Choral Services

Collect:

Grant us, O Lord, we pray thee, to trust in thee with all our heart; seeing that, as thou dost alway resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so thou dost not forsake those who make their boast of thy mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 18)

In addition to this feast, we also celebrate at Saint Thomas:
►The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8
►The Feast of the Annunciation on March 25 (in 2012, it falls on the same day as the Fifth Sunday in Lent)
►The Visitation on May 31
►The Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin on August 15

A 12:10 Mass in honor of Mary is offered once a month in the Chantry Chapel (Lady Chapel), usually but not always on the first Saturday.

There is much on this website with regard to Mary, especially in the Sermon Archive, where, among many other sermons, you will find these: by Fr Mead in 2010, by Fr Stafford in 2009, by Fr Austin in 2008, by Fr Andrew in 2007.

Collect:

We beseech thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the abundance of thy heavenly grace: that like as the child-bearing of the blessed Virgin Mary was unto us thy servants the beginning of salvation, so the devout observance of her nativity may avail for the increasing of our peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

aka The Martyrs of Memphis

When Yellow Fever struck the city of Memphis, Tennessee in 1878, the death toll quickly grew, and most of the surviving residents fled. But not Constance and her companions. They were sisters, priests and doctors at Saint Mary's Episcopal Cathedral who stayed behind to tend to the sick, the dying and the orphaned. Eventually, all but two of these sustainers and comforters succumbed to the disease themselves. 

In his sermon for the Baptism of Our Lord in January 2011, Fr Spurlock discussed the Martyrs of Memphis in some detail. You may read his sermon here.

Collect:

We give thee thanks and praise, O God of compassion, for the heroic witness of Constance and her companions, who, in a time of plague and pestilence, were steadfast in their care for the sick and dying, and loved not their own lives, even unto death: Inspire in us a like love and commitment to those in need, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 19)

The last time Holy Cross Day fell on a Sunday was in 2008, at which time Fr Mead delivered a sermon on the significance of the day.

Collect:

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world unto himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

A series of three Ember Days (on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) are observed four times a year:

(1) following the Third Sunday of Advent
(2) following the First Sunday in Lent
(3) following the Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday)
(4) following Holy Cross Day

A major feast day overrides an Ember Day if they fall on the same day.

Ember Days, traditionally seasonal days of fasting and prayer, became over time associated with ordination of clergy and with prayer for the Church.

Collect:

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Bishop in Galloway
d. c.430

Collect:

O God, who by the preaching of thy blessed servant and bishop Ninian didst cause the light of the Gospel to shine in the land of Britain: Grant, we beseech thee, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show forth our thankfulness by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 20)

The Rector wrote a sermon about this Apostle and Evangelist in 2008.

Collect:

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the witness of thine apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of thy Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

At Saint Thomas, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels twice: on its assigned date on the liturgical calendar (September 29) and on the Sunday prior, which in 2011 is September 25.

Over the years, there have been many sermons which can help you to understand the significance of this feast day, and the nature of the heavenly, angelic host. Among them are these:

Lift Up Your Hearts (2010)
The Ministry of the Angels (2010)
There are Angels (2009)
How Do the Angels Matter? (2008)
Entertaining Angels (2007)
The Choice of the Angels (2003)
Michael, Gabriel, Raphael (2002)

Collect:

O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and men in a wonderful order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy angels always serve and worship thee in heaven, so by thy appointment they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

At Saint Thomas, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels twice: on its assigned date on the liturgical calendar (September 29) and on the Sunday prior, which in 2011 is September 25.

Over the years, there have been many sermons which can help you to understand the significance of this feast day, and the nature of the heavenly, angelic host. Among them are these:

Lift Up Your Hearts (2010)
The Ministry of the Angels (2010)
There are Angels (2009)
How Do the Angels Matter? (2008)
Entertaining Angels (2007)
The Choice of the Angels (2003)
Michael, Gabriel, Raphael (2002)

Collect:

O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and men in a wonderful order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy angels always serve and worship thee in heaven, so by thy appointment they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Priest, Monk of Bethlehem
b. 347
d. September 30, 420

Roman Catholics recognize Jerome as the patron saint of translators, librarians and encyclopedists, and for good reason. Jerome translated the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek into Latin, a translation that became known as the Vulgate—and a translation which occasionally shows up in the footnotes of the Rector's sermons (see this one for an example).

But Jerome didn't stop there. For nearly two decades he then wrote commentaries on scripture, making him, like Augustine, highly quotable. (See Jerome's thoughts about Christian leadership and the 153 fish in John 21 in two of the Rector's sermons).

Collect:

O Lord, thou God of truth, thy Word is a lantern to our feet and a light upon our path: We give thee thanks for thy servant Jerome, and those who, following in his steps, have labored to render the Holy Scriptures in the language of the people; and we beseech thee that thy Holy Spirit may overshadow us as we read the written Word, and that Christ, the living Word, may transform us according to thy righteous will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.