Calendar
Festal Eucharist
Sunday, August 15, 2010
11:00am - Saint Thomas Church
Fr Mead wrote (in one of his many sermons on the Blessed Virgin) the following explanation regarding this particular feast day:
"August 15 is the great feast of Mary which Roman Catholics call the Assumption and Eastern Orthodox call the Dormition (or Falling Asleep) of Mary at the end of her earthly life. The Episcopal Church, together with much of the Anglican Communion, simply calls this the Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we use the same lessons and prayers as Rome and Orthodoxy to celebrate the fact that from the beginning to the end of her extraordinary life as the mother of Jesus, God has “taken her to himself.” She is, as Scripture attests, the highly favored one, full of grace, for the Lord is with her."
In addition to this feast, we also celebrate at Saint Thomas:
►The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8
►The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8
►The Feast of the Annunciation on March 25 (though in 2012, it falls on a Sunday and so therefore the Fifth Sunday in Lent takes precedence)
►The Visitation on May 31
A 12:10 Mass in honor of Mary is offered once a month in the Chantry Chapel (Lady Chapel), usually but not always on the first Saturday.
Collect:
O God, who hast taken to thyself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thy incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of thine eternal kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The 11am Eucharist is typically the best-attended worship service at Saint Thomas each week. It is at this service that you not only will experience the full power of liturgy, music and preaching at Saint Thomas, but also will have the opportunity to meet many parishioners in the pews. Coffee hour and a guided tour follow the service. The bookstore, located on the first floor of the Parish House, is open following the service.
Today's Eucharist is "festal" because of the Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin. You'll notice the white vestments, as opposed to the normal green vestments which are used during these Sundays after Pentecost. There is also incense during the Offertory. Included during worship are hymns sung by the congregation and choir, additional music sung exclusively by the choir, lessons, prayers, a sermon, and a Rite I Mass. All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Holy Communion. Details of the service may be seen in the leaflet, which is posted at the bottom of this page a few days prior to the date of the service.
■□The Rector talks about Mary in this week's audio message.
■□The Choir of Men & Boys, under the direction of John Scott, sings a concert In Praise of Mary in May 2011. Order tickets here.
As you listen to the webcast, you will notice that the members of New York Polyphony sound distant. The reason is that they are singing from the rear and side galleries.
| Celebrant: | Fr Mead |
| Preacher: | Fr Mead |
| Deacon: | Fr Spurlock |
| Subdeacon: | Fr Daniels |
| Sung by: | New York Polyphony |
| Prelude: | Ave Maris Stella I & II, from ‘Fifteen Pieces founded on Antiphons’, Op. 18, Marcel Dupré (1886-1971) |
| Prelude 2: | Ave Maria, Ave Maris Stella, from ‘Trois Paraphrases Grégoriennes’, Op. 5, No. 2, Jean Langlais (1907-1991) |
| Service: | 13th Century English Mass, from the Worcester Fragments (c. 1300) |
| Psalm: | 34:1-9, Plainsong Chant (Tone VII2) |
| Anthem: | Flors regalis, Andrew Smith (b. 1970) |
| Anthem 2: | Beata viscera, Worcester Fragments |
| Voluntary: | Magnificat primi toni, BuxWV 203, Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707) |
Sermon:
Sermon Text |
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