Epistle

From the Rector
Parish Life in Lent

My dear parishioners and friends of St. Paul's,

February begins with the very lovely Feast of Candlemas, or the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. It has been traditional for some years now that we invite a Bishop to be with us on that evening, and I am delighted that the Archbishop of the West Indies, the Most Rev'd Drexel Gomez, will be with us to celebrate and preach on that day. This will be the Archbishop's second visit to us at St. Paul's; many of you know his sister Myrtle Gomez, a faithful member of this congregation.

I think that we are one of the few churches in the Diocese that keep this Feast with all the bells and whistles, and it is always a lovely occasion and a wonderful opportunity for all of you to invite your friends, families, neighbors, and colleagues to join us. Our choir will continue to do sterling work and the music will be Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli.

Ash Wednesday
The very next week sees the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday on February 9. There will be low Masses at 7 AM and noon, and the Solemn Liturgy of the Day at 6:30 PM. Ashes will be imposed at all Masses. As in previous years, the First Sunday of Lent will see the customary Rite of Election for our very large catechumenate, this year at the 9 AM Mass. This is the Rite preparatory for confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation as well as baptism, all of which will take place at the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday, March 26, at 9 PM, with our Presiding Bishop celebrating and preaching.

Lenten studies
Those of you with access to the parish website (www.StPauls-KSt.com) can find there the details of our Wednesdays in Lent series. This year, I have chosen a very fine book by Stephen Cottrell, I Thirst: The Cross, the Great Sign of Love. He wrote this book when he was the Canon Pastor of Peterborough Cathedral in England. He is now the Bishop of Reading in Oxfordshire. The book is designed to be used in Lent and has six chapters, for each of the weeks of Lent. Each chapter looks at the words "I thirst" in a different way. In particular, the book follows the Passion story in St. John's Gospel, and, as the author says, "in fact, the whole book is deeply rooted in the Fourth Gospel, finding there an understanding of the cross as a revelation of God's glory, the great triumph of love."

The Wednesdays in Lent series will begin on February 16 and will run through Wednesday, March 16. (We do not meet in Holy Week.) Our evening begins with Evening Prayer at 5:45 PM and a low Mass at 6 PM, followed at approximately 6:45 PM by a potluck supper. The program then begins at 7:30 PM, and we conclude the evening with compline at 8:30 PM. Other parish clergy will be joining me in presenting the six chapters of the book, and I believe that we will find it a most rewarding and powerful experience. Stephen Cottrell has a fine reputation as a preacher and pastor, and that comes through clearly in this well-written and challenging book.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12, for our Lenten Quiet Day from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. I am delighted that the Rev'd Rita Steadman, assistant to the rector at Christ Church, Georgetown, has graciously agreed to be the conductor for that day.

In addition to the Wednesday evenings and the Quiet Day, obviously Lent also revolves around the Sundays in Lent. This is a time when I hope everybody in the parish will make an effort to be consistent in their attendance for the five Sundays in Lent, which in part become a preparation for our full participation in the liturgies of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Day. The effect of such consistent and committed attendance is indeed cumulative, and lives can be changed. As you know, I am a great believer in the principle that commitment converts, and our Lenten experience as a parish and as individuals will bear this out.

The rector's forum on Sunday mornings in Lent will continue to look at The Soul's Journey, by Alan Jones, which is proving to be a very stimulating book. It is still my hope that the author, the Dean of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, might be able to visit us while we are looking at this book.

A look back at Christmas
In retrospect, I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to provide us with a wonderful Christmas season. Most people have no idea of the work that goes on behind the scenes to provide such glorious liturgies and in such a lovely setting. We had full houses for all three Lessons and Carols services, two in Advent and one on January 2 in Christmastide. These services represent enormous work on the part of our musicians -- in addition to their providing music for so many liturgies over Christmas itself. We had no less than six sung services in 48 hours between Christmas Eve and Evensong on the First Sunday After Christmas!

David Boulet and his helpers spent the whole week before Christmas making arrangements and decorating the church in, I'm sure you will agree, the most beautiful way. Our office volunteers and those who volunteer their time and talent to produce bulletins must also be commended -- you can imagine the amount of work that has to go into producing so many bulletins for so many special services in such a short time. Obviously, other backup help for liturgies include the Altar Guild, who have never missed a beat, and also our Guild of Ushers and our greeters.

We had good attendance at all our services, and I can't think of a more beautiful Christmas. Many thanks from all of us to all of you who worked so hard.

