Rector’s Reflections

Sunday, March 15

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:53:43 GMT

I am the type of person who randomly walks around humming and singing various chants and hymns. Go ahead, tell me you are surprised. Over the last couple of weeks the hymn that has occupied my mind is Hymn 145, “Now quit your care.” I am not at all surprised by the ever-present nature of this hymn, it was the theme of our Lenten Quiet Day last week, we will sing it this Sunday, and it just happens to be one of my favorite hymns. The text of this hymn was written by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936) and was set to the tune of the French carol “Quittez, Pasteurs.” This hymn was first published in The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928. Sitting here, I find myself wondering if there might be a deeper reason behind this hymn being so fixed in my mind. Maybe it has something to do with the transition we are about to embark on.

As you hopefully know by now, this Sunday (March 15) will be my last day here at St. Thomas. You can read more about my departure here . This was not an easy decision, and one that has brought grief to many of us. In addition to all that comes with bringing a ministry and pastoral relationship to an end, there is also the anxiety of stepping out into the unknown. Many of you have shared with me your worries for the future of this community, and I have my own worries as I continue my discernment as to where God is calling me next.

It can be easy to get caught up in that anxiety and fear, and unfortunately Lent can be a time when that fear and worry gets heightened all the more. I think this is why Dearmer’s words have been so present to me.

This hymn is an excellent articulation of what this season is all about, and, I would suggest, it is a wonderful expression of what the entirety of our life of faith is about. We are not called to be stuck in anxiety and worry; we are called to trust in the loving care and providence of God - trust that God will provide all that we need. We are to cast off all the weighs us down, preventing us from growing in to the fullness of who God has created us to be. We are to align our priorities with God, not getting lured in by the trappings of this world.

Times of transition provide an important opportunity for the work of reflection. To give thanks for all that has been, to extend forgiveness for past hurts and to receive it in return, and to open ourselves that we might prepare for what comes next. We can never replicate the past, but we can learn from it and allow it to shape us for the next chapter of our lives and ministries. My time here serving along side of you has changed me. You have played a role in my continuing formation as a priest, and I am a better priest for having served here. You all have changed as well. You are not the same community you were back on June 1, 2020 when I arrived. Now it is time for you to take all that you have learned and experienced in these past six years and carry that with you in your search for the 10th rector of St. Thomas.

Is this time of uncertainty, this time of setting out into the unknown future, a little scary - absolutely. But we stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and therefore know we have nothing to fear. As long as we stay faithful to the call God places on our hearts we will be fine. I believe that is as true for me and my ministry as it is for you and yours.

As we gather to say our goodbyes this Sunday let us heed Dearmer’s words and quit our care and anxious fear and worry. Let us give ourselves fully to the fasts of God that we might experience the breaking forth of the new things God is doing in our lives.

Sunday, March 8

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:15:34 GMT

The season of Lent provides us with the opportunity to intentionally take a step back and reflection on our journeys of faith. This is incredibly important for all of us to do, because there is no point in this life when we can say, “yup, I’ve done it. I’ve perfected my faith.” Throughout the entirety of our lives we are continually invited to grow in our knowledge and love of God. We are continually invited to take stock seeking that reformation of life God calls us to.

As we enter into mid-Lent I wonder, how is this season going for you? Have you found the right rhythm for your days? Have you entered into your fast, finding yourself negotiating whatever cravings you might have? Have you created space for more prayer in your life, or additional service to God and neighbor? Or do you find yourself still trying to figure it all out?

No matter how you answered these questions, your response is okay. There are times when we enter seamlessly into Lent and other times when it is a struggle. The important thing is that you try. There are days when I find the fasts and disciplines I have taken to be easy and empowering; and there are days when it is all a slog and things feel less than holy. In those moments I remind myself that misery is not what God calls us to, and neither is beating ourselves up for “failing” in our tasks. Sometimes I have to work hard to remind myself the point is to be intentional in what we do, and open ourselves up so that God can continue to work powerfully in our lives.

I want to invite you to check in with yourself to see how your Lent is going. If what you are doing is working for you, that is wonderful. If what you are doing is not working, that is okay too. Give yourself permission to try something else. And if you have not figured out what makes sense for you this year, it is not too late to start. No matter what, please be gentle with yourself as you take stock of where you are and reflect on how your Lenten journey is going.

I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the offerings we have here in this season. On Tuesday nights at 6pm you can join Tim Hawk for a Bible Study on the fist 11 chapters of the book of Genesis. On Friday afternoons at 12noon you can join us for a service of Stations of the Cross. Come spend 30 minutes walking with Jesus through his passion. Tomorrow (Saturday, March 7) join us for a quiet day led by Sr. Kristina Francis on learning how to find joy in the season of Lent. More information on the quiet day can be found below.

Beloved of God, I pray that this season unfolds as you need it to. I pray that we all, individually and collectively, may be strengthened and sustained during these days so that we might arrive at Easter renewed and empowered to continue responding faithfully to God’s call to us.

Sunday, March 1

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:08:05 GMT

This Sunday we are going to begin our liturgy in a slightly different way. I promise this will not be totally foreign as it is exactly what we did during Lent last year. Instead of beginning with those familiar words, “Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” found on page 355, we will begin with something called “A Penitential Order” found on page 351 of the Book of Common Prayer.

The opening sentence during Lent (regardless if we were beginning on page 351 or 355) is “Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins,” but unlike other times of the year over these next few weeks, instead of saying the Gloria (the prayer which begins “Glory to God in the highest”) we will kneel together and say the Decalogue (aka the 10 commandments). This is followed by a verse of Scripture (one of three options listed in the Prayer Book) and then the confession. Immediately after the confession and absolution we will say (or sing as the case may be) the Trisagion (Greek for “thrice holy”). This prayer, found at the bottom of page 356, invites us three times to proclaim something of God’s identity and then ask for God’s mercy (Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us). After this comes the collect of the day and then the services proceeds in the usual way.

There are a variety of reasons for us to do this. First, there is a tradition in the church of using the penitential order during our penitential seasons (Lent and Advent). Second, it builds from the tradition where clergy and servers would say particular prayers prior to the start of the service to prepare themselves for ministry at God’s altar. Third, it is one of the many resources in the Book of Common Prayer that are available to our use. Fourth, it is good to do things differently from time to time so we do not get stuck in a routine - doing the same thing over and over again until it looses its meaning. Finally, I think there is something deeply appropriate to begin our worship of God in this humble posture.

Lent is a time when we are invited to take a good, hard look at our lives that we might be honest with where we are. It is a time for us to be honest about our mortality and our sinfulness - though it is not about being self-deprecating or beating ourselves up. Lent is a time when we look deep within ourselves and admit that we do not always act as we ought to, and we do not always do things as we should. We all have moments we look back on to think, “Yup that was not my brightest moment.” Sin is everything that separates us from the love of God, and puts distance between us and our neighbors. Lent is a time when we can look at our behavior, recognize the sin, and make the choice to start again, striving to live into the fullness of the covenants we have made with God and one another.

Beginning the liturgy with the Penitential Order allows us to enter into the house of God and begin our primary (and most important work) from a place of honesty and vulnerability. As God’s absolution is announce we rise from our knees keenly aware that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we are able to do all which God has called us to do. In other words we begin our liturgy with a clean slate that we might try again we clear hearts and minds, not weighed down by the burdens we carry.

Let us join together this Sunday, making a right beginning again, confessing our vulnerability, our brokenness, our shortcomings and failings to God, that together we may stand again, going forth into the world as a people who are strengthened, healed, and renewed.

Sunday February 22, 2026

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:32:49 GMT

Our annual Lenten pilgrimage has begun. Lent, it seems to me, is a profoundly misunderstood season. Over the years I have heard many share their dislike of this season because it is too dour. I have heard people lament that Lent is a time where we are told we are bad people; that it encourages a harmful posture of self-deprecation.

There are good reasons for this. The Church has a long history of using language around sin as a weapon to manipulate and control people, and as a tool to demonize those who do not fit a narrowly defined standard of being in the world. Like some of you, I too have experienced this in my own life both as a lay person and as a priest. I do not fault a single person who is wary of Lent. And, I hope that together we can shift our understanding of this holy season.

On Sunday we hear of Jesus’ time in the wilderness. After his baptism, Matthew tells us, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1, NRSV). Our wilderness experience of Lent is rooted in Jesus’ own experience. It is a time to resist temptation, to refuse to put God to the test, to place ourselves firmly in the arms of God - trusting that no matter what God will not forsake us.

This is our time to begin again by honestly naming where we are in this moment. We do this, in part, by naming our sins. It is important for us to be honest about all the ways we stray from the path of God, the barriers we put up to block God’s love from our lives, the ways we do not honor the belovedness of our neighbors. We name these things so that we can refocus ourselves on how God has called us to live. As we do so, we do not need to fear the wrath of a vengeful God. We can acknowledge these sins because our judgment is rooted in love. As we heard in the psalm on Ash Wednesday, “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness” (103:8, BCP p.733). Above all else, we name honestly the ways we have sinned as a statement of our commitment to strive for that still more excellent way, and our acknowledgment of our utter reliance on the mercy and love of God.

The work of Lent - fasting, praying, reading and meditating on Scripture - are the disciplines that help train us to focus on God, not the idols of this world; to remove the blinders and stumbling blocks from before our path; to accept that we can only thrive in this life by the grace of God.

I hope you will not give up on this season, especially if you have had a complicated relationship with it in the past. These times of difficulty and uncertainty are what Lent is made fore: uncertain wilderness times, when all seems bleak, and hope seems a distant luxury. Lent is made for times like these, for it draws us back to God - where all our hope is founded.

Please accept the gift of this season. The invitation to strip away all distractions and return to what matters most - reorienting our lives towards God; trusting that God greets us with mercy and compassion; committing the fullness of who we are to the love of God.

Sunday, February 13

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:04:05 GMT

As you know we were not able to gather for in-person worship last Sunday (February 8) due to inclement weather. I was disappointed to not have the opportunity to preach the sermon I wrote as it was inspired by a phone conversation I had with a parishioner during the week - a conversation I am profoundly grateful for, that raised the question: how are we called to respond to this moment in time? What follows is not the full sermon, but more or less the “so what does this all mean for us” part of what I would have preached. Before reading further, I invite you to read the lessons, especially the Gospel, from last week. You can find them here .

Do you know what the mission of the Church is? I’ll give you a hint, it is printed on the front of our bulletins each week . . . The mission of the Church, as is stated on page 855 of The Book of Common Prayer is, “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”

This phrase has consistently been at the forefront of my mind, regularly emerging in my own prayer and discernment. In these reflections I have also found myself wondering, how are we (individually, collectively, the entire body of Christ) doing at living out this call? So, beloved of God, I ask you, as we look out on the Church and the world, how are we doing at living into this vocation? Has this mission been achieved? Are we making progress towards its fulfillment? Have we missed the mark in living out this life of reconciliation? Or, option D, some combination of all of the above?

I wonder, how do we feel we are doing at living out this vocation here in this community? As the household of God at St. Thomas Church are we reconciled one to another?

Paired with this mission statement, I have also found myself regularly turning to words from St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians “As it is there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’ . . . If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (full passage 1 Corinthians 12:21-27, NRSV). Most striking in this, what rings loudest in my ears, is Paul’s counsel that no part of the body can say to another, I have no need of you; no member of the community can say to another member - you are not welcome or needed here. I wonder if the Bishops of the Episcopal Church had this in mind when they recently wrote, “The question before us is simple and urgent: Whose dignity matters? Our faith gives a clear answer: everyone’s” ( A Joint Letter from 154 Bishops of The Episcopal Church: Whose Dignity Matters? )

So what does all of this mean for us as the household of God at St. Thomas Church? A community that is not of one mind on any issue with the exception of our fondness for this place and our love and faith in Jesus. (For what it is worth, I do not think it is a bad thing that we represent a diversity of views and ideas). How are we being called right now to be the salt of the earth and light of the world in an increasingly bland and dark world?

First and foremost, I hope it goes without saying that it is contrary to our faith to villainize those we disagree with. As Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, NRSV). As our Bishops make clear in their statement, the dignity of everyone, without exception, matters. If we truly believe what we profess then we must recognize there is no such thing as an evil person - every single person who was, who is, who is to come is a beloved child of God; made in the image and likeness of God. That does not mean, however, that people do not do horrific and evils things; nor does it mean people should not be held accountable for their actions.

As we look at the full scope of Jesus’ ministry, as we look at the disciples and all that they did in Jesus’ name as they endeavored to be salt and light, there is something very important we need to notice. Everything Jesus does, everything the disciples do, is about addressing the needs before their eyes - what is afflicting the people right in front of them. This does not mean that they were ill-informed or did not care about the behavior of the leaders of the Roman Empire; but I think it does mean that they recognized where their ministry could do the most good.

There are innumerable needs and things to be done here in this community and around our state. Instead of stewing in anger, righteous as it may be, at things happening that are far beyond our control let us focus our attention locally where we can do the most good. I invite you to explore local, independent news outlets tracking local legislation and community meetings so that you can go and make your voice heard. I invite you to pay attention to our weekly email newsletter, the bi-weekly news from the Diocese, and the social media accounts of communities throughout our Diocese which regularly share opportunities to live out our faith in a multitude of ways. I invite you to go to the parish library and read the books on anti-racism, immigration, indigenous communities, full-inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, interfaith connections, and radical welcome of all people in the Church regardless of difference that we might be better informed and educated on the issues of our day and the intersection of those issues with our lives of faith. I especially invite those of you who did not participate in the formation and education programs around those topics to do so. I invite each and everyone you to commit yourselves to coming to church every single Sunday we are here that our worship might propel us into the world to make our faith incarnate. I invite you to talk to one another, respectfully and honoring the different view points and opinions we have, that we might learn from one another and be an example to this fractured world of what is possible when dignity and respect are afforded to all. I invite you, to, as Bishop Knisely recently wrote to the clergy of this Diocese, have grace with one another trusting that we are all doing the best we can to discern how we are being called to respond to these times. I invite you, for as long as I am serving as your Rector, to come and talk with me - let me buy you a cup of coffee or tea - and discern with you how God is calling you in this moment.

There is plenty of meaningful work to do, so let us not waste time on that which will do nothing other than add to the hate and vitriol around us. Let us be about the work of the Gospel and focus our attention on where we can make a difference.

Beloved of God, I dare you to actually be salt and light. If you accept this challenge I think you might just find that there are indeed brighter days ahead.

Sunday, November 30

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:10:38 GMT

Reflection by Linda Dickey, Vestry Member

Good morning. I am here as the last speaker for our Stewardship Campaign this year. The Stewardship Committee gets up here every year, and we humbly ask for your resources for our parish – your time, talent, and treasure, in order to keep our parish going. This year has been particularly challenging, knowing how difficult the world is right now for so many. We understand that the cost of everything has risen, and that many of us face insecurity daily. Even those of us still working are facing the threat of layoffs every day as we head off to work. We get it, and understand that this is not an easy ask. So, we don’t ask lightly or flippantly. We get up here to tell what St. Thomas means to each of us, and why we all need to pull together to meet our budgets and continue our mission and ministry. Several of us have spoken during the past few weeks about our love for St. Thomas and the community here, which includes each of you. I know each of you feels similarly about our parish, or you wouldn’t be here today, and faithfully week after week. Lisa and Josh spoke about what St. Thomas means to each of them, and last week Jacki gave us two different scenarios about what our parish could look like in 10 years.

This is really hard. We have just heard a painful announcement by our Wardens. We have to face the sobering reality that the economic climate is forcing us to make some real soul-searching and burdensome decisions about what to do with our resources, both as a parish and personally. This was a difficult announcement to hear, and to make. It is discouraging and scary. Yet before anyone despairs, we need to remember that St. Thomas has survived.

Our Parish has survived for 175 years. God has seen us through so much. There have been good years and lean years. Starting in 1851, we have held firm through the Civil War, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and countless other recessions, and global conditions. We even got through the bad fashion choices of the 1970s. Despite what was happening in the world, those who came before us held on. Our predecesors at this church have made the necessary sacrifices to survive, and to make sure the ministry of St. Thomas continued. They made sure that this church continued to stand as a witness to God’s love in our community. I am fairly new here, but I came here one week back in 2012, when the pews were packed, and a number of mothers and babies sat in the back. My son and I had just stopped in, on a whim. Life moved on, and he graduated high school and went on to college, and I moved out of the area. Ten years later, in 2022, I came back here alone, still traumatized by a recent divorce, and Cate immediately took me under her wing at the front door. In the fellowship hall, Mimi approached me and said she remembered me and my son from that one visit ten years before, and I ran into Jacki, whose son I used to babysit for more than 40 years ago. St. Thomas immediately felt like home. It is a place where all feel welcome and loved, and the compassion of Christ lives on.

