Parish Newsletter
- April - May 2012
PARISH LETTER
APRIL 2012
Dear Friends,
Holy Week is almost here, and while a complete schedule of coming services and events at Incarnation is enclosed with this Letter, I would like to highlight some of the events and services.
Palms are distributed at all three services on Palm Sunday, April 1. We begin the eleven o’clock service with a long procession; the service also includes a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel, special music and a silent recessional in darkness. Those in attendance receive palms to take home and keep until Ash Wednesday 2013.
The Eucharist is celebrated Monday to Thursday in Holy Week at 12:15 p.m. On Maundy Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m., we will hold a new service called, “Tenebrae;” Dr. Matthew Lewis describes the liturgy below. This is the first stage in a multi-year revision of the Holy Week services.
On Good Friday, beginning at noon, there will be readings chosen by members of the staff, music, and traditional prayers, followed by communion in a service that will last approximately one hour. The church will remain open until 3:00 p.m. for prayer and meditation. Clergy will offer prayers at fifteen-minute intervals.
The Easter Eve Vigil and Eucharist begins at 7:00 p.m. with the lighting of the “new fire” and the procession of the lighted Pascal Candle into a darkened church. Readings and music unique to this night follow and the service will conclude with the first Communion service of Easter. A reception with champagne and soft drinks follows.
The principal service of Easter Day at 11:00 a.m. presents music and scripture to celebrate the resurrection life of Christ in which we all share. Childcare is available and the service is followed by an Easter Egg Hunt, the Coffee Hour, and the Easter Brunch, all of which are described in detail below. There will also be a special reception following the 5:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion.
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Please post the enclosed flyer listing all the Holy Week and Easter services in your building or pass it along to friends. And if you know any neighborhood children who might enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt after the 11:00 a.m. service on Easter Day, please invite them.
Dr. Lewis will now discuss the music he is preparing for us.
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC:
Much planning has gone into the Holy Week and Easter services this year, particularly with Maundy Thursday and the Easter Vigil. I believe this will be a wonderful experience to those who come and participate, and it is my hope that the music I’ve prepared will support that for all of you. See details below:
April 1, Palm Sunday Weelkes: Hosanna to the Son of David; Dvořák: Tui nati (from Stabat Mater); Burleigh (arr): Were You There?
April 5, Maundy Thursday at 7:00 PM This service of Tenebrae will be especially meaningful with music for men’s chorus, as they sing Psalms and Antiphons in Plainsong, along with anthems in varying ensembles. Candlelight and darkness are also features of this liturgy.
April 6, Good Friday service at noon Soprano Angela Leson and mezzo-soprano Suzanne Schwing will sing solos and duets for the Good Friday Liturgy. Music of Pergolesi, Wolf and Rossini.
April 7, Easter Vigil at 7:00 PM Join us for this intimate service on Easter Eve, featuring a soloist from the choir. Especially poignant is the Easter “Exsultet,” the ancient hymn of praise sung at the lighting of the Paschal candle.
April 8, Easter Day Music for strings, organ and choir celebrate this day. The service begins with Vivaldi’s “Spring” Concerto, from The Four Seasons, featuring violin soloist Pauline Kim Harris. Also featured is music of Haydn and Mozart, along with Schubert’s Mass in C for strings and choir – a delightful, energetic setting for Easter! And, of course, Widor’s ever-popular Toccata for organ.
All the best for a meaningful Palm Sunday and Holy Week, and a wonderful Easter season!
–Dr. Matthew Lewis
EASTER BRUNCH
The Parish Easter Brunch will be held at the Galway Hooker Restaurant, just a few steps from the church at 7 East 36 Street. The buffet menu includes a choice of brunch items as well as a selection of drinks within the price.
To make a reservation, send your check (adults: $22, children: $11) to the Parish Office or give it to Thomas Southworth on your way to the Coffee Hour on Sunday. Family and friends are welcome.
EASTER FLOWERS AND MUSIC
Enclosed is a form for those who wish to make donations for Easter flowers or music, either in thanksgiving, or in memory of loved ones. Please return the form and donation to the Parish Office as soon as possible so that we know how much money we have to spend.
FROM THE ASSISTANT MINISTER:
Adult Forum
The Adult Forum/Bible Study will resume on Sunday, April 15. On that day, parishioner Chris Stromee will lead a discussion based on religious themes in two poems by Elizabeth Bishop. After that we will resume our study of lectionary texts. We meet at 10:00 am in the Parish House Dining Room. Coffee and tea are provided. All are welcome.
Reaching Out
A group of Incarnation parishioners has been meeting to discuss ways in which Incarnation can reach out to the community in love and service. We are seeking to build a faithful and effective outreach program that would be a good fit for Incarnation.
In those conversations and our research, we have discovered that there might not be just one program that is the perfect fit, and Incarnation might therefore need to seek to serve in different ways. The group discerned a need to seek programs in which some parishioners can volunteer regularly with the same organization, while others can “drop in” for short-term or one-time projects.
We have a great opportunity this Spring to check out the Open Door, a transitional housing center run by the Moravian Church. The center provides low-cost housing for homeless men and women over 55. Plans are in the works for a one-day project with them after Easter. We are also planning a project with New York Cares for this Spring.
