The Epistle
February 2003 | Volume 16, No. 3
Other Issues: February 2003 |  January 2003 | December 2002 | November 2002 | October 2002 | September 2002 | July-August 2002 |  June 2002 |  May 2002 |  Apr 2002

Music from the Heart: Benefit for Girls' and Boys' Choirs
Please join us Saturday evening, February 8, 2003, at 7:30 PM for an elegant evening of music, performed by our very own choir parents and friends. Following the concert, the choir parents will host a dessert and wine reception.

The concert will feature the following:
  Kris Brown Coleman, Mezzo-soprano
  Barbara Hollinshead, Mezzo-soprano
  Jonathan Coleman, Tenor
  Frank Albinder, Baritone 
  Risa Browder, Violin and Viola
  John Moran, Cello
  Diana Ogilvie, Horn
  Jim Dickey, Oboe
  Sophie Sawatzki, Chinese Gu Zheng
  Jeffrey Smith, organ

All proceeds for the concert will benefit the St Paul's Girls' and Boys' choirs, providing funding for their March tour to New York City. Suggested contribution at the door is $20 per person. For further information, phone 202-337-5496.

The Saint John Passion of Johann Sebastian Bach
7:30 PM, Friday, April 4
Sung in the context of Lenten Vespers

The Saint Paul's Parish Choir, soloists,
and Modern Musick, a period-instrument orchestra.

Receiving Blessings, and Carrying Their Message
From the Rector

My dear parishioners and friends of St Paul's,

I always seem to begin with a review of what happened the previous month! That may be a bore for those who were present, but it does keep those outside up to date as well as provide a record for the archives.

Christmastide
We did have a truly spectacular celebration of Christmas. While our numbers at the Midnight Mass were down, the "white Christmas" setting added to the magic, and actually a well ordered Midnight Mass was very pleasant!

On the eighth day, a wonderful Holy Name Day -- and on the tenth day, a splendid devotion, at the center of which was Jeffrey Smith's performance of Messiaën's La Nativité du Seigneur.

On the twelfth day, we were able to enjoy a second Sunday of Christmas -- with the choristers providing a spectacular Lessons and Carols that evening. We were launched splendidly in to the present Epiphany season by a glorious Procession and Solemn Mass on January 6, with a fine sermon from Fr Richard Alton.

I said to someone the other day that we are thoroughly spoiled here at St Paul's! They relied, no, we are blessed. But we are spoiled if we take those blessings for granted or worse if we are unaware of what is offered. My concern about such seems to be a recurrent theme in these pages -- I wonder why? Perhaps this time I should just leave it be -- we are blessed indeed!

February
February begins with a double bang! The Society of King Charles the Martyr will be with us for their annual Mass at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 1. Bishop Keith Ackerman of Quincy will preside at that Mass; Fr Barry Swain from Resurrection, New York, will preach. This will be the third time the Society has met here, one time each now with Fr Daughtry, Fr Martin, and myself!

The very next day is Candlemas. Bishop Ackerman will be with us for the full day, presiding and preaching in the morning, and then presiding in the evening. This day really will be one of those days when you will want to return to church in the evening. While we shall keep the propers for the day at the Masses, the customary ceremonies for the day will be observed in the evening with the blessing of candles, the candle procession falling between Solemn Evensong and Solemn Pontifical Benediction. A reception will follow the evening service.

Spreading the Word
Not only would I hope that all our parish will be present for these important observations, but I also hope that you will take this opportunity to invite your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I say that often, and AM sometimes tempted to believe that you all lead very solitary lives, or that you have very converted friends, colleagues, and neighbors!

The season of Epiphany is, of course, the season when the church looks most especially to her mission. The Epiphany itself becomes the impetus for proclaiming the Good New of God in Christ to the Gentiles -- that is, to all God's people. And how will they hear unless you and I tell the story? It is surely a story of transformation (as you have heard from me from the pulpit recently), rooted in our tradition in the transformation of bread and wine: "That God was man in Palestine, and lives today in bread and wine" (John Betjeman); which in turn speaks of our own transformation as a community and as individuals.

