Dear Friends,
“Where has August gone?” someone said to me yesterday. It certainly will be a summer to remember. September is around the corner, and the Choir School will soon be starting a new academic year not in New York, but in Connecticut. We had a delightful coffee hour last Sunday when our inspirational interim Head of School, Amy Francisco, shared news of the Choir School and of the plans to ensure that our choristers are safe but, more importantly, able to live in community and sing! A number of you asked if you can help with some of the incidental expenses of the Choir School spending the first part of term at Incarnation Center. Next week, we will share with you some specific ways in which you can help.
We have been so encouraged by the many letters that we have received from all over the United States telling us how important the weekly (and for some, daily) webcasts have become. We have received many gifts towards the webcast ministry; thank you! One of the most touching gifts I have received so far is a beautiful image of Christ the King from an art school graduate (see inline image). In his letter, Andrew Freshour, an illustrator, writes: “The beautiful webcasts have kept me company for many an all-nighter during my art school days…Listening has helped to bring Christ into my everyday life, which has truly warmed my heart and my soul.” Thank you, Andrew, for this lovely illustration which we will place inside one of our liturgical books.
I am writing this after celebrating the mass on the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430). We have a treasure store of his writings and theology, but also his spirituality. Here is a beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit that you can use this week:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
that I always may be holy. Amen.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our adult education class on Sunday. Canon Ward will join us from St. Stephen’s House, Oxford, for the final class of his series, ‘Key Christian Thinkers and their Times.’ The August 30th class will cover the 19th century, a time of revival and innovation. He will discuss the work of Pusey, Keble, and Newman, who gave us the catholic revival in Anglicanism, and who engaged with the challenges of modern science and politics.
In our webcast liturgy this Sunday, you will enjoy Nick Quardokus’ playing of Vivaldi, and Blake Martin has filmed him playing the Taylor Boody Organ and the Martha Dodge Continuo Organ to great effect. Patrick Fennig, our Concert Series Manager and Music Librarian, also sings some exquisite Vivaldi.
Coffee Hour is at 12:30pm and the zoom details are below.
Alison joins me in thanking you for all your lovely messages of congratulations for our 30th wedding anniversary. Here’s to the next 30!
May God bless you and your loved ones this week.
Affectionately,
Your priest and pastor,
Carl
