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The Rector's Message for the Week of November 13, 2022


Rector Turner
The Rev. Canon Carl Turner, Rector of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue

Dear Friends,

I am writing this from the 246th Diocesan Convention; most of your clergy and all of the parish’s lay delegates are here.  There will be a second convention on December 3rd to elect a Coadjutor Bishop.  When Bishop Dietsche retires, he or she will become the Diocesan Bishop.  From the earliest days of the church’s history, a Bishop has been associated with a city known as his or her see.  Until the Emperor Constantine made Christianity a recognized religion in the Roman Empire, the church had gathered around the Bishop in each city. Once Christianity took root as the preferred religion of the Empire and, later, became the official religion of the Empire, the church spread widely and into many rural areas.  Bishops continued to be linked with their see cities, and presbyters, or the order of priesthood, was created so that congregations could be ministered to on the Bishop’s behalf.  The tradition of a Bishop being linked with a city continues to this day.  In the Anglican Communion, as in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, Bishops actually take the name of their city as their surname.  Thus, Bishop Andy can choose to sign his name as Andrew New York, just as the Archbishop of Canterbury signs his name Justin Cantuar: (the colon reveals that it is a shortened form of the Latin name of Canterbury,  Cantuariensis).  In a similar way, the Archbishop of York signs his name Stephen Ebor: (the colon, again, indicating a shortening of the Latin word for York – Eboracum).  Please pray that the delegates to the convention will be inspired by God to elect the right person to serve as our new Bishop.

At convention, we will consider the possible candidates for our next Bishop of New York. Bishop Dietsche has announced his retirement, and his successor will be elected this December. Read about the opportunities to meet the candidates for Bishop Coadjutor of New York!

It is a delight to see the 9am mass growing in number.  Last week, 73 gathered to celebrate with the Noble singers, and adults and young people as acolytes, lectors, and intercessors.  Mother Turner spoke to the children present about fulfilling our baptismal covenant and shining as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.  As a chant was sung, the congregation were given candles to hold.  Last Sunday also saw a trombone in choir and a Family Feast after mass in the Parish House!  If you have not experienced the re-envisioned 9am mass, come along.  If you know friends or family who have children, encourage them to come with them.  On Saturday, December 17, at 4 p.m., we will hold the service of the Blessing of the Crèche; please mark your calendars and bring friends and family to this beautiful and simple service.

Last Sunday was All Saints’ Sunday, and the children of the Sunday. School were invited to come to the Family Feast dressed as one of their favorite saints. Here we see Saint Elizabeth of Hungary – who, although a Princess, devoted herself to the cause of the poor, the sick, and the hungry.

Talking of shining as a light in the world, I am pleased to tell you that Denny Collier Jr., whose family carved the new organ case, is currently turning six new bier lights for use at funerals, and other occasions, to match the ones he made for the altar in memory of Betty Burr’s mother.  We are grateful to the family of Robert Strachan who made this gift possible in memory of Robert.  With the altar hangings, the cross and candlesticks, and the exquisite funeral pall, we will have the most fitting funeral and requiem antependia in the city.

It was a real joy to see the Chantry Chapel almost full last Wednesday, when we held our first Seniors’ lunch since early 2020.  65 people came to the lunch and enjoyed a time of fellowship, good food, and convivial conversation.  Our Chief Advancement Officer, Bruce Smith, gave a moving talk on his journey of faith that has led him to serve at Saint Thomas Church.  We celebrated November birthdays, and Bertie visited the assembled group to greet those he had missed for many months.  Our next lunch will be on Wednesday, December 14.  It will begin with a Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols at 12 p.m. and then move to the Parish House and Andrew Hall where there will be music, good food, and entertainment.  If you consider yourself a ‘senior,’ and would like to attend our next gathering, or would like to suggest the name of someone whom we could invite, please reach out to Linda Morfi.

As we continue the month of Remembrance, on Sunday, the Choir of Men and Boys will sing the beautiful Fauré Requiem at 11 a.m.  We have a visiting preacher, the Rev. Michael Bird, Vicar of Trinity Church Wall Street, and a former seminarian of the parish.  At coffee hour, there will be a brief presentation on the planned giving guilds of the parish.  We will also have available funeral planning guides – if you have never completed one, please do take one home with you as it helps you make your wishes known.  When a family have to organize a funeral, it is so helpful if the loved one has left detailed instructions and we are able to assist the family in making your funeral wishes a reality.

I leave you with one of my favorite remembrance poems by Laurence Binyon – the first part of ‘The Burning of the Leaves.’  Binyon was a World War 1 poet, and an inspiration for a younger generation, including T.S. Eliot.

Affectionately,

Your Priest and Pastor,

Carl

‘The Burning of the leaves’ (Part I) by Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

I

Now is the time for the burning of the leaves.
They go to the fire; the nostril pricks with smoke
Wandering slowly into a weeping mist.
Brittle and blotched, ragged and rotten sheaves!
A flame seizes the smouldering ruin and bites
On stubborn stalks that crackle as they resist.

The last hollyhock’s fallen tower is dust;
All the spices of June are a bitter reek,
All the extravagant riches spent and mean.
All burns! The reddest rose is a ghost;
Sparks whirl up, to expire in the mist: the wild
Fingers of fire are making corruption clean.

Now is the time for stripping the spirit bare,
Time for the burning of days ended and done,
Idle solace of things that have gone before:
Rootless hope and fruitless desire are there;
Let them go to the fire, with never a look behind.
The world that was ours is a world that is ours no more.

They will come again, the leaf and the flower, to arise
From squalor of rottenness into the old splendour,
And magical scents to a wondering memory bring;
The same glory, to shine upon different eyes.
Earth cares for her own ruins, naught for ours.
Nothing is certain, only the certain spring.