Thursday, December 31, 2020
The Reverend Albutt Gardner
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
7th Day of Christmas ~ Sigfrid Karg-Elert- 'Resonet in Laudibus' from Cathedral Windows
Sigfrid Karg-Elert- 'Resonet in Laudibus' from Cathedral Windows
played by Jonathan Stark
12noon on 31 December 2020
played by Jonathan Stark
The music of Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933) combines late-romantic with impressionistic and expressionistic tendencies, as is shown in this piece, one of six from his collection "Cathedral Windows" (Opus 106). The 14th century melody Resonet in Laudibus is mostly associated now with the text "Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine". In the score Karg-Elert calls for two very high notes to sound throughout the piece, symbolizing the Christmas star. However, on a two manual (2 keyboard) organ, this excessively limits the organist's choices of tone colors, so I've omitted the effect in this performance.
Visit us at http://stmaryscathedralroad.com/ Sermons at: https://peterssermons.blogspot.com/ Diocese of Pennsylvania: https://www.diopa.org/
30 December 2020 ~ 6th Day of Christmas Music ~ "Canonic Variations on Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Carols from King's College, Cambridge
Wonderful carols for the season!
Merry Christmas!
The Rev. Sadie Mitchell, a retired educator and Episcopal priest, died on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. She was 99.
The Rev. Sadie Mitchell, a retired educator and Episcopal priest, died on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. She was 99.
Mitchell had suffered several falls, with the last fall resulting in hip replacement surgery. She never fully recovered from the lasting effects of that trauma.
She was born on Jan. 4, 1921 to Joseph Alphonso Stridiron and Lucinda Clifton Stridiron. She was the second child of five. In her early years, she and the family resided in South Philadelphia. They attended The Episcopal Church of the Crucifixion in South Philly.
The family moved to West Philadelphia when she was a teenager. They became members of The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (AECST), then known as the Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (or simply St. Thomas).
Mitchell and her siblings attended Overbrook High School. After graduation, she attended Temple University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. In later years Mitchell obtained her master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and her doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
As an undergraduate at Temple, in 1939, Mitchell was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Xi Sigma Citywide Chapter. As a devoted member of this sisterhood, her 81st Deltaversary was commemorated in 2020. Mitchell was an active member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter until 2017 when she was unable to participate in the sorority’s activities due to failing health. She remained a financial member through the 2020-21 sorority year.
In 1946, she married Charles T. Mitchell Jr., a city of Philadelphia employee with the Department of Recreation, a member of Holy Trinity Baptist Church, a lover of jazz and gospel music, and a very active member and leader of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, O.V. Catto Lodge, formerly located in South Philly. Three children were born to their union.
During the early years of their marriage, the family resided in South Philly before moving to West Philly in 1952.
Mitchell made great efforts to engage her young children in activities with groups such as Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and The Sweet Kittens (a social group of the daughters of friends that was formed by her friend, the late Pearl Johnson). She enrolled the girls in piano lessons at the original Settlement Music School on Queen Street in South Philadelphia.
She gave the children the experience of overnight camps, first at Camp Oak Hill in Nottingham, then Camp Mohawk in the Catskill Mountains in New York, co-owned by her late friends, Jean and Adolphus Lewis Sr. and the late Sam and Edna Watts.
Mitchell learned how to drive when her daughters were very young. This was not common for women in the 1950s. Her brother, Clifton, a Tuskegee Airman mechanic during World War II, repaired an old Chevy jalopy then gave it to her. She drove that car for several years until she was able to purchase a used 1958 Rambler that handled like a truck.
Mitchell was a very active member of St. Thomas Church, even before becoming a priest. A few of the guilds in which she participated were the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), the Matrons’ Guild, the Jesse F. Anderson Sr. Scholarship Fund Committee, the Music Committee, and the St. Thomas Historical Society. She and close friends, Mary Lu Sullivan and Louella Allen co-founded one of St. Thomas’ guilds for women of the parish – The Sisterhood Guild. Until her health began to fail, Mitchell was also involved in Episcopal diocesan affairs such as the Union of Black Episcopalians and in affairs of the community-at-large.
Mitchell was a former board member of the Episcopal Community Services (ECS) and The Lincoln Day Nursery. With her community work and education background, she founded The Black Women in Education Association (BWEA).
Throughout her years as an educator, Mitchell taught in the classroom and worked as a science collaborator, assistant to the district superintendent and elementary school principal. For one year, beginning in 1963, she was an exchange teacher, teaching English in Guayama, Puerto Rico. She retired as the principal of the Joseph C. Ferguson Elementary School located in North Philadelphia.
After retiring from the School District of Philadelphia, Mitchell earned a divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia campus. She was ordained to the Episcopal diaconate and subsequently to the priesthood. Mitchell served at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lower Merion, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in the Frankford section of Philadelphia and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
In 1991, when the Rev. Fr. Jesse F. Anderson, Jr. was installed as the 16th rector of the AECST, Mitchell returned as the associate priest of the parish.
While serving at St. Thomas, Mitchell carried out her ministry in several ways. She guided the Sunday School activities for the parish youth. Mitchell visited house-bound parishioners and parishioners recuperating from illnesses at home, as well as parishioners in area hospitals and living in nursing homes. She celebrated her final retirement at St. Thomas.
She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers, Joseph Stridiron, Clifton Stridiron and James Stridiron and her baby sister, Lucinda Harper.
