Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Holy Eucharist

St Hilda of

11:00 am

The Church of St. John in the Village New York City

Preludes: Caritas Habundat & Dulce Solum (Hildegard von Bingen, 1140-1179)

Hymn: By all your still striving (Tune: St Hilda)

1 By all your saints still striving, 4 When Celt and Saxon wrangled for all your saints at rest, o’er Sacrament and Word your holy Name, O Jesus, she bade them own together for evermore be blessed. one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

5 Then let us praise the Father 2 You rose, our King victorious, and worship God the Son that they might wear the crown and ever shine in splendor and sing to God the Spirit, reflected from your throne. eternal Three in One,

6 till all the ransomed number 3 When holy Hild of Whitby who stand before the throne was wise and good, ascribe all power and glory of schism and division and praise to God alone God’s church in danger stood.

-2-

THE WORD OF GOD

Acclamation:

The Celebrant sings The Collect for Purity

-3- All sing Gloria in Excelsis

-4-

The Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Reading Isaiah 55:1-5

Thus says the Lord: "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you."

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Cantor sings

Gradual: Cædmon’s Hymn Nū scylun hergan hefaenrīcaes Uard, Now [we] must honour the guardian of heaven, metudæs maecti end his mōdgidanc, the might of the architect, and his purpose, uerc Uuldurfadur, suē hē uundra gihwaes, the work of the father of glory ēci dryctin ōr āstelidæ as he, the eternal lord, established the beginning of hē ǣrist scōp aelda barnum wonders; heben til hrōfe, hāleg scepen. he first created for the children of men Thā middungeard moncynnæs Uard, heaven as a roof, the holy creator eci Dryctin, æfter tīadæ Then the guardian of mankind, firum foldu, Frēa allmectig. the eternal lord, afterwards appointed the middle earth, the lands for men, the Lord almighty.

Cædmon of Whitby (floruit circa 657–684), a disciple of St Hilda

-5- The Second Reading Romans 9:1-5

I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Alleluia

A Cantor sings the Alleluia, then all repeat it.

Cantor: Abbess Hilda, mother of them all, ascended to eternal bliss, and to the company of the inhabitants of heaven: with a great light, and with angels conducting her.

The Alleluias are repeated.

-6- The Holy Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Christ

The Homily: The Reverend Michael Gobbett, Vicar of Whitby, Yorkshire, England.

-7- The Nicene Creed The celebrant says the first line and the people join thereafter.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

-8- The Prayers of the People

The response to Lord, in your mercy: is Hear our prayer.

These are the names of those who have asked for our prayers: the sick, the infirm, the departed, general concerns, and thanksgivings. At the appropriate place offer intercessions, petitions, or thanksgivings.

The sick John Beal, Barbara Davison, Linda Filippelli, Luis Hernandez, Anne Hundley, Kathleen Kelley, Robert Johnston, Phred Madsen-Vallee, Zoë Marshall, Bob Ochiltree, Brother Michael Rudman OSF, Joel Schlosser, Marsha Serafin, Susan Stinson, Gary Williams, Katie Merry Williams, Ken Williams. All suffering from flu, COVID-19, and other seasonal illnesses at this time.

The Bereaved Michael Blake, Patrick Merry, Ryan Bennett.

Thanksgiving for the birth of Arlo Winslow Cantrell.

The aged, infirm, and vulnerable Beverly Campbell & Gretchen Phillips, Ellen Carollo, Carmen Grange.

Community Joanna Johnson and family. Owen and Fernella Lewis. Stuart Brier. Terry Greiner.

Departed Don, Cathy, and Lisa Roberts, Rodney Strahan, Addie Richter, Allen Preston Merry, Richard Corney (priest), Edgar Wells (priest), and John Memmolo, recently departed. Those who have died recently in disease, fear, or pain.

-9- The Confession of Sin and Absolution

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Celebrant pronounces the Absolution.

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Welcome and Announcements

CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

Offertoria:

Eva Mundi Gaudium (13th century English) Penser Ne Doit Vilenie (13th century English)

-10- Offertory Hymn: Blest are the pure in heart (Tune: Franconia)

1 Blest are the pure in heart, for they shall see our God; the secret of the Lord is theirs, their soul is Christ’s abode.

