. Thy will
be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
trespasses, as wee forgive them that trespasse against us. And leade us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit,
that wee may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnifie thy holy Name; through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
All kneel as able.
Then shall the Presbyter, turning to the people, rehearse distinctly all the TEN COMMANDEMENTS :
The people all the while kneeling, and asking God mercy for the transgression of every duty therein;
either according to the letter, or to the mysticall importance of the said Commandement.
GOD spake these words and said, I am the Lord thy God : Thou shalt have none other gods but
me.
People.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.Presbyter. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likenesse of any thing, that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me : and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandements. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and encline our hearts &c. Presbyter. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vain. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts &c. Presbyter. Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six dayes shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy sonne, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattell, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day : wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day and hallowed it. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts, &c. Presbyter. Honour thy father and thy mother : that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts, &c. Presbyter. Thou shalt not kill. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts, &c. Presbyter. Thou shalt not commit adultery. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts, &c. Presbyter. Thou shalt not steal.
People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts, &c. Presbyter. Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbour. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts, &c. Presbyter. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his asse, nor any thing that is thy neighbours. People. Lord, have mercy upon us and write all these thy laws in our hearts we beseech thee. All stand. Then shall follow one of these two Collects for the King [here adapted for our Head of State], and the Collect of the day Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we be taught by thy holy Word, that the hearts of Kings are in thy rule and governance, and that thou doest dispose and turn them as it seemeth best to thy godly wisdome : we humbly beseech thee, so to dispose and govern the heart of JOSEPH, thy servant, our President and Governour, that in all his thoughts, words, and works, he may ever seeke thy honour and glory, and study to preserve thy people committed to his charge, in wealth, peace, and godlinesse : Grant this, O merciful Father, for thy dear Sonnes sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. All sit.
Immediately after the Collects, the Presbyter [or other appointed person] shall read the Epistle, saying thus : The Epistle written in the Thirteenth Chapter of The Epistle to the Romans at the First verse. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. And when he hath done, he shall say : Here endeth the Epistle. All stand.
And the Epistle ended, the Gospel shall bee read, the Presbyter saying : The holy Gospel is written in
the Eighth Chapter of The Gospel according to Matthew at the Twenty Third verse. And
then the people all standing up shall say: Glory be to thee, O Lord.
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there
arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but
he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us:
we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men
marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey
him! And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there
met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that
no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to
do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the
time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the
devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of
swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the
herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place
into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their
ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the
devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him,
they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
At the end of the Gospel, the Presbyter shall say: So
endeth the holy Gospel.
And the people shall answer: Thanks be to thee, O Lord.
And the Epistle and Gospel being ended, shall be said or sung the Creed, all still reverently standing up.I beleeve in one God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible: and in one Lord Jesus Christ the onely begotten Sonne of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered, and was buried, and the third day hee rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead: whose Kingdome shall have no end. And I beleeve in the holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne, who with the Father and the Sonne together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I beleeve one Catholike and Apostolique Church. I acknowledge one Baptisme for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
All sit. Sermon After such Sermon, Homily, or exhortation, the Presbyter or Curate shall declare unto the people whether there bee any Holy-dayes or Fasting-dayes the week following, and earnestly exhort them to remember the poore, saying (for the offertory) one or more of these sentences following [some 15 are provided] as he thinketh most convenient by his discretion, according to the length, or shortnesse of the time that the people are offering. God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. While the Presbyter distinctly pronounceth some or all of these sentences for the offertory, the Deacon, or (if no such be present) one of the Church-wardens shall receive the devotions of the people there present in a bason provided for that purpose. And when all have offered, hee shall reverently bring the said bason with the oblations therein, and deliver it to the Presbyter, who shall humbly present it before the Lord, and set it upon the holy Table. And the Presbyter shall then offer up and place the bread and wine prepared for the Sacrument upon the Lords Table, that it may be ready for that service. And then he shall say, Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth. All stand. ALMIGHTY and everliving God, which by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thankes for all men: we humbly beseech thee most mercifully (to accept our almes, and) to receive these our prayers which we offer unto thy divine Majestie, beseeching thee to inspire continually, the universall Church with the spirit of truth, unitie, and concord : and grant that all they that do confesse thy holy name, may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governours, and specially thy servant Joseph our President, that under him we may be godly and