With all my love and gratitude in Christ,

Andrew Sloane+

St. Paul's Provides an "Official" Image of Anglicanism

If you thought that St. Paul's already had a high profile, you should know the parish has become even more visible in the Anglican Communion. Recently, www.AnglicanCommunion.org -- which bills itself as the "Anglican Communion Official Website" -- has been featuring a photo of St. Paul's Walsingham icon as the main graphic on its home page. (Note that the site has recently replaced the graphic with a prayer for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis.)

Tina Mallett Wins Another Award

St. Paul's parishioner Tina Mallett has been named the grand prize winner in the All-Star Volunteer Search. As grand prize winner, she will receive a $7,500 donation for St. Paul's.

The All-Star Volunteer Search -- sponsored by Hecht's, Levi Strauss & Co., The Points of Light Foundation and The Washington Post -- recognizes individuals in the Washington metropolitan area who demonstrate outstanding volunteer efforts in their community. Three winners were selected to receive a monetary donation to go toward the non-profit organization of their choice.

Tina won for her work with the Grate Patrol, which she started almost 30 years ago. Tina coordinates the work of the many volunteers who make sandwiches, pack bags, and deliver meals. Grate Patrol delivers about 400 meals to the homeless every Saturday and Sunday, when other kitchens do not operate. Recipients get a sandwich, hard-boiled egg, hot coffee, and a prayer card.

This is Tina's second award in the past three months. In November, she was one of seven award winners in the Toy- ota Dealers and WJLA-TV Tribute to Working Women. [AN]

Women's Spirituality at the Cathedral

The Washington National Cathedral is sponsoring its annual conference for women -- "Sacred Circles: A Celebration of Women's Spirituality 2005" -- on February 18-19, 2005. This year's theme is expanding our views of what compassion means.

Information and registration can be found at www.nationalcathedral.org/sacredcircles.

Habitat for Humanity Build-a-Thon

The St. Paul's Commission on Mission is sponsoring a build-a-thon on Saturday, February 26, for the D.C. chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

The build-a-thon will take place at Habitat's build site in Northeast Washington. We are limited to 30 participants. Each participant will be asked to raise at least $100 in pledges to support Habitat's efforts. This activity will be an all-day event, starting at 8:30 AM and ending at 4:00 PM.

All those over 16 years of age are welcome and encouraged to participate -- no previous skills are required. Based on our previous experience with Habitat in September, this will no doubt prove to be a fun and rewarding day, so please consider joining us in support of this great cause!

For more information, or to sign up, please contact Andrew Lee at 703-294-6747 or AndrewLVA@aol.com. [AL]

Treasurer's Report

The Finance Committee and Vestry continue to work on a budget for 2005 that will address the needs of the parish and our commitment to missions and ministry. As of January 9, 2005, we have received 255 pledges totaling $672,592. Of those pledges, 123 are increases, 82 remain the same as 2004, 23 are decreases, and 27 are new pledges.

While the total pledge amount of $672,592 is an increase over the 2004 pledge total of $623,108, it is well under the amount needed to fund the programs discussed in parish-wide meetings last summer. If you have questions about pledging, feel free to contact any of the clergy or Vestry members or the treasurer.

As of November 30, 2004, year-to-date income was slightly below budget and year-to-date expenses were slightly above budget. As of this writing, the accounting records for December 2004 had not been closed. For additional financial information, see the monthly reports posted on the Vestry bulletin board in Pillsbury House. [PP]

The Collect for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -- Book of Common Prayer (1662)

The Guild of All Souls

On All Souls' Day, we focus on praying for the departed, but we need not lose that focus throughout the year. St. Paul's offers several opportunities during the year to pray and have Mass said for all souls.

One group that focuses on praying for the departed is the parish branch of the Guild of All Souls, which promotes the monthly parish Requiem Masses, where faithful departed members of our parish family are remembered at the altar. Fr. Sloane is a member of the National Council of the American Branch of the Guild.

The monthly Parish Requiem is now on the first feria (ordinary day) of the month on the parish calendar, excluding Christmastide. During Eastertide, a Mass of the Resurrection is celebrated with the special intention for the faithful departed.

