Dear Friends,
We’ve got lots of lovely photos to share this week!
What a joy it was on Sunday to see the church so full, even with many parishioners traveling for Mother’s Day. We welcomed 27 new members to Saint Thomas—through baptism, confirmation, and reception into our fellowship. Looking ahead, we’ll offer our Pilgrims II classes in the fall, which provide a more exploratory path of spiritual discovery. We also plan to host a welcome celebration for all who have recently joined our parish.
At the 10am joint mass—sung beautifully by the Choir of Men and Boys and the Noble Singers—we welcomed 25 new members. Two more baptisms followed later that day during the 1:30pm Korean-language Mass.
Between services, a full crowd of parishioners, young and old, gathered in Andrew Hall for a delicious Parish Brunch—which sold out due to popular demand! I’m thinking we should consider hosting another one to kick off the program year and mark our Patronal Feast in early September. A warm thank you to those who contributed the suggested $25. If you weren’t able to purchase a ticket, you can still give online by selecting a one-time gift and marking it “parish brunch.”
Last Wednesday, about 40 people attended a fascinating talk by the Dean of Canterbury. There was a great energy in the Parish House during the reception that followed. Canterbury Cathedral, with its rich history and beauty, holds a special place in the Anglican Communion. We’re delighted that Dean David will be preaching at the 11am service this Sunday and joining us at coffee hour afterward.
The Board of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral in the U.S. (FOCCUS) also held its annual meeting at Saint Thomas a few days ago. We’re currently expanding our membership—if you’re interested in becoming an American Friend of Canterbury Cathedral, please click the logo below for more information.
And finally, for those who attended Thursday night’s concert: what a powerful finale to our season. The Choir of Men and Boys sang with great heart. During the post-concert reception, the Friends of Music honored Dr. Jeremy Filsell for his extraordinary musicianship over the past six years—and for continuing to grow the concert series, even in the face of the pandemic.
See you Sunday!
Your priest and pastor,
Carl
