Friend in Christ, Don't Miss this Weeks News from St. Mary's

Anglican Poets: John Keble

“The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin”

Oh! Thou who deign'st to sympathise

With all our frail and fleshly ties,

Maker yet Brother dear,

Forgive the too presumptuous thought,

If, calming wayward grief, I sought

To gaze on Thee too near.

Yet sure 'twas not presumption, Lord,

'Twas Thine own comfortable word

That made the lesson known:

Of all the dearest bonds we prove,

Thou countest sons and mothers' love

Most sacred, most Thine own.

When wandering here a little span,

Thou took'st on Thee to rescue man,

Thou had'st no earthly sire:

That wedded love we prize so dear,

As if our heaven and home were here,

It lit in Thee no fire.

On no sweet sister's faithful breast

Wouldst Thou Thine aching forehead rest,

On no kind brother lean:

But who, O perfect filial heart,

E'er did like Thee a true son's part,

Endearing, firm, serene?

Thou wept'st, meek maiden, mother mild,

Thou wept'st upon thy sinless Child,

Thy very heart was riven:

And yet, what mourning matron here

Would deem thy sorrows bought too dear

By all on this side Heaven?

A Son that never did amiss,

That never shamed His Mother's kiss,

Nor crossed her fondest prayer:

E'en from the tree He deigned to bow,

For her His agonised brow,

Her, His sole earthly care.

Ave Maria! blessed Maid!

Lily of Eden's fragrant shade,

Who can express the love

That nurtured thee so pure and sweet,

Making thy heart a shelter meet

For Jesus' holy dove?

Ave Maria! Mother blest,

To whom, caressing and caressed,

Clings the eternal Child;

Favoured beyond Archangels' dream,

When first on Thee with tenderest gleam

Thy new-born Saviour smiled:-

Ave Maria! thou whose name

All but adoring love may claim,

Yet may we reach thy shrine;

For He, thy Son and Saviour, vows

To crown all lowly lofty brows

With love and joy like thine.

Blessed is the womb that bare Him--blessed

The bosom where His lips were pressed,

But rather blessed are they

Who hear His word and keep it well,

The living homes where Christ shall dwell,

And never pass away.

John Keble (1792-1866) was a prominent Anglican priest and renowned poet of the Victorian era. Born into a devout family in which his father also served as a priest, Keble excelled in his studies at Oxford, achieving double first-class honors in both Latin and mathematics.

Keble is widely recognized as one of the key figures behind the Oxford Movement in the Church of England that evolved into Anglo-Catholicism. In 1833, he delivered a sermon on “National Apostasy,” defending the church in response to the proposed suppression of ten Irish bishoprics by the civil government. This sermon is generally acknowledged as the starting point of the Oxford Movement. Keble authored seven of the influential Tracts for the Times.

Additionally, he published The Christian Year in 1827, a collection of poems for Sundays and holy days throughout the year. Following its release, Keble was appointed the Chair of Poetry at Oxford. The Christian Year has been hailed as “the most popular volume of verse in the nineteenth century” and served as the inspiration for numerous hymn texts. In The Hymnal 1982, two texts by Keble are featured, including stanzas one and three of “Blest are the pure in heart” (Hymn 656) and “New every morning” (Hymn 10).

- Jami Blakeley

Notes from the Staff: Dr. Geoffrey Wilcken

Hi, everybody!

It is a wonderful thing to be your organist, an honor, and a joy! When I came to St. Mary’s in 2016, I had been an organist in various churches for thirty years and counting, as well as a composer, choral conductor, and a student and lover of the hymnody and liturgy of the church. In recent months, I have been helping with hymn planning here, with an eye toward integrating the hymns as closely as possible with the readings and themes of each day.

When not in service here, I teach part-time at Kansas City Kansas Community College and MidAmerica Nazarene University. Between them, I teach music theory and composition, piano lessons, accompany choirs, and play a fair amount of jazz. I also direct the Songflower Chorale, a fine choral ensemble that performs a wide variety of music. The next offering will be Saturday, November 18 at 3:00 PM, when we will celebrate William Byrd, Benjamin Britten, and other British composers right here at St. Mary’s.

I hope very much to continue to serve you well, and in that service glorify the Author and Giver of all music!