Through the years many in our families have been baptized at this font, married at this altar, and bid goodbye to here. For generations, this church has been a sanctuary, where we have been nourished at this table, where we have found friends to celebrate with us in our joys, and comfort us in our sorrows. Here, we have learned what it means to love our neighbors, to seek justice, and to meet God and walk humbly with him.

We do not want to be the generation that loses what so many before us worked so faithfully to build . We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice and faith, and now we must become the stewards of tomorrow’s blessings.

And yet, this is not a moment for despair. It is a moment when we live up to our calling. God has always provided for this church, and for each of us individually. His provision has arrived not through chariots and miracles, but through the generosity and faithfulness of His people. The provision we pray for becomes real when we choose to give boldly and lovingly, believing that this church still has holy work to do.

God is not finished with us. There have been lean times throughout our history, but here we are, about the celebrate our 175 ^th anniversary. I intend to be around to see our 200 ^th , although it may be close. Some of our very youngest may even see our 250 ^th , along the way seeing their own children baptized and married here. Most of us have been around long enough to know which things in life are important and here to stay and which things are just passing. Our parish and its place in our lives and the lives of our families and community are among the most important.

Those who came before us gave with courage, often out of scarcity, trusting that their offerings would sustain a church they loved. Christ fed 5000 people with a few loaves and fishes when it was given willingly and in faith. Those before us gave in faith, love, and trust, and when they joyfully offered back to God what had been given to them, He blessed it and multiplied it. Today, their trust lives on in us.

This year, your pledge carries extraordinary significance. It is more than a number. It is a declaration that this church’s ministry matters. That its future matters. That the story of 175 years is not ending on our watch. That we have the Courage to Remain.

Prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to respond. Let your pledge be an act of gratitude for all this parish has been—and an act of hope for what it can still become. There are pledge cards available at the front door or in the parish hall. There is also a link in the parish newsletter to give online. Our in-gathering will be on December 7 ^th .

May God strengthen our resolve, deepen our generosity, and lead this beloved parish into a future shaped by faith, secured by hope, and sustained by love.

Thank you

Sunday, November 23

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 15:19:58 GMT

Post by parishioner Jacki Zahn

Picture this, it’s the year 2035. It’s a Sunday morning. You are driving through Greenville with your family, and you are passing St. Thomas Church. There are no cars in the parking lot. The handicap ramp is gone. The yard could use a bit of work and the rectory is now someone’s home.

“Oh, I remember going there,” you remind your family in the car. “I was baptized, confirmed and Dad and I were married there. My grandfather was a Senior Warden…’back in the day.’”

You go to another church now and you are happy…but there was SOMETHING about St. Thomas…you can’t put your finger on it…it was SPECIAL.

You reminisce about your time at St. Thomas, the parishioners, friends really; Christmas Bazaars, bake sales, vendor fairs, the Church Mouse. Weddings, baptisms, funerals…lots of funerals.

“I remember the Memorial Garden,” you tell your family, “we spread your grandparents’ ashes there when the Bishop came…I think it was about 10 years ago. That was his last visit to St. Thomas, he retired after that. Wow, time flies. I think Fr. Dante was the rector at the time…he moved on, we couldn’t afford a full time rector, we had interims but it kind of fell apart after that.” (Brief pause.) The tower is still there though.

I was one of those late “transfers” from Calvary Church in Pascoag. I started to come to St. Thomas in 2011. I attended on and off during that time. Then my mother passed away and I needed a church more convenient for her family to come to her funeral. I remember my husband, Conrad, was in charge of the collation in the church hall. Someone gave him the code to the door so he could let the caterer in. “They gave you the code,” I asked? They don’t know you from Adam. “I was kind of surprised,” he answered. “Apparently most people in Greenville know the code.” ��

In November of 2012, my Dad passed away, three weeks later my sister died. Their funerals were here. St. Thomas became MY church and my husband followed. In 2017 Conrad passed away and his funeral was here also.

.LONG PAUSE

It’s still 2035…Do you remember…

Making hot cross buns and handing them out in front of the church on Good Friday with Rev. Susan
Vestry meetings
Christmas bazaars
Pot luck suppers
Yard Sales
Sunday School
Trunk or Treat
Annual meetings
Transitions
Search committees
Blessing of the animals
Dollar Sundays
Reading the Bible in a year…oh that Old Testament was tough!

Do you remember…

COVID - Our new priest then, Fr. Dante, arrived in the midst of COVID and there was no one here to greet him…I think Mimi showed up!
Do you remember Wednesday evening Bible study with Fritz?

Bear with me a moment…can you take your hands and put them on the pew in front of you?

Rev. Susan Carpenter once told me, that sometimes when she was sitting in one of the pews, she thought of all of those parishioners, long gone now, who rested their hands on the back of those seats.

Do you remember them…

Marion
Arlene
Elva
Richard
Walter
Evelyn
Al
Paul
Audrey
Bob
Bill
Deborah
Charlie
Isabelle
Dennis
Conrad
Donna
Ron
Lonnie
Stephen
Carol
Gladys
Mimi
Normand
Mary
Nancy
Ruth
Maurice
Fritz

In Father Dante’s sermon last month he recounted the history of St. Thomas. February 5, 1891 was the first parish meeting.

Our next annual meeting will be in January 2026. Over one hundred years ago a group of people were so committed to spreading the joy of Jesus they struggled to get this building built and filled with enough people to keep it going. Over the years rectors and parishioners came and rectors and parishioners went.

Some of us won’t be here in 2035 but let’s envision this…

You drive TO St. Thomas Church, It’s Easter Sunday and the flowers are glorious. The parking lot is filled to overflowing (“Easter lilies”!). Many of our friends and family’s ashes have been laid in the Memorial Garden. The Rectory has been updated, and the Church Mouse continues to flourish. Not only do we have a Rector but there is a deacon! The Tower looks wonderful!

Please remember this…St. Thomas IS special!

Sunday, November 16

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 16:57:36 GMT

Reflection written by Josh North, Vestry Member

So every year the vestry retreat starts the same way with Dante asking us to introduce ourselves and say how long we have been a member of St. Thomas, which always makes me go “oh come on”, don’t worry it’s not the name part that trips me up, it’s how long I have been a member of St. Thomas. Allow me to explain.

My church upbringing has not been what you normally hear, there are some here who have been here all there lives and many who are on there second church, well for me this is my fifth church.

My faith journey actually starts 3 years before I’m born in 1990, when my mother was ordained a deacon in the diocese. I have been privileged to be in churches where the average Sunday attendance is 150 and ones where it is 10.

So what does this have to do with stewardship at St. Thomas? Well this is one of the most welcoming and loving communities, the way everyone looks out for and helps each other. These factors are what made me choose to come back to St. Thomas in 2018. I have loved to grow my faith here. I love that members here have become like family.

By giving to St. Thomas you will be giving others the opportunity to experience the wonderful community here. These factors are the reason I’m giving to St. Thomas and I hope you will too.

Sunday, November 9

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:53:45 GMT

Reflection written by Lisa Degnan, Clerk of the Vestry

When we hear the word stewardship, it can sound like we’re talking about money but really, it’s about gratitude. It’s about recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God, and asking how we can use those gifts to keep doing God’s work through this community here at St. Thomas.

Our pledges make possible the life we share, the worship, the programs, the outreach, the care we offer one another. But they also represent something much deeper: our belief in what God is doing in and through this church family.

For me, stewardship is personal. St. Thomas has become my community; a place where I’ve found belonging, comfort, and purpose. It’s where faith feels real, not just in words, but in the faces and hands of people who show up, who care, and who serve together.

When life has felt heavy, this church has been where I’ve found peace and strength. And when life has been joyful, it’s where I’ve shared that joy with people who genuinely care. That’s why I give, to help make sure others can find what I’ve found here: connection, support, a sense of home and a space that has helped me deepened my faith.

Our giving, whatever the amount, is one way we say thank you, God. It’s how we keep this community strong, welcoming, and ready to serve.

So as you think about your pledge for the coming year, I hope you’ll do it with gratitude not out of obligation, but as a way of saying, I believe in our church and what we do together.

Thank you for listening to me this morning and for all the ways you give… your time, your presence, your prayers, and your generosity. It’s what makes our community so special.

If you would like to make a pledge to St. Thomas for 2026, please click here .

Sunday, November 2

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:35:38 GMT

Happy Allhallowtide!

All-hallow-what? You might be asking yourself. Yes, it is Allhallowtide, or as some have referred to it the Autumnal Triduum, or even the Triduum of Death - though I’ll admit this last one sounds like the name of the latest blockbuster horror film, not a liturgical season. Allhallowtide is the name given to a series of three days where we give thanks for the lives of those who have died.

Today, October 31 is All Hallows’ Eve. On this night the Church celebrates the Vigil of All Saints Day, with fasting and praying in preparation for the great feast that is to come. It is sometimes said that the veil between this world and the realm of the dead is thinnest on this day - hence ghouls and goblins walk the night. Where candy comes into play, I do not know, maybe from traditions of leavings gifts for the departed. Regardless of the origin, I am not saying no to a Reese’s pumpkin or a handful of candy corn. This year we anticipated this commemoration a bit early with our 4th annual Trunk-or-Treat celebration on Sunday, October 26. Thank you to all who came out and made sure it was a fabulous celebration. Thus marks the first day of Allhallowtide.

Tomorrow, November 1 is All Saints’ Day. It is also referred to as All Hallows’ Day (where All Hallows’ Eve gets its name from), or Hallowmas. The word “hallow” means holy. For example in the Lord’s Prayer when we say, “Hallowed be thy name” we are proclaiming the holiness of God’s name. On All Saints’ Day the Church honors the Saints in heaven, and reminds us of our unity in the body of Christ which cannot be destroyed by death. On this day, we look to the saints of ages past for inspiration as we strive to live lives of holiness: people like St. Thomas, St. Peter, St. Paul, and others on our liturgical calendar. We will keep All Saints’ Day on the Sunday following, this year November 2. At both liturgies we will renew our baptismal vows, recommitting ourselves to the covenanted relationship we have with God. On All Saints’ Day, and the Sunday after, we remember our Baptism, willingly giving our lives, for we mean to be saints too. Thus marks the second day of Allhallowtide.

November 2, is the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed, also known as All Souls’ Day. It is on this day that we commemorate, as the name says, all the faithful departed. On this day that we remember those faithful people from our own lives who no longer walk this earthly pilgrimage with us. On this day we pray, “O God, Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children” (Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, p. 439). Over the last few years it has been our practice to gather on the evening of November 2 for a Requiem Eucharist for All Souls. However, this year things are a little different: in part because November 2 falls on a Sunday, and in part due to my physical limitations.

Instead of gathering for a separate liturgy this year, we are going to incorporate one of our All Souls’ practices into our All Saints’ day worship. On All Souls’ Day we include in the prayers of the people, a list of names of all our beloved dead. This year, that list will be included in the prayers of the people on Sunday morning. All are invited to submit names, even if you are not able to join us on Sunday morning. Please do email me names no later than tomorrow (Saturday) night. Thus marks the third day of Allhallowtide.

These three days: All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day come together to form Allhallowtide. I hope you will join us as we keep these days in which we celebrate the saints of the Church, remember and give thanks for our beloved dead, and look forward to the hope and promise given to us when we have completed our earthly pilgrimage.

Sunday, October 26

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:16:24 GMT

This is one of the most glorious times of the year. The leaves are turning, its finally sweater weather, and life in the parish is blossoming once more - not that there is ever really dull moments around here. In the weeks ahead we will continue to have wonderful occasions to gather together for friends and fellowship, for spiritual renewal, and for various fundraising opportunities. As I look at the calendar through the end of the year it is clear we have opportunities to deep our lives in all aspects of parish ministry.

This Sunday we gather for our 4th annual Trunk-or-Treat. Word on the street is I’m not the only one giving out full sized candy bars this year! This is a favorite event as it is a time for us to be silly together, to laugh, and enjoy one another company on a beautiful (fingers crossed) fall day.

On November 8 our 4th Vendor Faire season kicks-off. It’s hard to believe we are already at the fourth season. Thanks to the wonderful leadership of our fundraising team this effort is now well known in the community, gaining a following of its own. If you have not been to a Vendor Faire yet please make every effort to come on our this year. Not only is it important to support the local vendors with their wonderful creations, it is also a time of fellowship, where relationships are built between people who would not have met otherwise, and, it is an important fundraising opportunity for our community. In addition, this year the November Vendor Faire will also include a blood drive. You can find more information on that later in this update.

When you come on a Vendor Faire day there is more than just what happens in the parish hall. The Church Mouse is in high gear too! Open an hour earlier than a typical Saturday, and there is the addition of yard sales in the parish hall basement. It is a time of special activity and excitement.

Along with these opportunities of fellowship and fundraising we have opportunities for renewal of faith as well. Our Episcopal 101 course kicks off next week (more information below) is an opportunity for cradle Episcopalians and people new to our tradition to learn more about our way of being the Jesus movement. On November 16, Bishop Knisely makes is official visitation. He will be with us as celebrant and preacher, led a forum between the liturgies, and meet with the vestry. While here he will also confirm and receive several members of our community.

You may remember that we have begun a pattern with our friends at the Church of the Redeemer, Providence for joint quiet days in Advent and Lent. That will continue this year. On December 6, all are invited to attend this year’s Advent Quiet Day at the Redeemer led by Sr. Sarah from the Society of St. Margaret. More on that to come.

And we cannot forget our Thanksgiving and Christmas outreach project either. The Thanksgiving Basket Drive is already underway, and before we know it the Giving Tree will be upon us. Sign up sheets for the Thanksgiving Baskets are on the ministry table in the parish hall.

It is a wonderful gift to have a community filled with such life. I invite you to take full advantage of it. Make yourself available for all that we have to offer. Immerse yourself in fellowship, share in the work of fundraising, commit to deepening your spiritual life, help care for our neighbors. This is what being the Church is all about. I hope you will come and join us.

Sunday, October 19

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:21:13 GMT

Post Written By: Josh North, Vestry Member

While you may have heard of Dollar Sunday, you may not know its origin. The idea came from dedicated parishioner Al Parrillo, who believed one Sunday each month should be set aside to collect funds specifically for the maintenance and preservation of our beautiful church property.

This month, our Dollar Sunday focus will be on the memorial garden. We are hoping to raise $500 to help cover expenses for some projects to help with covering an electrical conduit, painting, fencing, and other needs to prepare the area.

As both a Vestry member and a fellow parishioner, I see the great love and generosity you all show this church every day. I know you give freely, and I humbly ask that you consider making a contribution—large or small—to this month’s Dollar Sunday goal. Your help is essential to making this project a reality. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.

Sunday, October 12

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:17:23 GMT

In looking at the readings for this Sunday, I found myself particularly struck by the epistle (second reading). Again this week we hear from the Second Letter of Paul to Timothy. In this letter Paul is trying to encourage his young protégé from his prison cell. This must have been an incredibly difficult moment for Timothy. How hard to see your mentor in prison? What fear it must have inspired; wondering if the same fate would befall him.

With these words Paul is trying to strengthen Timothy to hold onto hope even when things seem bleak. Timothy is able to do that only because of his relationship with Jesus. Timothy has died with Christ, and therefore shall also live with him. These words from Paul, however are not for Timothy alone.

These words are for the community Timothy serves as well. Things have grown complicated. Timothy is being urged to remind those with whom he shares ministry to remember the faith they have inherited, and to keep their hope alive.

Effectively Paul is saying to Timothy, and to the community, that there is so much that can distract and weigh you done. There is much in this life which may draw you away from God; lure you away from the vocation of discipleship to which you have been called. When that happened, know that God is faithful. This is an invitation to hold onto even when hope seems impossible - for is we endure we shall also reign with him.

In reading these words, I was reminded of one of my favorite prayers. Written by Thomas Merton, if has become known simply as the Merton Prayer. In times when things grow difficult, when hope is not always the easiest thing to hold onto, when I am uncertain of what will happen next, I turn to this prayer seeking that support I need to remember to keep going.

I offer this prayer to you that you may find strength and comfort in it. That just as Paul does for Timothy, Merton’s words might help us remember our vocation as disciples of Jesus.

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though

I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Sunday, October 5

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:25:54 GMT

This weekend we remember St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most - if not the most - beloved saints of the Church (after St. Thomas obviously). Francis is best known as the patron saint of animals. Inspired by blessed Francis we invite all God’s creatures great and small to worship on Sunday at 10am, and at 11am for a brief blessing service outside on the lawn. Please note the 8am liturgy will be an animal free zone. I hope you will join us for these gathering and encourage your friends to come along and join us for the glorious adventure which is about to unfold. Seriously bring whatever animals you have - cats, dogs, chickens, goats, cows, horses - all are welcome!

Blessed Francis’ legacy goes far beyond his love of animals, though the other part of his story is often neglected. Francis made the bold decision, to follow the call of Jesus, giving up all that he had to serve the poor. There is a dramatic story of this moment, but you’ll have to come join us this weekend to hear the rest of the tale.

