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A Pastoral Letter from the Rector
Dear Parishioners,
Grace and peace to you.
I hope you have had a good summer, with at least some time for rest and refreshment, some opportunities for travel or to just enjoy the beauty that surrounds us in Maryland. Here at St. Thomas’, summer brought a slightly slower pace. But just slightly. We welcomed our wonderful new Assistant Rector, the Rev. Amelia Bello. We continued the much-loved tradition of hosting Paul’s Place Camp and welcomed a lovely Afghan family into a beautifully renovated “Gilead House 2.” We undertook several other important capital projects, including the repair of many monuments in the churchyard, library and parish hall roof repairs, and the installation of a new kitchen floor. We gathered to watch the film The Six Triple Eight, a fascinating and inspiring story of an all-Black, all-female postal unit during World War II. We also hosted an introduction to community organizing session, which was well-attended by parishioners and guests. And, of course, we continued to gather on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to praise God and to pray for our own needs and the needs of others.
Unfortunately, while all this good and holy work has been underway at St. Thomas’, the troubles of our land and our world have continued to multiply. Bitter divisions and ruthless acts of violence at home. Unceasing war and unspeakable suffering in Ukraine, Gaza, and in so many other places. No doubt, you are well aware of the problems, challenges, and dangers we face. You also know that St. Thomas’ is a diverse community, welcoming people from different backgrounds, including people with varying experiences and points of view. So, I have been giving much prayer and thought to how we can best live together as Christians in a time such as this. As much as we might like to, we cannot bury our heads in the sand, tuning out the fear and suffering around us. But we also must offer a holy respite from the relentless news cycle, continuing to provide a place where we can all come together to pray, serve, and love, to remember that God loves us and will not let go of us, no matter what.
Before we begin a new program year on Renewal Sunday (September 7), I want to share what I see as the best ways forward for us.
First, perhaps more than ever, we are called to pray. We are called to pray on our own and we are called to pray together in church. Through prayer, we give God more space in our hearts, allowing God to grow closer to us, providing us with the strength, wisdom, and courage that we need. As Sam Shoemaker once said, “Prayer may not change things for you, but it sure changes you for things.” This is a great truth. I urge you to pray. And, in the months ahead, St. Thomas’ will offer more opportunities to learn about prayer and to pray together.
Second, while we cannot ignore what’s happening in Washington and around the world, I am convinced that we are particularly called to tend to our local Baltimore community. Fortunately, this work is already well underway as we continue to deepen our relationships with Owings Mills Elementary School, Owings Mills High School, and the Community Crisis Center. Through community organizing, we are beginning to meet more of our neighbors from other local institutions, learning from each other, and listening for ways that we might make life better for people in our neighborhoods. As a sign of these new friendships, we are planning to host an interfaith Thanksgiving service in November here at St. Thomas’. More on that, and much more, later.
Especially during these challenging times, it is a great joy to belong to our St. Thomas’ community and a profound privilege to serve as your Rector. May God continue to bless you all. And let’s continue to pray for each other.
Your Brother in Christ,
Tom
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