The Evangelist June 2, 2019 We are ready for you at St. John's!

Sunday: Low Mass at 8 a.m. & High Mass at 10 a.m.

Monday through Friday: Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m. & Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.

Feast Days & Special Services as announced.

Confessions by appointment.

A Letter from Father Humphrey

Dear People, Neighbors, and Friends of St. John's

A reading from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:

Here endeth the reading.

Are you incensed by incense? Some people are. It always surprises me how much some people absolutely loathe incense. Of course, there's a range of emotions that incense arouses in people, from love (Oh! The smell it!) to apathy (Seriously? Who cares?) to regret (I'm allergic to it or I have asthma) to anger (Get that stinking thing out of here!). Where on the reaction spectrum do you fall?

Of course, it's possible to like incense without loving it, and it's possible to be turned off by it without feeling revulsion, but I am constantly astounded by the range of reactions I encounter when people learn that I'm the rector of "that church." Ask people what the number one reason for not going to St. John's is and you will hear, "The incense."

Likewise, there's a significant number of people who say they absolutely love the incense. It's probably not their number one reason for attending St. John's. At least I hope it isn't. I'd question such a person's priorities. What about the preaching of the Gospel? Or the administration of the Sacraments? Or the music? Or the outreach? Or the Christian formation? Or the fellowship? I hope that the people who come to St. John's have more substantive reasons for coming here, but if I'm honest: I'm just glad you come! Whether it's because we are right in the heart of the Point neighborhood, or because you are attracted by our beautiful art and architecture, our sense of history and tradition, or because you were baptized here and so can't think of any other church as your true home, I'm thrilled you are a part of this community. Even if you don't come to church much or at all, but consider yourself one of our many neighbors and friends, I'm grateful.

But I have to wonder: How seriously should I take all these people who say they would come to St. John's but they're kept away by the incense? Are they just making excuses? I suspect a few might be, but I also believe most are sincere.

I've been tempted from time to time to call the bluff of someone who tells me they love St. John's but won't attend because of the incense. I'm tempted to say, "Well, if I promise not to use incense this Sunday, will you come?" I suspect that even if your own answer would be an enthusiastic "yes!" the lack of incense would incense somebody who loves incense!

So I'm going to take a risk here and send a smoke signal, if you will, that I'm willing to compromise on this matter. Don't worry all you hardcore Anglo-Catholics. Like you, I tend to think "it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" - of the thurible, that is. I am convinced that the sine non qua of Anglo-Catholicism (or at least of ritualism) is incense. (Note that if you click on that last link, the illustration is of a thurible rendered in stained glass. Quod erat demonstrandum.)

Thus, I solemnly swear that I have no intention of foreswearing incense at St. John's. (In fact, liturgically speaking, the very word "solemn" technically indicates that the service will feature incense. Opinions vary, but some say that you can have a High Mass without incense, but you can never advertise it as a Solemn High Mass without incense featuring prominently in the rite.) My favorite part of the liturgy is when I get to cense the altar at the entrance and the offertory. It's what makes Solemn Mass SeriousFun™!

But I am willing to listen to what people think, unlike some Anglo-Catholic priests. Maybe that's my first mistake, but I'm interested in what motivates people to come to church and what keeps people away. Given the choice between incense in an empty church and a full church without incense, I will choose the full church every time. Just as Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for humanity and not humanity for the Sabbath, incense is supposed to draw us into deeper relationship with God, not repel us from God's house. St. Paul had the attitude that all things were lawful, but not all things were profitable, and that it is better to refrain from doing something than to cause a brother or sister to stumble.

In the case of incense, I don't think the stakes are as high, but I don't ever want to be accused of being so hidebound that I was willing to cling for dear life to one of my beloved traditions at the expense of another person's ability to encounter Christ at St. John's.

Again, that doesn't mean that St. John's is ever going to go smoke-free. I'll give up incense over my dead body. (As long as my casket is incensed at my Solemn High Mass of Requiem.) But I want to know whether there are ways that St. John's can be more hospitable in this area, as in all others.

