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Dear Friends in Christ,
Spring is in the air. Yes, we still have to bring out the heavy coats on occasion, and earlier this week I needed gloves. But temperate days are growing more common, buds are on the trees in the church garden, and the spirit of resurrection is getting a little more palpable as Covid safety restrictions ease. We're only halfway through the season of Lent, but in some ways, it feels like we've spent the last two years in Lent. And now we are gradually starting to emerge.
One sure sign of emergence is the return of the common cup. The Rt. Rev. Andrew Dietsche, Bishop of New York, has granted permission to the churches in our Diocese to once again administer the wine at services of Holy Eucharist. Therefore, Incarnation will reintroduce communion from the chalice on Sunday, April 3. At this time, Bishop Dietsche is not permitting those who receive the wine to intinct (dip the wafer in the wine), as it carries the risk of people accidentally plunging their fingertips into the wine. However, all are welcome to drink from the chalice. We recognize that people have varying levels of comfort during a continuing pandemic, so please know that choosing not to receive the wine is perfectly acceptable. As has always been the case, receiving only the bread constitutes receiving communion fully.
Sunday, April 3, also marks our yearly Bishop's visitation and Confirmation Sunday. The Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, retired Suffragan Bishop of New York, will preach and celebrate the Eucharist at the 11:00 a.m. service and confirm members of the 2022 Confirmation Class. We have a sizable class this year, including five eighth graders! I hope you will join us in worship and congratulate all who are deepening their commitment to Christ with the public confession of faith and laying on of hands by the Bishop.
Following the service, we'll have special treats at Coffee Hour and then continue our "Sermon Talkback" series. Bring your coffee, and join Bishop Roskam at the front of the church at 12:30 p.m. to discuss the sermon. Trust me, she is quite the preacher!
Now for a preview of Holy Week and Easter services.
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Palms will be distributed at both services of Holy Eucharist on Palm Sunday, April 10. We begin the 11:00 a.m. service with a long procession led by the children of the parish. Later in the service, the Incarnation Choir will offer a sung version of the Passion Gospel. The service ends with a silent recessional in darkness.
On Maundy Thursday, April 14, the Eucharist will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m., with the ceremonial “stripping of the altar." We are also introducing the traditional practice of foot washing at this service to imitate the humility and selfless love of Jesus, who washed the feet of the Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper.
The Maundy Thursday Prayer Vigil will follow in the Chapel of the Nativity until 10:00 p.m. You are invited to pray in the chapel at any time throughout the Vigil as we remember how Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch while he struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane with his impending sacrifice.
On Good Friday, April 15, at 12:00 p.m., we have the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday with communion from the reserved sacrament. We also will hold a Stations of the Cross prayer service at 2:00 p.m. The church will remain open that day until 3:00 p.m. for prayer and meditation.
The Great Vigil of Easter will be held on Easter Eve, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. The service begins in darkness and consists of four parts: the Service of Light (kindling of new fire, lighting the Paschal candle, the Exsultet); the Service of Lessons (readings from the Hebrew Scriptures interspersed with canticles and prayers); Christian Initiation (Holy Baptism); and the Eucharist. Join us for this first celebration of Easter when we move from darkness into light and let our "alleluias" ring out to celebrate the passing of Jesus from death to life.
After the early service at 8:30 a.m., the principal service of Easter Day, April 17, at 11:00 a.m. is a Festal Eucharist that expresses the very center of our faith: Jesus appears, risen from the dead. The joy and wonder of his followers is matched by the joy and wonder of our worship. After the service, we'll have Coffee Hour, an Easter Egg Hunt, and the Parish Easter Luncheon. These events are described in more detail below.
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CLICK HERE for flyer that lists all the Holy Week and Easter services. Even if you plan to be out of town (in which case you can stream our services on YouTube!), let your friends and neighbors know about opportunities to worship at Incarnation.
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From the Director of Music |
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On Palm Sunday we celebrate not only the first anniversary of the resumption of in-person services at 11:00 a.m., but also the return of Incarnation's choir for their first Palm Sunday appearance since 2019. A solo trumpet will underscore the triumphal aspect of this great feast which ends in stark drama with the events of Good Friday casting their shadow before. During Holy Week members of the choir will be heard in solos and duets. The music of the Easter Vigil begins with the singing of the Exsultet, one of the most glorious of plainchants. On Easter Day the full choir will be assisted by strings, again for the first time in three years. Supporting all this will be the beautiful Aeolian-Skinner organ.
