THE EPISTLE:

January 18, 2024

Feast of the Confession of St. Peter

Church at St. Thomas this Sunday, January 21st

With the frigid winter weather and icy roads this past week, the church office has, for the most part, remained closed, with clergy and staff working remotely from home. Weather forecasts for this weekend continue to show below freezing temperatures. We are aware that, even with the slight warming happening today, roads and driveways, especially in the mountainous parts of Huntsville and Madison County, may remain frozen through the weekend. Please be careful and make smart decisions about whether or not it is safe for you to go out this weekend!

As for church at St. Thomas this Sunday, January 21st, at this moment, we are planning to offer all three of our regular Sunday Eucharists, at 8am, 10:30am, and 5pm. If it is deemed wise to not have one or all of our church services this Sunday, we will send out an email to the parish by Saturday afternoon, as well as make the announcement on our website and on our social media pages.

At this time, assuming both the 8am and 10:30am Holy Eucharist services will be celebrated this Sunday, we hope to at least be able to offer a simple breakfast of donuts and coffee during the Breakfast and Christian Formation time between worship services.

Finally, if you are scheduled to be on the Worship Team this Sunday and feel it is not safe or advisable for you or your family to make the drive to St. Thomas, please stay in, and we will find a replacement. If you can let the clergy know via phone call, text, or email, that will help us prepare.

Please stay safe and warm this weekend, and please continue to offer prayers for the sick, those shut in and alone, for the poor and the homeless, for those working in hospitals this weekend, and for our first responders, police, and emergency work teams!

What does it mean to be the 'Church' today? Join Fr. Donavan for a new conversation this Sunday through February 11th

In the 21st century, there are perhaps more ideas and understandings about what it means to be a "church" than any other century before. Is a church primarily a place of worship and prayer? Is a church a place for finding and growing needed fellowship and community? Should a church be a place chiefly of Christian outreach and care for the neighborhood, the city, and world? Certainly, all of these descriptions have their important place in the church of today, but is there something more that can bind all the definitions, ideas, and understandings together and keep the church focused and unified in its ultimate purpose and action?

For the next four Sundays, Fr. Donavan will be leading anyone who'd like to join him in a deeper conversation on this topic. In addition to the Bible and Church tradition and teaching, Fr. Donavan will also dig into his own experience as priest, pastor, and Rector in the Episcopal Church today and share with us how his own evolving understanding of church shapes his leadership and decisions in ministry with us at St. Thomas.

This class is scheduled to begin this Sunday, January 21st, at 9:30am in the Parish Hall.

Are you NEW to St. Thomas?

Newcomers: We are really excited to have you here at St. Thomas. We look forward to telling you a bit of the history of the Episcopal Church on Sunday, January 21st, weather permitting, at 9:30 in the Crossroads Room. Simply follow the blue signs. You will take a short tour of our facility along with names of places. For information call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669. Come learn all about our church and our history in our new monthly Newcomers Class! On January 28th, Susie Thurber will tell you the story of St. Thomas and take a short tour of our facility along with names of places. For information call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669. Come learn all about our church and our history in our new monthly Newcomers Class

Save the date NOW for the Parish Retreat, March 8-10 at Camp McDowell

Come for one night or two or just come for the day to the return of the St. Thomas Parish Retreat at Camp McDowel on the weekend of March 8 - 10th! We will offer canoeing, hiking, art, an animal show, farm activities, and plenty of social time! Look for an invitation to register next week!

Everybody's Pub Theology Thursday, Jan. 25th!

Sit down with Fr. Donavan, Mtr. Ranie and Deacon Jeannie on Thursday, January 25th, from 6-7:30pm, at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion! This will be Mtr. Ranie's LAST Pub Theology with us, so why not show your love and come buy Mtr. Ranie a pizza and few beverages of choice!

Email Jeannie at jrann228@gmail.com and let her know if you plan on joining us!

Scrapbooker and Crafts Events

Jan. 26th, 6-10pm, and

Jan. 27th, 9am-3pm in the Parish Hall!

Scrapbookers and Paper Crafters, please join us to work on your albums or organize your photographs in the Parish Hall, Friday, Jan. 26th, from 6pm-10pm, and Saturday, Jan. 27th, from 9am-3pm.

If you are interested in a Beginners Class or have questions, please contact Rebekah Callahan, Creative Memories Advisor at rebekah-callahan@comcast.net or (256) 603-0219.

Open Invitation to a Farewell Reception for Mtr. Ranie,

Jan. 28 after the 10:30 Eucharist

Please Join Us!

For a reception to give a fond farewell to Mother Ranie.  

When:    January 28, 2024 

Time:    After the 10:30 Eucharist

Where:  Parish Hall

Questions?  Kelly Evans (256-457-9447), Debbie Harriman (256-509-6606), Marcia Steiner (256) 665-2002, or Carol Roy (256) 653-1133

Praying the Rosary with Fr. Donavan returns, February 2nd, with a special evening Candlemas Eucharist & Q&A on the Society of Mary

With the great turn out and interest in praying the traditional Rosary during the season of Advent last year, Fr. Donavan is planning to offer a new, twice monthly, Rosary prayer group, which will gather two Fridays each month at 12 noon to pray the Rosary in the Nave. This new bi-monthly prayer offering at St. Thomas will begin on the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Feast of the Presentation and Candlemas, on Friday, February 2nd.