quietly governed : and grant unto his whole counsell, and to all that be put in authoritie under him, that they may truely and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickednesse and vice, and to the maintenance of Gods true religion and vertue. Give grace (O heavenly Father) to all Bishops, Presbyters, and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duely administer thy holy sacraments : and to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, that with meek heart and due reverence, they may heare and receive thy holy word, truly serving thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of their life. [And we commend especially unto thy mercifull goodnesse the congregation which is here assembled in thy name to celebrate the commemoration of the most precious death and sacrifice of thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ.] And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodnesse, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them which in this transitory life be in trouble, sorrow, need, sicknesse, or any other adversitie. And we also blesse thy holy name for all those thy servants, who having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And wee yeeld unto thee most high praise and hearty thankes for the wonderfull grace and vertue declared in all thy saints, who have been the choice vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the world in their severall generations : most humbly beseeching thee, that we may have grace to follow the example of their stedfastnesse in thy faith, and obedience to thy holy commandments, that at the day of the generall resurrection, wee, and all they which are of the mysticall body of thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyfull voice, Come yee blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christs sake our only Mediatour and Advocate. Amen. Then shall the Presbyter say to them that come to receive the holy Communion this invitation. You that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sinnes, and be in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the Commandements of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy wayes : Draw neere, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort, make your humble confession to Almighty God, before this Congregation here gathered together in his holy Name, meekely kneeling upon your knees.
All kneel as able.
Then shall this generall confession be made in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy
Communion, either by the Presbyter himself, or the Deacon, both he and all the people kneeling humbly
upon their knees.
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men, we
acknowledge and bewaile our manifold sins and wickednesse, which we from time to time most
grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty, provoking
most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and be heartily sorry
for these our misdoings, the remembrance of them is grievous unto us, the burthen of them is
intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us most mercifull Father, for thy Sonne our
Lord Jesus Christs sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant that wee may ever hereafter serve
and please thee, in newnesse of life, to the honour and glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the Presbyter or the Bishop (being present) stand up, and turning himself to the people,
pronounce the absolution, as followeth.
Almighty God our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgivenesse of
sinnes to all them which with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him : have mercy upon
you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirme and strengthen you in all goodnesse,
and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All stand.
Then shall the Presbyter also say.
Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith, to all that truly
turn to him.
Come unto me all that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you Matth. 11. 28.
rest.
John 3. 16.
So God loved the world, that he gave his onely begotten Sonne : that
whosoever beleeveth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.Hear also what S. Paul saith. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ 1 Tim. 1. 15. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Hear also what Saint John saith. If any man sinne, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes. After the which the Presbyter shall proceede All remain standing. THE HOLY COMMUNION Lift up your hearts. We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is meet and right so to do. The Presbyter: It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God. Here shall follow the proper Preface, according to the time, if there bee any especially appointed : or else immediately shall follow, Therefore with Angels and Archangels, &c. All kneel [or sit if unable to kneel] when the bell is rung three times. All say Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Then the Presbyter standing up, shall say the prayer of consecration, as followeth, but then during the time of consecration, he shall stand at such a part of the holy Table, where he may with the more ease and decency use both his hands. Almighty God our heavenly Father, which of thy tender mercy didst give thy onely Sonne Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Crosse for our redemption, who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole world, and did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue a perpetuall memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, untill his coming again : Heare us, O mercifull Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and of thy almighty goodnesse vouchsafe so to blesse and sanctifie with thy word and holy Spirit these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine, that they may bee unto us the body and bloud of thy most dearly beloved Son; so that wee receiving them according to thy Sonne our Saviour Jesus Christs holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of the same his most precious body and bloud: who in the night that he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drinke yee all of this, for this is my bloud of the new testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins : do this as oft as ye shall drink it in remembrance of me. Immediatly after shall be said this memoriall or prayer of oblation, as followeth. Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, we thy humble servants do celebrate and make here before thy divine Majestie, with these thy holy gifts, the memoriall which thy Son hath willed us to make, having in remembrance his blessed passion, mightie resurrection, and glorious assension, rendring unto thee most heartie thankes for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same. And we entirely desire thy Fatherly goodnesse, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Sonne Jesus Christ, and through faith in his bloud, we (and all thy whole church) may obtain remission of our sinnes, and all other benefits of his passion. And here wee offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee, humbly beseeching thee, that whosoever shall be partakers of this holy communion, may worthily receive the most precious bodie and bloud of thy Son Jesus Christ, and be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one bodie with him, that he may dwell in them, and they in him. And although wee be unworthie, through our manifold sinnes, to offer unto thee any sacrifice: yet wee beseech thee to accept this our bounden dutie and service, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord ; by whom, and with whom, in the unitie of the holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father almightie, world without end. Amen.