2 The Lord, who left the heavens our life and peace to bring, to dwell in lowliness with men, their pattern and their King;

3 he to the lowly soul Still doth himself impart and for his dwelling and his throne chooseth the pure in heart.

4 Lord, we thy presence seek; may ours this blessing be; give us a pure and lowly heart, a temple mete for thee.

-11- The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer B

The Celebrant sings

All sing

Sanctus and Benedictus:

-12-

The Eucharistic Prayer:

In the midst of the prayer the celebrant sings:

And all respond:

The Eucharistic Prayer concludes::

-13- The Lord’s Prayer

The Breaking of the Bread:

-14-

Those unable to receive the bread or wine make an

Act of Spiritual Communion

God of infinite mercy, we thank you for Jesus our Savior, who feeds us and gives us eternal life. Though I cannot consume the gifts of bread and wine, I thank you that I have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence, the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion. Grant that we may continue for ever in the Risen Life of our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen

All sing

Agnus Dei

-15- Postcommunion Prayers:

Let us pray.

Merciful God, who gave such grace to your servant Hilda that she served you with singleness of heart and loved you above all things: help us, whose communion with you has been renewed in this sacrament, to forsake all that holds us back from following Christ and to grow into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

-16- Hymn: For thy dear saints, O Lord (Tune: St Ethelwald)

1 For thy dear saints, O Lord, 3 Thine earthly members fit who strove in thee to live, to join thy saints above, who followed thee, obeyed, adored, in one communion ever knit, our grateful hymn receive. one fellowship of love.

2 They all in life and death, 4 Jesus, thy Name we bless, with thee their Lord in view, and humbly pray that we learned from thy Holy Spirit’s breath may follow them in holiness, to suffer and to do. who lived and died for thee. The Blessing and Dismissal

Postludes:

Nota Ductia 1 (13th century English) Nota Ductia 2 (13th century English)

-17- Please join us at about 12.30pm by Zoom for Pre-Prandial Potations (https://zoom.us/meeting/86011942057?occurrence=1596385800000) Meeting ID: 860 1194 2057

Please download this leaflet to keep abreast of activities at St. John’s

Celebrant: Harpist: The Reverend Graeme Napier, Rector Mia Theodoratus

Preacher: The Reverend Michael Gobbett Servers and Lector: Vicar of Whitby, Yorkshire, England Daniel Nieciecki, Geoffrey Ream

Cantor: Michael Conwill

Organist and Master of the Choristers: Gordon King Honorary Assistant Organists: Jonathan DePeri, Randall White Resident Ensemble: Strathmere Ensemble (string quintet)

-18- Announcements

Week beginning 2 August Participate in most liturgies and concerts on St John’s YouTube channel via the parish website (www.stjvny.org); except Midday Prayer (which is accessed at Br Andrew’s Facebook page: facebook.com/ap.jones) and Wednesday evening Eucharist which is in-person in church.

Church open every weekday for private prayer and devotion from 11am to 3pm.

Monday to Friday: Revelation Gallery Summer Exhibition: Pride: in Black, White, and Color (11am to 3pm)

Monday 3 available from 7am: Morning Prayer 12 noon Midday Prayer with Br Andrew available from 5pm: Evensong

Tuesday 4 available from 7am: Morning Prayer 12 noon Midday Prayer with Br Andrew available from 5pm: Evensong

Wednesday 5 available from 7am: Morning Prayer Eve of Transfiguration 12 noon Midday Prayer with Br Andrew available from 5pm: Evensong 6.15pm Eucharist (in-person: see below for details). 7.30pm Greenwich Village Chamber Singers auditions

Thursday 6 available from 7am: Morning Prayer Transfiguration of Our Lord 12 noon Midday Prayer with Br Andrew 1pm Confirmation Class available from 5pm: Evensong of the Transfiguration

Friday 7 available from 7am: Morning Prayer 12 noon Midday Prayer with Br Andrew available from 5pm: Evensong

Saturday 8 7.30pm Concert: Music in the Alps

-19- St John’s Re-Opens for Public Worship on the Eve of the Transfiguration of Our Lord 6.15pm Wednesday 5 August and every Wednesday thereafter The Eucharist is celebrated once more in-person (the first since mid-March) and we may receive the Blessed Sacrament (in one kind). It is necessary to notify the Parish Office in advance (by Monday 3 August) that you are attending: [email protected] or 212 243 6192. Bring your own face-covering if you can, but masks will be available at the church entrance. For full details of all the protocols which make our re-opening fully safe and secure see: http://www.stjvny.org/reopening

As our choral groups re-gather in preparation for the autumn season we welcome back to St John’s Ember (Schola Cantorum on Hudson), whose members gather in St Benedict’s Courtyard tomorrow Saturday 1 August at 10.30am for safe-distance fellowship and, should conditions be right, 12-foot (as advised) distanced singing.

