News from Saint Thomas Church Week Beginning November 24


In this week’s news…

Dear Friends,

Rector Turner
The Reverend Canon Carl Turner

The last few weeks have been wonderful in church, this includes over 1000 people attending worship this past Remembrance Sunday. We have had some fascinating visiting preachers, including a fine sermon by the Rector Emeritus. This Sunday, we welcome Dr. Sam Wells from St. Martin in the Fields, London, a church with which we have been twinned. The Diocese of New York and the Diocese of London are embarking on a twinning exercise to encourage mutual support, especially through prayer. Both Dioceses are very diverse and are at the heart of two of the great cities of the world. This Sunday is also Commitment Sunday, when we keep the Feast of Christ the King. It is a good day to reflect on our parish as we move forward in faith and hope. Thank you to all of you who have pledged so far. We have a dramatic increase in new pledgers this year.

Then, Thursday, November 28 is Thanksgiving Day. If you are in the City for Thanksgiving, remember that the Choir of Men and Boys will sing at the Solemn Eucharist at 11am. I love the mix of Harvest hymns and Patriotic hymns at that service. Please bring friends and family and give thanks for this country, for all who farm the land and the sea, and for our common life.

This year, immediately after Thanksgiving, we have the beginning of Advent – a most wonderful season of preparation for Christmas. The Advent Procession on Sunday, December 1 at 4pm will be very special this year. This procession is no longer truncated, as in the past, but has an extra reading, anthem, and hymn, to close the service.

A handy postcard with all our Advent and Christmas services and concerts will be available from this Sunday. Please take several home and give them to friends and family.

Save the date – this year’s Crèche Service and Christmas Pageant will be held on Tuesday, December 17, at 5:30pm. This service (which lasts less than an hour) is growing in popularity.  The choristers sing, the Sunday School have their Christmas Pageant, and we are joined by children from San Andreas Episcopal Church in Yonkers. As is our custom, we encourage all children to come in costume – Angels, Shepherds, Donkeys, Cows, Sheep, Stars, Kings, Mary, and Joseph. Last year we even had adults in costume!

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Affectionately,

Carl,
your priest and pastor

Give

(Please note that we updated our website over the summer, including our pledging system. If you previously had a user account, you will need to create a new user account and password. If you have any questions, please email [email protected])

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Introduction to Anglicanism, Part 2

Dr. Christopher Wells

During the first week of December, we will welcome back Dr. Christopher Wells, the Executive Director of the Living Church Foundation, for Part 2 of his lecture series entitled “Introduction to Anglicanism.”

Dr. Wells will deliver a lecture on each of the evenings of December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on the topic of “Communion Transformations.”  Specifically, the lectures will chart the emergence of a wider Anglican “communion,” with a special focus on the contributions of The Episcopal Church, including the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.

The lectures will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in Andrew Hall.  Please mark your calendars for what promises to be an engaging set of lectures on the emergence of the Anglican Communion and its ecclesiology.

Introduction to Anglicanism: Communion Transformations

A Lecture Series in Andrew Hall

    • Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6:30-8:00 pm
    • Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8:00 pm
    • Thursday, Dec. 5, 6:30-8:00 pm

For more information about this series, please contact Fr. Cheng.


The Middlers’ Group

Saint Thomas Church is introducing a new fellowship group into the life of our parish community. The Middlers’ Group (parishioners bordering their 40’s and 50’s) is a new initiative designed to foster community for people in this age bracket across the parish. For our first official gathering, we are hosting a simple meal in the Living Room of the Parish House, on Saturday, November 23 at 6.30pm. 

If you would like to know more about this group please contact Fr. Bennett at [email protected]. Please RSVP for dinner by Thursday, November 21st. $15 dollar donation appreciated.

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For the Fall season, our parish will take part in a sermon series as a part of our parish’s Annual Appeal for 2020. This series will include our clergy and guests who will preach on themes exploring the joys and responsibilities of our common life. Join us at our 11am services for this fine array of preaching.

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Our Lady of Fifth Avenue

Fr. Turner and Fr. Spencer invite members of the Society of Mary, the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham, and those who are interested, to join them for Mass on Saturday, November 23 in the Chantry Chapel.  Then, at 12:45pm, the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary will be prayed at the Shrine of our Lady of Fifth Avenue.

Following the praying of the Rosary, a simple lunch will be served in the Living Room of the Parish House with a presentation on the Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham and a discussion on re-establishing a prayer cell here at Saint Thomas.  Contributions of $10 for the lunch are invited.

Because of the provided lunch, we are asking for all those interested in taking part to sign up at the Reception Desk of the Parish House starting this coming Sunday, Oct. 13.  Alternatively, click on the register for lunch via email.

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Do you have an extra seat or two at your Thanksgiving table? We are matching parishioners that will be looking for company this Thanksgiving with parishioners that would like to host a guest or two for dinner.

For more details, please contact Linda Morfi via email or at 212-757-7013.

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