The Rector's Message for the Week of December 15, 2019

Rector Turner
The Reverend Canon Carl Turner

Dear Friends,

Gaudete!  Rejoice!  When the Angel Gabriel greeted the Blessed Virgin Mary, he told her that she was filled with Grace. One of our late parishioners had a wonderful definition of Grace – ‘God’s riches at Christ’s expense’. Even before she had conceived him in her womb, Mary was affected by her Son’s saving death on the cross. The crucifixion happened at a moment in time, but its effect transcends time and space – reaching backwards as well as forward – flooding the universe with redemptive love.  A baby cannot make the promises of the baptismal covenant and yet we believe that he or she is born again and made a new creation through the shedding of Christ’s blood. In a similar way, that same baptismal grace was poured into the life of Mary and continues to be poured into the universe. That is why Advent is a season of hopeas well as expectation. The word Gaudete which describes the third Sunday of Advent comes from the first words of the introit – taken from Paul’s letter to the Philippians:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5)  The traditional color for this Sunday is rose pink – the vestments and the altar frontal will reflect that, and the third candle on the great Advent wreath is also pink.Christmas will soon be here and, like the Angels we, too, will rejoice.

Please note that the Crèche Service this year will be held on Tuesday, December 17, at 5:30pm. The Choristers will sing and the Sunday School will hold its Christmas Pageant.  We will be joined by children from San Andreas Church in Yonkers who will enjoy a party afterwards.

Congratulations to Dr. Filsell and the Choir for a remarkable performance of Handel’s Messiah.It was gratifying to see over 1000 people in Church on Tuesday for the first performance and the audience clearly loved it!  Dr. Filsell had some surprises for us, but the choir and orchestra played with such energy and dynamic contrast that one could not fail to be moved. Jim Oestreich of the New York Times tweeted this: “Hallelujah indeed.  Jeremy Filsell led his first Handel “Messiah” as music director at St. Thomas Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, and it was revelatory. To a beloved, somewhat staid institution, he fearlessly added personal touches, musical and dramatic: some provocative, others sublime.”

This week has also been one of great contrasts and earlier this week, the Wardens and I shared the news that Fr. Wallace, our Headmaster, would be leaving us.  Many of you have expressed your sadness; Fr. Wallace is deeply loved not only by choristers, their parents, and faculty, and by members of the parish too.

Fr. Wallace came to the Choir School as a chaplain and, with the sudden departure of the, then, Headmaster, was appointed Head of School. For the past 16 years, he has proven himself an able leader of the school community and done much to foster a true sense of community in a school that we all cherish. During his tenure, he has presided over a number of new ventures including the expansion of the school into Third Grade and, with the Development Office, the creation of named choristerships to help defray the cost of tuition to parents. The annual girl choristers’ course has thrived and the Alumni Association actively encouraged to return to the school. For many years, our boys have gone on to some of the finest High Schools and Colleges in the United States. Presiding over the 100th anniversary celebrations, it was clear that the school was flourishing and, over the past year, the Vestry has been exploring ways to strengthen the institution. Those of you who have been to events in the Church and the School during the Centennial Celebrations have heard me speak passionately about the Choir School and we have had three sermons recently on our unique choral tradition. The school matters to me and to the Vestry, and we need to ensure that, as we move forward, we build on a long legacy of commitment to the nurturing of children and the fostering of excellence in music-making; it is one of the three principals of our strategic plan.

However, all of us in this place – clergy, musicians, teachers – are simply custodians for a brief while of something greater than we are. The Saint Thomas Choir School has thrived for one hundred years and will continue to do so. We wish the Headmaster well as he moves into the next stage of his life. We thank him for his long tenure and ask your prayers as we move forward into a period of transition.

Although Fr. Wallace is leaving us after Christmas, I have been asked how people can show their appreciation for him in the form of a gift.  As is our custom at Saint Thomas Church, should you wish to contribute a personal gift towards a leaving purse, please send a check to the parish office or make a gift online and enter ‘Fr. Wallace leaving gift’ in the memo line or in the online form.

Let me close with a prayer adapted from one composed by Alan Warren in one of my books of prayers that I find helpful at times of uncertainty:

When our lives are empty, our hearts are cold, and our spirits are low;
Christ of the Bethlehem stable, be born in us.

When we find temptation and the snare of power and pleasure hard to bear;
Christ of the desert wilderness, pray for us.

When we rejoice in health and happiness and life seems fair and good;
Christ of the roads of Galilee, walk with us.

When we seek out our own interests and concerns before those of others;
Christ of the Temple cleansing, deal with us.

When our decisions are hard, our ways are stony, and our hopes are dim;
Christ of Gethsemane, weep with us.

When we tread the paths of suffering and loss, of bitterness and despair;
Christ of the cross at Calvary, stay with us.

When our journey is ended and we bring our souls into your keeping;
Christ of the empty tomb, welcome us.

May the Advent hope kindle a flame that becomes bright and clear in our hearts.

Affectionately,

Carl
your priest and pastor.