Dear Friends,
If you missed Thursday’s concert by New York Polyphony, you missed some very elegant singing. The older boy choristers enjoyed listening to the concert and commented how much they enjoyed the first half in particular. When I think how much music the boys are exposed to, it really does take my breath away. Mr. Adach has a lovely time-line in his classroom, and after every piece is sung, it is placed on that time-line; it is fascinating to see the breadth of music that the boys sing. On March 7, we will have a real treat when Olivier Latry, Titular Organist of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, and Professor of Organ at the Parish Conservatory, will perform works of Widor and Vierne on the Miller-Scott organ.
We are slowly bringing back some of the things that have disappeared due to the pandemic. We have re-introduced the common cup, though many are still not receiving in both kinds, and the clergy are no longer wearing masks at the distribution of Holy Communion (though occasionally you might see one of us wearing one if we have been in contact with someone who has COVID). We are now using the communion rail at weekdays, though not on Sundays at the moment as there is still concern over the congregation standing in the choir as they are singing, and also a lot of people are not receiving from the common cup. The Gospel Procession into the Nave will resume from Candlemas, and folk have noticed that the number of acolytes has increased. To that end, we are looking to recruit acolytes for Monday – Saturday at 12pm, for some weekday 5:30pm said services, and during Lent for the 8am service on Fridays. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Schultz. Tessa Dunning will be leading some training for new acolytes soon. So many people have commented on Pamela’s reading of the Prayers of the People on January 15, that the clergy have agreed with Pamela that one of the lectors will read the prayers once a month going forward.
I am going to make available copies of the 1979 Prayer Book in the Nave pews alongside our King James Bibles. Since Fr. Andrew’s time, we have used Rite 1 and Rite 2 for the Eucharist, as well as the Baptism Rite, the Marriage Rite, the Rite of Reconciliation, Healing of the Sick, and the Burial Office from that volume. The Book also contains the Catechism of the Episcopal Church which we refer to in the Pilgrims’ Course, historic documents of the Church, and a good selection of prayers in traditional and contemporary language. However, we do need the Coverdale Psalter that is sung by the choir at evensong. Unfortunately, the 1928 Prayer Book that used to be in the pews does not contain the version of the Coverdale Psalter that we use, or the 1662 version of evensong that we sing. So, in time for the Bicentennial later this year, I am looking for some help in producing a slim but beautifully bound Bicentennial Prayer Book for the main Nave pews that will contain traditional evensong as sung at Saint Thomas Church, the psalter, prayers and devotions, and office hymns for saints’ days. It will also allow us to include a short introduction or commentary to guide the many visitors that attend during the week and on Sunday afternoons. I hope that this will be a handsome and, more importantly, useful addition to the pews. It will be similar to the book that Westminster Abbey used to give to visitors attending evensong, so that it is easy to navigate. If you would like to help with the cost of producing this book, please contact me.
One or two people have asked me why we do not return to the use of hymn books, prayer books, leaflets, and cards; there is a reason for this. For those who are used to church, having a number of sources to hand is fine. However, people of all generations are now used to accessing everything on their smart devices these days (when I last preached in Westminster Abbey, I saw people accessing the service using a QR code as they entered!). However, one thing we know from churches of all traditions is that newcomers can be daunted when they are given what feels like a whole library of materials. We started printing the service in full together with the music in 2020, and this has been well received. More importantly, when visitors come, the ushers give them one booklet which contains everything they need – they start at the beginning and work their way through to the end. This is a pastoral and missional opportunity to make our visitors welcome, who make up a sizeable number of our congregation week by week. And, surprisingly, we are spending less on printing than we did when we sent the Sunday bulletin to be printed at a professional printer! Of course, there is nothing stopping parishioners bringing their own beautifully bound prayer books and hymn books with them to church – something that was very common when I was a boy.
As some of you are aware, the Bishops of the Church of England have decided to offer a service of blessing to same-sex couples who are married, but not the marriage rite itself. Fr. Gioia was asked last week to provide a reflection for The Tablet. The Tablet is a weekly Roman Catholic journal, published internationally, that has been reporting on events of significance for more than 180 years. Fr. Gioia’s article is very moving as he tells some of his own story that led him from a Roman Catholic Monastery and University to the Anglican Communion. I found it reflective, encouraging, and filled with wisdom. Please click on the image above if you would like to read the article.
Finally, on Thursday we have a major feast day – the Presentation of Our Lord, which commemorates Mary and Joseph bringing the child Jesus to the Temple to offer sacrifice following the birth of their firstborn son, and for Mary’s ritual purification, according to Jewish Law at the time. They met the old priest Simeon, who sang his Nunc Dimittis – which has been used in the Church’s liturgy ever since. The canticle describes Jesus as a light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of Israel. From the earliest times, the custom of blessing candles developed, and, in medieval times, the church’s stock of beeswax candles was blessed by the priest. Beeswax was so valuable, that people would give wax to the church as part of their pledge. (If anyone would like to purchase our year’s supply of candles, please contact Bruce Smith or Adam MacDonald!). That is why the feast of the Presentation has been affectionately known as Candlemas. There will be the traditional Candlemas ceremonies at the beginning of the service at 5:30 pm with the Choir of men and Boys.
I was amazed to see that the last time we were able to celebrate Candlemas fully was in February 2020! I found some wonderful pictures of the church very full and the Sunday School joining the Choir and Clergy in Procession.
I end with a beautiful poem by Eve Forti, titled ‘The Offering (A Song of Simeon)’
Old Man, you’ve sown the years
longing for the harvest, hoping
for the green shoot to appear.
Fragrant with perfection, He is here:
wanting to be purified, waiting
to be crucified.
And His mother, offering her Lamb,
gives Him to your open arms
so you can finally die in peace
knowing that the Promised One is born.
In gratitude you will whisper
that her heart will break.
Affectionately,
Your Priest and Pastor,
Carl
