16 November 2021

Last Sunday we were able to resume congregational singing, albeit with masks. As a congregation we had not sung together since the middle of March 2020, and I had forgotten how St. Mark’s has always had two choirs. There is the choir in the loft, and there is the choir in the main church. It was wonderful to have both choirs singing in concert again. We hope and pray that due to the advances of science and vaccines, we will not have to move backwards in our liturgical life. Thank you to those who have been vaccinated, for now we may sing in church safely.

We continue to regather our congregations for worship and fellowship. This past All Souls we had the most beautiful requiem, and the choir and the acolytes did an excellent job. On Sundays we continue to have a cantor at the 8:30 am mass, and the choir sings for the 10:30 am mass. The Saturday Vigil Mass is a spoken mass. The daily masses are slowly repopulating, and Evensong and Benediction on Wednesday nights continues to grow. Last Wednesday we had an excellent attendance at the Rector’s Study Group.

This being the case, our worshipping congregations have become smaller overall. Many of you have said that we should consider having one mass on Sundays in order to bring everyone together. Many of our kupuna have transitioned into homebound living due to the pandemic, and they will not be coming back to worship in-person. Still, I have no plans to combine our Sunday masses. Each mass serves a purpose, and I believe our numbers will decline further if we were to combine the masses. Patience is the order of the day as we regather and grow the church.

I have been pleasantly surprised by our evolving, weekday worship schedule. We continue to read Morning Prayer online via Zoom, Monday through Friday at 6:30 am, and this is growing into a greater success each week. Many have said they enjoy waking up, making a cup of coffee or tea, and logging on for prayer first thing in the morning. Rather than starting the day with CNN or Hawaii News Now, one may begin the day with God and the Prayer Book.

Evening Prayer and mass after work is also becoming a success. On weeknights worship begins at 5:30 pm. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, we often have 8-10 people at the masses, as people come early to worship before other parish commitments such as Education for Ministry, Wednesday Evensong and the Rector’s Study Group, or Thursday outreach cooking. Tuesday evenings are generally a smaller gathering, and currently we are not able to offer mass after Evening Prayer on Fridays, but it is a goal for the future. You may view the weekday worship schedule on the website.

At the Rector’s Study Group these past Wednesdays the focus has been Anglican Spirituality. We have spent most of the time learning the Daily Offices of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Last Wednesday we took a plunge into the Prayer Book calendar, discussing how the calendar is a guide for Anglican spirituality. What are the Principle Feasts? What are the Feasts of Our Lord? How do we observe minor saints? These are some of the questions that were asked and studied. You may always view what is happening in regard to worship at the church by visiting the Weekday Masses and Daily Offices webpage. Just click on the day in the calendar, and the services for the day will be listed. There are also links for joining online Morning Prayer via Zoom.

In the coming weeks we have a feast of liturgical riches. This Sunday is the Patronal Feast of the Holy Sovereigns. On Thanksgiving Day Epiphany Church joins St. Mark’s for a Sung Mass at 10:30 am. On Saturday, November 27, Advent begins with a Service of Lessons and Carols ending with Benediction at 5:00 pm. An Advent Party follows Lessons and Carols. We are fortunate to have these services while the pandemic is being kept at bay. Be sure to count your blessings, because last year none of this was possible.

Faithfully,
Father Paul Lillie +
Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Honolulu