Blessed Francis’ commitment to his faith allowed him to proclaim the Gospel not only in words but in deeds. By renouncing the vanities of this world, Francis was able to live in harmony with creation in a way he could not do otherwise. He literally cast off all the things that seperated him from God - that put barriers in his relationship. This took tremendous courage, and was a serious risk, but in the process he discovered a life more abundant than he could have ever imagined.

Just like Blessed Francis we are called to give sacrificially for the work of God - giving of our financial resources, our talents, our time, and our very lives. As we gather this weekend, may we be inspired by the witness of Francis, and give fully to the work of God in this place.

Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (Collect for Francis of Assisi).

Sunday, September 28

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:41:24 GMT

This Sunday we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke. In particular we hear the story of Dives and Lazarus, which follows immediately after the parable of the unjust steward which we hear this past Sunday. Whenever I hear this passage two things immediately come to my mind. The first is Ralph Vaughn Willams “Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus.’” A beautiful piece which you can listen to here . And yes, I am listening to it as I write this. The second, is a bit more . . . out of the box . . . for this passage also brings to mind the phrase “it’s getting late early,” one of the great sayings from Yogi Berra; the legendary New York Yankees catcher, not to be confused with the cartoon bear of a similar name.

Now Berra originally said this as a statement about the shadows over the outfield late in the season making it difficult to see, but over time it has come to refer to situations of great urgency. When time is growing short and things need to change. So what’s this, you might be wondering, have to do with the story of Dives and Lazarus. Well, I’m glad you asked.

In this story we hear of a Dives, a rich man, who enjoys all the finer things in life; and of Lazarus, a poor man suffering at the rich man’s gate. When Lazarus dies he is carried away by angels to be with Abraham. The rich man dies, is buried, and ends up in Hades where is he tormented. From Hades, Dives calls up to Abraham asking for relief, but the gap between the two places cannot be crossed. When his request is denied and he learns there is no hope for him; he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers that they might be warned and spared the fate he now endures. Again Abraham says no. He tells Dives that they have Moses and the prophets to listen to. Dives insists. Then the passage ends with Abraham saying, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises form the dead” (Luke 16:31, NRSV).

This passage is a stark reminder that our actions have consequences; that what we do in this life matters - especially when it comes to how we treat those in need. It is also a reminder that there is urgency.

This passage invites us to consider who are the poor at our door. While we might not literally find people in poverty at our doorstep, that does not mean we are without neighbors in need. How do we care for them? How do we recognize and honor their humanity? How do we see them as beloved children of God? We have heard from Moses and the prophets, we have heard from the apostles and martyrs, we have heard from Jesus himself. My friends, it’s getting late early. We must act while there is time.

Let us not be complacent thinking there will be time later. Many in the world around us are hurting and in need of help and comfort; needing someone to tell them the good news of God. Let us be those people. We cannot fix everything, but we can make a difference in this world one person at a time. Let us find Lazarus in our own time, that he might know good things as well.

Sunday, September 21

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 21:16:04 GMT

I had to laugh when I first read the Collect of the Day for this Sunday. At the outset of our liturgy we will pray:

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (BCP p. 234).

Truth be told, I barely made it through the first few words before I started to chuckle. “Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things.” Over the last nearly 12 weeks I have been dealing with levels of anxiety I’ve rarely known previously thanks to the severe flare up of my degenerative disc disease. But, if I’m being truly honest, the uncertainty around my health is not the only anxiety producing thing in these days.

We are living through another era in human history that is incredibly anxiety producing: war and the threat of war rages around the world, this fragile earth our island home is in crisis as environmental catastrophe looms, poverty and hunger are on the rise, economic uncertainty prevails, political violence plagues our nation, not to mention all the everyday personal things that keep us up at night. Frankly, there have been some upsides to being largely home bound for the last two and a half months.

It seems that it is for such a time as this that our Collect of the Day was written. It is far too easy to be overwhelmed by all that is happening in our nation and in the world. It is far too easy for us to be pulled in every direction trying to process it all, and maybe even easier to stick our heads in the sand ignoring it all. But that is not what we are called to.

We are called to keep our attention fixed on the things of God. We are called to “love things heavenly.” Our collect reminds us that nothing in this world lasts forever. Only God is eternal. While these earthly things pass away around us, our task is to hold onto God and the promises God has made to us. God through the prophets of ages past has promises to never leave us comfortless. God through the apostles promises to continue the good works of healing, restoration, and wholeness. God, in the person of Jesus, promises us everlasting life in the Kingdom which shall not pass away. God stoops down, taking on the frailty of our human flesh, to come among us promising love which surpasses all that our minds can fathom. This is what we need to hold onto.

This Sunday, I hope you will come and worship. As we gather around the altar, as is true every time we approach the holy table, you are invited to bring all that holds you captive: your anxiety, fear, and anything else that prevents you from holding fast to the things of God. Bring these things to the altar and leave them there, trading them for the gift of the Sacrament - the most Sacred Body and Blood of our Savior. Come and receive the bread of life; come and be strengthened to love that which shall endure.

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:58:33 GMT

From the Rector

The Rev'd Dante A. Tavolaro

Dear People of St Thomas,

This is not the letter I thought you would be reading this week. Before I left for my sabbatical and vacation, I wrote a piece about the importance of time of rest and restoration; encouraging us all to do that which feeds our souls, taking full advantage of all that our beloved Ocean State has to offer. But, as we know all too well, sometimes things do not go as planned. Sadly, that is true for my sabbatical.

While June was quite profound, magical even, things went south quickly in July. As some of you are aware, last year I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. My understanding is that 90% of people have it by the time they are 60, and 30% by 35. Of those, a small number have significant symptoms - guess I won the genetic lottery. For me, the L4-L5 disc in my spine is collapsing and pushing against my sciatic nerve. That is why I was using a cane through the Spring of 2024. Thankfully with the help of medical intervention (epidural corticosteroid injection) and physical therapy I was able to resume all normal activity. When I noticed symptoms on my left side, previously was only symptomatic on the right, I called my doctor, and we scheduled another injection. Things were in place, and I was able to carry on with minimal limitations. That was all true until June 30. That evening I moved the wrong way and was instantly in significant pain. By the next night I was in the worst pain of my life, barely able to move or walk. Thing were so bad I ended up in the emergency room (the first of two visits through the month).

On July 10 I had the injection and hoped that would get me back on my feet. Three weeks later I had my follow up and was saddened by the fact that I had not made as much progress as I had hoped: only able to stand for a few minutes at a time, struggled to walk upright, and dealing with fairly constant pain of varying degree. My medical provider however was not surprised and told me that all of this was completely normal, especially given the place I was in prior to the injection. A moment of great emotional relief. The best next step is to have another injection, which is scheduled for August 21. My doctor has told me I am an excellent candidate for this, and we hope this will get me back on my feet. But there are no guarantees and sometimes people can need up to 3 injections in acute situations.

Given where I am now, the uncertainty of how I will respond to the next injection, and in consultation with my doctor and the support of the Bishop, I have made the decision to end my sabbatical a few days early, cancel my vacation, and go on medical leave. I am sure you have many questions so let me try to anticipate a few.

When will I return? Given that I am making slight progress each day (I actually left my house for the first time the other day and not just for a trip to the ER or doctor’s office!), and have responded well to the injections before, I am living in deep hope that I will return to the parish along the original sabbatical/vacation timeline. While I may not be gone any longer than originally anticipated, going on medical leave allows me flexibility so that I do not have to rush my recovery and risk further set back.

What happens if I am gone longer than anticipated? The Bishop has offered his support to work with the Wardens to make sure that the parish has the clergy coverage it needs. But, hopefully it will not come to that.

What does this mean financially for the parish? Short term disability is different for clergy as we do not pay TDI. Therefore, our medical leave does not go through the state, but rather through the Church Pension Fund. My understanding is that the parish will be reimbursed for 70% of my compensation during my leave. Jane, our bookkeeper and administrator, also works for the Finance office of the Diocese and can explain this better than I can. Bottom line, this will not negatively affect the parish.

I know that this might cause some fear and anxiety in our community, I am sorry for that. Please know I have every intention in returning to our community. I look forward to continuing the good work that God has called us to do. In the meantime, I give profound thanks to our parish leadership for their work in keeping things going, and to all our volunteers who work so diligently in the ministries of our community. We are blessed indeed.

I ask your prayers for my continued recovery, especially for patience as being couch-bound is wearing rather thin. Please know that you all remain in my prayers as well. With my abiding gratitude.

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:50:31 GMT

Amanda Scott

Senior Warden

Dear People of St Thomas,

Summer brings so many memories of the hope and promise of grand adventures, when you’re carefree and have no responsibilities. When I was in elementary school, my friends and I would wander about the neighborhood, feral, without boundaries, drinking from the hose, living off of freeze pops, and making sure we were home by 8:00. There was no real structure and days could be wiled away. When I was a teenager, I read Stephen King novels borrowed from the library, watched Baywatch, and made homemade caramel popcorn when a new miniseries was on ABC, CBS, or NBC in between my time working the drive-thru at the local McDonald’s. My brothers and I were raised by our mom and grandmother. Money was tight and dreams of fancy summer vacations were just that - dreams. We worked, we ate at the dinner table each night, and watched TV for entertainment. No grand adventures there and not too exciting to my teenage brain.

As I got older, I decided to become a teacher. An English teacher, to be exact. I’m sure reading well-beyond-my-years books had something to do with that! With the decision to become a teacher came a tight budget. Like my mother, I, too, was a single mom raising my boy on a small salary. So, again, summer was a time of dreams of far away places while hanging out in the backyard with a sprinkler and some popsicles, watching TV or the stars in the sky.

Fast forward to today and life still hasn’t seen me flying off to grand adventures or relaxing on a pink sand beach. My family comes first and there are college visits, taking aging parents to doctors for appointments, and visiting my mom in the Alzheimer’s Care Unit. Carefree still has not been a word in my vocabulary nor has money ever been free flowing. But you know what? That’s ok.

Our lessons for this Sunday speak about the treasures in heaven. Colossians 3:2-3 states “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” That is definitely as hard a lesson in today’s society as it was in Jesus’ time. We are bombarded with commercials about the next best thing, the newest iPhone, the brightest gadget, the far-away trips. It is so hard not to think we deserve all the things. I’ve had some time for introspection these last few months since my mom went to the Alzheimer’s Care Unit. I’ve come to know my time with her as a blessing - one that she may not remember from day to day, but one that makes her happy and comforted and lets me show her love in the small things.

There’s a beautiful line in the musical Les Miserables that I have found myself of late singing. “To love another person is to see the face of God.” God is all around us every day in the faces of our family and cherished loved ones. We do not need fancy clothes, trips to far off places, or nights out at the finest restaurants. We need love. We need the promise and hope that Christ Jesus has given to us. We need God in each other - in the summer nights of laughter, the popsicles and sticky faces, the stars above, and the memories of time spent together. These are not things that we buy and store up. They are everyday experiences and feelings that carry us through to the promise of what lies ahead and what awaits us in heaven.

I ask you to look to the last month of summer, before the hustle and bustle of the world creeps back in and find God in each other. Because as Dante says in his sermons, we are all beloved of God. See God in the people around you and know that they see God in you. Not in what you have, but in who you are.

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:45:17 GMT

From Dawn Franceschini

Treasurer

Dear Friends of St. Thomas,

Lately I have been thinking about the fragility of human nature and how we take our lives and health for granted until something happens to get our attention. Think cosmic sit-down, where you have no input or control over what is happening or has happened. You feel vulnerable in ways you haven’t before. What will I do? Who will help me? Does anyone care about me? Will I be a burden? Will I be able to return to my pre-event life? And many other thoughts that creep in uninvited and unexpected.

Our faith in God sees us through all travails as we see in Psalm 91; 1-4

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Let us relax into the Lord, for He is our constant companion.

Dawn Franceschini

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:38:29 GMT

From Jane Peach

Administrator & Bookkeeper

Dear Friends of St. Thomas,

I want to start out by saying what a pleasure it is to work here at St. Thomas! When I volunteered to help Father Dante with the accounting side of office work, I did not know that I would meet such a great group of people and fellow Episcopalians. After helping with accounting for about a year, Father Dante mentioned that he would be looking for a part time administrator. I thought about it for about a second, and then asked if my name could be put on a possibility list. After Vestry discussion, I was offered the position. And I have loved working here ever since (September will be a year).

Everyone here has been warm and welcoming. You have the best groups of volunteers that I have seen: Readers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Thrift Shop volunteers, Vendor Faire volunteers, Office Help, and Counters.

I hope to meet more of you as I attend your services occasionally. If I don’t meet you in church, please feel free to stop by the parish office Wednesdays 9-3.

Peace,

Jane

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:31:51 GMT

Written by Vestry Member, Linda Dickey

Dear Friends of St. Thomas,

Our reading for this Sunday is Luke 10:25-37, the well-known story of the Good Samaritan. Imagine, if you will, that you have need to travel to a nearby city, but to get there, you have to travel a dangerous road – one beset by all manner of obstacles. Eighteen miles downhill on a winding, stony pathway, in the parching sun and dust, with little water along the way. Thieves are around every turn. To make it worse, you determine to do it alone, an unwise decision. Inevitably you come across some thieves, who attack and take everything you own, even the clothes on your back, leaving you for dead on the side of the road. In your weakened state, you see religious leaders and religious people pass you by. Finally, a member of a marginalized community, whom you have been taught to hate, approaches. You think you are done for, but he takes care of you, at his own expense, and brings you to safety.

Most of us are familiar with this story in this Sunday’s gospel, but we have been taught to look at it from the other side. We have usually been the one doing the helping, not receiving it, in our version of this story. Jesus was answering the question of ‘who is my neighbor’ in a raw, real way, not in the abstract. He doesn’t say ‘those who live next to us’, or ‘those in our social class’, or ‘those whom I like’. When life has beaten us down, and we are in dire need of help, it is those whom we least expect, and those whom we may have looked down upon, who step up to help. So, in response to the question of ‘Who is my neighbor?’, Jesus states that our neighbor is anyone who needs our kindness, or gives us the same, no matter their proximity or status, no matter who they are. No matter if we feel they deserve it or not.

This was brought home to me one day a few years ago in Mississippi, as my wife and I were driving in the city of Jackson. At a stoplight, an obviously high young man, who had clearly not washed in weeks, stumbled into the side of our car. My first reaction was to want to close the window and pray that the light would turn green quickly. My wife, however, got out of the car, led the man to safety on the side of the road, and made him sit in the shade. She left him with a bottle of water and all the cash in her wallet, not caring what he might do with it. This man was most likely one of the majority of Jackson residents who often gave us, as a lesbian couple, difficulty on a daily basis in that part of town, and looked down on us. Yet, like the Samaritan in the story, she displayed kindness and mercy towards him when he needed help, clearly showing who was her neighbor. Ashamed, I felt like the priest or Levite in the story. We have all been various characters in the story at one point or another in our lives, needing help from others, and giving help when we can.

The Samaritan in Jesus’ parable is not just a kind individual; he is a model of what beloved community looks like—rooted in mercy, not merit; in kinship, not convenience. The Book of Common Prayer reminds us in the Baptismal Covenant that we are to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself”. Let us continue to do likewise this week, as so many in this community do so well, not out of desire for praise or approval, or out of guilt, but out of love for each other and all our neighbors.

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Sunday, July 6, 2025

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:28:48 GMT

Written by Josh North, Vestry Member

Dear Friends of St. Thomas,

We’re now into the summer months, which means it’s time for Dante’s sabbatical. This is such an important season, not only for him, but for all of us. Growing up in the church, with my mom serving as a deacon, I spent a lot of time talking with priests and seeing how their role has changed over the years. I’ve also seen how easily priests can get burned out by the demands of running a parish. A sabbatical isn’t just a break—it’s a chance for them to rest, recharge, and explore their faith and the world in new ways.

So why does this matter to us? Over the past 15 years, we’ve all heard about the clergy shortage in the church. That’s part of what brought us to this point—going from having a different supply priest each week in the past, to now balancing supply clergy with Morning Prayer. This is our moment to show ourselves, and the diocese, that St. Thomas in Greenville isn’t just getting by—we’re thriving.

How do we do that? By coming together and staying connected. We’ve got some wonderful things planned, and while you’ll hear more soon, here’s a little sneak peek.

In July, we’ll have the third round of St. Thomas Movie Night. We’ve already watched what pets do when we’re not home, and we’ve soared through the stars—now we’re heading to the ballpark with the all-time classic The Sandlot. Then in August, we’ll bring worship outdoors for “Prayer in the Air”—an evening of Evening Prayer under the sky, followed by a cookout. It’ll be a chance to share in something special together.

This is a time for us to lean on each other, celebrate who we are as a community, and keep growing together. I can’t wait to see how we shine.

