Dear People, Neighbours, and Friends of St. Thomas’s,

I’m often blithely unaware of what others need to know directly from me before it’s too late to do anything about it. I’ll neglect to mention that a parishioner is coming to meet with me in the rectory at the same time as Anne was counting on my help running a time-sensitive errand she’s already told me about several times that same day, for instance. This week, my cluelessness came in the form of an offhand comment that our seminarian, Phylicia McFaddin, had safely made it home to Texas after completing her coursework at Wycliffe College and her placement at St. Thomas’s had now come to an end. My wife was surprised to hear this news—and I was surprised that she was surprised. My lame response: “It was in the announcement when she first arrived . . .” (Of course, that was several months ago.) Anne replied, “If I didn’t know that Easter was Phylicia’s last Sunday, you can be sure a whole lot of other parishioners didn’t know, either.” She had a point, as she so often does.

I offer a sincere apology for not communicating Phylicia’s departure earlier to the wider community. It’s never welcome news to learn that someone you value has already moved on without being given a chance to say goodbye. At least the Acolytes’ Guild was well aware of her transition, and on Easter Day she was presented with a lovely card signed by its many members. The livestream of Phylicia’s final service, Easter Day Evensong & Benediction, was also dedicated to her, though it wasn’t made explicit that we were doing so because that was her last time serving with us. (By the way, you, too, can dedicate a livestream!)

Of course, that livestream dedication wasn’t explicit about the fact that we were honouring her precisely because that was her last service. And even if that had been made clear, only one of our many constituencies—Evensong livestream viewers—would have been made aware of this fact in real time. After all, St. Thomas’s is not just one congregation but four very different Sunday congregations, depending on which service folks attend. And then there are those who attend weekday masses or the Daily Office. And let’s not forget about those of us who join via livestream but never get a chance to hang out at coffee hour. Not to mention all the other people, neighbours, and friends of St. Thomas’s who constitute our wider network. The Thurible is our best way of communicating to as many people as possible at once, but even then, the message doesn’t always get through. Or, as in this case, the message simply doesn’t get delivered, because I forget it needs to be!

Of course, I was a little preoccupied this past week with the principal liturgies of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Day (the latter two with baptisms!), not to mention the fourteen daily offices, three daily Low Masses, six Way of the Cross devotions, one all-night Watch before the altar of repose, and one Holy Saturday Ante-Communion service, but all of these were, thankfully, shared by several clergy and many acolyte and lay officiants, to whom I am also incredibly grateful. (If you missed any of the main Holy Week liturgies, you can find the playlist here.) Still, where were my priorities? I really dropped the ball last week.

So I want to bid, Phylicia, as I am sure she would want to bid all of us, a very fond “So long, farewell.” I hope you visit us again soon, Phylicia!

(On a parenthetical note, there is one area where Anne is routinely and rightly left in the dark about parish matters, as she and I are clear that my some aspects of my church business are none of her business when it comes to people’s personal details. She’s not interested in gossip, and I have no business sharing it with her. When you tell me something confidential or pastorally sensitive, I cannot and do not pass it along to Anne without your explicit permission. In fact, she often has the experience of someone confiding in her and then saying, “But you probably already knew that from Fr. Humphrey.” And she is always honestly able to reply, “Actually, no, I didn’t.”)

It’s a difficult task trying to ensure that we’ve communicated what we need to communicate in a timely manner and haven’t left anyone out of the loop who should be. I’m constantly wondering whom I should cc when sending an email about liturgy, or music, or preaching, or the capital campaign, or pastoral care, or a hundred other things both big and small. In fact, I realized while I was writing this letter that I’d failed to give someone a heads up about the Archbishop’s visit on Sunday. (Yes, we have the primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in our pulpit for so-called “Low Sunday!” Not very low now, is it?)

At least I do have this weekly letter to try to fill the gaps and get the word out, and of course, it always provides an opportunity for me to thank everyone who takes the time to read this letter for wasting a few precious minutes on my ramblings, but even more importantly, for your giving so generously of your time, talent, and treasure, which makes this place what it is. Whether you are a parishioner who joins us in person or via livestream, or you’re simply an interested neighbour or friend, I am grateful to you for giving us the time of day. I hope it’s worth it. As far as I’m concerned, you’re certainly worth it! And, in this joyful Eastertide, I am grateful.

Yours in Christ’s service,

Fr. Nathan J.A. Humphrey+
VIII Rector

For Phylicia: So Long, Farewell…