Our current policy is never to have incense at Choral Evensong, though if Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament follows, to introduce it then, while those who cannot abide it are invited to depart early to a reception next door in the Guild Hall.

Likewise, we never have incense at Choral Matins, ever, though there may be an ambiance of residual incense if High Mass proceeds that service and it's too cold to air out the room.

Low Mass by definition never has incense, but then again, it never has music, either. And the sweet spot people are aiming for, as I understand it, is a Mass that features all the glorious music that St. John's has become known for, but not surrounded by a thick cloud of perfume. I get that. I can also tell you that the norm at St. John's will always be to have some incense at High Mass. But while I love Smoky Mary's in , where by the middle of Mass you can't even see the High Altar from the nave for all the white smoke in the room, St. John's is not that place. We can't afford to be a boutique parish.

But we can't afford to be an inauthentic or boring parish, either, so the incense will stay. "The kid stays in the picture," as the Hollywood producer famously said. "The smoke stays in the church," this rector infamously says. Does this incense you?

Wherever you fall on the spectrum, I want to know. I've designed a brief, anonymous and confidential fifteen question survey that you can take by clicking on: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M29GTPR. Take a couple of minutes to let me know what you really feel about incense. And then we'll see what happens.

It's the sensible thing to do.

Yours in Christ's service, N.J.A. Humphrey+ XIV Rector

P.S. To be in touch with me at any time, email me at rector@saintjohns- newport.org, or, to make an appointment, please visit rector.youcanbook.me.

Chapel Team Members Wanted

Fr. Humphrey is contemplating offering a regular Mass at the beautiful former Carmelite convent chapel at Harbor House, and hopes to find a few people there to assist him in this undertaking who would partner with two or three parishioners in forming a chapel team. No day or time has been set as of yet, but Saturday evening is a possibility, as long as there is also a team of clergy who can rotate or serve as subs when needed. Until the infrastructure is in place and we have full buy-in from the staff and residents of Harbor House, this initiative will not be launched.

The duties of the Chapel Team would be to schedule one person (not necessarily a member of the team, but a Mass attendee) to serve as an usher, to take a count and take up the offering, which would offset the cost of bread, wine, and other expenses, and to maintain the schedule of celebrants. The team would be in charge of communications and also be responsible for helping to line up substitute priests or officiate at another service such as Evening Prayer when a priest is unavailable.

Fr. Humphrey is open to building a team of clergy across denominational lines if that's the way it works best, while ensuring reasonable liturgical continuity for those who attend the services. At the moment, he is assuming that it would be a Low Mass without music, but if musicians volunteer or simple Taize chants are desired, that can be introduced as the resources become available.

If you are interested in helping with this mission work on the Point, please be in touch with Fr. Humphrey at [email protected].

Where's Edward?

Several people have been asking where our homeless parishioner, Edward, has gone after suddenly disappearing a couple of weeks ago. On Tuesday, a chaplain at Newport Hospital called to inform Fr. Humphrey that he was on the fourth floor. Fr. Humphrey visited him and brought him communion and unction, and Edward's social worker has added Fr. Humphrey as his emergency contact person so that he will be contacted immediately in the future if Edward is readmitted to the hospital. Edward is in good spirits and in his right mind. As of Friday morning, the plan was to discharge Edward to a social service agency. Fr. Humphrey also arranged for the social worker to make an appointment so he can get new eyeglasses. When Fr. Humphrey visited him, Edward had his Bible, 1928 BCP, and Anglican Missal with him, as well as a few books of lighter reading, and he expressed gratitude in particular to the person at St. John's who procured the missal for him. Please keep Edward in your prayers.

Whither Withers?

Our roof restoration project got under way this week with a largely smooth and successful first week of construction, as crews erected scaffolding against the church, and created a fenced-in work area along the east wall, above.

