News from Saint Thomas Church for May 24, 2020


In this week’s news…


The Rector’s Message

Rector Turner
The Reverend Canon Carl Turner

Dear Friends,

This Memorial Day weekend we will honor the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country and for the cause of peace and liberty. At the end of mass on Sunday, we will have a brief act of remembrance at the war memorial altar in the narthex of our church. On Monday, the live-webcast lunchtime mass will be a requiem for all who have lost their lives in war, and we shall also pray for our veterans. I notice also that historian and former Vestry member, Dr. Jon Meacham, will be preaching at the National Cathedral in Washington on Sunday as they commemorate Memorial Day.

On many memorials throughout the world, we find inscribed words known as the Kohima Epitaph:

“When you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today.”

Those words are found on a memorial in the capital city of Nagaland in North East India – which saw heavy fighting during the Second World War. The words are attributed to one of the First World War poets, John Maxwell Edmonds (1875-1958). The epitaph as used at memorial services throughout the world makes it a very personal act of remembrance. Those of us who have family or friends who have served in the armed forces, and especially during times of conflict, will pause on Monday to honor their memory.

Many of you have said that you are using the daily prayers we are emailing as a way of preparing for Pentecost. On that great feast day, the birthday of the Church, Dr. Filsell has a surprise for us all which I know many of you will appreciate. We also dedicate a new High Altar frontal and dossal that have been given to the church by Michael Huffington as a memorial gift. The old red frontal was beyond repair and falling apart so this is a beautiful addition to the sanctuary.

We continue our exploration of stillness and silence this week with an article written by Fr. Ryan Bennett. We very much hope that the PAUSE order will be lifted soon in New York City and already we are making plans to open our church doors to those who wish to pray; finding stillness and silence in our city will be as important in the future as it is now. You can also read about a quiet day on May 30 led by Sr. Promise. Rather than use the Zoom platform, the five addresses and the mass will be an audio-webcast. Many of you found Good Friday very moving and, in the same way, this will allow us to be still, not to be distracted, and to listen and reflect for a while.

My colleagues and I send you our prayers and good wishes. Please continue to send us your prayer requests – they are so moving and it is an important ministry that Saint Thomas can offer through these difficult days.

Affectionately,

Carl,
Your priest and pastor.

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This Week’s Services at St. Thomas Church

The Solemn Eucharist of the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

Evening Prayer and Meditation

Retreat with Sr Promise

Saturday, May 30  Via Zoom at 10am

The Solemn Eucharist of the Feast of Pentecost

Sunday, May 31
Video Webcast available at 8am and then on demand.

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A Reflection from Father Ryan Bennett

Father Ryan Bennett

“Listen with the Ear of your Heart” – St. Benedict of Nursia

St. Benedict got the formula right. Listening to the rhythms of one’s heart speaks back what is happening around us, within us, no words need to be spoken!

I enjoy talking. That may come as no surprise to some of you. The period of self-isolation has been quite a challenge at times. I communicate what I’m feeling with words. Living on my own, there’s no one to listen. I’ve found this frustrating at times, very isolating. In the past few weeks, I’ve been educating myself with new modes of communication to fill this void. Zoom, phone conversations, followed by more Zoom has filled this gap to some extent…

Silence is a mode I’ve come to embrace at a slow pace, initially not quite sure how to negotiate my relationship with silence, feeling I need to fill the space with words! It’s taken time to trust that I don’t need to fill the space with words, the space has its own words to speak, and I start to listen.

This extended period of isolation offers a gift. If we choose it, the gift is this: the periods of extended silence offer us a sounding board to listen more deeply than we have before. When we become more aware of the subtleties within we can pass over, we recognize that there are ounces of gold waiting to reveal themselves.

We can’t discount that words can serve the purpose of filling space when the memories are too hard to sit with. Actions, tasks, conversations can serve the purpose of keeping them at bay, to a point.

“Listen with the ear of your heart.” What is it that silence calls out in us? That, of course, will provide any number of answers for whatever number of people are going to read this reflection. I’m not going to check so as to ease my own ego. Perhaps just knowing that there are going to be as many answers as listeners provides us with balm to know we don’t do this on our own.

The silence may seek to say the things which may provide the keys to unlock doors which have been closed for some time. We can’t be anywhere else but be in their company. This is not intended to be a torturous exercise. If pain comes to mind, perhaps it’s the pain which needs care and balm, so that it doesn’t dominate as often.