Please keep an eye out for information on these events and feel free to ask me questions

Beloved of God with many blessings

Sunday, June 15

dante@stthomasepiscopalri.org (Dante Tavolaro) — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 17:45:40 GMT

For the better part of the last year, I have been in discernment about what I would do for my sabbatical. Truth be told, it is hard for me to believe that the time for my sabbatical leave has finally arrived.

Clergy sabbaticals are a time when clergy are released from regular ministry for the purpose of study, theological reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthening of skills for their ministry. Sabbatical is an important part of the work and ministry of clergy. It is time for professional development, enrichment of a clergy person’s spiritual life, and a time for rest and renewal. It is also a time for renewal of one’s sense of vocation and extended study not possible during the typical work year. In the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island clergy are eligible for 3 months of sabbatical upon completing 5 years of ministry in a particular congregation. Clergy are still granted their month (5 Sundays) of vacation in sabbatical years, as sabbatical and vacation are two different things.

As I reflected on my sabbatical, I felt that being away for four months of the year (three sabbatical and one vacation) was too long to be away for where we are at this time. It would also mean missing major things in the life of the parish. I have therefore decided to take two of my three months this year along with vacation, and next year I will take my third month along with vacation. In order to be as least disruptive to parish life as possible, I’ve also decided to take this time in the summer where I will, with the exception of City Camp, not miss any major events; instead of taking it during an academic semester in order to take course work at one of our local colleges/universities.

Having just celebrated our 5th anniversary of shared ministry together (June 1), and my 8th ordination anniversary (June 3rd) now is the right moment for me to step back for this time of reflection, renewal, and learning that I might return ready to lead out community in this next chapter of our life together.

The work of my sabbatical will be focused on building relationships across lines of difference. I have put together an independent reading list covering a wide range of topics from: discernment, parish life, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, political division, doctrine of discovery, interfaith relationships, and environmental stewardship. I firmly believe that as Rector, I cannot ask you all to do anything I am not willing to do myself, so I need to ensure that I am continuing to push myself to grow and expand my knowledge and experience just as I ask you to do. Through this reading I also intend to draft studies to be used in our parish upon my return. Particularly I will work on revising a curriculum specially for the Episcopal Church and the LGBTQ+ community that I first developed in college.

My time away will also include retreat at the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA; and a trip to Western MA to explore the way art can help unite us and expand our understanding of the world around us; and worshiping in the community that sponsored me for ordination (The Church of the Redeemer, Providence). There will also be time for me to explore new spiritual disciples, and reconnect with family and friends. You can read more about my sabbatical on our parish website .

All of this would not be possible without the support of the vestry, for which I am truly grateful. I cannot articulate what a gift it is to be gone for an extended period of time knowing the parish is in such good hands. It is not just the Wardens and Vestry who give me the confidence that I can set away, it is all of you. This parish is blessed with so many ministry leaders carrying on the good and important work of our community. I am abundantly grateful to you all, know the good work we’ve been doing together will continue this summer. I also want to express my gratitude to Bishop Knisely for providing us with a $2500 grant to financially support this time.

While I am on sabbatical I encourage all of you to find ways to engage in this work as well. In the parish library you will find a partial copy of my reading list and several titles available to take home to read. When I return, I will host a variety of sessions to discuss some of these books. One particular book I would encourage everyone in the parish to read is Killers of the Flower Moon. Copies of this book are available in the parish library. On Saturday, September 13 Amanda Scott will lead us in conversation to reflect on this book and the issues it raises. Later in the fall we will also take a field trip in connection with the book and gather to watch the movie it inspired.

If reading is not your things, there are other ways you can share in this work. Take time to volunteer with City Camp and spend time getting to know the amazing campers whose lived experience is different than what most of us know. Maybe you are feeling up for a field trip of your own and want to visit one of the other faith communities in our area. Rhode Island is home to a wide variety of faith traditions beyond Christianity, all doing wonderful things for in our state. Or find something who things differently than you do and invite them to coffee where you can listen to their story and learn from their experience.

Maybe you want to take this time for your own spiritual renewal. Take time to pray, and recommit yourself to your relationship with God. Be faithful in attendance here at St. Thomas, explore options for personal devotion in the Book of Common Prayer, or find other forms of prayer - spending time in nature, listening to music, create something, cook, or whatever else helps you connect with God.

I hope to return this fall strengthened and renewed for the next chapter of our ministry together. As I said before, I say again - I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us next.

Sunday, June 8

dante@stthomasepiscopalri.org (Dante Tavolaro) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:27:32 GMT

We have arrived at the end of our celebration of Eastertide. This Sunday is the Day of Pentecost, the 50th day after Easter Day, and the conclusion of this season. On the Day of Pentecost, a principal feast day on the Church calendar, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. We read in the Acts of the Apostles that on this day “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:4, NRSV). This enabled them to preach the Good News of God to every family, language, people, and nation in languages the people could understand. After this moment, as Peter addresses the crowds, those who believed in his message were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the household of God (Acts 2:41).

As we gather on Sunday to celebrate the Day of Pentecost, we will share in the tradition of welcoming others into the household of God. At our 10:00am liturgy we will baptized Hope and Tanner. As we rejoice with Hope, Tanner, and their families, all os us (at both services) will have the opportunity to renew our own baptismal vows. Once more we will proclaim, “I will, with God’s help” as we recall the ways we have been called to live in this world by virtue of our baptism.

These vows create the framework we are called to live by, the reference points we follow as we make decisions for our daily life and work. In the midst of the uncertainty and chaos of the world around us, it is especially appropriate to refocus ourselves on practicing this way of life. As we celebrate this great festival day, as we prepare to renew our vows, I hope you will some some time reflecting on how God is calling you to live out these promises in your life personally and in our life collectively.

How will you, and how will we . . .

. . . continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowing, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers?

. . . persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

. . . proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

. . . seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

. . . strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

With God’s help, and only with God’s help, we can live this way of love. When we commit ourselves to this way, when we commit ourselves to God, we might just find that our hearts have been set aflame by the power of the Holy Spirit. When that happens - the world better watch out. For the last time that happened, 100 people turned the known world upside down.

Sunday, June 1

Sat, 31 May 2025 22:04:48 GMT

This week (Thursday, May 29) the Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension, a principal feast on the Church’s calendar. This is the day we remember Christ’s ascension into heaven bringing in resurrected body to the thrown of God.

Jesus’ final words to his disciples before he is lifted up are, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NRSV). Jesus gives them one last commission before he departs from them, instructing them to go out and be his witnesses - doing all that they watched him do during their journey together. They are to do this not only in the places which are familiar, but to the very ends of the known world. After Jesus ascends, the disciples are stuck gazing heavenward. Then suddenly two men in white robes appear and say, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven” (Acts 1:11, NRSV)? The disciples cannot just stand in place, they must be on their way.

Given the state of our world, we might be tempted to stand still, continually gazing heavenward. The chaos and confusion around us can be so overwhelming that we want to retreat from it all; not to mention the way the myriad of emotions we feel might cause of to freeze up not knowing what to do next. Truthfully there are more times than I care to admit that my prayer is for Jesus to come again in glory, brining the suffering of this world to an end and ushering into its fullness the kingdom of God. We may wish to continue gazing upward, but that is not a luxury we, or the world, can afford.

We must be on our way preparing ourselves to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Preparing ourselves to be filled with the power of God so that we might go into the world bearing witness to Jesus in every corner imaginable.

Beloved of God, come and worship this week, join in this work of prayer and preparation, come be nourished and strengthened, that we might go to every corner imaginable to proclaim the glories of our risen and ascended Lord.

Rector Sabbatical 2025

It is the practice and policy of this Diocese that after completing five years of ministry in a congregation a Rector is eligible for a three month sabbatical (in addition to usual vacation time). Sabbatical is a time set apart, when clergy are released from regular ministry for the purpose of study, theological reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthening of skills for their ministry. Sabbatical is an important part of the work and ministry of clergy.

As announced at the Annual Meeting in January, I will be taking the first part of my sabbatical this summer. I believe being gone for four months in one year is too much. Therefore I will take two months of my sabbatical and vacation this summer, and my third sabbatical month and vacation next summer. I will be on Sabbatical from June 9 - August 9, vacation from August 10 - September 8, and will return to the parish on Tuesday, September 9. Over the next couple of weeks I will write more about my sabbatical plans in our newsletter. For now, I am deeply grateful to our parish leadership for their support of this Sabbatical and to Bishop Knisely for providing a grant which will fully cover the costs of this time.

Sunday, May 25

Thu, 22 May 2025 15:25:41 GMT

This week we celebrate one of the optional observances in the life of the Church - Rogationtide. The weekdays following the Sixth Sunday of Easter (specifically the Monday - Wednesday) are the annual Rogation days. These days are collectively known as Rogationtide (just like the great fifty days of Easter are known as Eastertide). The Book of Common Prayer allows us to anticipate these days and so we are going to do just that.

The word “Rogation” comes from the Latin word “rogare” which means, “to ask.” During these three days we ask God’s blessing upon creation as new crops are planted. We pray that God will send favorable weather, with the right balance of sun, rain, and moderate temperatures resulting in a bountiful harvest. Traditionally parishes marked Rogationtide with a solemn procession around the bounds of the parish while they prayed the Great Litany. At the conclusion of the 10am liturgy we will keep a simplified version of this prayer in our church year.

Rogationtide reminds us of the interconnectedness of all creation. It can be easy for us to forget we are one with the whole created order. The sun, moon, stars, plants, flowers, vegetables, streams, rivers, animals, and all of humanity are united as one - united as God’s beloved creation. These days highlight for us that God made all there is and has entrusted us with the care of the created order. We have been given the responsibility to care for the beauty of God’s creation. As faithful stewards of God’s handiwork, we shared in God’s acts of creation.

The words of Hymn 705 - which we will sing this Sunday - offers us an excellent reflection on our role as participants in God’s creation, and our responsibility to always offer the first fruits of our labors (whatever they might be) to God.

As those of old their first fruits brought of vineyard, flock, and field

to God, the giver of all good, the source of bounteous yield;

so we today our first fruits bring, the wealth of this good land,

of farm and market, shop and home, of mind, and heart, and hand.

A world in need now summons us to labor, love, and give;

to make our life an offering to God that all may live;

the Church of Christ is calling us to make the dream come true:

a world redeemed by Christ-like love; all life in Christ made new.

With gratitude and humble trust we bring our best to thee

to serve thy cause and share thy love with all humanity.

O thou who gavest us thyself in Jesus Christ thy son,

help us to give ourselves each day until life’s work is done.

As we make this seasonal transition may we give thanks for the beauty of creation which God has so generously provided.

Sunday, May 18

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:21:46 GMT

Time seems to be moving rather quickly these days. I wonder if you feel it too? To me if feels like we have just concluded our intense, dramatic, mystical, and glorious worship of Holy Week. Surely that was just a moment ago, yet here we are on the cusp of the 5th Sunday after Easter Day. I am not really sure where the last four weeks have gone. As the days speed by we are rapidly approaching the end of the great 50 days of Eastertide. Pentecost, that great principal feast of the Church, is just a few weeks away - this year celebrated on June 8.

Over these initial weeks of Eastertide we have witnessed Jesus’ continued presence with the disciples in his resurrected body: visiting them in the upper room, offering them peace in the midst of fear; cooking breakfast for them on the beach; offering reconciliation to Peter after this threefold denial on Good Friday. During this season we also hear, from the Acts of the Apostles, how those earliest disciples learned to carry on the work Jesus commanded them to do in the aftermath of his death and resurrection.

These stories, these treasures, we have encountered again this season are not the only Eason why Eastertide is known as the Queen of Seasons. Just as this season begins with important feasts and celebrations, the conclusion of Eastertide provides another set of feasts for us to observe. Over the next few weeks we will keep various celebrations which help us make the patterns of our life of faith - which help us remember the continued work of God in the world. These celebrations are captured in the mnemonic device RAPT - a lovely trick I learned from one of the matriarchs at the parish which sponsored me for ordination. RAPT stands for Rogation, Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday. These days begin on the 6th Sunday of Easter (this year May 25) and conclude on the first Sunday after Pentecost, Trinity Sunday (this year June 15).

Rogation is a time when we remember especially the gift God has given us in creation. We ask God’s blessing upon creation, for abundant harvest, and seasonable weather. Ascension Day (a principal feast day - which we will keep at our mid-week Eucharist on May 28) recalls the day that Jesus ascends into heaven at last completing the incarnation cycle which began at Christ - and no, this does not mean you can keep your Christmas tree up until Spring every year. Pentecost is the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. The day when the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples empowering them to proclaim the good news of God in every language imaginable. Finally, Trinity Sunday, is that day - the only day dedicated to a theological concept - when we give thanks for the triune Godhead, God who is in relationship with God’s self.

Over the next few weeks I will share more about these days individually, but on the cusp of entering into this cycle I want to draw our attention to the bigger picture they paint. These celebrations prepare us for the life of discipleship we have been called to on this side of the resurrection, they capture the fullness of the work of God in the world. We remember the very creation of the universe and our call to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to our care, we celebrate the fact that with the Ascension God has transformed our humanity (that’s right, I’m talking about divinization - and no that is not a class taught at Hogwarts), we are empowered with the gifts for ministry, and we rejoice that the entirety of our lives is built on the foundation of God’s love.

I hope you will join us as we celebrate these days. Together let us discover the gifts they offer, continuing our transformation into the people God has called us to be.

Sunday, May 11

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:07:07 GMT

This Sunday is affectionately known as Good Shepherd Sunday: a title that sparks the imagination in a way that the Fourth Sunday of Easter might not be able to. As the name suggests, on this Sunday, ever year, the Gospel passage appointed draws our attention to the image of Jesus as our good shepherd. Every year we have the opportunity to think afresh about what it means for God to identify in this way.

This year, as I contemplate that image, I find my mind overwhelmed by a hymn that is dear to my heart - Hymn 645 “The King of love my shepherd is.” By the way, we will sing this hymn on Sunday at the 10am liturgy. You can also listen to a recording of it here . This hymn is a paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm, which we will say on Sunday, and the words have gone virtually unchanged since it first appears in 1868. Here is the text of the hymn:

The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faith never;

I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leaders,

and where the verdant pastries grow, with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me,
and on his shoulders gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still, thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days thy goodness faileth never:

Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.

In this hymn, Sir Henry Williams Baker transforms the words of the psalm into language of New Testament Christianity: “the cup becomes the eucharistic chalice, the cross takes its place with the rod and staff, and the pastoral caretaker assumes the role of the “Good Shepherd” in St. John’s Gospel” (Glover, The Hymnal 1982 Companion Volume 3B, p. 1185).

As we gather this week, may these words wash over us. Let them help us recognize in new ways that we have been claimed by God, that God watches over us, that God seeks to care for us and guide us along our journeys. In the love of God, let us find that we lack nothing, and in return may we dwell in the presence of our Lord with prayers and praise that never cease.

Sunday, May 4

Thu, 01 May 2025 18:44:04 GMT

While our worship space has been returned to its usual simple beauty, our celebrations of Easter have not concluded. We are still in the early days of Eastertide, living anew into the glories of our resurrected Lord. This Sunday we hear of Jesus’ third resurrection appearance to the disciples. This week we leave the upper room and head to the beach.

After the unbelievable drama of what we now know as Holy Week, the disciples have been trying to make sense of what they have experienced. They are trying to figure out what happens now that Jesus has been crucified and raised from the dead. In a completely relatable way, Peter announces that he is going fishing. In the midst of the mind spinning experiences they have had, he is returning to something familiar - something he can trust, something that feels safe.

Peter and the disciples with him set out. They fish all night. They catch nothing. Then, as day breaks someone on the beach who calls out to them, and invites them to cast their nets to the other side of the boat. What did they have to lose?

The nets were so full they could barely haul them. The disciple whom Jesus loved announces to Peter that the figure on the beach is Jesus. What a revelatory moment!

The disciples discover Jesus’s resurrected power and glory, as their once familiar practice was transformed into unimaginable abundance. Like the disciples, though this miracle, we see again how God desires abundance not sacristy for God’s people. When we obey the call of God, when we follow God’s commands, we will not be disappointed.

After Jesus cooks them breakfast on the beach, Jesus offers Peter the chance for reconciliation following Peter’s denials on Good Friday. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Three times Peter responses affirmatively. Three times Jesus invites Peter to go out and care for those who belong to the flock of God.

Jesus offers Peter an abundance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus restores Peter, letting me know that his denial is not the end of their relationship. Even when we deny Jesus in the most grim of hours, we are always offered the opportunity to be restored to right relationship with God. That my friends if the amazing gift of the abundant love of God. It is never too late. There is always time.

This Sunday, as we continue to discover our call as Easter people, let us gather in the assurance that God offers us abundance of every kind. Let us come to share in the meal Christ offer us, the bread and wine of the Eucharist, confessing our love for God and receiving the gift that God loves us know matter what.

