23 January 2024
I want to thank everyone who came last Sunday evening to our first class on Anglo-Catholic Distinctions following Vespers and Benediction. We had an excellent turnout, and I hope we can build on this success on future Sundays.
As far as I can tell, St. Mark’s is the only church on the island that offers the evening office every Sunday. I believe that the more consistent we can be with this service, the more growth it will have, not only from St. Mark’s, but also from other churches. It is a ministry we can offer that affirms our identity, and it is also a ministry that other churches may not be able to offer. The addition of our teaching class after Vespers and Benediction, with dinner and faith formation, is a further example of how we can faithfully serve our parish, as well as those from other churches.
Sunday evening’s gathering was diverse. In addition to worshippers from all three Sunday masses at St. Mark’s, we had guests from other churches, both within our diocese as well as the mainland. The timing of the service and teaching makes this possible. Everyone may attend their favorite mass, and then return for Vespers, Benediction, and the class. As well, friends from other churches may worship at their home church in the morning, joining us in the evening for further prayer, devotion, and study. It was also wonderful to see that many of our newcomers to the Episcopal Church returned Sunday evening for these offerings. Whether you are a long-time member of the church, or whether you are a newcomer to Christianity, these Sunday night sessions are valuable for deepening your faith.
Vespers and Benediction is a central part of our Anglo-Catholic identity. At Vespers I was struck by how exquisitely the congregation chanted the psalms, and we must give thanks for the musical leadership of Mike Dupre, Yuko Nakagawa, and Katherine Crosier. Vespers and Benediction at its heart is introspective and contemplative, and it is the perfect capstone to Sunday - an opportunity to give thanks for the day that is past and to praise God for the gift of his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The light reflects beautifully through the stained glass windows in the early evening, and the music is ethereal and prayerful. If you are unable to join us, the service is live-streamed on our website and on YouTube, but in-person attendance engages the mystery and essence of the liturgy better in my opinion.
This past Sunday during the post-Vespers class, we focused on the high holy days of the church by examining the two calendrical cycles, resurrection and incarnation, and their respective feast days. We quickly discerned that much of what St. Mark’s does when observing feast days is not because we are Anglo-Catholic, but rather it is because we are Episcopalian.
Some assume that since we celebrate days such as the Epiphany, Candlemas, the Annunciation, and the Ascension, that these are charisms of being Anglo-Catholic. That assumption is misplaced, for we are simply following the Prayer Book calendar when we celebrate such feast days - something every Episcopal Church is called to do. We will be continuing this deep dive into the church’s calendar, for the calendar is one of the most important foundation blocks to master when asking the “why” questions regarding our liturgy and theology.
Please note that Vespers and Benediction is celebrated every Sunday at 4:00 pm. The next Sunday study session after Benediction is scheduled for February 4. Please mark your calendars and join us, enjoying the fellowship, dinner, and study. You will benefit from the group’s vibrancy, your faith will be strengthened, and you will gain insights into why we do what we do at St. Mark’s, as well as in the Episcopal Church.
Father Paul Lillie +