Joy may come to mind. The silence may speak back a word of affirmation or encouragement which can be the seed of a decision which brings about new life, new growth. Sister Promise is going to offer an Online Quiet Day, perhaps a new experience for most, if not all, of us! This Quiet Day gives us the opportunity to be together in our collective silence. What will the silence speak to us through this experience? We won’t know the answer until the completion of the Quiet Day. If we can’t attend this event, let’s take a moment to remember that in one form or another, we share in the collective experience of silence. Throughout this extended period, let’s don’t lose sight of the opportunity to think deeper and listen closer.

“Listen with the ear of your heart.”

–Father Ryan Bennett

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Parish-Wide Tea Via Zoom

This Wednesday, May 27, the Hospitality Committee invites you to a parish-wide ‘tea’ at 4pm via Zoom. In this remote context, we will share some Saint Thomas smiles and fellowship. So please brew the beverage of your choice, see the information below, and join us Wednesday at 4!

Zoom Direct Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87246048312?pwd=WisvQmZ2aEVhQ2trOU41M2JOeVNHUT09

Meeting ID: 872 4604 8312
Password: 256397

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Finding God in Unexpected Places: a Retreat with Sister Promise Atelon, SSM

Sr. Promise Atelon, SSM

Saint Thomas Church invites you to participate in a day of retreat led by our Seminarian and Deacon, the Reverend Sister Promise Atelon, SSM. The retreat includes a series of meditations and a period of directed centering prayer that will be recorded and made available to you on Saturday, May 30th from 10am-4 pm. The retreat also will include the live audio webcast of the Shrine Prayers and Mass at 12 noon. We are encouraging you to give yourself some time to be with God, in nature, or the comfort of your home.

For more information about how to participate in this online-directed retreat please contact the Reverend Sister Promise Atelon, SSM.

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Adult Education at Saint Thomas Church

Theology Class

Sunday, May 24, 10:00-11:00am
A study class on the English and Greek texts of
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians

Pilgrims’ Course

Tuesday, May 26, 6:30-8:00pm
“Hope: Death, Eternal Life, Mary, and the Communion of Saints”

Friday Online Bible Study

Friday, May 29, 1:30-2:30pm
A study on the Gospel of John with Fr. Bennett.

For more information about these activities, all on the Zoom platform, please contact Fr. Cheng for the first two classes, and Fr. Bennett for the Friday Bible Study.

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“Virtual” Coffee Hour, May 24 at 12:30pm

We will continued hosting our “Virtual Coffee Hour” via Zoom. This meeting will start well after the webcast of the service on Sunday, May 24 at 12:30pm and will last no longer than an hour.

It will start with a short prayer and will continue with checking in and conversation. We will include a time for Breakout Rooms, which will allow for smaller groups to talk together. The hour will be moderated by Fr. Moretz.

Please click here to learn more about Zoom, an extraordinary tool for communication and community.

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Children and Families’ “Sunday Zoom!” Gathering

Our Young Teens group FAITH ALIVE meets on a weekly basis and will meet again on Sunday, May 24, at 9:30am. This Sunday, they are also hosting an additional Special Sunday Zoom! All families are welcome to participate and/or come along to: A Family Talent Show at 2pm.

Our Nursery and Sunday School families meet for their regular weekly Sunday Zoom! this Sunday, May 24, at 10:15am.

If you know a child or family that would like to participate, in any of these gatherings, please email Mother Turner for the required invitation codes.

As we discover new ways of being a church community during in this new chapter of our lives, we are circulating an additional weekly newsletter for families Be Faithful, Be Creative and Be Connected.

If you know a family who wishes to be added to the distribution list for children and families, please also contact Mother Turner.

Outreach Project

Our Sunday School, now meeting via Zoom, is conducting our very first, St. Mary’s Kids Pentecost Project, which will run until May 31, Pentecost Sunday. This Outreach Project will benefit the children in long term care at Saint Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Bayside, Queens. They are in need of new pajamas, socks and small fleece blankets. The Sunday School families are attempting to collect 50 Gifts in 50 Days. We still need pajamas,(sizes 2T, 4T, 5, 6) socks (size toddlers and children’s sizes small and medium), and blankets (fleece children’s size 4’x6′). Would you please help?

All donations can be ordered online and delivered directly to the rectory. Deliveries should be addressed to the Rev’d Alison Turner, 135 W. 52nd Street #39A, New York, New York 10019.

Thank you so much! For more information, please contact Linda Morfi on [email protected].

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Evening Prayer and Meditation

Thursdays at 6:30pm via Zoom

Saint Thomas Church has begun a regular 6:30pm Thursday service of Evening Prayer and Meditation that you can join online, led by Fr. Adam Spencer, Associate for Pastoral Care, and Sr. Promise Atelon, Deacon and Seminarian. This service will take place over the Zoom platform.

Please join us for this time of peace and prayer together.

For log-in access to these worship services, please contact Fr. Spencer.

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