Sunday, April 27

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:17:40 GMT

Easter Message from the Presiding Bishop

The Most Rev’d Sean W. Rowe

Luke’s Gospel tells us that on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Joanna went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. When they got there, the stone had been rolled away, and they heard the message that transformed their world—and ours: “He is not here. He is risen.”

On that Easter morning, the women who had been the last protectors and pastors at the cross on Good Friday became the first to witness and proclaim the resurrection. Scripture tells us, however, that their good news was not met with joy. The news that Jesus had risen from the dead was received as an idle tale, as nonsense—in one dynamic translation, as nothing more than women’s trinkets. In the fraught and divided world in which these first evangelists lived, they were on the margins, and their word counted for nothing.

How quickly the apostles forgot what Jesus had modeled days before on Palm Sunday and at the Last Supper. The long-awaited Messiah fashioned himself not as a political conqueror but as a peacemaker. Our Savior upended notions of worldly power by taking on the role of a servant and washing the feet of his followers. For Jesus, the vulnerable and the marginalized are in focus, and his ears are attuned to their voices.

As we proclaim the resurrection in our own time and place, let us always remember that the kingdom of God is revealed to us most clearly by those who are dispossessed by the powers and principalities of this world. Let us celebrate the joy of Easter by seeking and serving the resurrected Christ in the lives and the witness of those who have been silenced, persecuted, and marginalized.

May God bless you and all those you love this Easter.

Sunday, April 20

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 16:15:02 GMT

You might have noticed that this week’s update has gone out a bit earlier than usual. That is because this week is not a typical week. We are in the midst of Holy Week, a time unlike any other, and I wanted to send this update our early so that it would reach you before the final days of this Great Week (as the Early Church called it).

The second half of Holy Week is known as the Triduum Sacrum - Latin for Three Holy Days. These days, beginning on Maundy Thursday and concluding with the Great Vigil of Easter, are the most important days we keep. In the early to mid twentieth century scholars discovered records of how the Early Church worshipped on these holiest of days and then worked to adapt their findings for the church today. The restoration of these liturgies is one the greatest gifts of our current Prayer Book.

These liturgies remind us that liturgical time and God’s time are different than chronological time. These liturgies are not a memorial or re-enactment of something that happened over 2000 years ago; nor do we believe these events actually happen every year. We do not have to pretend that we do not know the end of the story either. Instead these liturgies invite us into a space where time stands still: a place where we enter into the fullness of these days and know how everything turns out. In theological terms we refer to this as anamnesis - the memorial aspect of what we do (be it during these liturgies or anytime we gather for the Eucharist) is not a passive process, but one by which we can actually enter into the Paschal mystery. It is the moment when past, present, and future align into one.

I say all this to help give us a frame work for what we do in these days; to help explain why I have so passionately been imploring us to give ourselves over to worship this week. We need to stand at the foot of the cross seeing both our suffering and our complicity in the suffering of others. We need to sit in the silence as creation holds its breath as Jesus descends to the dead breaking down the gates of Hades - liberating every person who has ever and will ever walk this earth from the shackles of death. We need to hear the record of God’s saving deeds in history to remind ourselves that God has never abandoned God’s people just as God does not abandon us now. We need to pass through those Baptismal waters welcoming others to share with us in the priesthood of all believe. We need to proclaim Easter - declaring boldly that God has triumphed!

In this moment of our lives I think one of the things we need most is Maundy Thursday. Tomorrow night we will be given the command to love one another and have the opportunity to both give and receive that love. I know washing feet and having our feet washed makes many in the community uncomfortable, but I invite you to lean into the discomfort, to take the risk, and share in the foot washing anyway. There is something incredibly profound about being vulnerable with another person in the midst of the safety of community. Kneeling down, gently taking a friends foot and washing it, is a level of love that rarely is expressed in our time. When we wash the feet of others we get to experience the humble loving service of God that we are called to emulate. Even more so, when we allow someone else to hold us tenderly we receive nothing less than the love of God made incarnate in that moment. Having washed and been washed, we will celebrate the Eucharist on the night in which Jesus instituted the Sacrament of his body and blood. Having experienced God’s mandate of love we will receive the blessed Sacrament and be transformed into the body and blood of God for the world - strengthening us to be bearers of love to all we meet.

The liturgies of these days are rich and dramatic. Together we will share in worship that Christians have experienced since at least the third century. This is the once a year opportunity to delve into these days, participating in things which only happen in these days. I invite you, I implore you, with every fiber of my being to join fully in worship during these three holy days. Come in the fullness of where you are in this moment. Bring your joys and your sorrows. Bring your laughter and tears. There is no judgment or shame for any emotion that might emerge during worship. Trust me, I’ve ugly cried - and I mean ugly cried - in church before. Not only is that okay, but sometimes it is exactly what we need. Come and see what is revealed through the sacred gift of tears, of joy, of experiencing something for the first time or the first time in a long time.

Beloved of God come to worship these nights. Have your feet washed, and wash the feet of others. Kneel before the cross in veneration, leave your burdens there for God to carry. Hear the story of Salvation. Renew your baptismal promises. Proclaim Easter. Come and see what marvelous, miraculous, incomprehensible thing God is doing. It will change your life.

Sunday, April 13

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:21:55 GMT

In the Fourth Century pilgrims journeyed to Jerusalem in order to visit the sites traditionally associated with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Countless people made this journey to learn and experience something more of the final days of Jesus’ earthly life. The bishop of Jerusalem, Cyril created a series of liturgies - which were considered to be one grand liturgy - to mark this Great Week. During Cyril’s time, Egeria, a nun, believed to be from Spain walked to Jerusalem to make this pilgrimage, and spent two years observing and recording all that she experienced. Her diary still exists today and has given the Church insights into how the earliest Christians observed this Great Week. The work of Cyril, captured by Egeria, is the basis for the liturgies of Holy Week now contained in our Book of Common Prayer.

My first time reading Egeria’s diary, published under the title Egeria’s Travels, I was struck by her words about Cyril’s remarks to the people during the day on Good Friday: “Then the bishop speaks a word of encouragement to the people. They have been hard at it all night, and there is further effort in store for them in the day ahead. So he tells them not to be weary, but to put their hope in God, who will give them a reward out of all proportion to the effort they have made” (Egeria’s Travels, John Wilkinson, 1999, p.155). As we prepare to enter once more into these most sacred of days, I think we would do well to heed Cyril’s words.

On Sunday, Palm Sunday, we begin our pilgrimage. Each day there is at least one liturgy to gather us together to experience what really happened in those days. This is more than some historical reenactment, and we certainly hope to do more than just go through the motions. As is true every time we gather for worship, time stands still: past, present, and future are united as one. In this week we join with Egeria and all those who have walked this road before us, we join with Christians around the world today, and we join with all those who will come after us, not pretending we do not know the end of the story, but immersing ourselves into it that we may experience the events of our salvation once more.

We will join with the crowds gathered for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with our own shouts of “Hosanna!” which will quickly turn to cries of “Crucify him!” We will witness Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and be reminded that no one, not even Judas, is beyond the redemptive power of God’s love. We will gather in the upper room where Jesus gives the great commandment, the mandatum (Latin for mandate; where the word Maundy comes from) to love one another as God has love us. We will wash each other’s feet in that humble, vulnerable act of tender service and care. We will share in the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood, that we might be nourished and transformed into Christ’s Body and Blood for the world. After that meal we will strip the church bare and gather to watch and wait with Jesus through the night. We will gather to stand before the cross facing the darkness and reality of that shameful means of death which becomes for us a means of life. We will witness the very worst that humanity is capable of. We will wait in the stillness of the morning as all creation holds its breath.

On Saturday night we return to the darkness. This night is the Passover of the Lord. We kindle a new fire and we follow the Paschal Candle giving thanks for the light of Christ. We will gather to hear God’s saving deeds in history. As Emmett is baptized and welcomed into the household of God, we will renew our baptismal promises and be sprinkled with holy water. And finally we will proclaim Easter – we will shout with joy that Christ is Risen! We will rejoice that death has been destroyed by life, that darkness was vanquished by light, that Love has conquered all.

I invite you to make this sacred journey once more. It is demanding. It is exhausting. I know there will be days when you just do not feel like coming to church, days when the demands of life want to capture all of your attention. But the more you give yourself space and permission to share in the fullness of this week the more glorious your celebration of Easter will be. If we dare to walk this road we too will share in the transformative power of this Great Week. Let us remember those words of encouragement from Cyril of Jerusalem, “not to be weary, but to put (our) hope in God, who will give (us) a reward out of all proportion to the effort (we) have made.”

I look forward to walking this week with you.

Sunday, April 6

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:17:33 GMT

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Sunday, March 30

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:14:33 GMT

You may have heard of Dollar Sunday in the past but don’t know what it is, no worries let me tell you. Dollar Sunday was the idea of parishioner Al Parrillo, it was his belief that one Sunday of the month should be set aside to collect money for the maintenance of this wonderful property that we have.

This month the Vestry has chosen this Sunday to be that day and we are doing a targeted collection for the front door of the Church Mouse Thrift Store. For anyone who has gone and dealt with that door you’re more than aware that it is a little tired and its season has come and gone. We have a goal of $3500 to complete this project.

I both as a Vestry member and parishioner of this church have seen the great love that all of you have for it and know that you give so generously to this place, but I ask if there is any chance that you can spare any bit of money that myself and the vestry would greatly appreciate it. Thank you all so much for your generosity.

To make a donation to this project please mail checks to P.O. Box 505, Greenville, RI 02828 with “Thrift Shop Door” in the memo line, or to give online, please click here and select “Dollar Sunday” as the fund and write “Thrift Shop Door” in the memo.

Sunday, March 23

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 18:40:51 GMT

This season of Lent invites us to take on various spiritual disciplines to help us connect with God in new and deeper ways; practices that help us tune our ears to better hear God in our midst. In fact, our Ash Wednesday liturgy calls us to specific practices as part of the invitation to a holy Lent. At the heart of all of this is prayer. But what does it mean to pray?

We might imagine prayer is sitting with our trusty Book of Common Prayer, opening to a page and reading. This is a good and important type of prayer, and it is vital for us to carry on the traditions we have inherited. The BCP is a treasurer trove of resources. If you have not spent time flipping through the pages I invite you to do so. If you do not have a Prayer Book and would like one, please let me know. I would be delighted to get one for you. I would also be happy to give tours through the Prayer Book highlighting some especially useful resources for personal devotion. In addition to our beloved BCP there are other ways to pray too.

While I use the Prayer Book every day in my own devotional life, there are many times when I find myself praying with it out. Sometimes that is sitting in silence, or using prayer beads; other times it’s while walking through a park, or sitting in an art gallery. I regularly pray while I cook, and find doing culinary prep work like chopping vegetables rather meditative. Of course, my commute from Pawtucket to Greenville along four of RI’s highways has exponentially increased my prayer life as well.

I wonder, what are the ways you have found to pray?

In his book The Word in the Wilderness: A Poem for Lent and Easter Malcolm Guite includes a prayer by Kelly Belmonte titled “How I Talk to God.” I offer this poem to you, hoping that it will help you expand your understanding of prayer and inspire you to seek God in every moment of your life.

Coffee in one hand

leaning in to share, listen:

How I talk to God.

‘Momma, you’re special.’

Three-year-old touches my cheek.

How God talks to me.

While driving I make

lists: done, do, hope, love, hate, try.

How I talk to God.

Above the highway

hawk: high, alone, free, focused.

How God talks to me.

Rash, impetuous

chatter, followed by silence:

How I talk to God.

First, second, third, fourth

chance to hear, then another:

How God talks to me.

Fetal position

under flannel sheets, weeping

How I talk to God.

Moonlight on pillow

tending to my open wounds

How God talks to me.

Pulling from my heap

of words, the ones that mean yes:

How I talk to God.

Infinite connects

with finite, without words:

How God talks to me.

Sunday, March 16

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:20:06 GMT

This upcoming Tuesday, March 18, we will have our first session of our Lenten Book Study on Henri J.M. Nouwen’s book Life of the Beloved. The sessions we be on zoom at 7pm, all are welcome. Please let me know if you’d like to join the conversation so I can send you the link.

This book was written as a letter to one of Nouwen’s friends called Fred. Fred asked Nouwen to write something for him and his friends about the spiritual life. He desired something to help them, people without deep religious or spiritual connections, in their searching. In response to this request, Nouwen opens the first chapter with how this project emerged: “Ever since you asked me to write for you and your friends about the spiritual life, I have been wondering if there might be one world I would most want you to remember when you finished reading all I wish to say . . . It is the word “Beloved,” and I am convinced that it has been given to me for the sake of you and your friends” (25). The rest of the book, a sort of letter of love, is an intimate and passionate message about what it means to be and live as the Beloved of God.

Fritz and I settled on this book for our Lenten program back in the fall. All I can say is, thank you Holy Spirit for the inspiration, because this book is essential reading for these days. Over the last couple of months, there is one particular passage that keeps coming to my mind. Early on in the book Nouwen writes, “It certainly is not easy to hear that voice [claiming you as Beloved] in a world filled with voices that shout: “You are no good, you are ugly; you are worthless; you are despicable, you are nobody – unless you can demonstrate the opposite.” These negative voices are so loud and so persistent that it is easy to believe them. That’s the great trap. It is the trap of self-rejection. Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity or power, but self-rejection (26-27, Emphasis added). ” The first time I read those words they hit me deep. They touched sources of pain buried in my soul; touching a nerve so raw that I remember being angry at the friend who recommended the book in the first place. Over the years, however, it has become one of my most treasured books - one of those stories I can never stop reading.

This book may be a few decades old, but it remains ever true and relevant. We live in a society that privileges productivity and achievement. We are judged worthy not by our character, but by what we have achieved, won, and what our professional output is. When we are constantly surrounded by these voices and messages it can be difficult to not start beating ourselves up. I would hazard a guess that I am not alone in setting the bar just a little too high for myself, of having unrealistic expectations of what I can do and achieve. Then, when I fail to live up to that unattainable standard, to use Nouwen’s words, I fall into the trap of self-rejection.

Nouwen’s please for us to claim the identity of Beloved is exactly what Lent is all about. It is the invitation to take off the masks we wear, let go of the baggage we carry, and accept our true identity from God.

I invite you to take time this Lent to read Life of the Beloved, no matter if you can join on Tuesdays or not (but I hope you do tune in on Tuesday nights). It might hit you hard, it might even be a challenge to read, and it might stir up things for you that you did not know existed. But maybe that is just the right place to be in when approaching this text. If you need, feel free to get angry with me the same way I got angry with my friend. However, no matter what you decided to do, always remember - especially in those moments when doubt creeps in - that you are Beloved: “All I want to say to you is “You are the Beloved,” and all I hope is that you can hear these words as spoken to you with all the tenderness and force that love can hold. My only desire is to make these words reverberate in every corner of your being – ‘You are the Beloved’” (26).

Sunday, March 9

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 16:44:26 GMT

We are now on our way, having set out on our Lenten journey this past Wednesday. I know I have said this before, but I believe it warrants repeating. Lent is a profoundly misunderstood season. Over the years I have heard many share their dislike of Lent because it is too dour. I have heard people lament that it is all about telling us the ways we are bad people, encouraging harmful self-deprecation. Given this history, combined with the realities of the world since the onset of the COVID pandemic five years ago, some have begun to wonder if we should even keep Lent at all anymore. I have heard it said, “Lent is just too much of a burden.”

To be sure, there is good reason for this. The Church has a long history of using language around sin as a weapon to manipulate and control - a tool to demonize those who do not fit narrowly defined standards of being in the world. I have experienced this in my own life. In Sunday School growing up, we did an interactive Way of the Cross every Palm Sunday. As part of the experience we were told to write down our sins and then nail them to a large wooden cross. We were told it was our fault, our sins, that killed Jesus. While never said explicitly, there were lots of little comments and remarks spoken around the parish that led me to believe that who I was, was a sin - that my very existences and being is why Jesus had to die. I know I am not alone in having these painful formative experiences. I do not fault a single person who is wary of Lent, especially if they have experienced such harm. In a renewed way, this same language has once more permeated our political and social culture in the United States further exacerbating the pain. Please know if this is your experience I am here to listen and would be honored if you were to share your story with me. It is my hope that together we can shift our understanding of this holy season from one of shame to one of promise and hope.

This Sunday we hear of Jesus’ time in the wilderness. After his baptism, Luke tells us that, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2, NRSV). Our wilderness experience of Lent is rooted in Jesus’ own experience. It is a time to resist temptation, to refuse to put God to the test, to place ourselves firmly in the arms of God - trusting that no matter what God will not forsake us.

This is our time to begin again, by honestly naming where we are in this moment. We do this, in part, by naming and confessing our sins. It is important for us to be honest about all the ways we stray from the path of God, to be honest about the barriers we put up to block God’s love from our lives, the ways we do not honor the belovedness of our neighbors. We name these things so that we can refocus ourselves on how God has called us to live, letting go of all that holds us back, opening ourselves up to the freedom which comes from service to God alone.

