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

Anglican Poets: John Dryden

John Dryden was one of the most influential literary figures of seventeenth-century England. He came from a staunch Anglican family, which significantly influenced his life and work.

Dryden received his education at Westminster School and later at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed a strong foundation in classical literature and rhetoric. In his literary career, Dryden became a prominent poet, playwright, and critic.

Dryden's literary achievements include influential works such as "Annus Mirabilis," a poem that celebrated the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660, and his dramatic masterpiece, "All for Love," a reimagining of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. His critical essays, particularly in works like "Essay of Dramatic Poesy," showcased his profound understanding of literature.

"A Song for St. Cecilia's Day" is an ode composed specifically for the yearly celebration dedicated to St. Cecilia, the revered patron saint of music and one of the patron saints of St. Mary's.

- Jami Blakeley

"A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY"

Stanza 1

From harmony, from Heav'nly harmony

This universal frame began.

When Nature underneath a heap

Of jarring atoms lay,

And could not heave her head,

The tuneful voice was heard from high,

Arise ye more than dead.

Then cold, and hot, and moist, and dry,

In order to their stations leap,

And music's pow'r obey.

From harmony, from Heav'nly harmony

This universal frame began:

From harmony to harmony

Through all the compass of the notes it ran,

The diapason closing full in man.

Stanza 2

What passion cannot music raise and quell!

When Jubal struck the corded shell,

His list'ning brethren stood around

And wond'ring, on their faces fell

To worship that celestial sound:

Less than a god they thought there could not dwell

Within the hollow of that shell

That spoke so sweetly and so well.

What passion cannot music raise and quell!

Stanza 3

The trumpet's loud clangor

Excites us to arms

With shrill notes of anger

And mortal alarms.

The double double double beat

Of the thund'ring drum

Cries, hark the foes come;

Charge, charge, 'tis too late to retreat.

Stanza 4

The soft complaining flute

In dying notes discovers

The woes of hopeless lovers,

Whose dirge is whisper'd by the warbling lute.

Stanza 5

Sharp violins proclaim

Their jealous pangs, and desperation,

Fury, frantic indignation,

Depth of pains and height of passion,

For the fair, disdainful dame.

Stanza 6

But oh! what art can teach

What human voice can reach

The sacred organ's praise?

Notes inspiring holy love,

Notes that wing their Heav'nly ways

To mend the choirs above.

Stanza 7

Orpheus could lead the savage race;

And trees unrooted left their place;

Sequacious of the lyre:

But bright Cecilia rais'd the wonder high'r;

When to her organ, vocal breath was giv'n,

An angel heard, and straight appear'd

Mistaking earth for Heav'n.

GRAND CHORUS

As from the pow'r of sacred lays

The spheres began to move,

And sung the great Creator's praise

To all the bless'd above;

So when the last and dreadful hour

This crumbling pageant shall devour,

The trumpet shall be heard on high,

The dead shall live, the living die,

And music shall untune the sky.

Notes from the Staff: Justin Smith, Sacristan/MC

Greetings St. Mary’s Family,

It has been a few months now since we sent off Fr. Charles Everson to continue his work and ministry at another church. During those first several weeks, there was a great sense of nervousness and tension about what the future would hold for all of us as a community. I am so happy and pleased to say that we at St. Mary’s have pushed through it, we are doing well, and we are thriving as a parish.

In the last couple of months, I have witnessed a renewed sense of spirit and energy within our community. We have been refreshed and empowered in new and exciting ways, while coming across occasional challenges. Several of the laity have taken on new tasks and greater responsibilities while under the good leadership of Fr. Sean. Led by Dcn. Lynda, we have expanded the outreach ministry to include evangelism in the wider community, hosting meetings that focus on inviting, welcoming, and connecting with newcomers. We have a greater emphasis on the pastoral care needs of our parishioners and are in dialogue about how we can best reach and engage the people with whom we come in contact.

This transition has opened up many ways for me and others to creatively lead some of our other important ministries within the life of our church and we are all working and functioning like a well-oiled machine. The Dinner for 8 program, initiated by Kristi Seaton, is growing well beyond what was originally envisioned, and it’s wonderful to see the community interacting with each other in ways it has not in the past.

Recently, we hosted the annual Society of Catholic Priests (SCP) conference and received so many compliments on how well our church hosted the group. It makes me proud to say that I am part of a church that comes together when we have a mission and goal in mind. The compliments included how organized the various events were and – the most prominent one – how accommodating and helpful we were. I personally want to thank Raja Reed, our parish administrator and reception committee leader. He and several of my very dedicated acolytes pitched in to help the conference run as smoothly as possible. We have a very committed and hard-working group of people at St. Mary’s, and many things would not be possible without their consistent efforts. I am so grateful for them and all that they do.

We, however, can always use more help. We are coming up on our stewardship campaign, Rooted in Abundance, and this is a time to reflect and look deeply within ourselves to see if there are areas and ways in which we can give more to our community. Stewardship is not just about asking for and collecting money from our pledges. While this is important to help pay for the many necessary expenses of running a large, old church, the parish can use you in many other ways by giving of your abundant time and talent.