The Guild of All Souls: An historical overview
The Guild of All Souls is a prayer society within the Anglican Communion that promotes the Church's teaching regarding the faithful departed; encourages Christian customs in the burial of the dead; urges the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the time of burial according to the propers appointed in the Book of Common Prayer; and prays for the dead, especially the departed members of the Guild and the families, friends, and neighbors of the faithful departed at the parish where Guild members worship. The Guild also publishes and distributes literature pertaining to the life and work of the Guild and concerning the teachings of the Catholic Church concerning the faithful departed.

The duties of members of the Guild are to say the prayers for the dying and for the departed members of the Guild once a week and to assist at the Requiem Mass on All Souls' Day with intention for the departed members of the Guild.

The Guild also maintains a continuous chain of intercession for the souls of the departed. Chantry Chapels, where the entire membership of the Guild is prayed for daily, are located throughout the Anglican Communion -- the most famous is at Walsingham.

Praying for the dead is creedal
Praying for the departed follows logically from our belief in the doctrines of the Communion of Saints, the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Life Everlasting. These doctrines are held in common by all Catholic and Orthodox Christians and are explicit in the Apostles' Creed when we proclaim that we believe in "the communion of Saints, ... the resurrection of the body, and the life in the world to come." Members of the Guild of All Souls are called to strengthen their own belief in those doctrines and to demonstrate their reality in their daily lives. The Guild places preeminence in personal piety and devotion as an example to promote the Church's teaching of intercessory prayer for the dying and for the repose of the souls of the departed.

Early opposition
Praying for the dead has long held a suspect theological position within Anglicanism. The Thirty-Nine Articles caution against praying for the dead in "Romish fashion." At the Virginia Theological Seminary, there continues an endowed scholarship that requires that the recipient sign a statement that the recipient will not pray for the dead. But this opposition is bolstered by popular superstitions as well.

In R.D. Blackmore's Lorna Doone, Parson Bowden faces a dilemma as he kneels to begin the prayer for the King's Most Excellent Majesty, when Sam Fry, seeing "popery," tells him that the King is dead and therefore may not be prayed for. Parson Bowden insists "he will want it all the more. Let us pray for His Gracious Majesty." In the novel, no member of the congregation says "Amen" for fear of being labeled a papist.

This attitude regarding the faithful dead prevailed in England in the year 1873, when the Guild of All Souls was founded. Although it is difficult understand today, the formation of such a guild was a brave enterprise.

Like many other spontaneous movements of Catholic piety in the Church's history, the Guild was founded by laymen. Three men -- Joseph and Walter Plimpton and Edward Frederick Croom -- all associated with the parish church of St. James, Hatcham, meeting on March 15, 1873, decided to invite other members of their congregation to join in forming a guild to be known as "The Guild of All Souls" and having the above intentions. The first step was to invite the Rev'd Arthur Tooth, then vicar of St. James' Parish, to become president of the new guild; an invitation that he accepted. The members gathered at St. James' Church once a month for the reading of the Litany of the Faithful Departed.

Three years later, the extension of the Guild was effected. In 1876, advertisements were inserted in the Church Times and Church Review, which created an immediate demand for membership and made it possible to open widely dispersed branches of the Guild. From this moment, the Guild progressed steadily through the years, until the beliefs around which it had been formed were generally accepted within the Anglican Communion.

Through the catholic revival to victory for Victoria
The Guild of All Souls also played a conspicuous part in the Catholic revival. In 1904, the Guild secured the advowson (the right to present a priest for appointment) of the prominent London church of St. Stephen's, Gloucester Road, Kensington, and formed a patronage committee, the purpose of which was to determine that any priest nominated and presented to the "vacant Benefice" was in sympathy with the objects of the Guild and by his practice and teaching would assist in the preservation and promotion of Catholic dogma and ceremonial in the Church. From that beginning, many actions by the Guild materially strengthened the Catholic position in the Church of England, including the establishment of a Chantry Chapel in St. Stephen's, Gloucester Road.

Many persons in the forefront of the Catholic Revival of the nineteenth century were also closely identified with the Guild. But the turning point that established the Guild as a permanent and Catholic witness in the Anglican Communion was the Solemn Requiem for Queen Victoria. The Mass was sung in the Church of St. Matthew, Westminster, on February 5, 1901, and was attended by an overflowing congregation. The Requiem created a major sensation and justified the claim that a general understanding of Catholic doctrine in this particular matter was largely brought about by the Guild.

The secular press was mystified, regarding the whole thing as exotic and superstitious. Religious papers reflected, in no measured terms, the varied hues of their beliefs and prejudices. The Church Times concluded its description by noting that a "general opinion was expressed that this beautiful and well-ordered service, with all its Catholic accessories, might well be followed in great churches on great occasions for requiems."

