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THE EPISTLE:
January 25, 2024
The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul
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Everybody's Pub Theology is TONIGHT, Thursday, Jan. 25th!
Sit down with Fr. Donavan, Mtr. Ranie and Deacon Jeannie TONIGHT, 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 her choice!
Email Jeannie at jrann228@gmail.com and let her know if you plan on joining us!
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Farewell Reception for Mtr. Ranie,
THIS SUNDAY, Jan. 28th, after the 10:30 Eucharist
Please Join Us!
For a reception to give a fond farewell to Mother Ranie.
When: This Sunday, January 28th
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
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And in order to have the Parish Hall prepared and ready for Mtr. Ranie's reception, breakfast this Sunday morning will be Bagels and Coffee and will be served in Information Hall! For 8am worshippers who cannot return for the Reception, Mtr. Ranie will be available in Information Hall immediately following the 8am Holy Eucharist.
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Scrapbooker and Crafts Events: This Weekend!
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.
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CLASS MOVING TO FEBRUARY 8TH!
What does it mean to be the 'Church' today?: A Sunday Morning Conversation with Fr. Donavan
In order to enable the Parish Hall to be readied for Mtr. Ranie's "Farewell Reception" this Sunday and because Fr. Donavan will be away the following Sunday morning, he has decided to move his next Adult Christian Formation class to now begin on Sunday, February 8th.
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 for 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 final Sunday after the Epiphany and the first 2-3 Sundays of Lent, Fr. Donavan will be leading anyone who'd like to join him in a deeper conversation on the topic "Church." 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.
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Are you NEW to St. Thomas?
Newcomers: We are really excited to have you here at St. Thomas. This Sunday, January 28th, Susie Thurber will tell you the story of St. Thomas and take you on 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
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Save the date NOW and REGISTER for St. Thomas Parish Retreat, March 8-10 at Camp McDowell
Come for one night or two or just come for the day for the return of the St. Thomas Parish Retreat at Camp McDowel on the weekend of March 8 - 10th! We will offer canoeing, hiking, art, a Birds of Prey show, "Meet the Animal" farm tours and activities, and plenty of social time! There will even be a concert by Fr. Donavan on Friday night, March 8th!
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You can register HERE Or use the QR Code. Please note that an active Realm account is very helpful (especially if you need to update your registration), but it is not necessary to register for Parish Retreat.
Hope you and your family will join us on March 8 - 10 at Camp McDowell!
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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.
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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! A sign-up sheet, with a tentative menu, is posted in Information Hall. 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.
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BBQ Bandits
BBQ Drive benefiting First Stop
Feb. 10-11
The BBQ Bandits are firing up the smoker for the annual Super Bowl event benefiting First Stop. This year’s event is just a couple of weeks away (Feb 10-11) so look for Charlie’s email on the menu items and pick up information. The website is available for online orders at https://st-thomas-bbq-bandits.square.site and there will also be a link on the church website. If you are not on our distribution list, please email us at stthomasbbq@gmail.com.
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St. Thomas Book Club
The Secret Place
Monday, Feb. 12 at 10am
St. Thomas Book Club meets on February 12 at 10am in the Parlor. We are reading The Secret Place by Tana French. Everyone is invited to join us even if you haven't read the book. For more information call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669.
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Gently Used Laptop and Kindle Collection for The Companion Diocese Committee
The Companion Diocese Committee would like to ask people to donate gently used Laptops and Kindles to our friends in the Diocese of Honduras. All Donated devices will be refurbished and utilized by students and faculty at the Episcopal schools in Honduras. We will accept devices here at the church Feb 1-Mar 1 and at Diocesan Convention.
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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!
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D.O.K. Used Shoe Drive for the
Homeless
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!
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"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.
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Weekly Children and Youth Formation
St. Thomas Children & Youth Formation Classes are on Sunday mornings from 9:30am-10:15am. 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.
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Acolyte Sign-Up Genius is now available!
Calling all youth and children 2nd 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.
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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.
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At A Glance January 11 - January 17 | |
Ted Evans, dedicated Junior Warden, shoveling the last of the ice to "clear the way" for Sunday's worship services this past cold weekend! | |
Special "Thank You" again to Ted and to our Senior Warden, George Harriman, to Bill Davenport, Alexander Steele, and Kelly Evans, to the "A Team" Breakfast Team, to our Flower & Altar Guild members, to our Director of Music, Kathy Heim, and to our new Administrative Assistant, Irene Smith, for braving the cold this past weekend and helping to prepare St. Thomas for all three Sunday worship services on January 21st! | | | | |