Songflower Chorale

The Songflower Chorale is pleased to announce its Fall 2023 concert “Byrd, Britten, and More,” celebrating the legacy of English Renaissance master composer William Byrd and his impact on choral music in the four centuries since his death. Our program will feature several of Byrd’s Lain motets, framed by more recent works, including the brilliant “Rejoice in the Lamb” by Benjamin Britten and Jonathan Dove’s haunting “Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars.” Our guest artists for this concert include outstanding local organist Jacob Hofeling and the excellent Anthony Maglione and Jay Carter. The concert will be at historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in beautiful downtown Kansas City Missouri, 1307 Holmes Street, at 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 18, 2023. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Meet the Music Team: Canon John Schaefer

Canon John Schaefer retired as Organist/Director of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral at the end of 2016. He and his wife Leona transferred their membership to St. Mary's, where he became a member of the Choir. He served on the Vestry during the discussions regarding the renovation of the organ. Canon Schaefer continues to find his spiritual nourishment at St. Mary's.

Stewardship Testimonial: Jami Blakeley

We are incredibly fortunate to be part of the St. Mary’s community. It is a privilege to belong to an Anglo-Catholic parish, even rarer to find one that exclusively uses Rite I and uncommon to discover an Episcopal church that conducts Mass six days a week. Beyond these unique aspects, our church is adorned with a beautiful building, exquisite vestments, enchanting music, and awe-inspiring liturgy. More than just the physical attributes, St. Mary’s is characterized by its warm and loving atmosphere, making it a truly exceptional place of worship and community.

However, the operation of a place as remarkable as St. Mary’s comes at a cost. The utility bills alone constitute a significant financial burden. Every week, we strive to create worship experiences that are nothing short of stunning, but achieving this requires a budget. Our commitment to outreach, a vital aspect of our parish ministry, is essential, yet it demands financial resources. Additionally, maintaining our magnificent 150-year-old building is not just about routine maintenance; it also involves unexpected expenditures, such as the recent kitchen repairs that arose unexpectedly this week.

I pray that our hearts are unfeignedly thankful for the blessings of St. Mary’s. And as we pray in the General Thanksgiving, my hope is that we show our gratitude not only with our lips but in our lives, by offering our talents, time, and generous financial contributions to the service of God rendered by our extraordinary parish.

Jami Blakeley

Images from Allhallowtide

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen

Images from our commemoration of all the faithful departed on All Souls' Day.

Parishioner Recognition

St. Mary's Parishioner, Jordan Schmeidler

Was asked to be guest preacher at Christ Cathedral in Salina KS.

Congratulations Jordan!

Co-Hosting Thanksgiving with St. Pauls

Perfect Potluck

This year, we are collaborating with St. Paul's to have a joint Mass and Thanksgiving meal at St. Paul’s. Mother Brittany with St. Paul's will preach, and Fr. Sean, will celebrate. We will have acolytes and readers from both of our churches represented. Following the service, all are welcome to join a collaborative feast, watch the football game, or play games. St. Paul’s will provide the turkeys, and St. Mary’s will help organize the side dishes and desserts. Attached you will find a link to Perfect Potluck so that you can bring your favorite holiday food. Please bring a friend and join us for worship, fellowship, and fun. RSVP is not required but deeply appreciated.

Please RSVP to Kristi Seaton.

816 309 6968

Fearlessphoenix.kc@gmail.com

KC VITAs

For the final concert series of their ninth season, join KC VITAs for an immersive concert to bridge the seasons! A concert in three parts, brand new vocal music for choir, vocal chamber ensemble, and art song by living composers from around the world will be presented, each with its own creative theme, decor, and specially curated cocktail!

