THE EPISTLE:

September 25, 2025

Everybody's Pub Theology

TONIGHT, September 25

6 PM at PaPPo's

Please join Mtr. Katie for Everybody's Pub Theology tonight, Thursday, September 25, from 6–7:30 p.m., at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville!

Join us for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion!

Information Session

Monday, September 29, 6 PM

in the Parish Hall!

Would you be interested in joining Fr. Donavan & fellow members of St. Thomas on an extraordinary, 12-day, 3-country pilgrimage covering the history, beauty, and deep spirituality of early Celtic Christianity? Would you like to visit some of the holy sites and hear the stories of some of the greatest Celtic saints and teachers, including St. Patrick, St. Brigid, & St. Kevin of Ireland and St. Columba, St. Aidan, and St. Hilda of Scotland and northern England? If so, please plan to attend a special information session led by Fr. Donavan THIS COMING MONDAY, September 29th, at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall!

Fr. Donavan will be leading our pilgrimage in October of next year, from St. Thomas across the ocean to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. We will be accompanied by a professional guide on our pilgrimage and will be staying in some amazing locations and cities along the way. This pilgrimage is being organized through Faith Journeys, which has a longstanding reputation for sending church pilgrims from the United States to significant holy sites in Europe and the Holy Land. Fr. Donavan has been working with Faith Journeys for the last few months and will provide all the basic information on the pilgrimage, including the sites and places we will be visiting, how we will travel, where we will be staying, and the costs for the trip.

So, if you would like to hear all about this exciting opportunity to visit some of the most historic and holy sites of Celtic Christianity along with everything else we will have the opportunity to see and experience in Ireland and the UK, be sure to join Fr. Donavan this coming Monday evening, Sept. 29th, in the Parish Hall!

UPCOMING

Eco-Spirituality Retreat Hosted by William Thiele,

Saturday, October 4th, 
9 AM–1 PM

Join us for this experiential retreat with William Thiele, PhD. We will practice Mary Oliver’s poem "When I am Among the Trees" in real time and learn truths of contemplative living from the nature beings all around us after an experience of entering the inner sanctuary through centering prayer. Practices include periods of guided walking meditation in nature and sacred circle sharing of what we experience. Bring a sack lunch and walking shoes for the Aldridge Creek Greenway.  

There is no fee to register but we ask for a suggested donation of $25. Checks should be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church with Eco-spirituality in the memo line. They can be dropped off in the church office or mailed to PO Box 14509, Huntsville, AL 35815. REGISTER HERE.

This experiential retreat is open to all from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 4, with check-in at 8:30 a.m. There is no registration fee but we ask for a suggested donation of $25. Rain date is Saturday, October 11. CLICK HERE for more information.

Mark Your Calendars for Blessing of the Animals

October 5, at 3 PM

Please join us on the field across the north parking lot for the annual Blessing of the Animals for the Feast of St. Francis, on Sunday, October 5, at 3:00 p.m. No matter what type of animal you have – the 4-legged kind, the swimmers, the crawlers and the hoppers – bring ‘em on! Even if you don’t have a pet, you are invited. It is a fun celebration of all God’s creatures and one of the church's most beloved saints, St. Francis of Assisi. Don’t miss it! And don't forget to bring your lawn chairs or blankets.

Holy Hike at Blevins Gap

Saturday, October 11 at 9 AM

Our next Holy Hike will be at the Blevins Gap Preserve on Saturday, Oct 11th at 9am.

We’ll hike sections of both the Certain and West Bluff trails to a spot with some spectacular views of the valley below (you can barely see St. Thomas from the top). The first half-mile has some uphill hiking, but after that it’s very flat. You may want to bring a snack and something to drink, as well as a hiking stick or trekking poles.

We’ll meet at the Blevins Gap Trailhead (3470 Cecil Ashburn Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35802). There is a portable toilet near the trailhead. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Byford at brettbyford59@gmail.com or 256.808.5776.

Help Build Beds!

October 19, 2–5 PM

If you would like to join us in building beds for children who currently are forced to sleep on the floor because they have no bed, we will build 50 beds along with Church of the Nativity on Sunday, October 19 from 2-5 PM. You can visit the SHP website at shpbeds.org for details of the program. Sign up sheets are available throughout the church, you can ask at the office, or contact George Harriman at 256-509-6666, email georgeharriman51@gmail.com.

You can see assembled beds in the parish hall through Sunday evening. No skills or tools are needed, just a passion to help children in need.