As we set out on this journey we do not need worry about the wrath of a vengeful God. We can stand before the judgement seat of God without shame or fear because our judgment is rooted in love: as the Psalmist reminded us on Ash Wednesday, “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness” (103:8, BCP). Above all else we name honestly the ways we have sinned as a sign of our commitment to strive for that still more excellent way, and our acknowledgement of our utter reliance on the mercy and love of God.

Please accept the gift of this season. Enter into it intentionally. Thoughtfully carry out whatever practices you need to guide you along this journey. Take advantage of all the offerings here at St. Thomas to guide you through the season. If you need help navigating your way, please let me know. I’m here to help. Together may we journey well.

Sunday, March 2

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 16:42:00 GMT

This Sunday is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. We have come to the end of this season which stretches from the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6) to Ash Wednesday (this year falling on March 5). Each year on this Sunday we hear the story of the Transfiguration. We bring this season of manifestation, of revelation, to a close by telling once more of that mountain top experience where Jesus is transfigured, standing beside Moses and Elijah, before the eyes of Peter, James, and John. As we see the glory of Jesus unveiled before us we transition our attention from the incarnation to the passion; from Christmas to Holy Week and Easter.

To assist us in this transition, we enter into a season of preparation. Just as Advent aids in our preparation for Christmas, Lent prepares us for Easter. Though, to be clear, Advent and Lent are distinct and important seasons in their own right as well.

It seems to me, that of all the seasons of the Church year, Lent is the most misunderstood. Too often we approach this season as if it is 40 days of reminding ourselves how “bad” we are. Or that this is some sort of liturgical self-help season: giving up those bad habits to just start summer diets and spring cleaning routines. To believe this is to miss out on the beauty of these 40 days.

During the Ash Wednesday liturgy, the celebrant says, “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (The Book of Common Prayer p. 265). Our observances help point our attention to what Lent is all about. Lent is a time to honestly reflect on our lives, to name for ourselves the ways we are not living as God has called us to live. It is a time to experience metanoia, to reorient our lives back towards God and the way God has called us to live. Lent is a time to practice that holy life to which we are all called.

As we approach these final days before Lent, I invite you to spend time thinking about how you will keep this holy season; discerning how God is calling you in this moment. There are a variety of opportunities available to our community: weekly liturgies (in addition to our usual Sunday celebrations), a Lenten quiet day, and personal devotional materials as well - which you can find on the ministry table and library in the parish hall. Please know I am happy to help in your discernment as well.

Now is the time for us to let go of old ways of being, and discern what new things God is doing and calling us to be part of. God’s glory and power are constantly revealed among us. Now is the time to adjust our vision and marvel at the glories of our transfigured Lord.

This Sunday, Jesus will come down from the mountain with a few of his disciples in tow. Peter, James, and John have seen who Jesus is and are forever changed. We too have been to the mountain, we too have been changed. Let us enter into this holy season of Lent allowing our new selves to flourish so that the glory of God might show forth in our lives.

Sunday, February 23

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:42:10 GMT

In the second act of the broadway musical Hairspray, premiered in 2002, there is a song titled “ Without love ,” which is all about love which crosses barriers and sets people free - which is rather fitting given it is sung while two of the boys are freeing the girls they are in love with from various entrapments. If only real life aligned in the way that is only possible in musical theater . . . but I digress.

In this song each of the four characters - Link, Seaweed, Tracy, and Penny - each take a verse to profess their love for their hoped for partner, their desire to be united to those they love, and the dreadful scene of what life would be like without love. As Link professes his love for Tracy he sings, “‘Cause without love / Life is like the seasons with no summer / without love / Life is rock ’n’ roll without a drummer.” And when Seaweed sings to Penny he proclaims, “‘Cause without love / Life is like a beat that you can’t follow / without love / Life is Doris Day at the Apollo.” Each teen, in their own way, describes what would be an incredible horror to them, and thus, to avoid that fate surrenders themselves to love - and they surrender happily I might add.

While the tunes might not be as catchy, and the movie adaptation does not star John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, and Christopher Walken; Jesus is there with Link, Seaweed, Tracy, and Penny.

In the words of the Collect of the Day for this Sunday, “O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing” (BCP p. 216). Throughout the lessons, especially in the story of Joseph in Egypt and the Gospel, we hear about the power of love and how we are called to embody something that is far from sentiment. It is love that invites us to do that which feels impossible, like loving our enemies. It is love that has the power to find grace in tragic situations. It is love that tears down walls, destroys barriers, and has the power to change the world - in fact it already has.

I hope you will join us this Sunday to hear of this love that is so strong it has conquered death. For, to quote Miracle Max in The Princess Bride , “True love is the greatest thing in the world . . .”

Sunday, February 16

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:39:23 GMT

This Sunday we welcome parishioner Tim Hawk back to the pulpit (or head of the center aisle as the case may be), so as to not take away from his homiletical thunder I want to take a moment to share with you some reflections that I have been doing - unrelated to the Sunday lessons.

One of the things Bishop Knisely asks clergy of his clergy is that we have a colleague group. The parameters are pretty flexible: regularly gather with a few colleagues to support one another in ministry. It is up to each group to figure out what the specifics of the group will be. These clergy groups are part of our job that happens away from the parish - as is also true with our time of prayer, study, sermon preparation; and serving on Diocesan and wider Church committee.

My clergy group meetings once a month and together we pray, check in about our lives, and then read books together. Be honest, are any of you really surprised that my clergy group would center around a book study? At the moment we are making our way through Marilynne Robinson’s latest book Reading Genesis .

This book is part reflection, part commentary, part retelling of the familiar stories of Genesis. Here’s an interview with Robinson from The Ezra Klein Show . where the author shares more about her experience and how the book came to be. Of the many things that I appreciate about the book, one sticks out more than the rest. When Robinson talks about humanity, and the creation of humanity, she regularly references the fact that humans are the only creature of God who has been given the power to create and destroy. Think about that for a moment. God, the author and source of all creation; God, in whose likeness we are made, shares with us one of the most unique powers of God!

I have been thinking a lot about how we, as people of faith, are called to use this awesome power; especially as there is such a focus on destruction in the world: war, violence, unjust systems, ecological degradation, the list goes on. I wonder how are we being called to use our gifts of creation and destruction? What is God calling us to tear down, following in the spirit of the great song of Mary - the Magnificat? What are we being called to help build in our community which captures the spirit of God’s creativity? What beauty can we help usher into the world? What works of love? What opportunities can we birth which will invite people to thrive in the fullness of who God has created them to be?

I don’t have any answers, but trust that as a community if we use these questions to help frame our discernment we will discover that we are capable of remarkable, dare I say miraculous, things. Beloved of God, I pray that together we may harness this awesome power, sharing with the work God is already doing in the world.

Sunday, February 9

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:29:53 GMT

This week we hear Jesus calling his first disciples. Luke tells us that Jesus was standing by the lake near the fishing boats, where the fisherman were tending to their nets after working all night long. Jesus gets into a boat belonging to Simon Peter, and after Jesus has finish teaching the crowd that remained on the shore, he asks Peter to sail out a bit further and drop his fishing nets into the water. Now, Peter is not particularly thrilled by this idea. He had just been out all night, laboring with his crew. To make matters worse, they caught nothing. All that effort and nothing to show for it. Yet, in the midst of his exhaustion, Peter does what Jesus asks of him.

When the nets are let down, they become so full that they are on the verge of breaking. Others come to help. Ultimately the boats are so full that they begin to sink. Peter immediately recognized what was happening. Luke writes, “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8, NRSV). Peter expressed his feelings of inadequacy, telling Jesus he is not worthy to experience this miraculous gift from God.

After this Jesus says to Peter, “‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:10b-11, NRSV). Jesus does not accept Peter’s sense of unworthiness. Jesus says to Peter that he is worthy: that this awesome wonder is just the beginning. God has called Peter for exactly who he is. The passage ends with Peter, along with James and John the sons of Zebedee, leaving everything behind to follow Jesus.

In this Gospel we are reminded that God calls us in the fullness of who we are, with all of our imperfections and shortcomings, to join in the miraculous and abundant work of God in the world. In turn we are called to follow.

This past weekend the Vestry gathered for our annual retreat. I left that incredibly energized and excited about what we have planned for the year ahead as we seek to dig deeper into our multi-year plan. I cannot think of a better passage for us to hear as we kick off this next phase of our work. Inspired by the call of these disciples, let us be prepared to do what God asks of us, even if it means trying things we have already done with little to show for it. Let us be prepared to cast our fear, anxiety, and nerves aside. Let us be prepared to follow.

Sunday, February 2

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:19:53 GMT

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Sunday, January 26

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 17:07:00 GMT

This Sunday, immediately following our 10am liturgy, we will gather in the church for the 173rd Annual Meeting of St. Thomas Church.

Annual meetings are interesting things that people either love or hate. If I’m honest I used to be in that later category, but since coming to St. Thomas that has changed. I find our meetings exciting and joyous occasions - and not just because it’s the one time a year I get to use a gavel.

Here’s why I love our meetings. On Sunday, we will celebrate the new members to be elected to our vestry and other leadership bodies in the parish. It is exciting that those being elected represent a cross section of the parish: we have a mix of members who attend the 8am liturgy and the 10am liturgy, members who are long time parishioner and members who are newer to the community, people who have previously served and those stepping into leadership for the first time. We will also give thanks for those ending their terms having served faithfully in recent years. We have incredible news to celebrate as we look back at our financial life for 2024, a tower conditions report that is better than anticipated, and we have experienced growth in many areas of parish life. I encourage you to read the full annual report and discover the amazing things we achieved together. I know it was a blessing to me to read these report and I hope it is for you too.

My friends, while we still have work to do, the state of our parish is good! Even better, we are poised to continue these positive trends in the year ahead.

This Sunday we will look back on the year that has past, rejoice in all the wonderful things we have to celebrate, and give thanks for what has been. God has indeed been up to something here, and we were not deaf to the call of God. This Sunday we will also take time to look ahead, opening ourselves to where God is calling us next. Preparing ourselves to discern the next step on our journey of faith together.

I hope you will join us on Sunday for this important community meeting. You will find copies of the annual report later in this update. A limited number of print copies will be available on Sunday. I invite you to join me in praying for our community as we gather this weekend and in the year head.

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (For the Parish, BCP p. 817).

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in St. Thomas Church for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (For a Church Convention of Meeting, BCP p. 818).

Sunday, January 19

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 17:05:13 GMT

Did you know that the Church calendar, as we have it now, is not as it has always been? For various reasons things shift and change over time. Take for example the Feast of the Epiphany.

In the early church, this was a unitive feast bringing together three stories: the visitation of the magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana. Over time, theses stories have been separated out leaving us with the Wise Men on the Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus on the First Sunday after the Epiphany, and, unlike the other two which we hear every year, once every three years we hear about the wedding at Cana on the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. This year, lectionary year C, is the only time we get to experience a glimpse of this unitive feast - and I am very glad we do. For when we hold the three stories together they paint a rather beautiful picture of God.

In the story of the wisemen we discover visitors from the East traveling to greet the new born king. While we know this feast as the Epiphany today, it once had a different name - the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. This title draws our attention to what is so important about these visitors. This child who has been born, the Son of God, comes into the world not just for one particular group of people, but for all people. Their visit reminds us that God comes into the world even to the Gentiles - even for us.

In celebrating the Baptism of our Lord we hear once more of how Jesus goes to John and is baptized in the River Jordan. After his baptism, Scripture tells us that the heavens open and a voice declares, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” It is through those waters that Jesus’ identity is revealed. As we share those very same waters our identity is revealed too. Through them, God calls, claims, and names us as beloved without condition.

Then our attention turns to the Gospel passage we will hear this Sunday, the wedding feast at Cana. Despite what you may have heard, this story is not about some party trick.

Weddings in Jesus’ day were grand affairs that lasted for days, maybe even a whole week. It was the duty and responsibility of the host to provide for their guests throughout the entire celebration. When Mary goes to Jesus to tell him there is no wine, she is not expressing concern because her glass is empty. She recognizes the great need the family has, and knows that if something doesn’t happen great shame will be brought upon them. Jesus’ actions are not about encouraging people to keep drinking, they are about God providing for us to remove and prevent our shame. Out of God’s abundance we are protected, we are cared for. It is God’s unceasing generosity that allows us to live lives of abundance not scarcity; life of hope and not fear.

In this unitive feast we see that God, the one we come to worship and adore, is God for all people. We see that God claims us all as beloved. We see that God showers us with liberating abundance that removes our shame.

As we continue this season after the Epiphany, in our efforts to seek the revelation of God among us, I wonder if we need a little help discovering God among us. I wonder if we need the assurance that God’s gift of grace is available to us as it is to all people. I wonder if we need the reminder that, no matter what messages we hear from the world around us, each and everyone of us is beloved. I wonder if there is fear and shame holding us back from thriving in the fullness of who God has created us to be. In these days let us turn over the burdens we carry, let us open our hearts and lives to God’s grace. Let us come to the feast and be transformed as God is made manifest among us.

Sunday, January 12

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:17:04 GMT

As the dawn of January 7 arrived, we joined the rest of the world, concluding our celebrations of Christmastide and the Feast of the Epiphany for another year. By the time we arrive for worship on Sunday, the Church will be transformed back to its usual simple beauty cleared of the wonderful decorations which have adorned our space for the last two weeks. (By the way, please feel free to help yourself to any of the poinsettias that remain in the parish hall).

Throughout these days we have once more entered into the story of the greatest gift ever bestowed upon humanity - the incarnation of God. We told the story of our Savior’s birth from Luke’s Gospel, we heard John’s prologue which brings together the cosmic nature of the birth of Christ and the intimate, tangible news that God become incarnate and moved into the neighborhood. We heard how the Holy Family ended up in Nazareth and the extreme lengths that a terrified ruler will go to to ensure that his power is maintained. Finally, we journeyed with the wise men from far and distant lands, following the star, to discover the Good News of great joy which has come for people of every tribe, language, and nation.

This story is one we must continue to tell, as it does not end when the wise men travel home and the shepherds return to their fields. This story continues each and every day of our lives. The 12 days might be over, but the incarnation never ends.

This Sunday, the First Sunday after the Epiphany, our story continues with the Baptism of Jesus. Like so many others, Jesus travels to the Jordan to be baptized. Jesus comes along side the community, with all the people gathered, to share in this moment. As Jesus emerges out of the baptismal waters, a voice comes from heaven and says, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22, NRSV). Through his baptism, Jesus’ identity and vocation are revealed. Through his baptism, our baptisms are given meaning too.

In this new liturgical season - the season after the Epiphany - our story shifts. We, like the wisemen, travel forth from the manger having been changed by what we discovered there. It seems to me, Baptism is the perfect segue from the manger to the next phase of our journey.

This Sunday, is one of the 5 occasions especially appropriate for Holy Baptism. While we do not have anyone to be baptized this week, we all will have the opportunity to renew our Baptismal promises. We will have the opportunity to discover our identity and vocations revealed in these holy waters for it is in these waters that we are incorporated into the whole history of God.

This is how the story continues now that all the trappings of Christmas have been put away. It continues as we become manifestations of God in the world. That is what Epiphany is all about. The word itself means showing, so as we move into these next weeks it is our task to show the world what has been revealed to us - how God has been made manifest in our midst.

I hope you will join us this weekend. For it is only together that we can show the world the incarnation shines bright in our world - it is only together that we can continue the story.

Sunday, January 5

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 18:02:46 GMT

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s Christmas Message

Dear People of God in The Episcopal Church:

Among the Christmas Gospels, Luke is surely the crowd pleaser. Nearly our entire visual vocabulary of Christmas—the manger, the shepherds, the angels—comes from the second chapter of Luke. Thanks to Luke, we all know the answer to the trivia question, “Who was Quirinius?”

But if you go to church on Christmas morning, or if your congregation’s custom is to read a last Gospel on Christmas Eve, you will hear the beginning of the Gospel of John, which includes other words we all know: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” Christmas does not truly begin for me until I hear those words.

While Luke paints us a picture of a noisy and chaotic birth, in John we encounter the powerfully quiet mystery of the Incarnation. John brings us the astonishing truth that God lived among us as a person, “full of grace and truth,” ready to share the pain and sorrow of being human.

Especially this year, our hurting and divided world is desperate for the Incarnation. We live, as have many generations before us, in a time of fear, division, and instability. The Enemy has turned us against one another, sometimes in our own families and communities. The land of Jesus’ birth is torn apart by violence and tremendous suffering, and across the globe, we have hardened our hearts against the strangers among us. All too often, we hear voices that claim the mantle of Christianity calling most loudly for exclusion and conquest.

As Episcopalians, we must resist the urge to retreat from this broken world. Instead, we have been called to model our life together on a different vision of God’s kingdom. Contrary to the world’s expectations, we have bound ourselves together in a global community, following the Risen Christ together despite our differences. We know that death, suffering, and enmity are not the last word, and we proclaim it every time we gather at God’s table.