In conversation with our General Contractor, Joe Barrieau, (above) Vice President of the Joseph Gnazzo Company Inc., on Wednesday, Fr. Humphrey talked about the critical need to preserve our historic legacy. He said, "Every time it rains, a little bit of our legacy washes away," to which Joe replied, "We can't just let it wither away." Fr. Humphrey laughed at that, and said, "As a matter of fact, the architect of this church was named Frederick Clarke Withers. We can't let Withers' work wither!

Whither will Withers' legacy go? Let us not stand idly by whilst Withers withers away. Whither and whether Withers withers whilst in the weather depends on us! (Now say that ten times really fast.)

Frederick Clarke Withers (1828-1901) was born in England, and kept his British citizenship, even though he fought in the Civil War. His mentor, the architect (1815-1852) brought Withers to the after Downing also convinced Withers' future partner (1824-1895) to join him in Newburgh on the Hudson River north of New York City.

Withers' High Victorian Gothic Jefferson Market Courthouse, located in , is the best known of his works. He designed the high altar and reredos in Trinity Church, Wall Street (the wealthiest Anglican parish in the world), the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on , and the chancel of the Anglo-Catholic Church of the Transfiguration (a.k.a. "The Little Church around the Corner") on East 29th Street, where he likely met parishioner Sarah Jane Zabriskie, in whose memory our church was given by her daughter Sarah Titus Zabriskie.

So what's going on with our roof, anyway?

In case you missed it, the blue area above is Phase 1A, Roof Restoration, a $1.2 million dollar project, which has been fully funded thanks to a generous $916,000 grant from the Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust and individual donations from parishioners, neighbors, and friends.

The yellow area above is Phase 1B, Exterior Stone Repointing, for which we are still looking to raise at least $300,000 in funding before the end of 2019 from individuals both within the parish and in the wider community in order to keep our five year plan on track. If you are interested in finding out more about the capital campaign for St. John's, or want to volunteer to help, please be in touch with Fr. Humphrey at [email protected] or 401-500-0042. And stay tuned for more exciting announcements!

Parking During Construction

You may have noticed, the roof restoration work has taken over one entire side of our parking lot off Willow Street: With our small parking lot being used by many different people associated with St. John's, including parishioners, tenants, the adult choir, choristers, staff, the Vestry, and those who attend events or activities at the church, we had to figure out how to accommodate all these needs in our newly downsized space.

Unfortunately, it's as impossible to accommodate everyone as it sounds. We are prioritizing parishioners, tenants and staff on a first come, first served basis, and asking all others to refrain from parking in the lot for now.

If you are not a Newport resident and regularly attend St. John's activities or events after hours, please be in touch with the parish office at [email protected] or (401) 848-2561.

Until we have our lot back, this link offers some helping parking tips: https://www.discovernewport.org/blog/post/the-ultimate-guide-to-parking- in-newport-ri/.

Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Friday Friday, May 31, 6:30 p.m. Mass for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On Friday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m., a Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a reception following will be celebrated at St. John's with the people and clergy of our sister parish, Saint Stephen's, Providence, in attendance.

This Week Portrait of Mrs. Sidney Webster (Sarah Morris Fish) painted by Carl A. Weidner (1865-1906)

Tuesday, June 4, 5:45 p.m. Sidney Webster Memorial Requiem

The Sidney Webster Memorial Requiem has been rescheduled from Wednesday, May 29, to Tuesday, June 4, following Evening Prayer. This date change is due to the fact that on the 29th, Fr. Humphrey, as Vice President of Diocesan Council, was invited with other diocesan leaders to have dinner with the Bishop to meet the first candidate for the position of Canon to the Ordinary to succeed Canon Linda Grenz upon her retirement this summer.