The Daily Telegraph commented, "[t]o all seeing, the ceremonial proceeded in the highest and most elaborate manner known to the Anglican Church." But the Daily Mail headed its cautiously toned single short paragraph "Queen's Soul Prayed For." The Protestant press trotted out all its armory of invective, and the Tablet called attention to the fact that the procedure closely followed the Roman use.

One of the most enlightened articles appeared in the Manchester Guardian, which began by stating that:

[m]uch has been said and written this [sic] last few days about the beautiful music which accompanied Queen Victoria's progress to the tomb. Yet in the minds of many of her late Majesty's subjects there was something lacking. Such of them as were acquainted with the more ancient usages of the Church, and more particularly with her music, must have regretted that the tender, moving strains to which the nameless musician of some early century had set the "Requiem Aeternam" had not been sung at the Queen's funeral. The omission was yesterday supplied in the service which was sung at the Church of St. Matthew, almost under the shadow of the Palace of Westminster, thanks to the initiative of the Guild of All Souls and the cooperation of the English Church Union. The Church, then, was abundantly equipped for the celebration of Queen Victoria's "Requiem" with all the ceremonial adjuncts to which High Churchmen are attached.

Beyond earthly life
The Rev'd Fr. J.R. Porter writes: "The great seventeenth century Anglican divines who defended praying for the departed always clearly divorced it from any particular view of the state of those who have gone from earthly life. They rested their case on the two great doctrines of the Creed that, very significantly, along with intercessory prayer, our Guild is also committed to promote, the Communion of Saints and the Resurrection of the Dead."

As Jeremy Taylor wrote: "By the practice (of prayer for the dead) the Church of England declares her faith in the Resurrection of the Dead and her interest in the Communion of Saints, and that the Saints departed are a portion of the Catholic Church, parts and members of the Body of Christ."

Quite simply, we believe that the dead live on and that we may still have fellowship with them. Intercessions for those whom we know and love in this world create a bond between us and them, a bond that is particularly Christian. When we pray for the departed souls, we think of them, remember them, and instinctively bring them and their needs before God in prayer. That bond is not broken when our friends and loved ones have passed through the gate of death, and prayer is the Church's authorized means for our fellowship with the departed. We, with them, must still await the general Resurrection, eagerly waiting, in St. Paul's words, in hope of the redemption of our body.

We do not know, and we do not need to know, the precise conditions of the afterlife. We believe only that the departed are in the hand of God, as they were in their earthly life. And we continue to pray for them as we have prayed for them in their earthly life, that God will supply whatever they may need and that they may grow in grace as they respond to His will for them.

The Guild of All Souls at St. Paul's
For more information about the Guild of All Souls, including membership forms, please contact Robert C. Maddox, Esq., Secretary of the St. Paul's Branch (RbtCMaddox@aol.com or 301-365-9051). [RCM -- After James N. Ward, with material he adapted from articles by Kenneth Henderson and the Rev'd J. R. Porter, sometime Professor of Theology at Exeter University and a member of the Council of the Guild of All Souls in England.]

Highlights from the December Vestry Meeting

The Vestry extended thanks extended to the Building Improvements Committee for a very informative presentation to the parish on Saturday morning, December 12, about the plans for expanding and renovating key parts of our campus, including the new narthex, additional classroom/meeting space, improved music program facilities, and repositioned clergy and staff offices.

With pledging for 2005 not yet complete as of this meeting, a continuing resolution was passed until a final budget can be passed that accurately reflects anticipated income. The Vestry noted with appreciation the increase in pledges compared to last year and delegated responsibility for continuing to encourage stewardship in the parish. However, balancing what the parish and Vestry have committed to (including, for example, the tithing of parish income to ministries outside St. Paul's) against available funds may require difficult decisions.

The Vestry also discussed the details of managing recent bequests to the parish, with the goal of streamlining the necessary legal and accounting steps so that the parish will be able to access and appropriately invest these funds as soon as possible for the building project and other approved activities.

The Treasurer reported that on average, we are staying close to our 2004 budget. In particular, it was noted that the music director search and hiring process stayed quite close to expected costs.