Tomorrow, Saturday 1 August we present Music in the Alps, a live-streamed concert curated by pianist Irena Portenko and featuring Dan Asher, John Cuk, Silvio Furci, Cameron Gilmour, Svetlana Gorokhovich, Emily Hansen, Anyi Kouarkos, Sergei Kvitko, Jeffrey Palmer, Adam Pascual, Josani Pimenta, Jake Robinson, and Jack Silvers. Tickets (from $5) via the parish website and here: https://www.musae.me/musicinthealps/experiences/797/music-in-the-alps You can view on any device: phone, tablet, or computer.

This Sunday, 2 August, is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, and the first in our August series of Saints and Shrines of England (see below). Our guest preacher is Fr Michael Gobbett, Vicar of Whitby, Yorkshire, whose homily looks at St Hilda of Whitby (614–680 AD). Eucharists are streamed at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung). Following the Sung Eucharist please join us for Pre-Prandial Potations at 12.30pm. The (new) meeting ID is 860 1194 2057, and the meeting can be entered here: https://zoom.us/meeting/86011942057?occurrence=1596385800000 There is no password. You can join for as short or as long a time as you like. If you have just five or ten minutes to space, please come in.

-20- On Wednesday 5 August, the Eve of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, we resume our Wednesday 6.15pm Eucharist in -person, with rigorous health and safety protocols in place. The Please let the Parish Office know if you intend to attend ([email protected] or 212 243 6192). For full details of all the protocols which make our re-opening fully safe and secure see: http://www.stjvny.org/reopening

Following the Eucharist on Wednesday 5 August we welcome back to St John’s Greenwich Village Chamber Singers for their auditions prior to their autumn season.

On Saturday 8 August we present Music in the Alps, a live-streamed concert curated by pianist Irena Portenko and featuring Dan Asher, John Cuk, Silvio Furci, Cameron Gilmour, Svetlana Gorokhovich, Emily Hansen, Anyi Kouarkos, Sergei Kvitko, Jeffrey Palmer, Adam Pascual, Josani Pimenta, Jake Robinson, and Jack Silvers. Tickets (from $5) via the parish website and here: https://www.musae.me/musicinthealps/experiences/797/music-in-the-alps You can view on any device -- phone, tablet, computer, tv -- or if you miss that live feeling of being in the room together and want a new, immersive way to experience performances, Musae can send you a VR headset along with your ticket purchase.

Next Sunday, 9 August, is the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, and the second in our August series of Saints and Shrines of England (see below). Our guest preacher is the Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans, whose homily looks at St Alban (died circa 250 AD) the first named British martyr. Eucharists are streamed at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung). Following the Sung Eucharist please join us for Pre-Prandial Potations at 12.30pm. The meeting ID is 860 1194 2057, and the meeting can be entered here: https://zoom.us/meeting/86011942057?occurrence=1596385800000 There is no password. You can join for as short or as long a time as you like. If you have just five or ten minutes to space, please come in.

-21- On Monday 10 August at 5pm we continue our series of Community Conversations, curated by our resident theater company Rattlestick. This week’s Conversation is entitled Witnessing Whiteness, and is a forum for the exploration of color and race in both the performing arts and in American society more generally. This Conversation is participated in by Zoom, is free, and one registers via the parish website or here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10556009

On Tuesday 11 August at 5pm we continue our Virtual Salon series, curated by our resident theater company Rattlestick. This session’s title is Spotlight on Critics of Color, is moderated by Jose Solis, and examines the role of non-white critics in the world of the performing and creative arts. This Salon is participated in by Zoom, is free, and one registers via the parish website or here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10555768

On Wednesday 12 August, we continue our Wednesday 6.15pm Eucharist in-person, with rigorous health and safety protocols in place. Please let the Parish Office know if you intend to attend ([email protected] or 212 243 6192). For full details of all the protocols which make our re-opening fully safe and secure see: http://www.stjvny.org/reopening

On Thursday 13 August Confirmation class continues, by Zoom, at 1pm. It is not yet clear when the Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered. The ’s office has yet to re-schedule the ’ parochial visitations.

