St Thomas

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 It’s hard to believe that we are almost to the middle of July, the mid-point of what we typically think of as the summer travel season. There is something about the intersection of COVID-19, and time that is such an odd juxtaposition. In the age of Corona, our traditional ways of thinking about time seem to have become skewed, veering off the usual course. I imagine that most of you, in any other run-of-the-mill summer would already have plans, or be experiencing wonderful adventures past the confines of the North Texas heat, travels taking you beyond your wildest imaginations. And these adventures are important for so many reasons. First, they give us a much needed break from the usual, the routine, and the banality of life. There is…

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in God should not perish, but have eternal life!” — John 3:16 The day is finally approaching! Who would have guessed, some 16 weeks ago, that our fast from the sacrament of Eucharist, the Holy Communion, our taking in of the Body of Christ into our very own selves, would be so long in coming? But we have endured, persevered, clung together, in faithfulness, because that is what we Doubters do. That is the reason we are “Doubters of Great Faith!” And so, as you read this newsletter, actions are already underway so that on Sunday, July 5, we will, together as a Church family, break this fast that has been imposed by COVID-19! We will once again partake in physical form that which has been relegated to what has come to be known as “the…

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” — John 6:35, BCP This is one of the opening passages of scripture suggested in a section of our Book of Common Prayer labeled, “Communion under Special Circumstances.” The very first rubric (instruction) says, “This form is intended for use with those who for reasonable cause cannot be present at a public celebration of the Eucharist.” It is quite clear that, for the last 15 weeks, we have not been able to “be present” for a public celebration of the Eucharist in our beloved Nave on the campus of St. Thomas the Apostle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been my commitment that, in line with both our Bishops Sumner and Smith, we have been in a time of “fasting” from the sacrament of Holy Communion,…

“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” “I will, with God’s help!” — From the Service of Holy Baptism, BCP I believe those words, along with the other four questions that precede them, those resonate questions that make up our baptismal covenant into the Christian faith and identity, are some of the sweetest words to hear, and yet some of the most difficult words to live out. If the Christian faith were easy, a country club, I guess everyone would do it! That is why it is so reassuring that the questions are followed by the answer, “I will, with God’s help!” God knows that Christ’s walk, the journey we are called into, is not an easy or light one, but one of responsibility, and that God will be with us in and throughout the journey. In the midst…