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St Thomas

Easter2B Sermon

By Sermons

Easter2B, April 8, 2018 Acts 4: 32-35, Psalm 133 1 John 1: 1-2:2 John 20: 19-31 St. Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Leo Loyola I proposed to Melody on a December afternoon in a San Francisco courtyard. We had just met online six months earlier. But, we never actually met in person until a couple of days earlier. We were literally on our first date as I slipped an engagement ring on Melody’s finger. And, how long did it take for me to decide that she was the one? Would you believe less than a few seconds of first sight? Now I know what you are thinking…the romantics in the room are probably thinking, “How sweet. That Father Leo is such a romantic.” And, then there are the realists who are thinking, “Are you nuts?” For this second group, I hear you. If we met in through a more conventional…

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April 8, 2018

Wednesday in Easter Week Sermon

By Sermons

Wednesday in Easter Week, April 4, 2018 Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105:1-8, Luke 24:13-35 St Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Leo Loyola Downtown Memphis, April 4, 1968. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. collapsed onto the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel. It was a little after six. A sniper’s bullet had, moments earlier, zinged into the civil right leader’s neck. Ironically the downtown Memphis property was a safe haven for black travelers during the Jim Crow era. At that moment, a lone gunman ran from the bathroom window at a downtown Memphis boarding house and into the evening. Panicked associates pointed towards the direction of the shot. Don’t die, Martin, the world needs you right now! The night before held such promise. King spoke at a rally held at the Mason Temple Church in support of a sanitation workers’ strike. He gave his welcoming audience a poignant vision…

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April 4, 2018

Easter Day Sermon

By Rector's Corner, Sermons

Easter Day, April 1, 2018 Acts 10: 34-43, Psalm 118 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 John 20: 1-18 St Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Joy A. Daley When we began Holy Week we, unlike the friends of Jesus knew what we are headed for. We hesitated of course not wanting to go there but in spite of our reservations some of us did take the journey encouraged that even in the midst of darkness there was a sliver of a chance, of possibilities to come, of hope for new beginnings that have brought us to this glorious morning. Today the dark intensity of the past week is finally opened up and light shines through. (It may be grey outside but) We are bright with the realization that he lives, he appears and reappears as we will see in the coming weeks, bringing new life all along the way even when like…

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April 1, 2018

The Great Vigil of Easter

By Sermons

The Great Vigil of Easter, Year B, March 31, 2018 Romans 6:3-11, Psalm 114, Mark 16:1-8 St Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Leo Loyola What comes to mind when we think of Easter? Our sanctuary blanketed with white lilies and other spring flowers? The sight of our pews filled with everyone dressed in their Sunday best? Or perhaps the delightful sight of children outside, hunting for plastic Easter Eggs. Images such as these fill our hearts with nostalgia for Easters Past. But this was not the case for the three women spoken of in our Gospel reading (Mark 16:1-8). For Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, this first Easter Sunday could be best described in two words: “terror and amazement”. It was Sunday morning. The sun had risen and the memory of Jesus’s death was still fresh in their minds. They were themselves witnesses (as the previous…

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March 31, 2018

Maundy Thursday Sermon

By Rector's Corner, Sermons

Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018 Exodus 12: 1-14, Psalm 116 I Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13: 1-17,31b-35 St Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Joy A. Daley My Lord, No. Someone needs to tell Jesus to get up off his knees. To stand up What does he think he’s doing. Doesn’t he know who he is? But no one would say it. They all sit there frozen as he bent over gently holding their feet looking up at them and there was something in his eyes that made their hearts break. So many things flashing through their minds from the past 3 years. That very first day they saw him. They ran after him There was something about him as he walked down the road Face set. Strides sure and strong. He was on his way toward something and they wanted in on whatever it was. They were like little kids following…

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March 29, 2018

Easter book series

By Christian Formation

Looking for a fresh look at the Christian faith? Or are you rediscovering Christ in your life? Then join Father Leo Loyola as he begins the Easter book discussion series with Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis. The four-week Easter study began April 3rd. The last class will be held on Tuesday, April 24, from 10:00 – 11:15 am, in the South Room. Order your copy of Velvet Elvis from Amazon >

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March 23, 2018

March for our Lives

By News, Upcoming Events

This Saturday, March 24, “the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets” across our country in order to “demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.” Here in Dallas, students and parents will gather at Dallas City Hall at noon, and many people – including the North Dallas Chapter of Episcopal Peace Fellowship – will join with them, to encourage and to help sustain this hope-filled, student-led movement. We’ll be carpooling from Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, leaving its parking lot at 11:00 am. If you’re able, and do choose to join us (as we hope many of you will), please email either Ron Damholt or John Copeland so that we can arrange for a sufficient number of drivers. Learn more about March for Our Lives >

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March 23, 2018

Plans for Safety – Response to Active Shooters

By News

On Sunday, March 11, following the 10 am service, St. Thomas held a safety training for vestry members, ushers and greeters, staff, and parishioners. Officer Dan Birbeck taught the training, Response to Active Shooters, and provided us with a good sense of what to do if we were to have a situation in our church where our safety was compromised.

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March 19, 2018

Angels Ministry

By Outreach

A new ministry has been formed at St. Thomas the Apostle. For now, we’re calling ourselves “St. Thomas Angels”. In response to discussions held during the Vestry’s strategic planning session in December in which it became apparent that there was a need to provide assistance to our own members. A meeting was held earlier this year among those who had expressed interest in being a part of such a ministry. We are picking up the gauntlet for providing food to members from the Daughters of the King group at St. Thomas and adding some other services to those who have needs. Basically, the “Angels” can provide a meal or meals to members with health issues making preparation difficult and to supplement other resources that might be available, such as Meals on Wheels, for example. We can also provide transportation to and from medical appointments, assistance with shopping, and so on….

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March 19, 2018