At Christmas, we can make our unity a witness to the world. Every day, in congregations and communities across our church, you are feeding the hungry, binding up the brokenhearted, caring for the vulnerable, and transforming lives through the power of the gospel. We can also proclaim God’s presence by giving to our church’s historic ministries that are working to alleviate suffering at home and abroad:

Episcopal Migration Ministries , which is working to resettle refugees and create welcoming communities for migrants in the face of fear.
American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem , which brings hope and healing to vulnerable families across the Holy Land.
Episcopal Relief & Development , which advances lasting change in communities affected by injustice, poverty, disaster, and climate change.

Most of all, we can commit our lives to creating a world that is more just and more loving, in which the grace and truth that came down to us at Christmas is kindled all year long. Especially this year, as we begin our ministry together, I am grateful to be working toward this vision with you.

May God bless you and all those you love this Christmas and always.

The Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe
Presiding Bishop

Sunday, December 29

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 16:42:11 GMT

At last we have arrived at Christmastide! The glorious 12 days where we celebrate the Incarnation - God taking on our humanity and being born in the person of Jesus.

There is something incredibly miraculous that we celebrate in this season. God who was once unknowable, untouchable, unseeable can now be held, and touched, and known in new and previously unimaginable ways. I can only marvel at the fact that the creator of the universe, the author of life, comes to us as a helpless baby. There are no words, only awe and gratitude.

Every Christmas I find myself wondering what this means. I wonder how am I called to live in the world, how am I called to be in relationship with this knowable God. Each year, as I continue to grow in faith, I discern different answers. I am at a point where I find myself excited, and, if I am being honest, a bit nervous to ponder these things again. It is not a fearful nervousness, but one of anxious anticipation of how my life will be transformed.

I want to invite you to join me in reflecting on how we are called to live in this relationship with God. What does it mean for us that we are in relationship with God who can be known? How do we live, how are we transformed, as a result of this relationship?

Through our worship together during this Christmastide I hope we will discern and discover the answers to these questions. May this season shape us for who God is calling us to be in the year ahead.

Beloved of God, let us rejoice, for our savior has been born!

On behalf of myself, and the parish leadership, I wish you, and all those you hold dear, a very merry Christmas.

Sunday, December 22

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 18:18:36 GMT

This Sunday, the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, our attention turns from preparing for the second coming of God, when God will return in glorious majesty to lovingly judge the quick and the dead, to the first coming of God, when God entered the world as a babe in Bethlehem. This Sunday we enter the Christmas story through the eyes of two faithful women.

Mary and Elizabeth, two cousins, find themselves pregnant - which, for both of them, is nothing short of a miracle. Luke tells us of how Mary journeys with haste to see Elizabeth. She travels to see her cousin to share her news, to seek support and companionship.

Through this Gospel passage, we get to eavesdrop in on the powerful and prayer conversation Mary and Elizabeth have. As we listen in we discover something of the nature of discipleship: what it means to trust God to do the unimaginable; what it means to say yes to God.

It is from this conversation that we receive one of the greatest songs in our tradition - the Magnificat, the Song of Mary. Mary sings of the glory of God, naming how God’s work will be revealed in the world. Through the centuries these words have inspired countless artists, musicians, and poets. These words have inspired ordinary people to new depths of discipleship, committing themselves to accept the vocation that God has placed on their hearts.

What we hear this week is a remarkable story well worth returning to again, and again, and again. But, have we ever stopped to wonder what this was all like for Mary and Elizabeth?

I hope you will join us this week as we see the faithful witness of these women, listen to their prayers, and ponder the revelations they offer to us.

Sunday, December 15

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:31:40 GMT

This morning, thanks to WCRB Classical Radio, I had the terrifying realization that Christmas is less than two weeks away. There we thoughts and groaning, that I shall not repeat here. As they started play some Christmas music my mind began racing with all the things that need to be done both personally, and in the parish. All the things I have yet to start came crashing upon me. Let’s just say the sinus headache I’ve been nursing for over the last week did not improve during this revelatory moment. As the music shifted from Christmas to Erik Satie I was able to take a breath and put things in perspective.

I say all this by way of naming that things can be challenging this time of year. No matter how hard we plan, there are still countless demands on us and our time. Forcing pulling us between the many commitments and responsibilities, all while we try to keep space for the holiness of Advent.

As we continue to journey through these days, I hope you will give yourself permission to stop and check in with yourself - hopefully before an intense moment inspired by your favorite radio station. Take a moment to take stock of where things are and be honest with yourself about how you are doing. How can you be gentle with yourself as we move through this time? Are there things we can let go of that will allow us to relax, enjoy the season, and be present in the moment?

Advent is a time when we are invited to prepare both for the first and second coming of God. I wonder if some of that preparation work is letting go of the things which weigh us down, turning them over to God to carry for us. The good news is that God still comes among us even if that hope for project doesn’t get off the ground, even if your seasonal craft looks nothing like what you saw on Pinterest, even if you miss things on the shopping list, or have to turn down holiday party invitations because you can’t keep up with the business of the celebrations. For this we can give abundant and heartfelt thanks.

Our season of Advent began in the dark, but things are getting brighter. Soon the greatest light of all will enter the world once more. I pray that in the midst of all that is going on you are able to see the light casting off the darkness, that you can remember what truly matters in these days, that above all you can rejoice as our redemption draws near.

Sunday, December 8

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:14:35 GMT

While I usually stay away from naming things “the favorite” fill-in-the-category-here, I actually feel comfortable saying that Advent is my favorite liturgical season. Beginning at sundown on the eve of the First Sunday in Advent, I light my Advent wreath and hit play on my Advent play list. I struggle to figure out what to read as my daily devotional - something new, return to something treasured - and I have to work hard to resist the temptation to read a dozen different things.

One of the reasons I love Advent is because of what we hear this Sunday. This Sunday we meet Mr. Advent himself, John son of Zechariah - also known as John the Baptist. We hear how John has been journeying around the region “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3, NRSV). We hear how the crowds gather to him eager to hear what he has to say. Luke then goes on quote the prophet Isaiah, declared to his readers that John is the voice they have waited for saying: “‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:4-6, NRSV).

John the forerunner cries out to the world from the mysterious complexity of the wilderness to declare that the one who shall restore the world, who shall recreate the world, who shall redeem the world is coming. John reminds us that we need to get ready.

Throughout this season we are reminded of the innumerable ways that God’s reality differs from the realities of the world. This season, with its heavy emphasis on preparing for the second coming of God in glory, draws our attention to the fact that God’s desires for our lives differ from the state we currently find ourselves in.

I love this season because it is the reminder that I need, to get myself ready and not delay. And it is the reminder that the current state of things is not the abundant life God desires for me. I give thanks for the gift of the voice crying out in the wilderness saying that all is going to be okay - the one we desire most is coming to us to make all things new.

After lots of consideration my Advent devotions this year have focused on poetry. I’m reading a book on the psalms titled “Show we your ways, O Lord” and a book on George Herbert titled, “Wounded I Sing.” Both of which are available in the parish library. As I’ve read these books I’ve been reminded of other poems which have grounded me through Advents past. This week in my reading and preparing for Sunday my mind as returned to one by Allan Boesak titled Advent Credo. I share it with you below, in the hopes that these words will help illumine for you the story God has for us this season.

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

From Walking on Thorns, by Allan Boesak, Eerdmans, 2004. As found at https://www.journeywithjesus.net/poetry/current-poem?id=477

Sunday, December 1

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 21:33:18 GMT

Happy New Year! That’s right, you read that correctly.

While it sounds like an odd thing to say in late November/early December, according to our liturgical calendar, this Sunday is the beginning of a New Year. The liturgical calendar begins not on January 1 (which, by the way, is a holy day known as The Feast of the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ), but on the First Sunday of Advent - which this year falls on December 1.

Because of this, things will be different in our worship this week. The altar hangings will be changed to blue. The advent wreath will be out with the first candle lit. The prayers we use will be different as we move from Rite II (contemporary language, and what we generally use on Sundays) to Rite I (traditional language). The service altogether will have a different feel to it as we begin to hear the themes of this season emerge.

The season of Advent, is often characterized as a season of preparation - more specifically the season we prepare for Christmas. The Latin word from which Advent is derived means “coming.” In this season we prepare for the Lord to come amongst us - both for the first and season time. The Collect of the Day for this Sunday (which was once the prayer for the entire season, not just the first Sunday) draws our attention not to the first coming of Jesus, but to the second:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 159).

This season, which has important themes and tones beyond preparing for Christmas, is about preparing ourselves to receive the indwelling of God in our very midst.

As we enter into this holy season, it is important for us to be mindful about what we are preparing for. In the same way we prepare our homes for holiday feasts and celebrations, we must prepare our interior lives for the same. We must prepare ourselves to celebrate the glorious Incarnation of God, and we must prepare ourselves to welcome with gladness the second coming of our Lord - that day where we may without shame or fear stand before the judgement seat of God and rejoice to behold God’s appearing.

During this time may we call find ways to keep the season of Advent. I invite you to spend time in prayer; listen to Advent Hymns; participate in our joint Advent Quiet Day with the Church of the Redeemer; take a daily mediation book from the parish library; take time to slow down, read, and reflect on how you can welcome the once and future coming of God into your life again. Throughout the season we will be sharing resources in our weekly update and on the parish Facebook page. There will also be a variety of resources on the ministry table in the parish hall. If you need help in connecting with this season, know I am happy to help as I can.

Blessings to us all as we keep this holy season of Advent.

Sunday, November 24

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 21:29:42 GMT

This Sunday is the Last Sunday after Pentecost. While not the official title on our calendar, this Sunday is often referred to as Christ the King Sunday. This feast was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to the growing secularism and nationalism he witnessed in the world around him. Pope Pius XI established this feast to remind the faithful who their true king is. While it is not actually a feast on our calendar, hence referring to it by the name given in the Prayer Book (the Last Sunday after Pentecost), I do believe that Pope Pius XI was onto something that was needed in his time and in ours.

As we look at earthly rulers over the last century and beyond we see a radically different kingly image than the one we see in Jesus. In our own time, as has been true throughout history, we have witnessed earthly rulers wage war against their neighbors, commit horrific acts of holocaust and genocide, strip the earth of its resources, exploit humanity for their own power, and scapegoat the most vulnerable to distract the populous from their shortcomings. Of course there are examples of rulers who have worked for peace, who have used their power and privilege for good - Blessed Margaret Queen of Scotland, whom the Church remembers on November 16 particularly comes to mind - but we know these exemplars are the exception not the rule.

On Sunday we hear once more of the ultimate act of love which our King has preformed for us as we return to John’s Passion narrative. Specifically we enter into the story as Pilate summons Jesus to his headquarters while the crowd calls for him to be crucified. The exchange is brief, taking all of six verses, five of which are appointed for this week. This exchange begins with Pilate asking, “Are you the King of the Jews” (John 18:33, NRSV)? After a quick exchange between the two, Jesus’ final reply concludes our passage as he says “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37, NRSV). By the way, the exchange ends in its fullness at the start of verse 38 when Pilate asks, “What is truth?”

In a world of overwhelming noise, with innumerable things clamoring for our attention and loyalty, the voice of Jesus speaks into the din calling us to the truth. But what, we share with Pilate in asking, is truth?

Just a few hours before this scene unfolds Jesus is with his disciples, sharing a final meal. It is during this gathering that we hear Jesus respond to Thomas’ question, “Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way” by saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:5-6, NRSV). The truth which Jesus testifies to is the very essence of his life. It is the unfailing love of God for God’s people; it is the works of justice, love, mercy, and liberation which highlight his ministry; it is the profound fact that each and every person, without exception, is a beloved child of God deserving of dignity and respect.

Beloved of God, we belong to this truth and therefore must listen to the voice of Jesus - the voice calling us to love, to share in the very same things that he modeled for us during his earthly ministry. In this time let us remember that we are first and foremost the baptized of God, citizens of heaven. Our trust and hope comes not from earthly rulers, but from Jesus our King. Let us gather this Sunday, and every Sunday, to pay homage to him who gave his life for us that we might experience love and liberation. Let us join together offering our thanks and praise, and then going out into the world doing all he has taught us to do.

Sunday, November 17

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:25:17 GMT

I have recently returned from a week of continuing education and retreat - a time of rest, prayer, and study. I cannot express the gratitude I have for this gift. And, in case you are wondering, I did not plan my time away to coincide with the election. I actually booked my retreat in November 2023, when the election was the last thing on my mind. While it was strange to be away from our community at the culminating moment of the 2024 election season, it also gave me the space to reflect and process in a way not possible while maintaining the day to day of parish life.

I arrived in Duxbury, MA at the convent of the Society of St. Margaret for a few days of silent retreat on the morning of November 6. Never before have I had the experience of disconnecting from the world after such an important political moment. But there I was, not watching the news, reading the paper, not engaging in conversation across social media platforms. Instead I had room to be present with myself and with God, to sit in silence praying and reflecting on all that has been. There were moments of peace, and moments of distress. There were tears, and times of joy. As is always true, I left the Sisters, that holy and wonderful community, with a clearer head and heart. My reentry however did not go as hoped.

My heart broke as I scrolled through various social media platforms. Tears filled my eyes as I read post after post, across every partisan persuasion, tearing down one another, vilifying our neighbors, and disparaging those currently in office and those preparing to take office. It was devastating to see so many people succumbing to our lowest base instincts. I have never had a stronger desire to return to the convent than I did in those moments last week.

So where my friends, does this leave us? Let me offer a few thoughts about where we are and how we move forward together.

First, be gentle with yourselves. There was nothing pretty about this election season. We have been subjected to violent language, demeaning rhetoric, and portents of a dark and uncertain future. Give yourself space to process all we have been through. Notice what is coming to the surface in your life. Take the opportunity to seek healing and understanding for wherever you are emotionally. While you are at it, be gentle with one another. Check in on your friends.

Second, be present in the current moment. If you are excited about the outcome of the election, be mindful that you do not set yourself up for disappointment when all your hopes are not achieved during this next administration. If you are disappointed in the outcome, do not fall down a rabbit hole of what ifs allowing fear to overtake you. Stay grounded; be here now. This way we can rejoice, mourn, and respond appropriately to what is actually happening.

Third, give yourself permission to let go of your fear and hatred. As the wise theologian Yoda once said, “fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” Vice President Harris and President-Elect Trump have no idea who we are. The fear, anger, and hatred we carry towards them has no bearing on their lives, but it does have a significant impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. If we allow these emotions to overtake us they will consume our very beings. We cannot allow fear and hate to eat us alive, tearing apart our souls, preventing God from breaking through the hardness of our hearts to make us whole.

Finally, stop and listen. Here in RI nearly 42% of the voting population voted for President-Elect Trump, an increase from previous elections. Our local municipalities saw similar increases as well: Smithfield at nearly 53%, Burrillville at nearly 62%, Scituate, Foster, and Glocester all at nearly 60%, and Johnston at nearly 59%. These numbers reflect the changing reality of our communities. We are not of one mind. Represented in the household of God at St. Thomas Church are people who voted for President-Elect Trump, Vice President Harris, third party candidates, and write-in votes. When we vilify people for how they voted, we vilify our own.

I wonder if one of the reasons for this change is that we have stopped listening to one another. I wonder if the shifting voting patterns have something to do with the number of people who feel ignored, left behind, and discounted.

Instead of judging and discounting our neighbors, it is time to get to know them better. To sit with those who vote differently and try to understand their motivations and concerns. What is it that swayed you and your neighbor to vote for the candidates you did?

As we seek to do these things, let us ensure that our foundation is love. For that is what we have been created for.

We are not primarily democrats, republican, or independents. We are Christians, followers of Jesus. Our primary citizenship is not of this world, but in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, all we do, everything in our beings, is to be grounded in the way of God, which is the way of love. As citizens of heaven we are called to make known the Good News of God to all those around us. We do this by living into our Baptismal Covenants, which we recently renewed on the Sunday after All Saints’ Day.

We must love all those we meet including: those who look differently, love differently, believe differently, and vote differently than we do. We strive to respect the dignity of every human being because our faith teaches us that every single person who was, is, and is yet to be is a beloved child of God - yes that is even true of the candidate you did not vote for.

If we allow ourselves to be fractured by this political moment, then we have lost the very heart of our faith and the reason why we gather here week in and week out. If we allow ourselves to forsake the promises of our baptism to align ourselves with a party platform, then we have failed to strive for that still more excellent way to which God calls us. St. Paul reminds us that no part of the body can say to the other, I have no need of you (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). We cannot cast aside those we disagree with, because we are one Body and we need each other.

Thanks be to God, it is never too late for us to make a new beginning. Our work of building relationships across lines of difference grows in importance every day. Imagine the powerful witness we can show forth to the world if we can be people who build bridges instead of walls. After all, that is our mission, “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (BCP p. 855).

