Dear Friends,
We have had a wonderful Advent season thus far, with large attendance at all our services and record-breaking numbers at our concerts—1,700 people joined us in person for Messiah this year! Additionally, we’ve noticed an increase in visitors to the Church, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
As part of the next stage of our strategic plan, the Vestry is forming a new committee to focus on welcome, engagement, and accessibility. The clergy will collaborate with Vestry members, parishioners, tour guides, archivists, and building committee chairs, to think about how we engage with our many visitors, help them interpret the building, and learn more about our faith and community.
Our two performances of Messiah this year were met with tremendous acclaim. One parishioner, well-versed in Messiah, wrote to Dr. Filsell to express that he had never heard it performed better. From Rufus Müller’s stirring opening aria, “Comfort ye my people,” to the awe-inspiring conclusion, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,” the choir and New York Baroque Inc. uplifted our spirits and deepened our faith. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Filsell, Nicolas Haigh, and all our music staff for these unforgettable performances.
On Thursday, the boys shone brightly on their own, accompanied by harpist Bridget Kibbey, in the first of two Christmas on Fifth performances. It was a delight to hear Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols in its entirety, including the procession to the Christmas antiphon Hodie Christus natus est. This moment transported me back to my first Christmas here a decade ago, when John Scott began this tradition. As always, Dr. Filsell surprised us with a varied and contrasting repertoire, and the audience was rewarded with an encore of Rutter’s joyful carol, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day!
The boys’ ability to perform at such a high standard with an extensive repertoire is extraordinary. Many may take the exceptional quality of music at Saint Thomas for granted, but it requires immense dedication. The boys practice six days a week, singing at services five times weekly. From Thanksgiving Day until Christmas Day, between then, they have performed seven mass settings, four sets of evensong canticles, two sets of responses, and 29 anthems—plus Messiah and Ceremony of Carols! Not to mention psalmody and hymns.
The Vestry is committed to preserving the boarding element of our Choir School, allowing boys from outside New York to benefit from this remarkable musical education. Our new collaboration with Professional Children’s School ensures the program will flourish and evolve for future generations of choristers. Download the music list from January to Easter.
Last week, the Noble Singers led the annual Blessing of the Crèche Service. This increasingly popular service saw 250 attendees this year. It was heartwarming to see children leading worship through song, readings, and tableau. We were also joined by children from St. Anne’s Church in the Bronx, who later joined our own children for a lively party in Andrew Hall.
Talking of ‘fun-filled,’ our seniors thoroughly enjoyed their annual Christmas lunch, which this year featured a delightful ‘variety performance’ by members of staff, expertly hosted by Director of Development, Adam MacDonald. Highlights included an extraordinary mandolin rendition of Comfort Ye My People by Head Verger David Bryan, Organ Scholar Jonathan Bolena’s performance of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on piano and vocals, and Fr. Moretz’s humorous rewrite of The Twelve Days of Christmas into The Twelve Days of Saint Thomas (complete with “five golden stoles” and “two thuribles”). The event also included readings, jokes, and plenty of community singing. We capped off the celebration by honoring Jeanne Caraley on her 90th birthday!
Saint Thomas is in good heart. At a time when the world feels so precarious, these moments of joy and community should bring hope to us all.
One last thing: please remember what my predecessor, Fr. Mead, often said (and I wholeheartedly agree)—Christmas doesn’t last just one day but twelve, right up until Epiphany. I don’t want to hear that your Christmas trees are tossed on the sidewalk on St. Stephen’s Day!
There are also two occasions when I’m often disappointed by low attendance in church. While it’s understandable after the holiday season, I want to remind you that we have two sung services on Sunday, December 29. Our theme this year will be the Holy Family, offering one final chance to sing Christmas carols.
The other is New Year’s Day, when we hold a simple said Mass at 12 p.m. What better way to welcome the New Year than by coming to church to give thanks and receive the body and blood of the Lord? My late mother used to say that whatever you did on New Year’s Day, you’d end up doing the rest of the year (I think she was trying to encourage us to behave well and be helpful around the house after New Year’s Eve!). She wasn’t entirely wrong—starting the year with a renewed commitment to our relationship with God and one another is a resolution worth keeping.
My dear Friends, may the humility of the shepherds, the joy of the angels, the holiness of Mary, and the peace of the Christ Child be your inspiration and hope this Christmastide.
Affectionately,
Your Priest and Pastor,
Carl
