Sunday, November 1, All Saints' Day
Sunday, November 1 is All Saints' Day. Find the readings here.
Dear Friends in Christ,
This week’s worship video is now available:
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Lots to share this week! First, we'll be welcoming the Grace Center back to our Parish Hall on Sundays in winter. This work of mercy will be a great blessing to the many guests for whom winter is especially difficult and dangerous. One question raised has been, what if the pandemic ends before then, and we need the space for ourselves? Since the pandemic will almost certainly end in stages (e.g. as more people become eligible for, and receive, a vaccine), and we have been among the most cautious in our response to it, the Grace Center will likely be able to move out before we would want to move back in. They have also agreed to be flexible, should we need to use the space.
Second, today at 4 pm, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness. In the midst of a pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. In addition to Bishop Curry’s sermon, the service will include reflections from Father James Martin, a noted Roman Catholic commentator on American life and values, and Valarie Kaur, an inspiring Sikh author, filmmaker, and civil rights attorney.
Third, last week the Massachusetts Council of Churches issued a letter signed by Heads of Church from six New England states, including our bishops. "Lament and Live Together" addresses the weight clergy bear as "front line responders to the physical, spiritual, and emotional trauma of COVID-19, racist violence, political anger, economic worry, and the despair of those losing hope." But of course, clergy are hardly the only ones bearing these weights. I'm also sharing the letter because it includes resources for mental health care, which is important for everyone. To get help in Massachusetts, go to https://masssupport.org/
Fourth, Diocesan Convention is coming up on Saturday. You can find out everything there is to know about it here. As it will be a virtual event, anyone can observe.
Fifth, in lieu of a saint video on Election Day, I'll be offering the Prayer Book's litany "For Sound Government." You'll find it on pp. 821-822.
Finally, keep an eye out for our solemn requiem Mass tomorrow, All Souls' Day.
The weather is looking iffy, so I'm not going to suggest a stroll this week. But I hope to see many of you at our virtual coffee hour at noon:
• To join in the Zoom app, use the Meeting ID: 852 8633 0838 (no password).
• To join in your browser, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85286330838
• To join from a smartphone, tap here: +16465588656,,85286330838#
• To join from a conventional phone, call (646) 558-8656 and enter the Meeting ID.
Here are Mark's music notes:
The Parish Choir is working hard on singing Compline via Zoom which will allow you to either join us live at the end of our Check-in on Thursdays or listen to it at another time. Compline is the ancient monastic late-night prayer service. More than 10 years ago we'd sing this occasionally in the church at 8:45 pm on Sundays (after the AA folk had left the parking lot). It was wonderful to do all that careful listening and comfortable singing. So we look forward to re-introduce you to fifteen minutes of quiet chant in the comfort of your (and our) homes to soothe the worries of the day this coming Thursday!
Several members of the Parish Choir have joined the singing online recently. Rick Britton joins in singing the beloved hymn “I sing a song of the saints of God” on the Acapella app. In addition, we're introducing the sung Psalm that we recorded via Zoom this week. We’re singing that great hymn "For All The Saints!" BTW, you’ll note that the tune name is “Sine nomine” which means in Latin “without a title/name.” The tune was composed for the English Hymnal (1906), by Ralph (pronounced "Rafe") Vaughan Williams who was also the editor and submitted tune anonymously (and sine nominee) to blindly pass muster with the others who would choose the new tunes. His new tune was a hit!
Organ music today is by 2 English composers. Betty Roe has been composing and teaching music for the greater part of her life. She’s composed operas, musical theatre, and all sorts of vocal and instrumental works. She was awarded an MBE in 2011. Andrew Moore is a conductor and composer as well as a Roman Catholic priest. In addition to liturgical words, both instrumental and choral he’s also composed for voice and larger scale works for orchestra.
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