All Posts By

St Thomas

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace.”

By Outreach, Rector's Corner

There are consistent reminders of the brokenness of our world and the need for the grace and peace of Christ to heal. As we pray for those hurt by violence of any kind may we also pray that we may be instruments of peace. ~ Joy † A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis (insert p. 833 BCP) Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that…

Read More
June 16, 2017

Thoughts on Manchester – Rev’d Joy Daley

By Rector's Corner

Thoughts on Manchester –Joy Daley It has been said that after people die that survivors must adjust to a “new normal” in which we acknowledge that the world has changed and we learn to live with loss. In some ways I believe that this is wisdom that we need to take to heart. I do have a fear, however, that we can come to accept the violence that erupts repeatedly in unexpected places as the “new normal.” This can lead us to minimize what happens in our world and the degree of loss that so many of our brothers and sisters suffer. In our humanity it becomes difficult to take in one more devastating event. Compassion fatigue may lead to a desire to just turn away. Our desires are not all of who we are though, so we take another look and realize that we are all in this together….

Read More
May 25, 2017

Lenten Opportunities

By Rector's Corner

Lent, a time of New Beginnings On Wednesday March 1, Ash Wednesday, we enter into the season of Lent which in many ways is a season of new life, new beginnings. Repentance is traditionally the word most associated with this season and if we understand what the term really means, we can embrace it as an avenue to new life. You may have heard me say once or twice (or perhaps more as I seek to remind myself), Repent means to turn or turn around. Sometimes we need to turn away from things or practices that harm our relationships with ourselves, our God, or others. Other times we need to be more intentional about turning toward God who nurtures our lives. It brings to mind the words from Ezekiel 18, “For I take no pleasure in the death of any one, declares the Lord God, Turn then and live.” I…

Read More
March 1, 2017

Centering Prayer Group

By News

Join us for our Centering Prayer group on Wednesday evenings. The discipline of Centering Prayer will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning at 5:30 to sit together. We will have 2 twenty minute sessions each evening, the first from 5:30 until 5:50, and the second from 6:00 until 6:20, with a 10 minute break in between. The second “sit” will be followed by our regular Wednesday Eucharist. There will be no teaching involved, only the experience of sitting in silence before God in community. All are welcome to attend either one, or both if you like.

Read More
November 9, 2016

Becoming the Solution – In Response to the Dallas Shootings

By Rector's Corner, Sermons

Proper 10C, July 10,2016 Deuteronomy 30:9-14 Psalm 25: 1-9,Colossians 1: 1-14 Luke 10:25-37 St. Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Joy Daley   The parable of the Good Samaritan – One of the most famous parables of Jesus, one that is used as an example of what the law is really saying about loving God and neighbor. I have to admit when I realized this was the gospel for today early last week, I thought, “Everybody’s heard it a million times with pretty much the same moral. What more is there to say?” But over the course of this week I find I am no longer tired of this gospel for it has many things to say to us in the hour we are facing.   We see the state of our human family up close and personal. There is no way to be in denial. It was a peaceful gathering…

Read More
July 13, 2016

Love Wins: A Reflection on Orlando

By Rector's Corner

Dear St Thomas Family, This has been such a sad week for our world. As I have read through so many descriptions of the terror in Orlando and the responses of those who are outraged saddened and discouraged, I find my own soul weary from the knowledge that hate still has such power in our world, in our communities, even in our church.    Almost a year ago we all celebrated the Supreme Court decision that we never thought would come.  We all rallied around the cry that “Love Wins.”  I know many of us wonder this week if that is really true.  So many times we walk by faith and not by sight so I want to encourage all of us to continue our walk in faith in the midst of sorrow, to honor our grief, to express our anger but to not let it stop there or immobilize…

Read More
June 16, 2016

Gateway of Grace

By Outreach

A letter from Samira Izadi, Executive Director Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am sure you have been following the news on the refugee situation in Europe. Today, we were informed that United States will be receiving 10000 Syrian refugees starting October 1. Texas is the largest hub for refugees in the nations. While we can agree or disagree with the decision, as Christians who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, we have the unique calling and power to bring the redemptive presence of Christ into this situation. No other religious group has this calling and power. Gateway of Grace is currently serving five refugee families from Syria and a total of 1600 refugees per year. It is the largest refugee ministry in north Texas serving refugees from nine different countries and six different religious backgrounds. We have seen transformation of lives by meeting the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of…

Read More
September 17, 2015

Crossroads Community Services and St. Thomas the Apostle

By Outreach

Together We Can Feed Our Hungry Neighbors By Mtr. Virginia Holleman The Vestry of St. Thomas has approved our entering into a partnership with Crossroads Community Services to provide nutritious shelf-stable, refrigerated and fresh foods to our neighbors who are food-insecure.  Food-insecure means these are families who do not have reliable access to enough affordable and nutritious food for the month.  Generally speaking, these families have enough financial resources to make it through three weeks each month, but the last week finds them at the bottom of the basket so to speak, having to “make do” with cheap, filling though often marginally nutritious food. St. Thomas will become a Community Distribution Partner with Crossroads.  There are a lot of hungry people in our neighborhood but we’re going to start small. Fr. Ray Ball will meet with the counselor at K. B. Polk Elementary School to select five families.  Once we…

Read More
September 17, 2015

The Church Decides

By News, Rector's Corner

General Convention Approves Marriage Equality Dear St. Thomas Family, What an amazing week this has been!  Last Friday the Supreme court made it legal for all Americans to marry the people they love, a decision to be celebrated. Then as Our General Convention met in Salt Lake City, we elected  Michael Curry as Presiding Bishop, the first African American to lead the church in this role.  There are many issues  being deliberated at General Convention which I hope  will lead our Church to grow  more deeply into love, justice and compassion. Just last evening  The House of Deputies approved without ammendment what the House of Bishops had already approved.  Resolution A036 revises Canon 1.18 titled “Of the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony.”  Among many edits it removes references to marriage as being between a man and a woman. They also passed A054  approving continued use of “The Witnessing and Blessing of…

Read More
July 9, 2015