We are seeking donations of bedding and pillows for the beds we create. Twin bedding sets are available at most major retailers such as Walmart or Amazon. Remember to order “twin” sized bedding sets, and you can leave them at the church office for delivery. Thank you for your support!

Creation Care Project

Planting Trees and Shrubs on Greenway

St Thomas has an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Eric Obermann Linear Forest along Aldridge Creek Greenway. We have been invited by Stuart Obermann to raise funds to plant trees and shrubbery on City land at the back of St Thomas Church. They will provide much needed natural habitat, be a way to replace a few of the many lost trees in Huntsville, and provide much needed shade for members of our community who exercise along the Greenway.

This project will be done with the Friends of Trees Organization, the Eric Obermann Foundation, and the City of Huntsville Green Team. The goal is to raise funds for about 20 trees. A good sized sapling costs around $250 and The Friends of Trees with the Eric Obermann Foundation have offered to match up to $3000 of what we raise!

The planting will be done by the City of Huntsville Green Team who will choose and purchase the trees and then come and plant them.

How to Donate

To make a donation to this important project make checks payable to St Thomas and with “Creation Care-Trees” in the memo line, or place cash in an envelope marked “Creation Care-Trees”. To donate via Realm CLICK HERE or use the QR code above.

To donate in honor of someone please write their name on the donation envelope or contact Belinda Greenaway with 'Tree Project' in the subject line. Contact Belinda Greenaway HERE Or Brett Byford HERE with questions.

“Trees give us hope and the courage to persevere even in the harshest of conditions.” Eric Obermann Foundation

LOBSTERFEST 32 Updates

Join us THIS Sunday

September 28 at 9:30 AM

in the Parish Hall

On Sunday, September 28, the Lobsterfest 101 Fair will be in the Parish Hall between 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Visit the different Lobsterfest committee booths to talk with the committee chairs and volunteer to help make our 32^nd Lobsterfest a success. This year's Lobsterfest t-shirt will be available for purchase, and yard signs and date stickers will be available for pick-up.  Make plans to join us for a crackin' good time!

Artisan Fair at Lobsterfest

Update for

St. Thomas Creates at Lobsterfest

St. Thomas Creates is ready to receive your art and craft donations. Please bring them to the Volunteer’s desk just inside the office door. There are stickers for you to mark the price and your name, and a form to accompany your donation(s) at the desk. All items will be kept in a secure room until Lobsterfest. We will continue to receive your creations until November 7th.

Thank you for donating your time and talent to St. Thomas Creates. All proceeds go directly to Lobsterfest. 

Please contact Donna Clark donnadfclark@gmail.com or Maggie Hall at Maggie.carter.hall@gmail.com

All proceeds go to Local Outreach and the Honduras Medical Mission. Support the cause by donating below. You can also CLICK HERE.

Registration for the Lobsterfest 5k is OPEN! CLICK HERE to register NOW!

ONGOING

Treble Choir Rehearsals Continue through Fall!

The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship service and our special services this year will include Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve. All children in 2nd-8th Grades are invited to join! Bring a friend!

The Treble Choir schedule is available HERE and is posted on the bulletin board leading to Hiers Hall, the choir bulletin board in Hudson Hall, and the St. Thomas Website. Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Please email Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for details!

Join the St. Thomas Adult Choir

You don't have to be a kid to sing! The St. Thomas adult choir is returning after the summer and welcoming new members. Click HERE to see and hear the St. Thomas choir practicing their anthem for this Sunday.

Children's Sunday School continues this Sunday at 9:30am-10:15am! Join us in Hiers Hall as we gear up for a year of faith, love, and fun! 

Godly Play class for Pre-K through 1st graders is led by Renee' Redfield in Hiers 4. 

Storymakers for 2nd and 3rd graders is by Nichole Hargrove in Hiers 6. 

Thou Art class for 4th through 6th graders led by Laura Beth Bestor in Hiers.  

Our nursery is open from 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sundays for those younger than Pre-K. We have our Play'n'Worship curriculum available for those in the nursery to enjoy on Sunday mornings. Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator via email at children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Do you have questions about the Bible? Have you wondered about what everything in the Book of Common Prayer means? Come to Youth Sunday School to try and answer those questions and more! 7-12th graders meet during formation time in the Youth Room at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday to talk about Covenants in the Bible!

7-12th Graders! Weekly EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) has RETURNED. EYC meets Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, HERE for more information.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org