Dear Friends,
At last, the weather has warmed up! I have never known such a cold and wet May in New York; thank goodness we have two pop-up gazebos for our guests to shelter under at Neighbor to Neighbor on Saturdays. If you have not volunteered to assist with our Saturday feeding program, the summer is a good time to do this. I remember our former soup kitchen before the pandemic and how, come rain or shine, snow or heat, the volunteers gathered faithfully to care for the guests, even when Saturday was Christmas Day. In addition to breakfast, volunteers offer advice, a friendly ear, and we also have clothing and back packs in addition to toiletries.
Saturday, at 11am, the Choir School will celebrate its annual prize day and commencement ceremony when our Grade 8 boys will graduate and receive their diplomas. Then, on Sunday, which is the Feast of Pentecost, we will bid farewell to our Grade 8 choristers, and a number of faculty and staff, including Mr. Seeley, Dr. Filsell and Mrs. Rebecca Kellerman-Filsell. The 11am valedictory mass is always very moving, and in spite of the Puerto Rican Parade, I do hope that as many of you as possible will want to be present.
From next Sunday, the newly formed Saint Thomas Consort will provide music for Sundays and Summer Feast Days. This professional SATB choir is being formed and directed by Mr. Nicolas Haigh, who becomes Acting Director of Music on Monday. The Saint Thomas Consort will also be available to sing at weddings and funerals. This does not mean that we will cease to have men’s voices repertoire; quite the contrary, when the boys are resident but unable to sing, the gentlemen of the choir will still provide music during term time.
sung by the Saint Thomas Consort
followed by cheese, wine, and soft drinks in the Lady ChapelWednesday, June 11 – St. BarnabasTuesday, June 24 – The Nativity of St. John BaptistTuesday, July 22 – Saint Mary Magdalene
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Andrew St. John
Wednesday, August 6 – The Transfiguration
Friday, August 15 – Assumption of the BVM
with Assumptiontide desserts!
Please note our Summer Feast Days and, in particular, the special celebration for Bishop Andrew St. John on Tuesday, July 22 when he celebrates the 30th anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination.
As I mention special celebrations, I am delighted to read of two days of celebrations to honor our dear friend The Rev. Fleming Rutledge to be held in Greenwich on June 13 and 14 organized by Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, who are planning to name a professorial chair in Biblical Studies in her honor.
Next weekend I have been asked to preach at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London as part of King Charles’ official birthday celebrations. The monarch of the United Kingdom has two birthdays each year, the hope being that the weather is better in June when the Royal Family also attend the traditional Trooping of the Colour. Mo. Turner and I will then take our annual leave and visit our children and grandchildren and have some down-time together. We return for The Saint Thomas Girl Chorister course in mid -July, which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year.
Affectionately,
Your Priest and Pastor,
Carl
