Forty-two years ago this summer, I began my curacy in this parish. The morning after I had been ordained deacon, I walked from the curate’s apartment at 63rd and Lexington leaving about seven am to be here well in time for the 8 o’clock Mass. It was the first Sunday in June, a cool and […]
Sermon Topic: Saint Thomas the Apostle
O Sing unto the Lord a new song: A sermon to celebrate our Patronal Feast and welcome Richard Tanner as Organist and Director of Music.
A man arrived at the pearly gates and was greeted by St. Peter. St. Peter began giving the man a tour of heaven, and the man was amazed by all the spectacular mansions. They passed one exquisite palace after another, each more magnificent than the last, all with beautiful lawns and gardens. Finally, they arrived […]
Bicentennial Evensong
It is truly an honor to be the preacher in this Solemn Evensong as you bring to closure the year-long bicentennial celebration of this famous parish. Happy 200th Anniversary, St. Thomas! Thank you, Canon Turner, for your invitation and welcome. Canon Carl Turner and Mother Alison Turner began here the same year I began as […]
We shall rest and we shall see, we shall see and we shall love, we shall love and we shall praise, in the end that is no end.
(St. Augustine)
From the Letter to the Hebrews, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Saint Thomas has an international reputation; a year ago, the Mayor of New York issued a proclamation about our Church’s bicentennial; next month, the BBC is going to broadcast not one but two services that […]
Saint Thomas Bicentennial October 15, 2023
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen I cannot begin without first thanking our Rector Father Turner and the Saint Thomas Wardens and Vestry for their invitation to preach on this auspicious occasion. Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was first invited a good while ago but, […]
The Feast of Saint Thomas (transferred)
Jesus said to Thomas: “Do not doubt but believe.” Poor old doubting Thomas. He has been stuck with that title ever since. Let us think about doubt for a moment. In 2005 I had the pleasure of seeing “Doubt: a parable”, play by John Patrick Shanley, in a wonderful production on Broadway by Doug Hughes, […]
Sacred Wounds
Poor St. Thomas. It’s been said that – other than Judas Iscariot – Thomas is the only apostle whose legacy is founded primarily on a blemish. Brian Shelton, a theologian and the author of the Quest for the Historical Apostles, writes: “[Judas] Iscariot is synonymous with betrayal in the same way that Thomas is synonymous […]
Jesus: Our Lord and Our God
It is a pleasure to be back at Saint Thomas. I am grateful to Canon Turner for this invitation, I am honored to be in this pulpit again, and I am delighted to be with you all this evening as you start your choral season and celebrate your patron, Thomas the Apostle. The Gospel appointed […]
The Last Beatitude.
From our Epistle reading today: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV) Recently, on my vacation, I was on a long journey in a taxi and I asked to listen to the BBC news which I had not heard for some time. Now, I […]
Blessed Are They Who Believe It Before They See It
Saint Thomas followed Jesus for three years, and in those three years his ability to believe his eyes and ears must have been stretched beyond his imagining. Prior to Jesus calling him as a disciple, would Thomas have ever imagined he would see the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead rise […]