On Tuesday, June 4, at 5:45 p.m., the Sidney Webster Memorial Requiem will be celebrated in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The chapel, designed by Ralph Adams Cram, was given in Sidney Webster's memory. Sarah Morris Fish Webster gave the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in memory of her beloved husband, Sidney Webster. He was an expert on constitutional law and the sometime private secretary to President Franklin Pierce. Please Be Seated

Fr. Gary Lemery and his wife Kate have kindly donated a new (to us) bishop's throne. We are trying it on for size. Let us know what you think when you see it in person on Sunday. The throne was used by Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning when he visited Rhode Island during Bishop George Hunt's time.

Upcoming Quarter Till Organ Recitals return! See Peter Stoltzfus Berton in action on Sundays and other select daysat our Quarter Till Organ Recitals, starting June 9 through Labor Day. Programs (all the same on a given weekend) are 15-20 minutes and feature Bach and other composers, with live video feed projected onto a screen showing the organist and a close- up view of the organ's inner workings during the music. This year, composers being featured include Louis Vierne and Marcel Dupré, the two great master composers associated with Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, the 12th-century sanctuary extensively damaged by fire this spring. Admission is still just a "quarter" (or more), but this year we challenge you to see how many quarters - or paper "notes" - you can bring as we embark on an official restoration campaign for our historic 1894 Hook & Hastings organ. The effort is in two phases, first focusing on a new console and control system in 2019-2020, and then on a complete mechanical renovation in 2021-2022, restoring the organ to like-1894 condition tonally. The program begins Sunday, June 9, with performances at 1:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., and 5:45 p.m. Don't miss special program times for the Newport Secret Garden Tour the following weekend, Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, at 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 1:45 p.m. For more on our organ, please visit saintjohns-newport.org/music/st-johns-hook-and-hastings-organ-1894. Saturday, June 22, 11 a.m. Feast of Corpus Christi Mass & Benediction

St. John's is pleased to be hosting the Annual Meeting and Mass of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, June 22, at 11 a.m. in observance of the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Mass will feature an outdoor procession (weather permitting) and Benediction, and it will be followed by a luncheon. All are welcome. The service will feature the Professional Choristers of The Choir School of Newport County and the St. John's Adult Choir, with exquisite organ music by Peter Berton. Further details will be forthcoming, but to RSVP for the luncheon, please email parish administrator Melanie Ventura at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

Candle Dedications The Paschal Candle is given in memory of Alma Mae Dempsey and Margot Morgan.

The Sanctuary Lamp Candle above the High Altar is given in honor of Stephen Quarry.

The Sanctuary Lamp Candle in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is given in memory of William J. Good, priest, and John Arnold Cranston, priest.

If you would like to dedicate a candle in honor or in memory of a loved one, please be in touch with the Parish Office to make sure the date is free. The suggested donation for a candle dedication is $25, although a donation is any amount is welcome. If you would simply like to dedicate any of the above candles on the next available date, write which candle and its dedication in the memo line of your check and put it in the offering plate. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Supporting St. John's

Would you like to support St. John's?

It's never to late to pledge your support, or to make a donation, in any amount.

If you would like to pledge your support for St. John's, please visit our online pledge card here. For other ways to support St. John's, please visit our website here, or our Facebook page at facebook.com/SaintJohnsNewport.

To give a one-time gift online with or without an account, please click here. To give by text message:

And always, thank you for your generous support! Stewardship is a year-round commitment, and we thank you for your investment in our present and in our future, but above all, thank you for simply showing up and being who you are, for supporting us in prayer when you are unable to be with us, and for the love that you give in so many ways, of which St. John's is merely one recipient and conduit among many.

To make a pledge: Click here or below: * To give a one-time gift online without an account, click here.

* To set up recurring online payments through our secure parish database, Realm, you can register for a new account here.

* To log in to an account you have already set up in Realm, click here.

* Automated Payments: Check with your local financial institution's billpay services to set up automated payments to St. John's.

* PayPal online gift: To make a donation through PayPal, click here.

