Rector's Weekly Message
Each week, the Reverend Andrew C. Mead, Rector of Saint Thomas Church, records an audio message. These messages are usually posted on Thursdays or Fridays and contain thoughts and commentary on the week ahead. To see all worship services and events for the week, please utilize the calendar. To see more from the Rector, please see the Sermon Archive and the Rector's Chronicle. To hear audio files from the Music Office, please see Music Notes.
For the Week Beginning January 29, 2012 | Download
The Rector speaks about the death of Gerre Hancock, and the immense contribution he made to Saint Thomas Church and Choir School. A Requiem Eucharist for Dr Hancock will occur on Saturday, February 4 at 11am.
In addition, the Rector speaks about the Sermon Series on Prayer, which begins at Choral Evensong on Sunday, January 29.
For the Week Beginning January 22, 2012 | Download
The Rector speaks about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins with the Feast of the Confession of Saint Peter (Jan 18)and ends with the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (Jan 25). The Rector makes note of our tradition of inviting a preacher from another Christian tradition to speak on the Sunday that falls within this week. This year, the visiting preacher is the Rev'd Dr. Raymond Judd, Jr., Chaplain Emeritus of Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. He preaches at both 11am and 4pm on Sunday, January 22, and we hope you will join us or listen to the webcast.
For the Week Beginning January 15, 2012 | Download
The Rector speaks about the Epiphany Procession, and thereby the Epiphany season. The procession is on Sunday, January 15 at 11am and 4pm.
For the Week Beginning January 8, 2012 | Download
Fr Mead speaks about the Rector's Christian Doctrine Class, which begins on Tuesday, January 10 at 6:30pm, and continues for 13 additional sessions on most Tuesday evenings through April.
Anyone is welcome to come, to any or all sessions. But those who are interested in confirmation/reception into the Episcopal Church, or in membershp at Saint Thomas, are most especially encouraged.
You do not need to register, but registeration is helpful to us so that we have your contact information, especially if you are interested in confirmation and/or membership. You may register here.
(Posted January 5, 2012.)
For the Week Beginning January 1, 2012 | Download
The Rector speaks of the 8th Day of Christmas, the Feast of the Holy Name. This year, it falls on a Sunday, and we celebrate it with a Festal Eucharist at 11am.
For the Week Beginning December 25, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks of "the quiet of the twelve days of Christmas." Even during the relative quiet, our church doors remain open every day of the Christmas season, only for a couple of hours surrounding the 12:10 mass on Monday, Dec 26 and Tuesday, Dec 27, but then for full days thereafter. See the worship calendar for the complete list of worship services during the Christmas season.
For the Week Beginning December 18, 2011 | Download
This week the Rector speaks about Lessons & Carols, which occurs in its entirety at Saint Thomas on December 18 (The Fourth Sunday of Advent) at 11am and 4pm, and in an abbrevaited form on December 17 at 4pm and December 21 at 12:10pm. We also combine a short version of Lessons & Carols with the Blessing of the Creche on Christmas Eve at 4pm, a service in which the children in the congregation are invited to come up and sit at the foot of the chancel. We hope you join us for the Anglican tradition of Lessons & Carols as we approach the Feast of the Nativity.
For the Week Beginning December 11, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks about Sunday School and the Christmas Pageant. Please join us for the pageant on December 11 at 1pm in the church.
For the Week Beginning December 4, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks this week about the tradition of having Handel's Messiah performed in concert by the Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys each year. This year, the concerts are on December 6 & 8. Read more and purchase tickets here.
For the Week Beginning November 27, 2011 | Download
The Rector talks about Advent Sunday, the first day of a new liturgical year, and the coming of Christ, which is what the Advent season is all about.
For the Week Beginning November 20, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks about the nature of the calendar: how appropriate that the greatest of our secular feasts, Thanksgiving Day, falls between the Feast of Christ the King and the First Sunday of Advent.
For the Week Beginning November 13, 2011 | Download
On the second Sunday of November, we keep Remembrance Day. The Rector speaks about what we do on this day, and why we do it.
For the Week Beginning November 6, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks of "harvest time" for souls in these first few weeks of November, including All Saint's Day, All Souls' Day, the Solemnity of All Saints and Remembrance Day.
(Posted November 4, 2011.)
For the Week Beginning October 30, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks about the visit of Dean Willis, who preaches on Sunday, October 30 at 11am and then gives a lecture on Canterbury Cathedral on November 1, at 6:30pm (following Festal Eucharist for All Saints' Day at 5:30pm).
For the Week Beginning October 23, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks about Simon and Jude, who we remember on Friday, October 28.
For the Week Beginning October 16, 2011 | Download
The Rector talks about Choral Mattins, which we have three times a year at 11am on Sundays, including on October 16.
For the Week Beginning October 9, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks about the admission of new choristers into the Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys. The admission ceremony occurs during Choral Evensong on Sunday, October 9 at 4pm.
(Posted October 7, 2011.)
For the Week Beginning October 2, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks of Dedication Sunday on October 2.
(Posted October 2, 2011.)
For the Week Beginning September 25, 2011 | Download
As we near Michaelmas, the Rector talks about the angelic orders. We celebrate, at Saint Thomas, the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels twice, on Sunday, September 25 so that our full congregation can celebrate together, and also on the feast date itself, September 29.
Sermons about angels include:
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)
For the Week Beginning September 18, 2011 | Download
The Rector speaks about Saint Matthew, whose feast day we celebrate on Wednesday, September 21 with said Masses in the Chantry Chapel at 8am and 12:10pm, and with a choral Festal Eucharist at the high altar at 5:30pm.
The Festal Eucharist is followed by a public lecture by Professor Joseph Lienhard of Fordham University on the topic: The Church without a Bible? The Emergence of the New Testament.