And in honor of this special feast day for the church, which comes each year 40 days after Christmas, Fr. Donavan will also offer a Candlemas Holy Eucharist at 6pm in the church, with hymns and music provided by Kathy Heim.  Following the 6pm Candlemas Eucharist, anyone interested in learning more about specifically Anglican/Episcopal devotion to the Blessed Mother of God, is invited to a Q & A session with Fr. Donavan in the Parish Hall, with special information on the Episcopal devotional society, the Society of Mary, which Fr. Donavan has been a member since 2008.

If you'd like to pray the Rosary, join Fr. Donavan again on February 2nd at 12 noon in the church, and then come back at 6pm for a simple celebration of the Holy Eucharist for Feast of the Purification with a Q&A on Mary afterwards in the Parish Hall.

Lobsterfest Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Dinner

Saturday, Feb. 3

The Lobsterfest Steering committee in the past has provided a dinner to the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for their support to Lobsterfest. Lobsterfest could not be the success it is without the support that the fraternity guys provide to St. Thomas. The dinner will be on Saturday, February 3rd from 2-5pm.

We have the Kitchen and Parish Hall reserved from 12-6pm. The church provides Pork Butts and chicken, but this important dinner needs home cooked side dishes and desserts! If you can provide a side dish or dessert, please contact Tom Perry at (256) 348-4313 or perrytbne@aol.com or Flo Boyer (256) 883-8376.

Little Free Pantry

Update for the Little Free Pantry!

We ask that you leave Little Free Pantry food donations in the little red wagon located in Information Hall. The shopping cart in Lobster alley has been removed. Bags and a shopping lists are in the little red wagon, and when you are able, please pick up a couple of extra food items and drop them off in the Information Hall. Thank you! 

D.O.K. Update

• We are proud to announce the installation of 6 new members: Lois Adams, Monica Benton, Overton Gibson, Nichole Hargrove, Mary Elizabeth Marr, and Lisa Ryder! The Daughters are stronger with them as members.

• Shirley Kittle, a long-time member, was honored for her creation and donation of over 385 prayer shawls! A shadow box with photos and a plaque saying “Shirley Kittle – Prayer Shawl Warrior” is now hanging in the Parlor. Check it out!

• The DoK sponsored a Preparation for Advent Workshop with Fr. Donavan’s presentation on different types of prayer. The Workshop was open to all and was very well attended.

• We are currently sponsoring a Used Shoe Drive for Huntsville’s homeless population. Please go through your closets and donate those shoes you don’t wear – especially tennis shoes and boots. No high heels please. The homeless are hard on shoes, especially in winter, and there is a tremendous need now! There is a bin in Information Hall for your donations. Thank you!

Christian Formation Offering for Adults: Bible Study on Romans

Each Sunday in Conference Rm 1, we will be studying Paul's Epistle to the Romans with Mtr. Ranie. Bring a Bible and all your questions and wonderment involving Saint Paul and the messy, fascinating theology his works foster. Mtr. Ranie will be leading the class. If you have any questions, please email her at associate@stthomashuntsville.org.

Children and Youth Christian Formation Information - Returns This Sunday

St. Thomas' Children and Youth Christian Formation classes are now underway every Sunday! We offer five different Sunday school classes for our children and youth!

Pre-K - 1st grade: Godly Play- Renee' Redfield - Hiers 4

2nd grade-3rd grade: Love First- Laura Beth Bestor - Hiers 2 (new room)

4th grade-5th grade: Thou Art- Kathie Clayton & Lila Powell - Hiers 6

6th grade-7th grade: My Faith, My Life- Sonya Carrier & Jane Allgood - Hiers 5

8th grade- 12th grade: Youth Room

Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor, at children@stthomashuntsville.org or our Youth Ministries Coordinator, The Rev. Jeannie Randall at jrann228@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to help out with this important aspect of our ministries.

"Come As You Are"

5 PM Holy Eucharist

St. Thomas' "Come as You Are" 5pm Sunday worship service is every Sunday. Dinner is now offered on the FIRST SUNDAY of each month. We will have dinner Feb. 4, Mar. 3, Apr. 7, and May 5. Our 5pm Holy Eucharist features simple hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, good sermons preached from the floor, and Holy Communion. Come as you are and invite a friend to join you for the 5pm Evening Holy Eucharist EVERY SUNDAY at St. Thomas.

Flower Dedications

Dedicating flowers for Sunday worship is a wonderful way to offer remembrance of a loved one or in celebration of special occasions such as Baptisms. You can sign up for dedications on the list tacked next to the Flower Guild room in Information Hall. We ask for a minimum donation of $60. As always, our dedicated team will make beautiful arrangements for your loved ones.

Acolyte Sign-Up Genius is now available!

Calling all youth and children 2^nd grade and older to help serve our Church by being an acolyte! Click to access the 10:30am Acolyte Schedule Sign-Up Genius which schedules through January 2024.  Please consider signing up 2-3 times to share your works.  Contact Jeannie at jrann228@gmail.com with questions.

At A Glance January 11 - January 17

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org