Dear Friends,
It was a joy to begin this year’s Pilgrims’ Course with 31 attendees. This year, we are running the course in a hybrid way, in-person and via zoom simultaneously. Because of the generosity of the Merow Foundation, we now have state-of-the-art livestream facilities in the Fifth Floor and Sunday School Rooms of the Parish House, which means that we can have hybrid meetings and teaching; even the Noble Singers (our new 9 a.m. children’s choir) are able to use it.
As you may know, we are in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I was sent a wonderful photograph by a parishioner, last week, of Fifth Avenue taken before the third church burned to the ground in 1905. This undated image serves as a great reminder of the theme of Christian Unity that has long been a hallmark of our stretch of 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan. For example, Saint Thomas collaborates with Saint Patrick’s and Fifth Avenue Presbyterian, seen in the background of the image, to fund the Ecumenical Outreach Partnership, which serves the needy of our neighborhood.
Given that we are in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, I am delighted that the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nation, Archbishop Gabriel Caccia, will be our preacher on Sunday at 4pm. I do hope that many of you will join us in-person or on-line as we pray for unity between the churches. We have some great hymns and special readings and prayers, and the Choir of Men and Boys will sing some thrilling music for the occasion.
Finally, our Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the Living Church Foundation and the Bishop of Tennessee, John Bauerschmidt, is still planned to begin in Easter Week (April 21-30). There are places available and you can take advantage of the all-inclusive price offered by Educational Opportunities Tours that even includes air-fare. Alternatively, you can make your own travel arrangements, but the pilgrimage still includes all hotels, meals, and transport. Save the date, bring a friend, and Download our Brochure to learn more.
Your Priest and Pastor,
Carl