All in all, it will be a welcome return to the richness and variety of the music that leads us to the Queen of Feasts.
-- David Ralph
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In preparation for Palm Sunday, we'll have Family Friday on April 8 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Parents and children of all ages are invited to the Assembly Hall for a family friendly service project, pizza dinner, and creation of a “Hosanna” banner. After the banner is complete, we’ll head down to the church for a scavenger hunt with prizes!
One of our teen acolytes will carry the Hosanna banner in the Palm Sunday procession, in which all children are invited to participate. We’ll have extra big palms for them to wave in this year’s procession! Email me at adannhauser@churchoftheincarnation.org to RSVP for Family Friday.
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Children are invited to our annual Easter Egg Hunt after the 11:00 a.m. service on Easter Day; meet in the first-floor lobby of the Parish House. There will be baskets available, but your child is also welcome to bring his/her own. Children are also very welcome at the Easter Luncheon. |
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After three years, the Parish Easter Luncheon is back! We will be returning to a private room at Slattery’s Midtown Pub on East 36th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. The buffet menu includes Chicken Marsala, Baked Ziti, Beef Tips in a Burgundy Sauce, sides and dessert. Cost is $35 for adults and $25 for children. There is also a cash bar.
To make a reservation, contact Thomas Reefer, Parish Administrator, at 212-689-6350 ext. 2 or treefer@churchoftheincarnation.org. Family and friends are of course welcome, but we urge you to make reservations, as seating is limited.
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On Easter, Incarnation will be adorned with beautiful flowers, and we will enjoy enhanced music through generous donations to remember and honor your loved ones. CLICK HERE for an "Easter Flowers and Music" donation form. Please return the form and donation by mail or hand delivery. Donations received by Palm Sunday, April 10, will be recognized in the Easter Day service leaflet.
We will decorate the church with flowers on the afternoon of Good Friday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m. Many hands make light work! Please join us in placing beautiful spring flowers throughout the sanctuary for Easter and then enjoy some light refreshments.
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Lenten Baby Supplies Drive |
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Our Lenten Baby Supplies Drive for Hour Children continues until Easter Sunday. We are collecting a variety of baby supplies -- diapers (sizes 1-5), wipes, diaper cream, baby soap and shampoo, formula, and baby food. Items can be purchased online through Incarnation's Hour Children Amazon Storefront or dropped off at the church. Thanks to everyone who has donated!
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A renewed focus on discipleship continues to characterize our communal identity. Under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Nate Lee, the newly constituted Spiritual Development Committee will be exploring Christian formation opportunities for Eastertide. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, please plan to join us in person or on Zoom Thursday, April 21, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the culmination of our Lenten book discussion on Freeing Jesus by Diana Butler Bass. Nate will lead a wrap-up session for members of the book study and non-members alike as we reflect together on the comprehensive, multi-faceted nature of Jesus, whom Bass claims grows with us as we move through life’s challenges.
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20s/30s Group Baseball Outing |
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The 20s/30s Group April event is a baseball game! We'll watch the Mets play the Phillies at Citifield on Friday, April 29. The game starts at 7:10 p.m., and tickets are $25 per person. Email the Rev. Dr. Nate Lee at nlee@churchoftheincarnation.org to reserve yours today.
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As we move through the Lenten fast toward the Easter feast, I am cautiously optimistic that Eastertide will be a time of true celebration with increased opportunities for coming together in fellowship and rejoicing. In the words of one of my favorite Gospel hymns,
We’ve come this far by faith,
Leaning on the Lord;
Trusting in His Holy word,
He’s never failed me yet.
O can’t turn around.
We’ve come this far by faith.
May we continue to encourage and support one another along the way, united in our faith and confident in the steadfast faithfulness of our God. On behalf of the Incarnation staff, I wish you a spiritually fruitful Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
In Christ,
Adrian+
The Rev. Adrian Dannhauser
Priest in Charge
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