Dear Friends,
In the past week, we have had two funerals of faithful members of Saint Thomas Church – Bill Miller and Barbara Battle. The eulogies and remembrances were very poignant and painted a beautiful picture of their respective lives. It was also a joy to work with Father Mead on both of these funerals.
At our Pilgrims’ Class this week, we explored the Christian hope, death, judgement and the Communion of Saints. It is one of the great privileges of the Christian ministerial priesthood to preside over the funerals in which we honor the memory of our loved ones, and proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life. However, many societies have stripped away the old rituals surrounding death, and even talking about death makes people uncomfortable. Not so for the Christian, who lives in hope of the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting!
When I was a young priest in the East end of London, some of the old burial customs were still commonplace and, in particular, the bringing of the body to the family home before the funeral. Many a time I would chat in the kitchen with the family and then we would all go to the ‘best room’ to make a visit. It seemed so natural to carry on chatting around the person that they had lost. In recent years that practice also seems to have died out. Nowadays it is often the case that the body does not even travel to the church let alone the family home. I think we, at Saint Thomas, are able to help people with their grieving because our traditions, our pastoral care, and our funeral liturgy help us to grieve in an appropriate way and yet in a hopeful way; we put our faith into practice.
One of the consequences of the pandemic was the separation of families from their loved ones who were frail elderly or dying. Many people were unable to say goodbye to the ones they loved, and for much of 2020, people were not even allowed to attend public funerals. Over the past two years, our funeral homes have worked tirelessly to support the bereaved and to give comfort. They have afforded dignity to the dead, including many members of Saint Thomas Church. Some of our funeral homes have also cared for those who have died on the streets – the homeless including many war veterans. I have been deeply moved when I have watched our friends at Campbell’s Funeral Home quietly giving beautiful funeral rites to people who have no family to call their own.
It was right that, during the pandemic, we constantly praised all those in the medical profession; our first responders and our doctors and nurses. But, this Sunday, at 4pm, we will honor all involved in the funeral industry and give thanks for their tireless commitment to give dignity to the dead and comfort to the bereaved. Please come to Choral Evensong at 4pm which will be followed by a reception generously hosted by our friends at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home. That will also be the last Sunday choral evensong sung by the boy choristers until September 11.
Sunday, May 22 will also be a very special day in the life of the parish because Bishop Dietsche will join us at 9am and 11am. At the 11am service, he will confirm and receive 20 new members of our congregation, including the Grade 8 choristers. That service will also be followed by a special coffee hour.
On Thursday, we keep Ascension Day. This is a principal feast day of the Church and we should all try to attend mass in-person or on-line. We will have a said Vigil Mass on Wednesday, May 24 at 5:30pm, then on the day itself a said mass at 12pm, and the Choir will sing at the Procession and Solemn Eucharist at 5:30pm.
I am delighted to hear that the girl choristers’ course is happening again this year after a break of two years due to the pandemic. Young women from around the country will join us this July 23-31 for a week of intensive choral singing and fellowship. This year we welcome Katherine Dienes-Williams once again as Guest Music Director as well as Janet Yieh, newly appointed Music Director of Church of the Heavenly Rest here in New York City, and Dr. Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, former member of the acclaimed vocal quartet Anonymous 4, Artistic Director of Modern Medieval Voices, and faculty member at Princeton University and The Juilliard School. With already 31 young women signed up for this year’s course, we look forward to a week of stunning liturgical music led by our guest musicians as well as members of church and choir school staff.
Finally, I want to make an appeal for some volunteers. The Guild of Acolytes is a small but loyal band of faithful parishioners who assist the clergy in the sanctuary. They carry the cross, candles, and incense, and banners, in procession, and assist at the altar in many different ways. They add dignity to the liturgy and are an indispensable part of the ceremonial life of our parish. With several acolytes moving away during the pandemic, and with some having to step down, we need new members. You do not have to have any experience of serving at the altar, and you do not have to serve every week. Please consider this important ministry of the church as we enter the summer months and our boy acolytes from the school go home. That being said, I am thrilled that we are growing youth acolytes at the 9am mass!
See you on Sunday!
Affectionately,
Carl,
your Priest and Pastor
