Worship

Ash Wednesday begins the holy season of Lent, a 40-day period (excluding Sundays) extending through Holy Week, concluding at the Great Vigil on the night before Easter Day.

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 between these services. Simply enter the Fifth Avenue doors and walk down the center aisle toward the high altar.

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

• A Sermon for Ash Wednesday (2011) by Fr Spurlock
• Why Does Jesus Say to be Good in Secret? (2010) by Fr Austin
• A Sermon for Ash Wednesday (2009) by Fr Stafford
• The Pit of Contrition (2007) by Fr Mead
• Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven (2006) by Fr Austin
• Cheerful Piety (2004) 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.

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.

Collect:

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and give us, we beseech thee, the liberty of that abundant life which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and in our time grant us thy peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Conversion of Saint Paul (January 25) wraps up the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity which begins with the Confession of Saint Peter (January 18). To understand the significance of this feast, you might consider these sermons:

In the World, But Not of It (2010) by Fr Fletcher
The Apostolic Faith (2008) by Fr Mead
Some Counsel Against Anxiety (2008) by Fr Mead
After the Acts (2005) by Fr Mead
Losing the World, Gaining Christ (2004) by Fr Mead
It's All in Paul (2004) by Fr Mead
Christ's Joke on Saul (2001) by Fr Mead

Collect:

O God, who, by the preaching of thine apostle Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same by following the holy doctrine which he taught; 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.

Collect:

Collect:

O God, who didst wonderfully create, and yet more wonderfully restore, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

Merciful God, who sent thy messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Advent Sunday is the start of a new church year. At Saint Thomas, we celebrate Advent Sunday with a Procession at 11am and 4pm.

Advent puts the end in the present and asks you to prepare, not for a distant future (for you know not when) but as if the future is today, because it is. Christ has already won the victory, and your past is already fully known. There's no time like the present to turn to God.

As you contemplate what was, and is, and is to come, consider any of these advent sermons in the archive:

A Sermon for Advent (2011) by Fr Spurlock
Advent Waiting (2011) by Fr Daniels
Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell, and a Very Merry Christmas to You (2011) by Fr Mead
Actuarial Science for Advent (2010) by Fr Mead
Five Grace Notes for Advent (2010) by Fr Mead
Are You Ready? (2010) by Fr Spurlock
Stop the Presses (2009) by Fr Mead
Good News for a Brood of Vipers (2009) by Fr Mead
Two Stories for Advent (2009) by Fr Mead
Be the Good News (2008) by Fr Mead
The Vision Glorious (2008) by Fr Mead
Christ the Warrior (2007) by Fr Mead
Rediscovery by Way of God's Anger (2007) by Fr Austin
Pinning Down our Salvation (2006) by Fr Mead
One Last Dance (2006) by Fr Andrew
Incense and Sulfer (2006) by Fr Mead
Pursued by Amos (2006) by Fr Austin
Christ's Advent -- The World's End (2005) by Fr Mead
A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent (2005) by Fr Stafford
The Secrets of Our Dark Hearts to Light (2005) by Fr Austin
The Forerunner (2005) by Fr Mead
The Element of Suprise (2004) by Fr Mead
Wake Up and Live (2004) by Fr Mead
The End of the Rope (2004) by Fr Mead
In Case You Die? (2003) by Fr Mead

Collect:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Fittingly, the church year ends with the Feast of Christ the King, with Jesus "seated at the right hand of God the Father, and he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead."

Fittingly, too, next week a new chuch year begins, and with it we prepare for the coming of Christ.

And so the church year ends with the beginning and begins with the end. The kingship already won by Christ is precisely what is to come.

As you think about this, consider these sermons:

Where We're Going (2011) by Fr Austin
The Kingship of Christ (2011) by Fr Fletcher
A Different Warrior King (2009) by Fr Mead
Christ the King, and the Stranger (2008) by Fr Mead
Life with Christ the King (2007) by Fr Austin
The King's Highway: Of Judgment (2006) by Fr Andrew
Christ the King, Love Almighty (2005) by Fr Mead
An Invitation to Join the Penitent Thief (2004) by Fr Mead

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in thy well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that, by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Remembrance Day at Saint Thomas is kept with services at 8am and 9am, a Solemn Requiem at 11am, and a Choral Evensong at 4pm in memory of those who have given their lives in service of our country.

As you think about the faithful departed, consider these sermons:

The Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting. Amen. (2011) by Fr Austin
The Souls Departed -- Safe and Sound (2008) by Fr Mead
Back from the Dead (2008) by Fr Mead
Prayer for the Dead (2007) Fr Mead
Why Pray for the Dead? (2003) by Fr Mead
Spiritual Wholeness -- The Resurrection (2002) by Fr Mead

Collect:

O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of thy Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as thy children; 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 All Saints' Day on November 1 and then the Solemnity of All Saints on the Sunday after All Saints' Day.

Over the years, there have been many sermons on the saints. Here are a few:

The Communion of Saints; the Forgiveness of Sins (2011) by Fr Spurlock
All Saints-Tide: Washed in the Blood of the Lamb (2010) by Fr Fletcher
A Saint: The Real You (2007) by Fr Mead
We Want to be Saints! (2003) by Fr Mead
Sainthood or Else (2002) by Fr Mead
Deceptively Ordinary People (2001) by Fr Mead

Collect:

O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.