The Rector's Message for the Week of August 10, 2025
Dear Friends,
Last weekend I attended the official opening of the York Minster Center of Excellence – an initiative to encourage and train young people in the traditional crafts of stone masonry, wood carving, stained glass, and metal work. It was an international gathering and, at the Minster for a special service, the readers at evensong were the head stone mason of the Washington National Cathedral, and the director of works of the Cathedral in Milan, Italy. Representatives of the ancient livery companies from London attended the event, and the Company of Merchant Adventurers of York, of which I am a member and honorary chaplain, hosted a dinner which celebrated all those ancient crafts and the need for young people to become apprentices. In her sermon at evensong, the Bishop of Selby commented on the conservation and restoration work needed on historic buildings such as the Minster, built from limestone, and that have suffered from the ravages of pollution since the 19th century. Saint Thomas Church is built in the same manner of a medieval gothic church in Europe and, similarly, is in constant need to conservation and restoration. Those who oversaw the restoration of our stained glass have ensured that our amazing collection will be preserved for future generations to enjoy and marvel at. The Vestry is considering how we interpret the building for an increasing numbers of visitors, and encourage them to do their part in the upkeep of our magnificent church building.
Last Monday, Saint Thomas joined other churches, synagogues, and other places of worship at St. Barts to pray for all affected by the recent shooting that happened next door to their church. We continue to be vigilant at Saint Thomas to ensure the safety of all who visit our church; I have to say that the cost of providing security and the weapon-detection system is substantial, but the Vestry is committed to our church being open 365 days a year as an oasis of prayer in the middle of New York.
Last weekend we also heard of the detention of the daughter of our friend, the Rev. Kirie Kim, who works at the Cathedral but often worships with us here. Her daughter is a student and was attending a routine immigration hearing to continue her studies at Purdue University. A peaceful prayer vigil was held with other churches. Yeonsoo was detained in a room at 26 Federal Plaza for 48 hours before being moved to a detention facility in Louisiana. We are all delighted to hear that Yeonsoo has now been released and reunited with her family, and to the relief of her church community.
On Friday, August 15, we keep the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast is a powerful statement of our faith in the words of Jesus that he spoke to our own patron, Saint Thomas, and to the other disciples:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
(John 14:1-7)
On this feast day, we affirm our faith that Jesus has prepared a place not just for Mary, Thomas, and Peter, but for all our faithful loved-ones, and for you and me! The doctrine of the Assumption is simply that – faith in the promise of Jesus that where he is, there we may be also. The Saint Thomas Consort will sing at 5:30pm and the eucharist will be celebrated by our friend The Rt. Rev. Allen Shin, Bishop Suffragan. The Archbishop of Brisbane, Australia, will also attend, and Fr. Schultz will preach. The service will be followed by cheese, desserts, wine, and soft drinks. Come and celebrate this beautiful summer feast day. On the following Sunday, we continue our celebration of Saint Mary the Virgin, and we will have our traditional procession at the end of mass where we will pray the prayer skillfully crafted by the eleventh Rector, Fr. John Andrew.
I look forward to seeing you all!
Your Priest and Pastor,
Carl
A sonnet by Malcolm Guite
Theotokos
You bore for me the One who came to bless
And bear for all and make the broken whole.
You heard His call and in your open ‘yes’
You spoke aloud for every living soul.
Oh gracious Lady, child of your own child,
Whose mother-love still calls the child in me,
Call me again, for I am lost, and wild
Waves suround me now. On this dark sea
Shine as a star and call me to the shore.
Open the door that all my sins would close
And hold me in your garden. Let me share
The prayer that folds the petals of the Rose.
Enfold me too in Love’s last mystery
And bring me to the One you bore for me.