It is the story of those transformations that the world -- those "friends, neighbors, and colleagues" -- wait to hear. Some of you have said that St Paul's has to be one of the best kept secrets in Washington! That is something that should convict each of us in our work of evangelisation. You have heard from me before the story of the man who vowed at his confirmation that he would in turn present an individual to his parish church each year for baptism and/or confirmation -- and he did! Imagine if each of us did that? When were you last responsible for bringing someone to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ? How many opportunities have been missed? How many not even noticed? How many avoided?

Our Long Range Plan, it has been wisely said, is dependent upon two activities on our part: stewardship and evangelism. Get those right, and the rest will follow -- the burning core of worship is already in place!


This comes as always with gratitude and with my love in the Christ who manifests himself to us for the sake of the world.

Andrew L. Sloane+

Parish Statistics

Baptism:
Nicholas Michael Randolph Faili, January 12, 2003.

Deaths:
John Milton Niswander, December 19, 2002.
Stuart Harbour, December 29, 2002.
Rose McDonald, January 2, 2003.
John Edward Van Sant, January 8, 2003.

New-Parishioner Profile

Despite being a new member of St Paul's, David Boulet has already left his marks on the parish. The most obvious are the wonderful Christmas decorations that he designed, inspired by a tradition in colonial Williamsburg.

David, who was born in Texas but grew up in many different places because of his father's career in the Air Force, started coming to St Paul's two and half years ago.

"It was my first experience with liturgical service and certainly was something very different in style than the Quaker meeting and Charismatic churches I had been attending prior. God has surprised me with how much He has revealed Himself to me spiritually through the Liturgy and with how the Holy Spirit can minister in the very structured worship service of the High Mass," says David.

At St Paul's, David not only discovered his love of liturgy but also of flowers. Jo Stelzig persuaded him to join the Flower Guild and recently gave him leadership in that role. When he doesn't spend his time piercing apples for St Paul's Christmas decorations, David works on completing his cinema-style home theater in his and Barry Johnson's home on Capitol Hill, watches movies on DVD, or listens to rock music. David's daytime hours are spent working as a Web programmer for a travel company, and on Wednesday evenings he can be found attending Pilgrims in Christ.

"Worshiping at St Paul's has had some keen affects on my spiritual life. In particular, I have gained a much deeper appreciation for two aspects of Christian faith, the Sacrament of Communion and the Passion of Christ, that I have experienced in a new and profound way during the Easter Vigil. In many subtle and sometimes profound ways, God has made it clear to me that St Paul's is where He wants me to be right now.

"I have also been blessed tremendously with the friends and spiritual leadership/support the Lord has provided me through the people at this parish. I've enjoyed very much serving Him and the Church through my work on the Flower Guild and AM eager to discover what other plans God has for me to minister and be ministered to in return at St Paul's," says David.

Please greet David Boulet at the 11:15 Mass. [EB]

Events in February

Solemnity of the Feast of King Charles the Martyr
Saturday, February 1, 2003
11:00 AM Solemn Mass in the Presence of a Bishop,
Annual Mass of the Society of King Charles the Martyr

The Rt Rev'd Keith L. Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, Presiding. The Rev'd Canon Barry E.B. Swain, Rector, Church of the Resurrection, New York City, Preacher

Schubert's Mass in G, with string ensemble, excerpts from Elgar's Coronation Ode, and Weelkes' O Lord, grant the King a long life

The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
(Candlemas)
Sunday, February 2, 2003
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
7:45 AM Low Mass
9:00 AM Procession and Sung Mass in the Presence of a Bishop
The Rt Rev'd Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, Preacher.
11:15 AM Procession and Solemn Pontifical Mass
The Rt Rev'd Keith L.ÊAckerman, Bishop of Quincy, Celebrant and Preacher