Also on Thursday 13 August at 5pm with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater we present In the Southern Breeze, a new play by Jiréh Breon Holder, directed by Christopher D. Betts. When a runaway slave gets lost in a mysterious forest, an Absurdist drama ensues. In the Southern Breeze offers a challenging look at how our society has treated and continues to treat African American men. There will be a post-show discussion on the theme of the play, facilitated by Robert Pollock. This play is viewed by Zoom, is free, and one books via the parish website or here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10555766

Saturday 15 August is the principal Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes called The Dormition (or Assumption) of the Blessed Virgin. As it falls this year so near to a Sunday, we will transfer the observation to Sunday 16 August and our two Eucharists that day, at 8.30am (said) and 11am (sung), will be of the Blessed Virgin Mary. -22-

Volunteers needed for our Grocery Program for the Vulnerable

The pandemic has caused many elderly and otherwise vulnerable people to stay home and not venture into populous places such as grocery stores. Some such people have access to the internet (and can order groceries in) or non-vulnerable friends or relatives nearby (who can shop for them), but many, especially here in the Village, have neither. St John’s has been running a phone hotline through which such vulnerable people are able to place grocery orders to be delivered to their homes. St John’s volunteers staff our phone-line (3pm to 5pm Mon-Fri) and fill in a form online and our partner Invisible Hands arranges the delivery. You can staff the phone-line from your own home (we connect our line to you phone for the session). If you could spare 3pm to 5pm on any one weekday, have a smart phone and also a computer, we would be grateful for your assistance. Communicate through the Parish Office if you think you might be able to help. See below for more details of the program. If you know seniors, or other vulnerable people, in this predicament, please phone them and give them information about our program.

New Parish Administrator

Luis Hernandez, who began as Administrator in March 2017, is leaving us to go to Virginia to study at Virginia Theological Seminary in training for Holy Orders. We wish Luis well on his new path and thank him for all he has done at St John’s. His successor is Hunter Jordan, who is now part-time Parish Administrator. A native of South Carolina, Hunter comes to us from previous parish administrator positions on Staten Island. Hunter’s in-office work-days will normally be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Our summer exhibition in Revelation Gallery, Pride: in Black, White, and Colour has been extended into and through the month of August. This is our annual LGBTQ art show and is both actual and virtual, with art works (painting, photography, and sculpture) in the Gallery and the Courtyard and a concurrent photo-gallery of the works on the parish website. Artists include: Paul Reitz (Warden), Sean Watters, Jerry the Marble Faun, William Welsch, Mark Dawson, and Lauren Reynolds. Daily opening times: 11am to 3pm. No more than 20 people may be in the Gallery or Courtyard, at any one time, and face-coverings must be worn. The exhibition contains some large ‘preview’ paintings of our September show Lost Cities by Maria Carla Genovesi.

-23- Daily Prayer Clergy and laity pray together the ‘offices’ of Morning Prayer and Evensong every weekday at St John’s. (They are available on our YouTube channel.) From our earliest Anglican beginnings in the mid-16th century a distinctive Anglican spirituality arose in which lay people (rather than monastics only) began to pray these short services of readings, psalms, canticles, prayer, and praise, either in church with the clergy (who take a vow upon ordination to pray these offices daily) or at home. That spiritual tradition is strengthening once more today after a period of some falling off. The offices allow us to round the day in prayer and praise and also give us a continuous reading of passages from the Bible (two daily, or four each day if we pray both offices) which allow us to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scripture much more than we might otherwise. As the pandemic has encouraged us to participate in more and more activities from our own homes, so participation with others in the Daily Office has become easier – as, if the office is webcast, one does not need to travel to church. From August the offices from St John’s will be available at our YouTube page from the earlier times of 7am (Morning Prayer) and 5pm (Evensong or Evening Prayer). They can, of course, be participated in at any time thereafter. This change allows Morning Prayer and Evensong to be available to people of very diverse diurnal routines. A good spiritual habit is to choose the time of Morning Prayer and/or Evensong which best suits your particular routine and try to be consistent in that. Morning Prayer should precede the main activities of the day. Evensong is a limen or threshold between the day that is past and the evening that lies before us, where we give thanks for what is past and pray for what is to come. Evensong at St John’s is usually sung simply to the timeless music of plainsong (but you do not need to sing to participate!). In addition to Morning Prayer and Evensong, St John’s offers Midday Prayer with Br Andrew Jones via his Facebook Page (facebook.com/ap.jones), a pause for prayer as ‘time-out’ of the busy-ness of the day, and Compline, the service (invariable in its format and readings) which ends the day, and is best participated in just before retiring for the evening. Compline by Candlelight from St John’s is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=h5a9W3oV9YE

