Worship

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.

Collect:

Collect:

We celebrate today our patron saint, Thomas, and rededicate ourselves to Christ and our mission as a parish. [We also remember Thomas on his feast day, December 21] .

You'll notice that the lessons at the morning services on October 7 all contrast doubt and faith. To learn more about Thomas, consider reading these sermons in the archive:

Where was Thomas? (2012) by Fr Spurlock
Faith, Doubt and the Sign of Thomas (2009) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Easter (2008) by Fr Stafford
Doubt is Okay, but Beware of Magical Thinking (2007) by Fr Austin
Tommy-come-lately (2006) by Fr Andrew
Saint Puddleglum (2002) by Fr Mead

The first worship service in our current church building was on the first Sunday in October in 1913. So on the Feast of Dedication, we also give thanks to God for our parish, and for the opportunity to carry forth our mission on the corner of Fifth and Fifty-third.

The Feast of Dedication serves as the launch for the Every Member Canvass for 2013. We encourage you to pledge for 2013 during the months of October and November in 2012. You may pledge online here. Or, if you prefer, complete the card attached to the EMC Brochure and drop it in the offering plate or mail it in.

Please consider participating in this year's canvass. Even if you live outside of New York City, or even if outside the United States, if you enjoy worshiping with us via the webcasts, we would appreciate your contribution.

Collect:

Everliving God, who didst strengthen thine apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in thy Son’s resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in thy sight; through him 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 closest, which in 2012 is September 30.

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:

Angels, Freedom, Love (2011) by Fr Mead
Lift Up Your Hearts (2010) by Fr Mead
The Ministry of the Angels (2010) by Fr Daniels
There are Angels (2009) by Fr Mead
How Do the Angels Matter? (2008) by Fr Mead
Entertaining Angels (2007) by Fr Mead
The Choice of the Angels (2003) by Fr Mead
Michael, Gabriel, Raphael (2002) by Fr Mead

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.

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.

Collect:

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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.

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.