Then shall the Presbyter say : As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say, OUR Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdome come. Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as wee forgive them that trespasse against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glorie, for ever and ever. Amen. Then shall the Presbyter kneeling down at Gods board, say in the name of all them that shall communicate, this collect of humble accesse to the holy communion, as followeth. WE do not presume to come to this thy table (O mercifull Lord) trusting in our own righteousnesse, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We be not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbes under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose propertie is alwayes to have mercie : grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his bloud, that our sinfull bodies may bee made cleane by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that wee may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. All sit. All baptized Christians, of any denomination, are welcome to recieve Holy Communion. To maintain safe distancing during Communion, please come to stand by one of the small red dots which are on the Altar platform (on all three sides). The Post-Communion When all have communicated, he that celebrates shall go to the Lords table, and cover with a fair linen cloth, or corporall, that which remaineth of the consecrated elements, and then say this collect of thanksgiving, as followeth. All stand. Almightie and everliving God, wee most heartily thank thee, for that thou doest vouchsafe to feed us, which have duely received these holy mysteries, with the spirituall food of the most precious body and bloud of thy Sonne our Saviour Jesus Christ, and doest assure us thereby of
thy favour and goodnesse towards us, and that we be very members incorporate in thy mysticall
body, which is the blessed companie of all faithfull people, and be also heires through hope of
thy everlasting kingdome, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear
Sonne : we now most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace,
that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared
for us to walk in, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be all
honour and glorie, world without end. Amen.
Then shall be said or sung, Gloria in Excelsis, in English as followeth.
All remain standing. The Clerks sing
Glorie be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will toward men. We praise thee, we blesse
thee, wee worship thee, wee glorify thee, wee give thanks to thee for thy great glorie, O Lord
God heavenly king, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Sonne Jesu Christ: O
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sinnes of the world, have
mercie upon us. Thou that takest away the sinnes of the world, have mercie upon us. Thou that
takest away the sinnes of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of
God the Father, have mercie upon us : for thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, thou only
O Christ, with the holy Ghost, art most high in the glorie of God the Father. Amen.
Then the Priest turning hym to the people, shall let them depart with this
blessing:
The peace of God which passeth all understanding kepe your hartes and
mindes in the knowledge and love of God, and of his sonne Jesus Christ
our Lorde: And the blessing of God almightie, the father, the sonne, and
the holy gost, be emonges you and remayne with you alway.
Then the people shall aunswere:
Amen.
Postlude Fantasia of Four Parts Orlando Gibbons
Immediately following the liturgy, please join us in
St Benedict’s Courtyard for a drinks reception.Celebrant & Preacher: The Reverend Graeme Napier, Rector Server: Paul Reitz
from Sunday 30 January
Sunday 30
The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 8.30am Eucharist (said) (both in-person and streamed)
(Charles, King and Martyr) 11am Sung Eucharist (both in-person and streamed)
followed by refreshments in the courtyard
2pm Annual Parochial Meeting (Zoom)
5pm Addressless (theater, online only)
6.30pm Dignity (LGBTQ+ lay-led Roman Catholic service)
7pm Red Door AA (gallery)
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 31 10am-1pm Concordian Dawn rehearsal (church)
5.30pm 2022 General Convention Orientation Session (online only)
7pm Narcotics Anonymous (gallery)
8pm Addressless (theater, online only)
Tuesday 1 2pm-4pm Concordian Dawn rehearsal (church)
6pm-8pm Capturing Black Culture: opening reception (gallery)
7.30pm The Lost Keys rehearsal (church)
Wednesday 2 1.30pm-3.30pm Duo 404 rehearsal (church)
Presentation of Christ in the Temple 6pm Blessing of Candles, Sung Eucharist, Courtyard Reception with the
Candlemas Burning of the Christmas Tree and Blessing of Throats
7pm Debtors Anonymous (gallery)
7.30pm Greenwich Village Chamber Singers rehearsal (church)
8pm Addressless (theater, online only)