The Vestry made a commitment to continuing to review and monitor items from the Long-Range Plan, and Vestry Stewards for each plan area will be expected to report on a periodic basis so that we remain on track to implement our common vision. [DM]

February Birthdays

1 Linda Sorg
4 Carole Mullarkey
5 Anne Kirlin; Alexander Malson; Timothy Martin
6 Christine Robinson; Andrea Benn
7 Maryan Darmstadter; Rachel Dickey
8 Richard Burke; Pattie Kindsvater
9 C. Perrin Radley; Elizabeth Freeland; Cynthia Efird
10 Cathryn Jones
11 David Taylor; LisaAnne Fischer
13 E. Brooke Reasoner; Kate Kirlin
14 Robert McAllister; Arleen Hesse
15 Fred Steckhahn; Rebecca Wood
16 Martha Last; Esme Pierzchala; Douglas Bush
17 Corey Wronski; Frank Darden
19 Diane Dean
20 C.B. Wooldridge; Sybil Boggis; Marcia Berrien
22 Matthew Leddicotte; Carmen DiFiglio; Peter Schlatter; Stasia Schlatter
24 Jenny Brake; Cindy Nadeau; Oghene-Bruru Ajueyitsi
26 Kathleen Cameron; Ruth Brill
27 Sharon Watkins

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

Parish Statistics

Birth: Michelle Hope Freeland (December 25, 2004)
Death: Vernon Dye (December 20, 2004)
Transfers Out: Mickey Anne Benson to St. Thomas, McLean, Virginia; Jonathan L. Doster to All Souls, Washington, D.C.
Transfer In: John Carroll Presley from St. George's, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fast and Feast Days in February

Candlemas
Wednesday, February 2
6:45 AM Morning Prayer
7 AM Low Mass
Noon Low Mass
5:30 PM Devotions at the Walsingham Shrine
5:45 PM Evening prayer
6:30 PM Blessing of the candles, procession, and Pontifical Mass

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 9
6:45 AM Morning Prayer
7 AM Low Mass and imposition of ashes
Noon Low Mass and imposition of ashes
5:30 PM Devotions at the Walsingham Shrine
5:45 PM Evening prayer
6:30 PM Solemn Liturgy of the Day

St. Matthias the Apostle
Thursday, February 24
6:45 AM Morning Prayer
7 AM Low Mass
Noon Low Mass
5:30 PM Devotions at the Walsingham Shrine
5:45 PM Evening prayer
6:00 PM Low Mass

Mission Calendar

Hunger/Homeless
Grate Patrol every weekend
Preparation Friday afternoons 3-5 PM
Delivery Saturday and Sunday mornings

Red Sea dinner Tuesdays at 6:30
Feb 1, 8, 15, 22; Mar.1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Salvation Army dinner preparation First Friday of each month, 5-7 PM,
Feb. 4, Mar. 4

Cancellation:
Unfortunately, the February 5 parish Mardi Gras party to support our Honduras and Malawi missions has been cancelled.

The Epistle
A monthly publication of St. Paul's Parish
K Street -- Washington, D.C.

Editors Alistair Nevius
Assistant Editor Allison Freeman
Desktop Publisher John Walker
Designer David McGaw
Contributors Andrew Lee, David McGaw, Robert Maddox, Polly Peckham, Andrew Sloane+, Melva Willis

Submissions Invited
We welcome the submission of articles, comments, and suggestions. Manuscripts and correspondence can be dropped off at the church office or e-mailed to the editors at nevius@erols.com. Electronic manuscripts are preferred. Articles accepted for the Epistle are subject to editorial revision.

SAINT PAUL'S PARISH Washington, DC 20037-1797
phone 202-337-2020
fax 202-337-7418
e-mail info@StPauls-Kst.com
Web www.StPauls-Kst.com

Parish Staff
The Rev'd Andrew Sloane, Rector
The Rev'd Edwin Barnett, Curate
Mark Dwyer, Music Director
Charles Burks, Assistant Music Director
Melva Willis, Parish Administrator
Frederick Murdock, III, Maintenance Manager

The Vestry
The Rev'd Andrew Sloane, Rector
David B. J. Chase, Senior Warden
Philip Schlatter, Junior Warden
Ellen Purvance, Secretary
Polly Peckham, Treasurer
Larry Cook, Antoinette C. MacAulay, David McGaw, Marcia Stanford; Jeremiah de Michaelis, Debra Loucks; Kenwin Benn, Rhoda Geasland, Matthew S. Leddicote, Lynne V. Walker

Our Mission
St. Paul's Parish seeks to restore all people to God and to each other, through Sacramental Worship and Christlike lives.

Deadline for next issue
Monday, February 7