Beloved of God, I beg you to join me in this work, of rising above the chaos and noise that we might always be people of Good News. As a Church, we cannot (legally because we are a non-profit) and should not, endorse any political candidates, but we can lobby political issues. If you are passionate about environment stewardship there are wonderful creation care ministries in our Diocese and across the wider Episcopal Church. If you are passionate about immigration there are wonderful things happening through Episcopal Migration Ministries and the work of DORCAS here in RI. If you are passionate about stopping gun violence then join the work of Bishops Against Gun Violence. If you wish to get involved in the countless other areas of our common life check out the Episcopal Public Policy Network. Just as we did in the last four years, in the next four there will be times for us to raise our voices, join with others, calling all to works of justice, mercy, and peace.

For now, I want to leave you with one final image. This graphic from the Salt and Gold Collective is a powerful reminder of the image of humble, loving service we have in Jesus. I pray we may all aspire to this kind of servant ministry, grounded in love, for the sake of the Gospel. May we walk in love, as Christ loves us.

Sunday, November 10

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:11:29 GMT

By Marie Piadade, Senior Warden

I would like to share with you a Ministry that I started in 2020, making Anglican Prayer Beads by hand. I wanted something to do during Covid, other than binge watching Netflix or baking bread, don’t get me wrong Netflix and baking are excellent things to do, but I was looking for something with more meaning. It started out slow at first, some people were not sure what to do with them, I know most people are used to the Catholic Rosary. I explained that similar to rosary it is a tool used when praying, it helps you focus while you are talking to God. I’ve given them to friends who work in healthcare and the people who they’ve given them to love them.

As I said it started out slow, but things really picked up this fall. Wayne and I were in Virginia the first two weeks of October visiting his brother and his family. While we were there I made beads for my niece and her daughters. The girls brought the beads to church with them and their congregation loved them, I was asked to make a bunch more while we were there, most everyone who saw them wanted one. I am continuing to make more for my niece, she will be taking the beads with her churches mission trip to North Carolina. They will be helping people whose lives were devastated by the hurricanes there.

I am grateful every time I hear how the prayer beads have touched someones life, helped them shoulder a burden and in one parishioners case, even encouraged them to get baptized. If you would like a prayer bead or know someone who might please let me know, I’ll be happy to make them.

Sunday, November 3

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 15:52:05 GMT

This Sunday, thanks to a permissive rubric in the Book of Common Prayer (p. 15), we will keep the feast of All Saints’ Day. I cannot begin to describe my excitement for this day!

All Saints’ is one of the four days especially appropriate for Baptism, well five if you include Bishop’s visitation (BCP p. 312). This means that at both of our liturgies this weekend we will have the opportunity to remember our baptisms in different ways. At the 8am liturgy we will renew our Baptismal Vows. This is a chance to recommit ourselves to the promises that we have made. It is a good and holy thing to regularly stop throughout the year and remind ourselves of the promises we have made to God, our neighbors, and ourselves. It is good to stop and remember how we have pledged to live out our lives of faith.

At the 10am liturgy we will have the great joy of receiving two new people into the household of God. At this liturgy we will baptize Jesse and Sophia. While this will be a great occasion for them and their families it is also a great moment for the whole community. After they are baptized we will welcome them saying, “We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood” (BCP p. 308). We will warmly greet Jesse and Sophia as they join with us in the good work God has called us to do. We will pledge to support them as they grow in faith, beginning a new relationship together.

Baptizing people is one of the great privileges of my vocation as a priest - it is truly holy and awesome (in every sense of the word). Every time I go to stand at our Baptismal font and add names to our Baptismal register I am reminded in a particular way of the great line of faithful people we are part of. Our font has been in use here since Easter 1853 (two years after the parish was founded). For 171 years people have been brought to this place, committing their lives to the work of God, pledging to share with us in the eternal priesthood of all believers. According to our records Jesse and Sophia will be the 1419 and 1420 persons baptized in this place. There is good history and deep roots here, and there is great promise for the hope of the future: not only for the 1419 and 1420 persons baptized, but for the 1520 and 1620 persons as well.

I hope you will join us for worship this weekend as we rejoice with the saints of God, are reminded of our call to be saints too, renew the promises of our Baptismal life, and welcome Jesse and Sophia to join us on this wonderful and wild adventure.

Sunday, October 27

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:36:41 GMT

“What do you want me to do for you?” We hear Jesus ask. Or more accurately, we hear Jesus ask again. Last Sunday we heard Jesus ask James and John the Sons of Zebedee this question after they boldly approach him saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” (Mark 10:35). James and John answer this question by asking for positions of prestige in God’s kingdom for all eternity: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37) they say. The circumstances by which Jesus asks this question - “what do you want me to do for you?” - are a bit different this week.

On his last stop before arriving in Jerusalem, in the outskirts of Jericho, Jesus encounters a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. At first, Bartimaeus is sitting by the side of the road. When Bartimaeus hears that it is Jesus of Nazareth who has come near, that it is Jesus and his disciples who have arrived in town, he begins crying out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47, NRSV)! The others in the crowd try to silence Bartimaeus, but he will not be silenced and cries out even louder. Jesus takes note of Bartimaeus, calls him over, and asks “What do you want me to do for you” (Mark 10:51)? Bartimaeus, who could ask for anything in this world or the next, asks for one thing - to have his sight restored, “My teacher,” he says, “let me see again” (Mark 10:51b). Jesus grants this request. Immediately Bartimaeus is healed.

It is striking to hear the same question two weeks in a row, and to discover two different responses. Beyond the question itself, these two stories could not be more different. James and John’s request is rooted in delusions of grandeur. Bartimaeus’ request is rooted in desire for mercy. It is not only what we ask that matters, but why we ask it.

On display in this act of healing is the compassionate Christ who brings near the good news of God’s victory over the physical brokenness of the world. And, this story is part of a two chapter long saga in which God heals every kind of blindness imaginable - physical and spiritual. Jesus is showing those around him, Jesus is showing us, that God is about the work of opening our eyes so that we might see as God intends.

Jesus asks us the same question he asks James, John, and Bartimaeus - what do you want me to do for you? May we ask not for things which satisfy our delusions of grandeur, but for those things which will enable us to see. May we seek the mercy and compassion of God so that we might see the world, our neighbors, and ourselves with the same eyes as God.

Sunday, October 20

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:48:41 GMT

As many on you know, this past Saturday I brought my Mom to the emergency department at The Miriam Hospital where she was admitted for a heart attack and other complications. She made great progress in a few days. With tests revealing the best case scenarios, we were beginning to talk about her being discharged. However on Tuesday she faced a set back. When I arrived to visit her the nurse told me she had a stroke and was being transferred to RI Hospital. To say things got scary would be an understatement. I know many of you have lived through this uncertainty yourselves, and know exactly what I mean. Once again, Kerry got lucky. The stroke was mild with almost no deficits, just some slight aphasic moments. As I write this, on Thursday morning, she and I are hanging out in her hospital room waiting for the paperwork to be signed for her discharge home. It all feels like nothing short of miraculous.

On behalf of our family thank you so much for reaching out. Your prayers and notes have been welcome gifts of support and encouragement over these recent days. We’ve been able to stay hopeful and persevere through this crisis moment thanks in no small part to the tremendous network of support and prayers. By the way, Mom is chiming in to make sure I tell you how thankful she is.

Kerry still has a long road of recovery ahead as a cardiac and neurology patient. These early days are crucial and she will require lots of support. I’m grateful to my Aunts, her sisters, who have been in town since Monday and are sticking around to help with this first phase of recovery. I offer my thanks to Bishop Knisely who has been in regular contact checking in, offering prayer, and standing ready to help however he can, and to my clergy colleagues who have offered to be on call for parish emergencies and other situations to make sure our parish is cared for, while allowing me the space to be present with my family and rest as I can.

Over the next few weeks I will probably be working remotely a bit more than usual so I can be with my Mom. I will remain reachable by email and cell phone, and if not myself, someone will always be available for pastoral emergencies.

Many of you have asked what you can do to support us during this time. Your prayers remain coveted. In a couple of weeks I’m sure more things will emerge. Mom has already talked about what great cooks you all are.

Thank you again for your support and prayers. I’ll continue to keep you updated as the journey continues. I am incredibly lucky to be priest in such a wonderful community.

Sunday, October 13

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 17:48:18 GMT

By Vestry Member Josh North

I read my mothers last sermon again recently and since then, over the last four months, I've had a thought. In her sermon she said “You have the right to expect that I will look for Christ in all people. Even in those that others might consider least desirable? No, ESPECIALLY in those that others might consider least desirable.”

She was preaching on the topic of what it meant to answer the call to be a deacon. But as I have reflected on these words I feel we, as Christians, are called to live to these words too. I have found as I read through the bullet points of her sermon that the others points were simple compared to this one. These are words, that I humbly admit, I have failed to live up to at times. During those times, I think to myself “I need to get better at that one”.

When reading the Gospel from a few weeks ago (September 22) I found the passage of Jesus saying: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me” (Mark 9:37, NRSV). When thinking of these two statements as one, I believe when we actively search for Christ in all people we are actively searching for God too. When Christians see God in all people we will come to realize that we are not different at all.

I have thought in the ever complex and divisive world we live in, that we may find all ourselves saying that these words are hard to live by. But, in the Christian community we live in, if we all work together on this we may slowly make the world a better place.

Sunday, October 6

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 17:46:20 GMT

This weekend we remember St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most - if not the most - beloved saints of the Church. Francis is best known as the patron saint of animals. Inspired by blessed Francis we invite all God’s creatures great and small to worship on Sunday at 10am, and at 11am for a brief blessing service outside on the lawn. Please note the 8am liturgy will be an animal free zone. I hope you will join us for these gathering and encourage your friends to come along and join us for the glorious adventure which is about to unfold. Seriously bring whatever animals you have - cats, dogs, chickens, goats, cows, horses - all are welcome!

Blessed Francis’ commitment to his faith allowed him to proclaim the Gospel not only in words but in deeds. By renouncing the vanities of this world, Francis was able to live in harmony with creation in a way he could not do otherwise. He literally cast off all the things that operated him from God - that put barriers in his relationship. This took tremendous courage, and was a serious risk, but in the process he discovered a life more abundant than he could have ever imagined.

Sunday, September 29

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 17:43:11 GMT

I’ve got some big news to share!

It is with great excitement and joy that I can announce we have seriously upped our communications game here at St. Thomas. More specifically, we have a new parish website, have ministry specific emails, and have joined the photo sharing world of instagram. These things have been on my project list since I first arrived in the parish. Their accomplishment is only possible because we have hired a rockstar of a parish administrator in Jane Peach, which has freed up my calendar to do the things you actually called me to do.

You can find our website at the same address as our previous one: www.stthomasepiscopalri.org . If you’d like to email our Senior and Junior Warden you can reach them at wardens@stthomasepisocpalri.org . If you’d like to reach Jane in the office you can email her at office@stthomasepiscopalri.org . If you’d like to reach the finance team (our treasurer and bookkeeper) so can email them at finance@stthomasepiscopalri.org . And if you’d like to reach out fundraising team you can do so at fundraising@stthomasepiscopalri.org . If you’d like to follow us on Instagram (and I sure hope you do) you can find us @stthomasgreenvilleri .

By the way, as you’re checking out our new website, if you find any typos or links that do not work, please let me know (my email remains dante@stthomasepiscopalri.org ). I am confident there are things that I have missed.

You might be wondering what the big deal with all this is, and why I am so excited. Well this, my friends, is all about evangelism.

When people are searching for a new community it is common that they do a quick google search to see what churches are in the area. A modern, updated website is a great way to give visitors, and potential visitors, a glimpse into the life of our community. This is our chance to tell them about who we are from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Our parish Facebook and Instagram accounts serve a similar purpose. There we can highlight events, opportunities, and glimpses what life is like. Even more so, these social media accounts can be easily shared. When I share a post from our parish Facebook page to my personal one, the viewership increased. When several of us of do that the reach grows exponentially. This means more and more people are hearing of the good news and ministry of this place.

The official email addresses allow us to clean up our communication strategy a bit. Instead of parishioners having to use their personal email addresses this centralizes the communication in one account that several people share. It adds a professional layer, and makes clear that we are being intentionally about what we do.

These resources might be a bit foreign to you, but I promise that are a necessary resource for reaching the wider community today. I hope you will like, follow, and share the amazing ministries we have in this place how ever you can: over coffee with a friend, by inviting a neighbor to attend an event with you, sharing a Facebook post, or following us on instagram. May we use all the tools and skills we have to let the world know what a remarkable community this is, and - even more importantly - may we invite them to share in the work God has given us to do.

Sunday, September 22

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:45:46 GMT

By Vestry Member Gigi Uttley

At a recent church service, Fr. Dante’s sermon focused on how the church is a community– such as the community of parishioners at St. Thomas. He had been invited to participate at another community nearby: the Episcopal Conference Center in nearby Pascoag which is for campers of all ages. The delightful stories our priest recounted during his week of ministry with the children who resided at the camp included a week filled with friendship and worship, fun times, and new experiences for everyone.

This brought back memories of my own camp experience when I was ten years old. My early childhood was filled with many hardships and uncertainty. My mother, with four children, had moved to Philadelphia from Rhode Island, at the coercion of her husband, to pursue employment. I was born a short time later, in 1954. For my first five years of life, I didn’t recall too much of the reality of a life in the south Philly projects; a period of chaos for many families living in poverty. As my father continued to spiral downward from what we later realized was PTSD, and depression, my young mind did not recall that time; the periodic episodes of fear from abuse by a man who had suffered a head injury on top of other illnesses, and who unexpectedly died in his sleep at the age of 40. Fortunately, my mother and her five children relocated back to Rhode Island, to live in a small community in North Providence. It was there where my family lived within walking distance of the Greyston Primitive Methodist Church. At the age of ten, tragedy struck my family again, when my nineteen- year-old brother died in a car accident. As you might imagine, that was a difficult time. Luckily, I was invited by the church to attend a religious childrens’ camp for one week. It was located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. I remember spending a joyful time, away from the stresses of everyday life. Other children from my home town were also invited. In the presence of new-found friends and counselors, and perhaps some inspiring clergy members, in a setting that was filled with natural beauty, and beautiful accommodations (indoor showers, and outdoor swimming pools!), delicious food, and worship filled with songs and praise, good-times abounded. At the end of the week, when the adults arrived to retrieve us back home, they were perplexed to encounter these young people crying; tears which were inexplicable at the time. Perhaps tears of joy, mixed with sadness for having to leave our new friends; our newly formed souls enriched by the promises of Jesus’ love. My family later relocated to Harmony, Rhode Island, and I began attending St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Greenville. This has been my parish family ever since.

I encourage you to support the ministry of our Episcopal Church, and the nearby Episcopal Conference Center. A childhood experience in a camp filled with joyful worship and fun times can be so important to young people, who often are enduring unknown hardships at home. Thank you Fr. Dante, for helping me to relive a very memorable, happy time in my life. Camp experiences are not just for children, and perhaps if you have not yet had an opportunity to experience camp life, I would encourage you to seek out such an experience.

Sunday, September 15

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:53:24 GMT

This Saturday, September 14, the Church celebrates an important Holy Day - the Feast of Holy Cross Day. Now you might be wondering why do we celebrate the cross in September when we also have Good Friday which celebrates the cross in the Spirit. Well I’m glad you’ve asked that question! (And thank you for humoring me).

During the reign of Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to profess the Christian faith, his mother Helena went to Israel with the task of finding places of special significance to the faith. During this journey she believed that she found the site of the crucifixion and of Jesus’ burial (sites modern archaeologists think to be correct). To mark the location she had the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built, which was dedicated on 14 September 335. Tradition even has it that during the excavation process they found a relic of the true cross.

Whereas on Good Friday we celebrate the great solemnity of Jesus’ crucifixion, on Holy Cross day we celebrate a holy day with a rather festive spirit. This day we rejoice, and see the cross as what it is, a symbol of triumph, a sign of Christ’s victory over death, and a reminder that when Christ was lifted from the earth he drew all of humanity with him.

While we will not keep Holy Cross day on Sunday, what this feast celebrates still inspires our worship. In our Gospel this Sunday we drop in on Jesus and disciples having an important conversation. Jesus asks them who other people say that he is and who the disciples themselves say who Jesus is. To the later question, Peter says, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29, NRSV). This begs us to consider how we would answer these questions.

We cannot separate who we understand Jesus to be with the work he accomplished on the cross. As we proclaim Jesus’ identity as the Messiah we must also celebrate God’s victory over death. Through out proclamation we are also called to pray that God might give us the strength to take up our cross and follow Jesus, that we might share in drawing all eyes to the glories of our risen and triumphant Lord. This weekend let us carry the strains of “Lift High the Cross,” instead of the mournful tones of “were you there” as we gather to declare to the world who we know Jesus to be.