Thursday 3 7pm Red Door AA (gallery)
8pm Addressless (theater, online only)
9pm Crystal Meth Anonymous
Friday 4 7pm Red Door AA (gallery)
8pm Addressless (theater, online only): pay-what-you-can
Saturday 5 5pm Addressless (theater, online only)
Sunday 6
The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany 8.30am Eucharist (said) (both in-person and streamed)
(The Sunday next before Septuagesima) 11am Sung Eucharist (both in-person and streamed)
(70th anniversary of the Accession of EIIR) followed by refreshments in the courtyard
5pm Addressless (theater, 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 everywhere indoors. Face-coverings are optional outdoors. For the time being there will be no indoor eating or drinking at St John’s. The closing event, HERE NOW, for Alejandro Otaola’s exhibition in Revelation Gallery, was held on Tuesday 25 January and part of it was live-streamed. Alejandro’s speech and some of the works can still be viewed via the parish YouTube channel. NOTICE OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING The 168th Annual Parish Meeting of St. John’s in the Village will be held on Sunday, 30 January starting at 2pm EST via Zoom. The links to this meeting, both on-line and by telephone, can be found on our website: www.stjvny.org The business of the meeting is to elect one churchwarden for a term of 2 years and to elect 2 Vestrymembers for terms of 3 years each. The terms of the following parish lay leaders expire on January 31st: Churchwarden Margot Shields; Vestrymembers Gerald Dilley and Richard Lipscob.. These incumbents are eligible for re-election. The Nominating Committee has nominated Margot Shields for Churchwarden for a term of 2 years and has nominated Gerald Dilley and Richard Lipscomb for Vestry, both for terms of 3 years. Article I, Section 4, of the Bylaws of the Parish, gives these qualifications for voters: You must be over 18 years of age. You must have been regular in attendance at worship for one year. You must have been a regular supporter of the parish for one year. Thus, any baptized member who is over 18, and has been regular in attendance since January 2021 and a regular supporter of the parish since the same date, may vote. Criteria for who is eligible to vote at the parish meeting can also be found on the website. If you have any question about your eligibility to vote, please speak with the Rector.
Margaret (Margot) Shields is currently a Churchwarden (2020-2022),
lay reader, and counsel to the Vestry. Raised a Roman Catholic, she was
received into the Episcopal Church in 1983 and has worshipped at St
John’s for the past 30+ years. Her prior parish work includes several
terms on the Vestry, Mistress of Ceremonies (1989-2002), and an earlier
stint as Warden (2002-2008). She was the administrative coordinator of
The Open Door AIDS ministry program from its inception in 1998 to its
close in 2017. She co-chaired the Rector Search Committee (2015-
2018). Her Diocesan service has included membership on the Standing
Committee, Committee to Elect a Bishop, and Convention Planning. She
is a member of the Church Club’s Board of Trustees. By profession an
attorney, she retired in 2018 as a hearing officer for the NYPD. Her post-retirement law practice
is limited to pro bono work, mostly for St John’s. Margot lives in Chelsea with 2 cats (successors
of the late poodles).
Gerald (Gerry) Dilley, a native of Kansas, moved to New York in 1974 after completing BA and
MA degrees at the University of Kansas. He spent most of his career with a major global
insurance broker in its Latin American regional office. Before retiring in 2014 he focused on
executive recruitment for senior positions requiring fluency in both English and Spanish.
Raised as a Congregationalist, Gerry joined the Episcopal Church in
1978 and transferred to St John’s in 2003. At St John’s he serves as a
Vestrymember, chair of the Discernment Committee, chair of the newly-
formed Security committee, and lay reader. He also advises the Vestry
and parish administration on insurance matters and is a member of The
Church Club of New York. His service to the Diocese has included
membership on its Social Concerns Committee for AIDS. He was a
founding board member of Episcopal Response to AIDS (ERA), where
he also served as fundraiser and parish team organizer for GMHC,
ERA’s community partner. He was nominated for Diocesan Trustee in
2020 [inconceivably, he lost!].
The parent of a learning-disabled son, he has long volunteered with organizations serving
learning-disabled children and adults in Brooklyn, currently working with Heartshare.
He is an avid amateur photographer, whose work has been exhibited in NYC as well as South
America and most recently by Arte Sin Fronteras. He enjoys collecting Latin American folk art,
studying the cultures of the original inhabitants of the Americas, travel, and spending as much
time in Mexico as possible. In 2019 he went to the Holy Land on a tour led by Bishop Dietsche.
