Worship

The Seventh Sunday of Easter is also called The Sunday after Ascension Day. Because Ascension Day is always the 40th Day of Easter and Pentecost is always the 50th Day, The Sunday after Ascension Day is always the Sunday preceding Pentecost. So it is always the last Sunday in the Easter season.

These last 10 days of Easter are called Ascensiontide, the period of time after Christ ascended to the Father, yet before the coming of the Spirit. It, therefore, was a time of waiting, yet with much to do. Not unlike the way we live now...though we have the Spirit ever with us.

There are some sermons in the archive that can help you understand all of this. Consider:

He Ascended into Heaven (2011) by Fr Spurlock
The Presence of Christ in Works of Love (2010) by Fr Mead
A Sermon for Ascensiontide (2009) by Fr Mead
A Presence within an Absence (2008) by Fr Austin
God's Cloud and Fire (2003) by Fr Mead
The Ascension: Christ Fills All Things (2002) by Fr Mead

Collect:

O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Sixth Sunday of Easter is often called Rogation Sunday. Although this aspect of the Sixth Sunday of Easter is not often stressed anymore, there nevertheless are hints of prepartion for the rogation days in the morning services this Sunday, when at times there is an emphasis on God the Creator, and gratitude for all he provides. For example, pay attention to the words of the opening hymn at 11am. Rogation Sunday traditionally prepares us for the three Rogation Days to follow on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.We will celebrate those three days with services in the Chantry Chapel.

Among the sermons in the archive that can help you understand God as creator, consider these:

The Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth (2011) by Fr Spurlock
All Ours as Gift (2008) by Fr Austin
Thanksgiving Day 2002 by Fr Stafford

Collect:

O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

At the morning services on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we have John's Gospel in which Christ describes himself as the true vine: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Consider reading these past sermons for some help in understanding this lesson:

Christ the Vine (2008) by Fr Mead
The True Grapevine (2005) by Fr Mead
A Sermon for Confirmation (2002) by Bishop Sisk

Collect:

O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly known as Good Shepherd Sunday.

Among the many sermons in the archive that can help you understand Christ as shepherd, consider these:

Why We Need To Be Saved (2010) by Fr Mead
Do You Love Me? (2010) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for Confirmation (2009) by Bp Sisk
From Hanukkah to Easter (2004) by Fr Mead
A Safe and Nurturing Pasture (2002) by Fr Mead
The Last Krisis (2002) by Fr Mead

Collect:

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel for The Third Sunday of Easter (Year C) is from Luke 24, wherein the risen Christ reveals himself to the disciples and actually eats before them a broiled fish and a honeycomb. Is he a ghost? Clearly not. Does he have a body? Yes, but one that is so much more than what we have.

What to make of this? These sermons by the Rector might help:

For John Updike (2009)
The Name and Power of Jesus (2006)
Physical Faith (2003)

Collect:

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Second Sunday of Easter is commonly called Low Sunday because it follows the hugely important and busy Holy Week and Easter Day, and therefore is a Sunday when the church slows down, the choir on break. However, Low Sunday is especially important to us at Saint Thomas, because it is the Sunday when we have the Gospel from John 20:19-31, wherein we have the description of Doubting Thomas (our patron saint) who, at long last, having seen the Risen Christ, declares “My Lord and my God.” And Jesus responds, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

Here are some sermons from past Low Sundays:

Faith, Doubt and the Sign of Thomas (2009) by Fr Austin
Doubt is Okay, but Beware of Magical Thinking (2007) by Fr Austin
Tommy-Come-Lately (2006) by Fr Andrew
St Puddleglum (2002) by Fr Mead

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by thy life-giving Spirit; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of thy dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Over the years, we've had many guest preachers meditate on the seven last words of Christ at the Three Hours Devotion. Among them:

Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ (2011) by Canon Andrew Diestche
Meditation on the Seven Last Words of Christ (2010) by The Very Reverend Joseph Britton
Seven Addresses on the Last Words of Our Lord from the Cross (2007) by Fr Andrew 

Among some of the sermons preached at the 5:30pm Good Friday Liturgy are these:

Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Rubbish (2011) by Fr Spurlock
I Thirst (2010) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for Good Firday (2009) by Fr Stafford
A Sermon for Good Friday (2008) by Fr Mead

Collect:

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

As you think about the approach to climax, on many levels, that Maundy Thursday represents, these sermons from previous Maundy Thursdays might be helpful: 

To Love One Another (2011) by Fr Austin
The Offerings (2010) by Fr Fletcher
Christ's Humiliation and Love (2009) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for Maundy Thursday (2007) by Fr Mead
A Sermon for Maundy Thursday (2006) by Fr Stafford

Collect:

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel reading on this Fifth Sunday in Lent for Year B is John 12:20-33, wherein we have Christ telling his disciples that the hour has come, saying: Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Here are some sermons from previous years that you might find helpful as you make your way through this fifth week in Lent:

Collect:

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.