6:00 PM Solemn Evensong, Blessing of Candles, Procession of Lights, and Solemn Pontifical Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Reception following

Saint Matthias the Apostle
Monday, February 24, 2003
6:45 AM Morning Prayer
7:00 AM Low Mass
12 Noon Low Mass
5:45 PM Evening Prayer
6:00 PM Low Mass

Looking Ahead to Lent

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
7:00 AM Low Mass
12 Noon Low Mass with hymns
6:30 PM Solemn Liturgy of the Day

Wednesdays in Lent
March 12 to April 9, 2003
Parish Lenten Potluck Suppers
in the Dining Hall, following Evening Mass.

5:45 PM Evening Prayer
6:00 PM Low Mass
6:45 PM Potluck Supper
7:30 PM Program for adults and program for children
8:30 PM Compline

Fridays in Lent
March 14 to April 11, 2003
5:15 PM Stations of the Cross
5:30 PM Devotions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
5:45 PM Evening Prayer
6:00 PM Low Mass
6:30 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Lenten Quiet Day
Saturday, March 22, 2003
9:15 AM - 3:00 PM led by the Rt Rev'd Mark Dyer

And Also in March

The Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ
to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
6:45 AM Morning Prayer
7:00 AM Low Mass
12 Noon Low Mass
6:30 PM Procession and Solemn Mass
Fr Ben King, Curate, Church of the Advent, Boston, Preacher

February Birthdays

1 Linda Sorg.
2 Rachel Dickey.
4 Carol Mullarkey.
5 Anne Kirlin; Alexander Malson.
6 Andrea Benn; Vanessa Montes.
7 Maryan Darmstadter.
8 Richard Burke; Pattie Kindsvater.
9 Cynthia Efird; Elizabeth Walker Freeland; the Rev'd Perrin Radley.
10 Catherine Jones.
11 LisaAnne M. Fischer; David Taylor.
13 Mary Ham; Kate Kirlin; Brooke Reasoner.
14 George Buzby; Arlene Hesse; Robert McAllister.
15 Fred Steckhahn.
16 Douglas H. Bush; Esme Pierzchala.
17 Frank Darden.
19 Mickey Anne Benson; Diane Dean.
20 Belinda Beisel; Marcia Berrien; Sybil Boggis; C.B. Wooldridge.
21 Warren T. Woodfin.
22 Matthew Leddicotte; Peter Schlatter; Stasia Schlatter.
24 Oghene-Bruru Ajueyitsi; Cindy Nadeau.
26 Ruth Brill; Kathleen Cameron.

If you have a February birthday that was not included, or if there are any mistakes, please contact the church office.[MW]

St Paul's Parish Staff
The Rev'd Andrew Sloane, Rector
The Rev'd Edwin Barnett, Assistant
Dr Jeffrey Smith, Director of Music
Thomas Joyce, Assistant to the Director of Music
Melva Willis, Parish Administrator
Suzanne Walker-Smith, Administrative Assistant
Frederick Murdock, III, Maintenance Manager

The Vestry
The Rev'd Andrew Sloane, Rector
Gregory Bailey, Senior Warden
Pat Byrd, Junior Warden
Gregory Capaldini, Secretary
Lynne Walker, Treasurer
Richard Best, Jr., Ronald Meekhof, Elizabeth Siegmund; Peter Agnew, Ed Loucks, Larry Toombs; Nevin Brown, Larry Cook, David McGaw, Marcia Stanford.

The Epistle
St Paul's Parish Newsletter
Anne Thomas, Editor, thomasal@erols.com
John Walker, Desktop Publisher
Contributors to this issue: Elizabeth Braw, Andrew Sloane+, Jeffrey Smith, Melva Willis.

Articles should be submitted to the Editor or to the parish office.
St Paul's Parish, 2430 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1797; 202/337-2020

Deadline for next issue:
Monday, February 10

Celebrating 135 Years of Anglo-Catholic Worship and Service!
St Paul's Parish
2430 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1797