Several of his articles on Spanish culture and events at St John’s have been published in TheEpiscopal New Yorker. Gerry speaks fluent Spanish and lives in the Park Slope section of
Brooklyn in an aging brownstone that he says requires too much repair and maintenance.
Richard E. Lipscomb, Jr. is a native of Greenville, South Carolina,
where he attended high school and junior college. He studied at the
University of the District of Columbia, where he earned a B.S. in Fine
Arts Studio with a concentration in Printmaking and Painting. He
worked as a docent at the Smithsonian Institute of American Art, in
Washington D.C. before moving to New York City in 1983 for a
position at NBC Network. There he worked in NBC’s Show Cost and
Operation and Technical Services Finance divisions for 23 years
before retiring.
A cradle Episcopalian [one of those rare birds!], he has worshipped at
St. John’s for 20+ years. He is currently a Vestrymember and Chair of
the Outreach Committee. He was a member of the Rector Search Committee. Richard lives in
Washington Heights with 2 cats and is President of the building’s Co-Op Board. A photographic
artist, his photos of St John’s have adorned parish Christmas cards and currently appear on our
website. Still feeling the effects of Long Covid, he has lately worshipped with us on-line. Zoom
Vestry meetings enable him and others to continue to be active participants in stewardship.
Fr Ryan Bennett SSM, Associate Priest, will be leaving us in early February to
commence his doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh (UK). St John’s has made
a gift to assist with his tuition expenses. Individuals wishing to give should do so
through Saint Thomas Church (5th Avenue) where Fr Ryan also serves, and not through
St. John’s. Individuals wishing to contribute should 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.
Our current production in the theater is 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 inwhich 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 runs until 13 February. Saturdays and Sundays 5pm. Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays 8pm. Tickets ($20 - $30) here: https://www.rattlestick.org/20212022-season/addressless Pay-what-you-can ($1 minimum) Friday shows: 21 and 28 January; and 4 and 11 February. We celebrate the Requiem Eucharist for Amy Grey, long-time friend and colleague of Nelly Godfrey (friend of the parish and occasional parish events caterer), postponed from Thursday 20 January. It is not yet determined when the Requiem will take place. All are welcome to attend if fully vaccinated. Face-coverings must be worn. A short reception may be held in the Courtyard, depending on the weather, following the Requiem. Music: Fauré, Bach/Gounod, plainsong. The liturgy will also be live-streamed here: https://youtu.be/0N17Pjivb1M Sunday 23 January was the Third Sunday after Epiphany. Eucharists were at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung), both Eucharist being both in-person and live-streamed. Due to a technical fault the Gospel and homily were absent from the 11am Sung Eucharist, but both can still be viewed in the said Eucharist here. February is Black History Month. We mark this at St John’s with a month-long exhibition by African-American artists in Revelation Gallery and by a dedicated concert on Saturday 19 February by acclaimed Jamaican singer Andrew Jones. We also note the diocesan celebration of the life and ministry of the Blessed Absalom Jones on Saturday 12 February. The exhibition Capturing Black Culture: the Richness, the Love, the Tradition showcases three African-American artists (Myra Kooy, Amber Lodman, Kimberly Anderson) crossing three generations of story-telling , weaving tales through photography, painting, and assemblage art. The Gallery is open from 11am to 3pm Monday through Thursday until the end of the month.
