Choral Services

Collect:

Almighty God, who didst call thy servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of thy mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the Gospel of Christ, we may with him receive our heavenly reward; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty God, whose servant Chad, for the peace of the Church, relinquished cheerfully the honors that had been thrust upon him, only to be rewarded with equal responsibility: Keep us, we pray thee, from thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, and ready at all times to step aside for others, that the cause of Christ may be advanced; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Lord God, who didst inspire thy servants John and Charles Wesley with burning zeal for the sanctification of souls, and didst endow them with eloquence in speech and song: Kindle
in thy Church, we beseech thee, such fervor, that those whose faith has cooled may be warmed, and that those who have not known thy Christ may turn to him and be saved; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Generally, one Saturday per month is set aside to commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Collect:

O Almighty God, who didst endue with singular grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to hallow our bodies in purity, and our souls in humility and love; through the same our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The season after the Epiphany ends in glory, with Jesus revealed once more as Christ. There are many epiphanies within the season: the visit of the magi, the presentation of Jesus in the temple (and Simeon's response), the Lord's baptism, his first miracle at Cana. On this Sunday, the last of the Epiphany season before Ash Wednesday takes us into Lent, we see Christ in all his glory, his transfiguration, atop the mountain.

We celebrate the Transfiguration twice each year: on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, and on the feast day itself, August 6.

At Saint Thomas, there have been many sermons over the years which are helpful in understanding this miraculous event. Among them are these:

►Fr Austin's Love We Can Hardly Bear to See, delivered on February 14, 2010. An audio recording of this sermon is available in addition to the written text.

►Two sermons by the Rector: The Transfigured Cross on August 6, 2006, and A Glimpse into Glory on August 5, 2007.

►Two sermons by Fr Stafford, both on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, one in 2007 and one in 2009.

Collect:

O God, who before the passion of thy only-begotten Son didst reveal his glory upon the holy mount: Grant unto us that we, beholding by faith the light of his ountenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ash Wednesday begins the holy season of Lent, a 40-day period leading up to Palm Sunday and Holy Week.

The imposition of ashes occurs at all three liturgies of the day -- 8am, 12:10pm and 5:30pm -- as well as throughout the day in the church.

You might find these sermons helpful as you prepare your heart and mind for this holy season:

• Why Does Jesus Say to be Good in Secret?, by Fr Austin
• A Sermon for Ash Wednesday, by Fr Stafford
• The Pit of Contrition, by Fr Mead
• Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven, by Fr Austin
• Cheerful Piety, by Fr Mead

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

On the first Sunday in Lent, we ask God to save us in the time of trial -- to think on his mercy and not our many offenses. Always timely.

As you prepare your heart and mind for Lent, you might find these sermons helpful:

Tried and Tested (2010)
Jesus: Tried and True (2009)
On Trial for Life (2008)
Passing through Trials (2007)

Do these sermons sound repetitive? Well, to a degree they are. Perhaps that's because temptation and trial are repetitive parts of our lives. Therefore, our handing ourselves over to the mercy and goodness of Christ needs to be well-rehearsed.

Collect:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted of Satan: Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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.

In the morning services on the Second Sunday in Lent (Year A), we have the story of Nicodemus in the third chapter of John. If you can related to the earnest seeking of the wanting-to-believe Nicodemus, you might find these sermons helpful:

Nicodemus, by Fr Javis, Headmaster Emeritus of the Roxbury Latin School (2009)
Nicodemus, There Is More in Your Future, by Fr Austin (2008)
Remember Who You Are, by Fr Mead (2005)
Born Again, by Fr Mead (2002)

Collect:

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from thy ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of thy Word, Jesus Christ thy Son; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

At the morning services this Third Sunday in Lent, we have the account in John of Christ's encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. It is here that we encounter a Christ who already understands everything about us. Who among us can’t relate to the relief of the Samaritan woman who at last is made accountable to the truth: her own messy history, partially known publicly, and fully known to Christ? As the Samaritan woman finds out, the truth is a path toward salvation and love, not damnation, if we stick with Christ and let him transform us.

As you think on this, these sermons by the Rector might help:

The Man at the Well (2008)
The Oasis (2005)
I and Thou (2002)

Collect:

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.