By Muriel J. Smith
MIDDLETOWN – There’s a new spirit of revival, renewal, and excitement at Christ Episcopal Church on Kings Highway. But to its new pastor, the Rev. William Carl Thomas, it’s a warm cozy feeling of being back home and ministering to some wonderful people.
Thomas has been the priest-in-charge at the historic church since May, and couldn’t be more tickled at being named to what many refer to as one of the jewels of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, that large expanse from Middlesex county south. For him, it’s coming home.
Perhaps not exactly, but enough to make the priest feel blessed to be in Middletown. For one thing, he remembers as a pre-school youngster visiting his grandfather’s farm someplace near Red Bank. Years later, he was a chaplain for the Army Reserves and did his training at the Chaplain’s School then located at Fort Monmouth in Eatontown. And coming from a parish in New Bern, North Carolina, he’s now happy to be a short train or auto ride away from his son Adam and his wife Leah and family in Mystic, Connecticut; and his daughter, Melinda and her husband, Cole, and family in Cary, North Carolina, a short plane ride away. The pastor and his wife live in a townhouse in Middletown and all in all, the Rev. William Carl Thomas, who was conferred a Doctor of Ministry degree by Virginia Theological Seminary in 2014, feels rather blessed by it all.
He’s got a unique way of ministering to his flock, this fun-loving, fast talking, friendly preacher with several degrees and a lot of experience. For one thing, he believes in leading by giving space enough for his flock to take leadership into their own hands – with the help of God of course. He believes that God has called him here for a specific mission, and “my answer is, Yes, Lord, wherever you say, I’ll go!” He believes that “we belong here to help one another, and together, with God’s help, we make one another strong.”
So that’s the mantra by which he lives.
And making one another strong is just what the parish is doing. Going through some difficult years, with priests staying only for short periods of times while the bishopric itself was in a time of transition, attendance at church services fell off and the congregation was drifting away. With Thomas at the helm, and here for a minimum of five years and the likelihood of another five after that, attendance at services has doubled, and the numbers continue to grow.
Thomas doesn’t really like to talk much about himself, and he’s got a knack for turning a personal question into an opportunity to promote one more great aspect of the parish. Ask him about how he faces the financial needs of the parish, and he’ll begin enthusing about the upcoming Calico Fair this weekend, the church’s longtime primary fundraiser, and a day that includes everything from a petting zoo or historic traveling trunk to a Rummage and Book Sale that actually starts the day ahead. Ask him how he gets people involved, and he’ll launch into a delightful story about how amazing and helpful people are and how people really simply want to respond to people.
Even his study shows the eclectic personality of a priest who has set personal and parish goals for the next decade. Every wall is jampacked with framed mementoes and photos… his certificates while an Army chaplain, those of his family including grandchildren, beautiful artwork from both his son and daughter, and even a framed piece of artwork his daughter completed as a child. There’s another framed picture of different colored children’s handprints. Thomas will proudly tell you they’re the hands of youngsters from the first church he served; handprints that are now more than a quarter of a century old. Taken together, they all describe Thomas the priest.
Coming here at the invitation of the Bishop, Thomas didn’t waste any time pouring his energy and spirit into the church and the diocese. On tap, in addition to the Calico Fair, is an upcoming convocation this month, and pastors from various Episcopal churches in the diocese will meet, along with the Bishop, at the Kings Highway Church in preparation for the larger planned event. There’s a Cookie Walk coming up in December, both a fundraiser for the church and an opportunity for families to enjoy a variety of Christmas cookies without having to bake them themselves. There are the constantly active outreach programs, from the back-to-school project that raised money for clothing and supplies, the nursery care during liturgy, the Nov. 14 household goods drive for families in need, and even the Seamen’s Church Institute program of bringing sample-size toiletries to the Institute for distribution to mariners. Sunday, Oct. 18, parishioners are participating in Red Bank’s annual CROP walk, and Cardboard Box City helps the homeless throughout Monmouth County. The list goes on, and Thomas brags about every volunteer who makes it all happen.
Nor does Thomas miss an opportunity to invite others to the church. “There’s room for everyone,” he beams, “and we can’t wait to welcome them.”
The Calico Fair is Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9-3 p.m. at Christ Church, at 90 King’s Highway in Middletown. A White Elephant & Book “early bird” sale on Friday, Oct 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