The group also discerned a need to revive the Parish Family Committee, a group within the parish that stays in touch with parishioners going through difficult times. Interested in participating? Please speak to the Rector or the Assistant Minister.
Finally, as part of our renewed Outreach Program, the nonprofit group Health Advocates for Older People will offer an information session on Sunday, May 6 at 12:30 PM in the Parish Dining Hall. The topic will be “Caring for Aging Friends and Relatives.” There will be a particular focus on questions like advanced directives, living wills, and health care proxies – issues that are of interest even to those of us who are not caring for parents and grandparents.
Women’s Group
Please also mark your calendars for the Women’s Holy Saturday Retreat. We’ll meet on April 7 at 4:00 pm in the church. We will be exploring the faith and witness of the women disciples who waited outside the tomb of Jesus; we will also consider our own seasons of waiting and our need for the hope of the resurrection. We’ll have light refreshments then work together to decorate the church with flowers before the Easter Vigil service begins at 7:00 pm. Please enter the church at 25 East 35th Street, and try to arrive promptly at 4:00 pm, or shortly before. You can RSVP by emailing ginger@churchoftheincarnation.org or calling the office, 212-689-6350.
The Women’s Group will meet at 7:00 PM on April 24 for a light dinner and a discussion on the role of religion in American politics.
Our final meeting before the summer break will be at 7:00 PM on May 22.
Twenties and Thirties
The next meeting of our Twenties and Thirties’ Drinks & Discussion group will be on Tuesday, April 17. Meet at the Parish House at 7:30 pm and we will walk to a local bar for a conversation on Ethics and Wall Street. Suggested (but not required) reading is a New York Times op-ed piece by former Goldman Sachs Investment Banker Greg Smith, which will be sent out by email As always, first drink—be it a Coke or a beer—is on the church. RSVP: ginger@churchoftheincarnation.org.
Families with Children
Children are invited to our annual Easter Egg Hunt after the April 8th 11:00 am service. There will be baskets available, but your child is also welcome to bring his/her own. Children are also welcome at our Parish Brunch on Easter Sunday.
Thanks to our excellent volunteers, our Godly Play program continues through the month of May. There will be a meeting in May to discuss this summer’s Vacation Bible School and Godly Play for the fall.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee will meet April 22, following Coffee Hour, at 12:30pm in the Parish Dining Room. On the agenda will be a series of fall arts-focused activities. All interested parties are encouraged to attend this open meeting.
–the Rev. Ginger Strickland
NEW VESTRY BIOGRAPHY:
***Elizabeth Thurber Westcott-Pitt grew up in Westchester and now lives in New York City. Liz has attended Incarnation since 2006 and was confirmed in 2010. She has worked in the Beauty industry for 15 years and is currently at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in Global Marketing. She and her husband, Colin and daughter, live in Murray Hill.
FROM THE TREASURER:
Dear Parishioners:
We, Donald and Sarah Sung, the Chairmen of the Stewardship Committee, I, the Treasurer, and Doug Ousley, the Rector, would like to thank all of you who pledged for the 2012 Stewardship Campaign. Your generosity is very much appreciated.
The Stewardship Campaign covers almost 40% of the costs of the Church and its various activities, and without it we would not be able to maintain our wonderful community and spiritual outreach programs. We have many fine and giving people in our Church and a closely knit family devoted to Incarnation. Through all of you we have developed a true Christian spirit. Again many thanks for your generosity.
–Michael Linburn
NEWS FROM FORMER MEMBERS:
***Visitors to the Rev. Amanda Kucik’s new church in Charlotte, NC, were impressed to see her celebrate and preach in English and Spanish.
***Martha and Jan Sabo were at Incarnation recently, visiting from Arlington VA. They are expecting their first child next month.
THANKS TO:
***Robert Witter, for arranging for the installation of the new lighting for our famous LaFarge Murals.
***All who worked on the Mardi Gras Party.
***Padmini Abeywickrama, for making beautiful new curtains for the Parish House.
***Julie Noll, for arranging the benefit showing of the film she produced, When the Music Stopped. The Assembly Hall was filled to capacity, and I am hopeful that we can have similar events in the future to benefit the Arts Fund.
***I saw former Seminarian Assistant, the Rev. Ann Tillman at the consecration of our new Bishop Co-Adjutor. Ann is still serving a parish on Long Island as well as volunteering at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. I also spoke with former Incarnation Sunday Associate, the Rev. Lucia Ballantine; Elizabeth Morgan, who was baptized at Incarnation, was also in the procession for the consecration, carrying the banner of Lucia’s parish in North Salem, NY.
***Former Honorary Assistant, the Rev. Dr. Alistair Stewart called to say hello after Christmas. Alistair is the priest theologian at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset, England; he continues to publish scholarly books and articles on the early church.
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I look forward to seeing many of you at the Holy Week services and at the various receptions, coffee hours, and the brunch. A joyous Easter to you and those you love.
Yours,
The Rev. J. Douglas Ousley
www.churchoftheincarnation.org