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-24- St Benedict’s Courtyard Garden was brought into being through the generosity of Peter Fielding Elser (both of whose sons have recently visited St John’s from their palazzi in Italy) and Addie Richter (who died recently in her nineties here in NYC). Much work has been carried out during the pandemic and the space is becoming a little paradise (parvis is the technical word): with newly-planted shrubs, flowers, and herbs. Thanks are due to Jean Tucker for her work in design and acquisition. The Courtyard is open to the public (masks or distancing required) from 11am to 3pm Monday to Friday. The Courtyard is now an overflow outdoor dining space for our neighbor Taïm, we will soon let watercolorists and other painters know of access to the space, and thought is being put into some kind of nature group for children of the Village. The Courtyard can be accessed either through the church or through the gallery.

Saints and Shrines of England: an August virtual pilgrimage in homily to England’s holy places

Over the five Sundays in August (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th ) we welcome five guest preachers from places of pilgrimage in England, preaching on the Gospel through the light of the particular associated with that place. First in the series, this Sunday 2 August, we visit Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast, where St Hilda ruled over a double (a community of women and men) in the seventh century, and where she presided over the of Whitby (664), at which various differences of tradition and culture which distinguished ‘Roman’ from ‘Celtic’ (or Irish) Christianity were debated. Fr Michael Gobbett, the Vicar of Whitby, preaches at both 8.30am and 11am Eucharists. On Sunday 9 August we welcome the Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John, Dean of St Alban’s, from the Shrine of St Alban the Martyr in St Alban’s Cathedral, St Albans, Herfordshire.

-25- Advent Appeal 2019 and St. Patrick’s, Dalkey, Refugee Programme Our Advent Appeal last year raised just over $3000 for the assistance of refugees and asylum seekers (of many nationalities) in Dublin, . Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, the particular project we had intended to support (run from Christ Church Cathedral, the cathedral of the Church of Ireland (Anglican) Diocese of Dublin & Glendalough) could not go ahead. The Rector and Wardens, assisted by the research of Vestry-member Nick Gordon, have identified another Church of Ireland program working with and for refugees in Dublin. This is run (though temporarily paused because of COVID-19) from the parish of Dalkey, in south Dublin. From Fr Bruce Hayes, Rector of St Patrick’s, Dalkey: Since its inception our Refugee Programme has recognised that whilst asylum seekers are accommodated in centres in Ireland where their basic needs are met, what is lacking is social support. Our aim is to encourage integration between the asylum seeker and the local community. We have created relationships, where we have been able to offer support on a number of different levels. The process of applying for asylum can take as long as 7 years and during this time a person can suffer terribly and lose all confidence and motivation, so our programmes are meant to encourage build up and empower the asylum seeker in the choices they have to make. Covid-19 has brought our work to a pause. It is hoped we will be able to fully resume at the earliest opportunity. In September a number of the younger asylum seekers will be starting college, so we are intending to support them financially with a system of micro- grants. Their fees will be met by the college, but what they will struggle with is getting text books, access to technology and even food when they are away for the whole day from the centre, we will seek to step in and assist in this vacuum. Also on the church grounds it is hoped in the next 12 months to create a garden where the local person and the asylum seeker can meet and plant and grow, and talk and learn together, fostering and nurturing relationships. Fr Bruce was our guest preacher at the 8.30am and 11am Eucharists on Sunday 26 July, and his homily can be viewed again here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGyL35c6UbY