The Blessed Absalom Jones (1746-1818), the first African-American priest of the Episcopal Church, is celebrated annually at the diocesan level. This year the celebration takes place (both in-person and online) at St Philip’s Church in Harlem. The Bishop of New York presides and the Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, is the guest preacher. 10.30am Saturday 12 February. Full details here. Andrew Jones, accompanied by Norine Castine, presents a wide-ranging repertoire of song, from Romantic art-song, through jazz, reggae, calypso, and other genres at 7pm on Saturday 19 February in the church. Tickets ($20) on the door (no advance booking). You must be fully vaccinated to attend and face-coverings must be worn indoors. The exhibition and the concert are commended to us by our Anti-Racism Committee. Sunday 30 January is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Eucharists at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung). Both are followed, weather permitting, by refreshments in the Courtyard. As 30 January 1649 is the date of the execution of King Charles I, who is on our Episcopal Church calendar, the 11am Sung Eucharist (with the readings, collect, etc of the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany) will be celebrated according to the (Scottish) Book of Common Payer of 1637, championed by King Charles I. Having enjoyed the 1549 Book of Common Prayer on Reformation Sunday in October last year, we hope to benefit educationally and spiritually from this ongoing experience of our Anglican/Episcopal heritage. “After the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 which brought William and Mary to the throne, the Church of Scotland was delivered firmly into the hands of the Presbyterians, leaving those who preferred Anglican forms with no home. These formed the Scottish Episcopal Church, and began to take as their Prayer Book the 1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer. So when Samuel Seabury came in 1784 [from Connecticut] to the Scottish Episcopal Church to be consecrated the first American bishop, he was urged to take these Scottish forms as the basis for the American Episcopal liturgy. He did, and as a result this book can be seen as a direct ancestor of the American Book of Common Prayer - particularly with regards to the Communion Service.” Music by Caroline composers Adrian Batten (1591-1637), Henry Loosemore (1607-1670), and Thomas Ravenscroft (1588-1635). The reception following the Sung Eucharist includes wines from Maryland (established by Charles I and named for his queen-consort, Henrietta Maria). At 2pm we hold the Annual Parochial Meeting of St John’s in the Village by Zoom. See above for details.
Also at 2pm we present the concert When Passion Meets Skill. In this winter concert by students of Dr Irena Portenko young instrumentalists, pianists, and singers present a variety of work from the Baroque period to contemporary art music. This concert is in- person only and not web-cast. Admission is free and no registration is required. Please bring proof of full vaccination. Face-coverings must be worn throughout the concert. Later on Sunday Addressless plays in the theater at 5pm (but is viewed online), 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 31 January the Diocesan Deputation to the 2022 General Convention invites all member of the Diocese to an Online General Convention Orientation Session from 5.30pm to 6pm. Participate (by Zoom) to learn about our Diocese's presence and participation at the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church to be held in Baltimore from 7 to 14 July. Register for this orientation session here. For questions about the program, please contact the Reverend Matt Mead, Clerical Deputy to General Convention (matthew@christchurchpelham.org) or Ms. Diane Pollard, Alternate Lay Deputy to General Convention (dbpsd4u@aol.com). Later on Monday 31 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). On Tuesday 1 February we open our next exhibition in Revelation Gallery: Capturing Black Culture: the Richness, the Love, the Tradition. Grammy nominated spoken word artist, Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. defined Black culture as "Black is adjective, adverb, color and now." Accurately defining this declaration are three African-American artists: Myra Kooy, Amber Lodman, and Kimberly Anderson. In honor of Black History Month, Revelation Gallery presents these three exceptional artists crossing three generations of story-telling , weaving tales through photography, painting, and assemblage art. The opening runs from 6pm to 8pm. Free, but registration is necessary. You must be fully vaccinated to attend this opening, and face-coverings should be worn indoors at all times. Please bring proof of full vaccination with you. Drinks are served and consumed outdoors in St Benedict's Courtyard. Register here: www.capturing.eventbrite.com Wednesday 2 February is the Feast of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, commonly called Candlemas, the 40th and last day of the Christmas-Epiphany season. 6pm Blessing of Candles and Sung Eucharist. The Eucharist is followed by a Reception in St Benedict’s Courtyard, with the Burning of the Christmas Tree and
Blessing of Throats (as the following day is the feast of St Blaise). Hot spiced apple cider, mulled wine, and home-made sweet mince pies are served. You must be fully vaccinated to attend and face-coverings must be worn indoors. All food and drink is consumed outdoors. This marking of the end of Christmastide is, of course, free, but registration is useful for catering purposes. Register here. NB: Debtors Anonymous does not meet on Wednesday 2 February. On Thursday 3 February 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 3 February our 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 3 February 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 4 February 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. Sunday 6 February is the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany or (since it is outside the Christmas-Epiphany season) the Sunday Next Before Septuagesima, part of the ‘count- down’ to Lent. Eucharists at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung). Both Eucharists are followed by refreshments in St Benedict’s Courtyard. As 6 February this year is the 70th Anniversary of the Accession of Elizabeth II, and as St John’s community includes people from around Commonwealth of Nations, of which she is Head (Antigua, Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, India, The United Kingdom, etc), there will be a small bonfire at the reception following the 11am Sung Eucharist with appropriate refreshments.
Later on Sunday Addressless plays in the theater at 5pm, 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.You can also read