Performed in the allegedly haunted St. Mary’s Episcopal Church by candlelight, the concert will begin with a nod to Halloween with spooky compositions, including the World Premiere of Philip Wharton’s “The Wind,” Steve Landis’ Regional Premiere of “As the Night Cereus Blooms” for soprano and mezzo-soprano duet, Juhi Bansal’s Regional Premiere trio “Night Wears Black,” and Kyle Lewis’s “Shoomn.” The second set with the theme of Thanksgiving, Autumn, and Harvest will include the World Premiere of Travis Reynold’s art song “For A Fallen Field Mouse” and Regional Premieres by Brittney Benton (“Invitation to Love”) and Caroline Mallonee (“Songs of Crystal”). The final set to celebrate Advent, Christmas, and the New Year, the choir will present the World Premiere of Joseph Fong’s “O Magnum Mysterium,” Anthony Esland’s “little tree” (U.S. Premiere), Helder Alves de Olivieira’s “He Came All So Still” (Regional Premiere), and “New Year” by Composer-In-Residence, Kota Hayton. The choir will be conducted by KC VITAs’s Founder/Artistic Director, Jackson C. Thomas.

KC VITAs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the continued creation and performance of “contemporary-classical” vocal music that has brought over 80 world premieres to Kansas City audiences since 2015. The organization is excited to welcome in-person audiences to this event, and tickets are available on the organization’s website, www.kcvitas.org.

Please visit the KC VITAs Facebook page or website for more information about “Ghosts, Gourds, and Garland” and news on future projects.

“Ghosts, Gourds, and Garland”

Friday, November 10th @ 7:00 p.m.;

Sunday, November 12th @ 3:00 p.m.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

www.kcvitas.org

www.facebook.com/kcvitas1

www.youtube.com/kcvitas

https://kcvitas.ticketspice.com/ghosts-gourds-garlands

jackson@kcvitas.org (Jackson Thomas, Artistic Director)

Podcast: All Things Episcopal

Do you have an interest in the Episcopal Church?

How about podcasts? Well look no further...

The Campus Ministry Commission for the Diocese of West Missouri has just completed their first series of "All Things Episcopal." Here is a little bit of info about this wonderful project, as well as the link to the podcasts for your listening enjoyment.

"All Things Episcopal" is a platform to talk about the Episcopal faith and introduce some basics about the Episcopal Church, including why we do some of the things we do that may sometimes be a mystery (or even an obstacle) to those new to our church. The intended audience for this podcast is college students and young adults, especially those who may be coming from outside our faith tradition.

"All Things Episcopal" features several well-known people from our diocese, including a few episodes with St. Mary's own Justin Smith and Fr. David Wilcox.

We hope you will enjoy!

Podcast – Campus Ministry (diowestmo.org)

St. Mary's Survey: Deadline Extended to November 30th

As you know, we recently agreed to move forward with HolyCow! Consulting to help us plan our future. Beginning Sunday, we will be asking the parishioners at St. Mary's to participate in the first step, which is to conduct a congregational assessment. This assessment will provide a clear picture of who we are as a church and what directions are most important for our future. The tool we'll use is the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT), which will provide key indicators of our congregational health along with areas of challenge and potential growth. It will help us to collect and understand the range of views that exist at St. Mary's and the possibilities, willingness, capacity and energy for moving our ministry into the future.

If you have provided us with a current email address, you will receive a web link to complete the assessment online. If you would prefer to take the assessment using a paper copy, please stop by the office, and we will provide one for you along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Survey

NOTE: If there is only one email address for all members of your household, it may be tempting to have one person take the survey on behalf of the family. However, please be sure your spouse and all young adults living in your home have an opportunity to complete the survey. INDIVIDUAL INPUT is key to our gaining insight into overall perceptions and experiences.

Please set aside enough time to answer all the questions. This will take about 30 minutes. All survey responses are strictly anonymous.

Thank you for your willingness to be a part of this congregational assessment and for helping to build the future of St. Mary's.

If you have questions, please contact Sharon Hunter-Putsch or Raja Reed.

Angel Tree

St. Mary's will be participating in

Saint Luke’s Crittenton Children’s Centers Adopt-an-Angel program.

We have been provided with "Wish Lists" for eight children currently in Foster Care.

Ranging from the age of 8 months to 16 years.

A Christmas tree will be located in the parish hall with paper ornaments. You may select gift items to provide to this cause, which will help these individuals and families have a nice Christmas.

Please deliver your gifts to the church no later than

Sunday, November 26th.

This deadline is strict in order to deliver the gifts by December 1st.

Some Important GUIDELINES for gifts:

All gifts need to be new and unwrapped.
If adopting an “angel,” we suggest a mix of clothing, educational and fun items.

Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer

Place: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. George Chapel

Dates: First Saturdays

Time: We will gather a little before 10:30 AM so that we can begin our time of reading and centering prayer promptly at 10:30 AM. These sessions will end no later than noon, if not before.

Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional monastic practice of scripture reading, meditation, and prayer, intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word. Centering prayer is a silent way of opening to God's presence and action within us, beyond thoughts and words.

Both are practices that fell away from common usage except for those who were in monastic communities. In recent years, Christian leaders have rediscovered these valuable practices that were originally intended for all Christians. Ideally, these practices lead us into a more attentive and listening mode, a space in which we are more open to hear the voice of God in Scripture and in our personal lives.

To begin the first few sessions, your facilitators will be Brian Cowley, Nancy Wagner, and Deacon Lynda Hurt. That being said, this is not a study but a group exercise, in which we will all be participating as learners.

There is no need to reserve a spot but come when you can and join us in this “sitting and listening.

The Bishop Search

As the Diocese of West Missouri starts searching for the next bishop, our 47 congregations are offering a special prayer for this process.

O Creator God, giver of every good gift, look graciously on us in the Diocese of West Missouri and guide us as we discern our call of a new bishop. O Jesus, be present in our discernment, and lead us to a shepherd who will invite us to live out the Gospel every day. O Holy Spirit, inspire us with your wisdom, and kindle our hearts with the fire of your love, that we may be renewed as we prepare to welcome the ministry of our next bishop. This we ask trusting in You. Amen.

Prayer for Diocesan Convention

We pray for the Diocese of West Missouri, our Bishop Diane, all the clergy and our laity, that will assemble to govern our church over this weekend.

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom comes every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our Bishop Diane and other clergy, all our people and the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of your grace: and that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing.

You have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received.

Fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all whom we live among; Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of His sake, our only Mediator and Advocate, your son Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Morning Prayer Zoom Link

This is a reminder that the Morning Prayer zoom link has been updated! If you'd like to attend the 7:30a.m. virtual morning prayer, you can click on the link found on the worship schedule page.

The zoom link is also available here.

Artist's Inspiration Hour

Artist's Inspiration Hour Tuesday's @ 6:30 p.m.

Do you have an artistic goal? Is there a medium you wish to explore? Do you find it rather hard to stay focused to explore or complete art projects? Won’t you consider joining the St. Mary’s Artists’ working group, via Zoom. We will meet weekly on Tuesday’s at 6:30 PM CST. Come to discuss an ongoing project or proposed project for which you want feedback or encouragement. Please also join us if you are looking for ideas or inspiration.

For questions, or more information, contact Sylvia Augustus.

Click here to join.

Get Added to the Newsletter!

Have something you'd like to promote, or have any questions? Please send all of your inquiries and ideas to our Communications Coordinator, Zach Phillips by Wednesday of each week for the following week.

You can reach out to him at communications@diowestmo.org or by clicking here.

Lectionary Bible Study

Please turn to Track 2 at the top of the page.

This Sunday's Bible Study will gather at 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. again next week in the Downstairs Classroom, often referred to as the AA Room. Here is the link to the readings:

Readings for Sunday, November 12, 2023

Check out previous sermons here!

Parish Prayer List

We ask prayers for all who need healing, especially:

Mary Beveridge, Richard Herndon, Laura Moats, Bernie, Kent Howerton, Dan, Ruby, Peg, Jamie, Milo, Tracy, Meredith Pritchard, Scott Wilcox, Julie O'Rourke Zaveral, Collette Drane, Brian Hunter, Irene Gould, Nancy Warren, Mary Parrish, George Vinnie, Jeanie Lillard Frank, Bonnie Haupt, Dan, Sandra Lee, Merton Shatzkin, Matthew Plummer, Michelle, Michael, Jake, Kendra, Charlie, Corrine, Michael Frost, Shylee Bradford-Bevis, Lolit Moore, Bre Baker, Don Clark, Cathy, Sharon Johnson, Connie, Fr. John Biggs, Glenn & Darlene Moore, Marvin and Billie, Tracey & Family, David and Amore, Gio Sosa, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

To add a name to the prayer list, please email Raja.