-26- St John’s with Invisible Hands In response to the ‘stay-home’ order in NYC St John’s now runs a free grocery service for vulnerable people in Manhattan who have no internet access (and cannot therefore order online) and no non-vulnerable friends or family to shop for them. We work in collaboration with Invisible Hands (invisiblehandsdeliver.com). Our phone-line is staffed daily from Monday through Friday between 3pm and 5pm: 929 292 9235 St John’s, using funds accessed from the UK specifically for this purpose (over 20K GBP), and other donations, pays for groceries and arranges delivery with Invisible Hands. Our program has recently been commended, and awarded $4K, by Episcopal Charities to help us continue this ministry. We fund this program entirely by charitable donations and it is limited by what monies we can raise. If you would like to donate to the program please contact the Rector.

Prayer Requests At the Daily Office (Morning Prayer and Evensong) and at both Sunday Eucharists, intercession is offered for the needs of the world and for our particular communities. If there are particular concerns you would like to have inform our parish prayer, please let Fr Graeme know ([email protected]). If there is a particular liturgy on a particular day at which such prayer would be most helpful to you, do let the Rector know that too. All liturgies can be participated in via the parish website (stjvny.org).

Support in time of isolation This time of isolation is very difficult for some people. Fr Graeme, the Rector, is readily available for counsel and support as always, now based very much in the Parish Office (212 243 6192). He can also be contacted by email on [email protected] every day except Tuesdays. The Governor of New York reports: “A mental health hotline is available to New Yorkers who need it. We can't underestimate the impact this pandemic is having on mental health. I'm proud that over 6,000 mental health professionals have volunteered their time to help with New York's Coronavirus response. For free emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider, call 1 844 863 9314.” -27- New York Gregorian Chant Project During this time of shut-down and absence of in-person gatherings, our Chant Project continues. Online tutorials with practice materials are available for beginners and intermediate students. If you have not previously participated in our Gregorian chant classes but would like to do so when in-person gatherings are possible, this online learning is a good way to catch up. If you would like to participate in this online learning before the classes can assemble again contact Professor Lawrence Harris ([email protected]).

YouTube All our streamed liturgies are accessible on our YouTube channel (youtube.com/stjvny). It is worth bookmarking, saving, or subscribing to that channel (subscription is free). The channel presently has just over 2000 subscribers.

Facebook Our Facebook page has over 1100 likers, who find Facebook a useful way of keeping in touch with the many services and events taking place at St John’s. We usually make only one or two posts per day, alerting friends to up-coming events. We may soon be streaming worship on Facebook in addition to YouTube. If you would like to keep in touch that way, please like our Facebook page: facebook.com/stjohnsinthevillge

E-Bulletin We issue a weekly e-bulletin, usually on Thursdays or Fridays. If you would like to receive information in that way please email our Administrator ([email protected]) and ask to be subscribed.

Recording and Live-Streaming at St John’s Arts events are much affected by the public health precautions now in place. In collaboration with Musae (musae.me) we are now equipped with high quality audio- visual equipment, allowing us to offer a venue for musicians, no longer able to perform to full live audiences, to live-stream or record their performances to a professional standard. Musae helps promote and sell tickets. A small fee is necessary to cover the work of the sound engineer (who accesses the input remotely at sound-check and manages streaming). -28-

12-step groups offered at St John’s are now offered by Zoom. Enquire of the particular weekly group for details. Our Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute (PSI) continues to offer psychotherapy services from St. John’s Counseling Center, with offices located in Wade House, accessed through the ‘horse walk’ at 222 West 11th street, though now mostly remotely (eg by Zoom or Skype) rather than in person. PSI has established a strong reputation for spiritually informed psychotherapies and pastorally grounded treatment. PSI therapists are experienced in incorporating clients' spiritual interests and concerns in their work of healing, recovery, and overall well-being. For more information see out PSI website, psinyc.org. To speak to a therapist or make an appointment for a confidential consultation, call 212 285 0043.

• Our therapy sessions are offered on a sliding scale. • All PSI therapists are licensed in the State of New York. • Some of our therapists accept in-network insurance coverage; all are eligible for out-of-network coverage, depending on the client’s plan.

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