______PLEASE NOTE: TO A "T"

We've fixed our Realm link by adding a "t" to it, so the address is now StJohnEvangelist, rather than StJohnEvangelis. Old link: (no longer working): onrealm.org/StJohnEvangelis/Register

New link: https://onrealm.org/StJohnEvangelist/Register

Or, if you've already registered, go to: https://onrealm.org/StJohnEvangelist.

So please update your web browser bookmarks accordingly! Thank you!

5th Sunday Food Drive Month

June is a 5th Sunday Food Drive month! Fifth Sunday Food Drives benefit the MLK Center and take place every month in which there are five Sundays. Donations including nonperishable food, toiletries, household cleaning supplies or gift cards are collected in reusable shopping bags, available in the church and Guild Hall, and returned for delivery to the MLK Center at the end of the month. Reusable bags with tags listing needed items at the MLK Center are located on the Guild Hall stage and at the front and back of the church. Please return filled bags to the lounge by Sunday, June 30; they will be collected and distributed to the Center on Monday, July 1.

CAN YOU LEND A HAND? If you would like to help organize 5th Sunday Food Drives, please be in touch with the parish office. The two volunteers who faithfully keep this program running are in need of few more good hands. Your generosity is deeply appreciated!

Recently, we discussed MOTHERS. Specifically, we thought about 6 mothers in the Bible: Eve, Mary, Jochebed, Rebekah, Sarah, and Elizabeth. We decided that being a mother in Biblical times was especially challenging, and these six women were particularly amazing at facing challenges and raising some mighty impressive children. We talked about what qualities make good mothers, and how we need them to grow and shine. We concluded that we are all very lucky people indeed to have been given the mothers we each have.

All the best, Jenn

Christian Education is open to children of all ages at the 10 o'clock Mass. We look forward to seeing you!

For Adults & Older Youth

Rector's Tuesday Book Study

The Rector's Book Study will continue Tuesday, June 4, at 9 a.m. in the Rector's Study in the Guild Hall, when we will discuss Our Father by Alexander Schmemann. Please RSVP to [email protected] to join in the conversation. Service Details

Friday, May 31, The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Solemn Mass at 6:30 p.m. Preacher: Fr. John D. Alexander (St. Stephen's) Celebrant: Fr. Humphrey Deacon: Deacon Close

Click here or below for the Visitation program:

Sunday, June 2 The Seventh Sunday of Easter

Low Mass at 8 a.m. Celebrant & Preacher: Fr. Humphrey

High Mass at 10 a.m. Celebrant & Preacher: Fr. Humphrey Deacon: Deacon Close

Click here for this week's bulletin.

Acolyte positions available: Just come to the Sacristy and we'll be glad for your help!

Many thanks to all our altar servers! You, too, can volunteer to serve as an acolyte. It's easy; just email Fr. Humphrey at: [email protected]

Calendar at a Glance

Friday, May 31 - 6:30 p.m., Service for Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Monday, June 3 - 9 a.m., Centering Prayer

Tuesday, June 4 - 9 a.m., Rector's Book Study

Tuesday, June 4 - 5:45 p.m., Sidney Webster Memorial Requiem. RESCHEDULED from Wednesday, May 29

Wednesday, June 5 - Noon, Executive Committee Meeting

Sunday, June 9 - 1:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m., Quarter Till Organ Recitals resume!

Monday, June 10 - 9 a.m., Centering Prayer

Tuesday, June 11 - 9 a.m., Rector's Book Study

Friday-Sunday, June 14-16 - Newport Secret Garden Tour

Friday & Saturday, June 14-15 - 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., special Quarter Till Organ Recitals for the Newport Secret Garden Tour Sunday, June 16 - 1:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m., Quarter Till Organ Recitals regular schedule

Now Hear This

St. John's is equipped with a loop system for hearing aids. A loop system provides a magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by your hearing aid and which greatly reduces background noise, competing sounds, reverberation and other acoustic distortions. To activate, simply set your hearing aid to "T" for T-coil (telecoil).

The Zabriskie Memorial Church of Saint John the Evangelist

The Choir School of Newport County