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This Sunday—the feast of Pentecost—wear your most outrageously and brightly colorful clothes: bright hats, shirts, skirts, and shoes. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon a band of followers gathered at Jerusalem: fire and wind marked the presence of the Spirit. As part of the service, we will baptize Jillian Christine Cicero and Jayden Philip McGuirt Perna. Do be present to participate in this great celebration and welcome these, our newest members, into the family of St. Thomas’s Church.
 
This Sunday evening marks the last of our choral events before the summer break: Evensong sung by our choirs at 5:00 p.m. And, if you are looking for an outing in the Big Apple, plan to carpool one week from Sunday, May 30, to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Our adult and senior youth choirs will be singing the 11:00 am Eucharist there and 4:00 p.m. Evensong.
 
Last Sunday was magnificent in so many ways. An unexpected joy for many of us was amazing trumpet music by Kyle Sherman. I overheard some late arrivers (ah … the Rector’s family, for example) lament that they missed it!
 
An entire pew full of guests from Christ Episcopal Church, Norwich, joined us for the ten o’clock service. A number of parishioners met with them afterwards in the Lady Chapel to tell St. Thomas’s story of its journey to becoming more radically welcoming and inclusive. Christ Church is working to establish that identity, and had contacted St. Thomas’s because of what they had read on our website. It was great to be both mentor to them and to take inventory how much has changed in society, in Connecticut law, and in St. Thomas’s since we first started this journey.
 
Mary-Jane Rubenstein met with 14 interested parishioners to discuss her recent article (click here to read it) in which she addressed issues of colonization, African spirituality, and issues of human sexuality in the Anglican Communion. The length of the discussion alone attests to the enthusiastic dialogue in that meeting. Do seek out those who attended for more specific information.
 
Last and not least, Cate and Stu Horton were genuinely surprised by Coffee Hour—they are not ones to seek out the spotlight, so a wee bit of trickery made sure they attended the ten o’clock service. At last count, approximately $600 was contributed as a way of saying "thank you" for more than two decades of dedication to the Brown Bag Lunch ministry. A check in that amount will be sent to a charity of their choice. And on a related note, read this letter to the parish from Chris Evans:

• This past weekend, homeless men and women currently living in tents along New Haven’s rivers and in its woods were invited to a hot meal at the Columbus House Outreach and Engagement offices. Those attending visited with one another and the O & E case management staff. Staff were able to engage those residents and in some case offer its full complement of case management services. The hope, as always, is to help men and women move into housing and on toward independence. However, first steps are always required to become acquainted and gain trust with one another before working together can take place. Shared meals provide such an opportunity. Meanwhile, excess sandwich lunches from the coffee hour honoring Cate and Stu were given and distributed to those invited to Columbus House. Our brothers and sisters who are homeless, the most disenfranchised of our community, directly received that gift of sharing bread; had their isolation breached for a time, and were left with a second meal for the day and a bit of hope that others care about them. Your generosity and pastoral care helps change lives as a result of having such direct and personal interaction with people who are homeless. Thank you.

 
Looking ahead, please keep on your calendars:

• Sunday, May 30 (Memorial Day Weekend), our Adult and Senior Youth choirs sing at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, at the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist and 4:00 p.m. Evensong. You are especially encouraged to carpool for the evening service.
• Friday, June 4 at 5:30 p.m.: the Celebration and Blessing of the Marriage of Kaia Grace Monroe and Parrish Woodrow Rarick. The church makes clear that this is an act of public worship; the entire congregation is invited to share this milestone with Parrish and Kaia.
• Friday, June 4, at 6:00 p.m.: First Friday Potluck in the Common Room/Lounge. Bring a dish to share if you can. All are invited.
• Sunday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m. we have our monthly Children’s Liturgy. Children of all ages and abilities are invited to volunteer for a role in the Eucharist. Parents, please let Mother Mo or the parish office know of your children’s interest.

 
Faithfully,
Fr. Ray+