Dear Friends,
The situation in our city has changed dramatically this past week. Protests have been peaceful and good-natured near the Church and Rectory building, the curfew has ceased, and the Governor has announced phase one of the re-opening of the city of New York. Almost immediately, most of us noticed the dramatic increase in vehicular traffic after three months where cyclists, skate-boarders, and pedestrians have ruled the streets. The noise from construction workers is heard all over, including in our Church where new ‘chillers’ are being installed for the air-conditioning system after the project as put on hold during the ‘PAUSE’ order.
Father Moretz has been leading a small group of senior staff who have been creating a plan for the phased re-opening of the Parish Offices and the Church. Amy Francisco, as Interim Head of School, has led a parallel group looking at the different scenarios for re-opening the school in the fall.
At the beginning of the Pandemic, I preached a sermon and quoted a line from a famous novel by Lampedusa used by the BBC and other news media to reflect advice from the World Health Organization at the time, “For things to remain the same, everything must change.” What is clear is that we will not be returning to the way things used to be, and we may never do so. Social-distancing will remain the norm for some time to come; the exchange of the sign of peace; communion in both kinds; a crowded Andrew Hall – it will be some time before we see such things again.
As Saint Thomas Church responds to the Phase 1 re-opening, we will do so carefully and logically. Next week, I hope we will be able to share some of our plans with you. The Church will not be open until at least July 1 and we are not permitted in-person worship until Phase 2 of the re-opening. With congregations limited to 25% of the capacity of the building, it will be quite possible to resume daily worship with a congregation. Sunday worship presents more challenges, and we want to ensure that we have everything in place before we resume worship with a congregation. What is clear is that online worship will continue even when we are allowed to worship in-person. To that end, we have brought forward one element of the strategic plan for our parish, and we will be installing a camera system in the church which will allow for live-webcasting of worship, concerts, education, and formation.
Last Sunday should have been ‘Leavers’ Sunday’ and my colleagues and I are grateful for the many messages we received wishing our Grade 8 boys well in their future. The ‘virtual graduation’ which took place on the ZOOM platform was quite moving and ably executed by Ms. Francisco, who also spoke movingly about each of the boys graduating. We had presentations from the boys which were incredibly varied – a Beethoven sonata; a digital slideshow; an aria; a Latin poem; a ‘song from the shows’! One of the highlights was a rendition of a movement from the Brahm’s ‘A German Requiem’, Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen.
Congratulations Jonathan, Frankie, Noah, Eduardo, and Ben. We hope to have a special evensong at some stage in the fall to celebrate your achievements.
This Sunday we keep the feast of Corpus Christi – a day of thanksgiving for the Holy Eucharist. During Lent, Sr. Promise began a series of meditations and guided prayer during our weekly Holy Hour. Of course, the lock-down prevented that happening. As we recorded the service for Sunday, we decided to record an extra devotional service of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It will be broadcast at 3pm and thereafter, available on-demand. Eucharistic devotions are not for everyone, and some Anglicans are perplexed or even worried about them, but if you are curious about this devotion which re-entered the Anglican World as a result of the Oxford Movement in the 19th Century, you can read an article by the late Professor John MacQuarrie and you will find a more in-depth theological explanation in his book “Paths in Spirituality.” Next Sunday, we will celebrate Choral Mattins and Eucharist.
At Saint Thomas Church, we offer a rich variety of spiritual and formational opportunities, even during the lock-down. For the past three months, we have had two bible studies a week,1928 BCP evening prayer, young adults’ discussion and compline, children and families’ activities, music making, crafts, archived 1662 choral evensong, rosary, weekly coffee hour and discussion groups, daily intercessions, and mass. I know a number of you meet for prayer, the guilds have had social meetings, and there is at least one informal book group. If you have other spiritual or educational needs, please let us know, so that we can plan for the future.
Next week, Amy Francisco will write an update on the life of the Choir School over the past few months. I must pay tribute to her and to the faculty and staff who have worked so hard to give our boys what must be one of the finest educational experiences of any school during this Pandemic. The school is in good heart and we rejoice at the end of another academic year that the Choir School continues to change children’s lives.
After this letter, you can read an update from Kazie Metzger Harvey, Chair of the Search Committee for a new Head of School, about where we are in finding a successor to Father Wallace. As we mention our former headmaster, we send him our prayers as he prepares to begin his ministry as Rector of Bethesda Parish, Saratoga Springs, in the Diocese of Albany.
Finally, I began this week’s letter commenting on the protest for Black Lives Matter. We have seen a ground-swell of similar movements throughout the world. Here is a beautiful prayer that has been sent to me; it comes from our friends at Nashotah House Theological Seminary.
Almighty God, who hast created us in thine own image: grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
