Rector’s Corner

“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…

“…and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” – Hebrews 12:1-2, NRSV My dearly beloved Doubters of Great Faith, We are now into our 12th week of official Corona-tide, the time that this virus known as COVID-19, drove us from our beautiful church property at Inwood and Mockingbird, into our places of isolation. Thankfully, throughout this process, we have continued to be the Church, capital C, the community of faith known as St. Thomas the Apostle that doubts in great faith in amazing, loving, connected ways as it always has, in spite, and even because of, COVID-19. And in the pastoral care work that I do with the congregation, I see the effects that 12 weeks of isolation, and separation, is beginning to have on us all. I include myself in this, because I see…

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee: Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three Persons, blessed Trinity. – Reginald Heber (1783 – 1826) Folks all over Christendom may cringe as I reveal a fundamental truth about myself: “Holy, Holy, Holy” IS my go-to hymn when I need to quickly find and express my relationship to God my Creator, God my Sustainer, and God my Life-giver. I can play it convincingly on the organ; I know the words by memory. The cadence of the tune rises in such a way that it lifts my heart, my mind and my spirit upward to God when I am in some pretty deep pits. It always has, it always will. So, if it doesn’t make your “favorites” list, I apologize now, but we’re singing it Sunday, because in addition to being the first…

Come, thou Holy Spirit bright; come with thy celestial light; pour on us thy love divine. Come, protector of the poor; come, thou source of blessings sure; come within our hearts to shine. – Latin, 12th cent. We are a people of Pentecost. There’s a secret fire that burns inside each and every Episcopalian that just longs for this day, the day we wear our red to Church, the day we process around and about, proclaiming, “Hail thee, festival day!”, the day we once again acknowledge the ever-abiding presence of our advocate and guide, God’s at-times blustering, and yet ever-blissful Holy Spirit! Why wouldn’t we long for that? After all, I never met an Episcopalian who didn’t relish a good procession! But there is something about that burning bright spirit, that celestial light, meeting us where we are, particularly where we are now, this year, in our places of isolation…