Note from the Wardens—A Special Thank You

Thank you to all who joined us for a beautiful evening Tuesday to celebrate Fr. Ed's Institution as our ninth Rector! On behalf of the Vestry, we wish to share our immense gratitude to our Rector Search Committee and Transition Team.

We thank the incredible Rector Search Committee—Chairs Rob Hess and Elizabeth Moulds and their team Matthew Ginn, Sara Dickison Taylor, Barbie Dwyer, Bill Carter, Dan Fickes, Caitlin Slodden, Jane Carr, Molly Powers, and Cathy Torrey—who after months of prayerful discernment, recommended Fr. Ed as our next Rector. It was wonderful to see them all in attendance on Tuesday evening, enjoying a well-deserved celebration together.

We are also very grateful to Sara Dickison Taylor, Jenn Gay-Smith and Elizabeth Moulds for their dedicated service as Fr. Ed’s Transition Team. For the past several months, they have worked tirelessly to welcome Ed and Devon to St. John’s—arranging meet and greets with parishioners, ensuring that the Rectory was comfortable for their arrival, and organizing the Institution and reception. Thank you Sara, Jenn and Elizabeth for your thoughtfulness, your time, and your faithful service!

From the Rector: Thanks be to God for you.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

The Rev. Edward Thornley kneels before Bishop Whitworth Nov. 19 as he is instituted as the ninth Rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham.

On Tuesday, many in our community gathered at our parish church for my official Service of Institution with The Rt. Rev. Julia Whitworth, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Members of our parish, wardens, vestry, staff, search committee, transition committee, friends and family, and clergy from the deanery and diocese all came together to pray with me as we “officially” began this new chapter of St. John’s life together. It was wonderful to welcome so many new and familiar faces, and to have my dear friend Fr. Sammy Wood, from The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square, preach at our service. Although Devon and I have been here since July, this was the formal moment at which point we now begin our time in this community. It was also very special to have the Bishop here for what was her first parish visitation and her first installation service as a Bishop.

I am extremely grateful (here come the “thank yous” again …) to everyone who took part; which means all of the people mentioned above! And I want to offer a particular thanks to the transition committee: Sara Taylor, Elizabeth Moulds, and Jenn GaySmith, for all their work in orchestrating the whole event, the food, and the beer … I cannot begin to tell you how much Devon and I, and our families appreciated not only the evening itself, but are thrilled at the sheer fact that you, the parish, called us to this new journey with you.

During the service, one of the most poignant moments for me was where members of our community presented a series of gifts: objects which represent aspects of our life together which are significant for our shared ministry. As well as being grateful to those who took part in this moment, it was a gift in itself to be reminded in that moment of something which shapes our life as a parish. And that is the very fact that this is a shared ministry. Everything we do here we do together. And even though this was the institution of a rector, it is just as much, if not more so, the institution and celebration of what it means for our whole community to be what it is, and for us to be who we are with one another.

When each person held up their gift—from a Bible to a Prayer Book, from a stole to a Godly Play parable, to Eucharistic vessels—I was helpfully reminded that, in the end, a priest is no more special, holy, or important than anyone else. We’re a pretty useless bunch, really, because the whole point of a priest’s role (as far as I see it, anyway) is simply to be a person who is asked by a community to remind them that they already have all the gifts they need to be the church. While I may have spent some time reading the Bible, learning how to preach, hanging around an altar, and praying in public, these are obviously forms of spiritual engagement that we all share in. As with any other vocation, there are specific gifts however they are always that which inspire others in their own gifts. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

Thank you for a wonderful celebration. And, on this eve of the twenty-fourth annual Holiday Boutique, remember what you, as a parish, are already capable of. This is all because of you, because God has already given you the gifts with which to build his kingdom. Thanks be to God for you.

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The Rev. Edward Thornley

Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

A Special Week for St. John’s

Good Evening, St. John’s.

Today marks the first day in a very special week at St. John’s. On Tuesday evening, The Right Reverend Julia E. Whitworth will visit St. John’s where one of her first acts as Bishop will be to Celebrate the New Ministry and Institution of The Reverend Edward Thornley, St. John’s Ninth Rector.

St. John’s Parishioners had a vital hand in carrying the Church through the transition period. We would not be here without you. We hope you will join us to celebrate our community, our dedicated Rector Search and Transition teams, and this most joyous occasion. The Institution promises to be a meaningful service, a moment to recognize what we have been through, and to look forward together to our next chapter under the leadership of Father Ed. A celebratory reception will follow. We hope to see you there.

We also invite you to return to St. John’s Friday evening for the 2024 Holiday Boutique Cocktail Party—a beloved tradition and festive evening to shop, sip, and socialize. The Holiday Boutique is the Church’s largest annual fundraiser, and a wonderful opportunity to open St. Johns’ doors to the community and kick-off the holiday season. We are still looking to fill important volunteer slots. Please sign-up here. Every shift helps!

We are so grateful for our Church home, and all of you.

Faithfully,

Jody Jones Turner & Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn

On behalf of the St. John's Vestry

Sunday School Update: Welcoming the new Bishop

Dear St. John’s families,

This Sunday, we begin preparing for exciting events happening next week!

On Tuesday Nov. 19th at 6 p.m., we will formally install the ninth rector of our parish, Fr. Ed Thornley! Our new bishop, the Rt. Rev. Julia Whitworth, will be celebrating the service. It’s a great opportunity to meet her as well! A reception will follow.

In preparation for the bishop’s visit we'll be learning all about what a bishop does, what they wear, and how the dioceses are organized. We’ll also be making a special welcome gift for Fr. Ed and Bishop Whitworth. Please plan to be there this Sunday and for the service next Tuesday!

If you haven’t done so yet, please consider making your pledge here so that we may continue programming next year at current levels at a minimum!

Warmly,

Alexis