As I mentioned before, we have a very active and vibrant community in the parish life at St. Mary’s. We are one of the most active episcopal churches in the Diocese of West Missouri in terms of public worship. Not many people can say that their church offers the sacraments, especially Holy Communion, nearly every day. In order to celebrate these sacraments and in the high liturgical way that we do, it takes a whole community of faithful people to pull together to execute this type of worship. It takes all kinds of people in all areas and walks of life to come together for the various ministries, whether it be singing in the Choir, reading scripture, serving at the altar to doing many of the behind-the-scenes things, such as helping with the reception, helping set up for Mass, or running the livestream equipment, so our homebound parishioners can participate in worship with us. All these things are important, and you are very much needed for them to continue.

St. Mary’s has a core group of people who do a lot of the work and, truthfully, we need more from the community. There is something to the phrase “many hands make for lighter work.” We all love St. Mary’s and what we do here, but without the involvement of the community it makes it hard to maintain the kind of Anglo Catholic piety we are trying to foster. We cannot in fairness continue to rely on a small handful of people alone to do all of the work in the many areas where people are needed. I am reminded that it is always “better to give, than to receive.” So, I am asking more of you than simply coming to church to attend Mass. I prayerfully and humbly ask you to consider giving of yourself by volunteering for a ministry within our church. The word community has sort of an implication of involvement, so please help us in growing our community. If you are not keen on serving in public worship, there are several other opportunities to participate in the community. Outreach and evangelism are the foundational mission for Christians, and I know our beloved deacon and the people doing that work of mercy, would also love to have new faces helping serve the needs of those less fortunate around us.

In peace,

Justin

Meet the Vestry: Sylvia Augustus

I was raised in New York City in the Afro Caribbean /Anglo Catholic tradition. I am a “cradle to grave” Episcopalian. The spiritual importance of church architecture and liturgy were part of my childhood. I was christened at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (sadly, no longer in existence) and confirmed and married at the Church of the Intercession.

I have lived in the Kansas City area for almost twenty years. I currently live North of the River with my husband Scott and our fur babies, Munson, Molly, and Wilma.

I have spent over twenty-five years as an architect for the federal government. My most memorable duty station was at Yosemite National Park. While at Yosemite, I started taking wildlife and landscape photographs during my free time. I have a great passion for the visual arts. I have been blessed to have shown and sold my artwork at Kansas City area galleries, including at St. Mary’s, and have served on several art organization boards. My hobbies include cooking, photography, and miniatures. In our home, my husband and I have created a small art collection including the works of several Kansas City area artists.

When I first moved to the Kansas City area, I attended several area Episcopal churches searching for a good fit for me. When I visited St. Mary’s sixteen years ago, it felt like home to me. I grew up in a high church tradition, so the Anglo-Catholic vibe was just what I had been searching for and as a wonderful bonus, I found an amazing church family that is loving and accepting of newcomers. You will typically find me in the kitchen after 10:00 AM Mass on Sunday helping with the coffee hour. Please stop by and say hello if we have not met.

Stewardship

Bishops Visitation/St. Francis Day

Last Sunday, the Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce, Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of West Missouri, was at St. Mary's for her annual episcopal visitation. Bishop Bruce inspired us with a sermon about the power of prayer to center and calm our lives and celebrated the Feast of St. Francis with the traditional Blessing of the Animals.

Priory of St. Mary

The Priory of St. Mary the Virgin of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ)

The Priory of St. Mary the Virgin of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ) will hold a Convent and Investiture at 10:00AM on Saturday October 14, 2023 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Mo. Visitors are invited to attend.

The Priory of St. Mary the Virgin was established nearly 35 years ago by Dr. Bruce Prince-Joseph, who was the Director of Music at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. He was the first Prior and grew the membership of the Priory to over fifty members. Fr. Bruce Rahtjen became the second Prior after his retirement as Rector of the Church. Currently, there are about thirty members. The SMOTJ exists as a charitable organization to support Christianity in the Holy Land and in our own country. The Priory donated 41 school backpacks to the Ivanhoe Community Group in Kansas City and donated $1,500 to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund for relief in the Ukraine. The national organization donates nearly a half million dollars annually to support student scholarships in the Holy Land.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bro's Joes

You may have had opportunity to get to know Vonda and Adam Powell, both parishioners at St. Mary's. Adam is a young man who is non-verbal with autism. He loves coming to church, shaking hands and helping to create Blessing Bags for our homeless friends. His mother has been working hard to begin a nonprofit to employ Adam and others in the Northland.

"Bro's Joes" will be a fully inclusive coffee arts bar in Liberty, Missouri where everyone can come together with purpose and belonging. We call it the "RelationshOp."

To help:

☕️Participate in our events by following us on Facebook or checking our website brosjoes.org

☕️Purchase coffee and merch through our website - brosjoes.org

☕️Pray

God is fully in this endeavor and we pray you will be, too!

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 e 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, October 15, 2023

Sermons

Check out previous sermons here!

Parish Prayer List

We ask prayers for all who need healing, especially:

Mary Beveridge, Richard Herndon, Laura Moats, Bernie, Mary Wilcox, Kent Howerton, Dan, Ruby, Peg, Jamie, Milo, Tracy, Raja Reed, Meredith Pritchard, Scott Wilcox, Julie O’Rourke Zaveral, Collette Drane, Brian Hunter, Mark Starks, Irene Gould, Nancy Warren, Mary Parrish, George Vinnie, Michael Heiner, 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, John Stanks, Glenn & Darlene Moore, Paul Powell, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

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