She is survived by: her daughters, Sadye “Sarah” Archer and Charlene M. Wiltshire ;son, Charles “Bud” Mitchell, III (Allyson); grandchildren, Rick, Charles IV “CT,” John “Johnny,” Alexsandra “Alex,” Connor, Chase and Madelyn; four great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law and other relatives and friends.
A memorial service is pending with the full opening of her church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to mailed to The Jesse F. Anderson, Sr. Scholarship Fund, The AECST, 6361 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19151. Checks may be made payable to: AECST, with “JFA Scholarship in memory of Pastor Sadie” written in the memo portion.
Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
12 Days of Christmas Music at Noon at St. Mary's
Marvelous Mini-Organ Concerts each Day of Christmas at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Cathedral Road played by our organist, Jonathan Stark. Check them out at noon each day of Christmas on our YouTube Channel.
Click HERE to see the Playlist of these pieces up until today.
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Christ has no body but yours
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Friday, December 25, 2020
Christmas Services and Music on YouTube ~ St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Cathedral Road ~ Diocese of Pennsylvania
24 December 2020 ~ St. Mary's Episcopal Church ~ Christmas Eve Organ Concert - Part 1
24 December 2020 ~ St. Mary's Episcopal Church ~ Christmas Eve Organ Concert - Part 2
24 December 2020 ~ Christmas Eve ~ Holy Eucharist ~ 4pm ~ St Mary's Episcopal Church
24 December 2020 ~ Reading of the Nativity Story read by the Reverend Peter Carey
24 December 2020 ~ Reading of Desmond Tutu's Stories of the Nativity and Epiphany
25 December 2020 "First Day of Christmas" Organ Music played by Jonathan Stark-"Noel Languedocien"
25 December 2020 "First Day of Christmas" Organ Music played by Jonathan Stark "Noel Languedocien"
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine
with the brightness of the true Light:
Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth,
may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven;
where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
☩ Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church - Cathedral Road ☩
Online Christmas Eve Services
On our YouTube Channel
December 24, 2020 ~ 3pm ~ Christmas Eve Organ Concert
Part One: Click HERE
or https://youtu.be/-xRIIxlGbjg
Part Two: Click HERE
or https://youtu.be/7dYZqhAwQVQ
December 24, 2020 ~ 4pm ~ Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist
Click HERE
YouTube https://youtu.be/aGKxMGlqcl0
Click HERE to download the Service Bulletin
December 24, 2020 ~ 5pm ~ "The Nativity" Story
Our Rector, the Rev. Peter M. Carey,
reads the story of the Nativity
Click HERE
December 24, 2020 ~ Story of Jesus Birth and the Three Wise Men, by Desmond Tutu
Our Rector, the Rev. Peter M. Carey,
reads from Desmond Tutu's Children's Bible
Click HERE
December 24, 2020 ~ 6:30pm ~ Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist
Click HERE
YouTube https://youtu.be/chDvz7jxkc8
Click HERE to download the Service Bulletin
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine
with the brightness of the true Light:
Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth,
may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven;
where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Wishing you all Peace, Joy, Hope, and Love!
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Christmas Eve Services & Noonday Organ Music for the 12 Days of Christmas
Below, you will find the links for today's Christmas Eve Services.
In addition, for each day of the 12 Days of Christmas, beginning tomorrow, the 25th, Jonathan Stark has recorded a piece of organ music which will be posted each day at noon.
Find them on our YouTube Channel HERE
Merry Christmas!
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light:
Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth,
may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven;
where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
☩ Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church - Cathedral Road ☩
Online Christmas Eve Services
On our YouTube Channel
December 24, 2020 ~ 3pm ~ Christmas Eve Organ Concert
Part One: Click HERE
or https://youtu.be/-xRIIxlGbjg
Part Two: Click HERE
or https://youtu.be/7dYZqhAwQVQ
December 24, 2020 ~ 4pm ~ Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist
Click HERE
YouTube https://youtu.be/aGKxMGlqcl0
Click HERE to download the Service Bulletin
December 24, 2020 ~ 5pm ~ "The Nativity" Story
Our Rector, the Rev. Peter M. Carey, reads the story of the Nativity
Click HERE
December 24, 2020 ~ Story of Jesus Birth and the Three Wise Men, by Desmond Tutu
Our Rector, the Rev. Peter M. Carey, reads from Desmond Tutu's Children's Bible
Click HERE
December 24, 2020 ~ 6:30pm ~ Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist
Click HERE
YouTube https://youtu.be/chDvz7jxkc8
Click HERE to download the Service Bulletin
Christmas Eve by Christina Rossetti
CHRISTMAS hath a darkness
Brighter than the blazing noon,
Christmas hath a chillness
Warmer than the heat of June,
Christmas hath a beauty
Lovelier than the world can show:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.
Earth, strike up your music,
Birds that sing and bells that ring;
Heaven hath answering music
For all Angels soon to sing:
Earth, put on your whitest
Bridal robe of spotless snow:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.
Christmas Eve by Christina Rossetti
Collect for Christmas
Christmas
O God, who hast caused this holy night to shine with the
illumination of the true Light: Grant us, we beseech thee,
that as we have known the mystery of that Light upon earth,
so may we also perfectly enjoy him in heaven; where with
thee and the Holy Spirit he liveth and reigneth, one God, in
glory everlasting. Amen.
A visit from Saint Nicholas
Clement Clarke Moore