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St Thomas

Sermon for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day

By Rector's Corner, Sermons

Christopher Thomas Sermon for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day, Observing Epiphany, Year B – 1/3/21 Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84:1-8 Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a Matthew 2:1-12 “Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of God’s word; in God my Savior shall my heart rejoice!” Most of you know that for many years I was the Parish Business Administrator, and many years before that, a member, of Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Houston, Texas. Christ Church Cathedral holds a lot of different, fascinating distinctions in its journey story, being the second oldest surviving congregation in Texas, and the only one of the original Houston congregations still worshiping on its original site some 180+ years. The parish currently worships in the third structure to stand at that location, a beautiful, turn-of-the-20th century Victorian-Gothic building that is loaded with signs and…

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January 3, 2021

Evangelism 101

By Christian Formation, Upcoming Events

Everyone is invited to join us for a new Wednesday Workshop Series, Evangelism 101: Learning to tell our sacred stories. Talking about our faith can be difficult. Let’s explore it together each Wednesday from Jan 13-Feb 3 at 6 pm on Zoom. Series hosted by Seminarian Allen and NO READING REQUIRED! If you have questions, email allen@thedoubter.org The season of Epiphany, also called Epiphanytide (January 6-February 16) is the season in which we celebrate the manifestation of Christ to all the peoples of the earth. In the coming weeks we will hear again of the visitation of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism by John, the wedding at Cana, the calling of the first disciples, and the Transfiguration of our Lord. All of these stories are meant to show that the significance of the Christ Child isn’t limited to Palestine, but is much greater than we could have imagined! As you heard…

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December 31, 2020

Parish Annual Meeting | Jan 17

By News, Upcoming Events

Our Parish Annual Meeting will be held via ZOOM immediately following the Sunday ZOOM service on January 17, 2021. At the meeting the annual Parish budget for 2021, as adopted by the Vestry at its December 2020 meeting will be presented. Annual reports by the Rector, Senior Warden and Junior Warden, as required by the Diocesan Canons and Parish By-laws, will also be presented. Please make plans to attend. A Meeting to elect new Vestry members was held on October 18, 2020 with Lisa Pearson, Randy Hering, and Ruth Woodward elected for three year terms.

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December 31, 2020

Happy Christmastide!

By Rector's Corner

Dear Doubters of Great Faith, Happy Christmastide! I hope this finds you basking in all of the light that Christ’s natal star has to offer to each and every one of us, particularly this Christmas. If ever we needed to celebrate Immanuel, God’s residing among us, as one of us, in human form, 2020 is most surely the year! It is with that joy that I tell you (again) of my appointment, and your Vestry’s resounding approval, along with both Bishop Sumner and Bishop Smith, of the Rev. Stephen J. Waller to the honorary position of Rector Emeritus of the Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle. Fr. Stephen served the St. Thomas family for well over 23 years, from 1989 thru 2012, and I know has had a profound effect on so many of your individual lives, and the collective life of this parish, having journeyed alongside you through…

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December 31, 2020

Sermon for the Nativity of Our Lord

By Rector's Corner, Sermons

Christopher Thomas Sermon for the Nativity of Our Lord, Year B, Christmas I – 12/24/20 Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Of one thousand stars I see There are many more unseen I’m amazed how they sparkle They do not sleep or dream. When I hear the stars are out tonight I sleep before to stay awake The moon will rise and give notice To the coming of awe before the break The sky will lighten heavens palace Sending down rays of illuminating light Covering the first frost late autumn Reminding me of winter’s nearing sight If I could take just a few stars I’d put them on a tall tree I’d walk the ground beneath the glow Blessed with all that is given free. – Starry Night, by Doug Pederson When words escape us, all we are left with is awe and wonder. When actions escape us,…

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December 24, 2020

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

By Sermons

Stephen V. Sprinkle, Ph.D. Professor of Practical Theology Brite Divinity School, and Theologian-in-Residence The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle December 20, 2020 (St. Luke chapter 1:35) The angel said to her…
 1:37 “…Nothing will be impossible with God.”
 1:38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.  The Book of the Prophet Isaiah commencing at chapter 6:1 and concluding with verses 8 & 9: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
…

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December 20, 2020

2020 Outreach Grants awarded

By News, Outreach

At its Monthly meeting, the Vestry of St. Thomas the Apostle approved our parish’s Outreach Grants. For several years, we have provided funds to various organizations to assist them with their programs and special projects. We had budgeted $5,000 for 2019 but no grants were awarded in that year so the amount was rolled into 2020 to accompany our budgeted $5,000 for this year. Here are this year’s recipients: Dallas Hunger Relief – a partnership through the Diocese of Dallas and the Greater Dallas Coalition. Each food truck holds 448 boxes of groceries (50 pounds each); each box contains produce, meat, and dairy and each family gets one box. Each food truck costs $600. We are paying for 5 food trucks for $3,000! Christmas Toys for Dallas Children in Need – another partnership with the Diocese of Dallas and the Greater Dallas Coalition. We are contributing $1,000. This is in…

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December 17, 2020

Sleepers, wake!

By Rector's Corner

“Sleepers, wake!” A voice astounds us, the shout of rampart guards surrounds us: “Awake, Jerusalem, arise!” – Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) Dear Doubters of Great Faith, One of my favorite Advent carols beckons us out of our drowsed slumber, warning of the immanence of the in-breaking of light into what seems eternal darkness, and heeding preparation, so that we too may share in the great gift of Immanuel, God among us. The time is nigh. In rising up, we become active co-conspirators, co-creators, as it were, with God, in the dawning of this new age. And so, we awake, to go out and greet this baby, who is, in many human ways, like us, and yet in so many other ways, so radically, divinely different! God becomes like us, flesh, 10 fingers and toes, a beating heart, and a brain. And yet, in many ways, so different from us, at least…

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December 17, 2020

Pandemic Marathon Tips

By Christian Formation

A well-known saying among marathoners is that “There are two halves to every marathon—the first 20 miles and the last 6.2.” While not mathematically accurate, this saying is correct in that it takes as much effort to complete the first 20 miles as it does the last 6.2. I have been fortunate to complete a few marathons over the years, so I know how difficult the final miles can be. Actually, it’s miles 20-25 that are the most difficult because once you get to mile 25, you get a psychological lift that the finish line is not far away. At mile 20, though, you are exhausted. The runners are no longer talking to each other (a complete change from earlier in the race) as they are conserving every ounce of energy they have in order to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. The people cheering them…

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December 13, 2020