Upcoming Events!

• Distribution of Free Trigger Locks at June 10th Five Points Jazz festival, June 17th & 18th Juneteenth Festival, and June 24th & 25th Pride Festival
• Eva Williams Birthday Party June 11th
• Community Event to Discussion on Youth Violence June 12th
• Pride Worship Service and Parade June 25th

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

• You’re Invited to a Birthday Eva's Party
• Sabbath Reflections June 11th
• Rector's Sabbatical
• Sign Up to March in Pride Parade
• Gun Violence Prevention Program Initiative
• Neighborhood Women Owned Business Shoutout
• Wonder Camp Registration
• League of Women Voters of Denver Flower Bulb Sale
• Colorado Black Arts Festival Volunteers Needed
• Message from John Bailey for a Community Discussion on Youth Violence
• Realm Directory Update

Let's Celebrate Eva!

You’re Invited to a Birthday Party!

June 11, 2023 after Worship Service

You are invited to a special birthday party for Eva Williams

after service! What is so special about it?

Come and find out!

Sabbath Reflections

June 11th

My Soul Longs For the Sabbath

I want to rest from being who everyone else knows me to be.

I want to rest from being put together and up to speed

– I want to fall apart and to fall behind.

I want to stop making the same mistakes

– the ones I make when I never stop.

I want to stop hurting people for a time

– and to mourn and to cry.

I want to be suspended between the strong tall towers of obligation

– in a hammock dreaming.

I want to float where I have stumbled,

dance where I am chained,

lose where I have found.

I want to say NO where my dutiful YES has chimed forth!

I want to have six devoted days worthy of a holy seventh!

I want to lay down the burden of my ego in the soft warm cradle of tenderness!

I want to know the truth, and to speak the truth and to let it destroy me!

I want to stop measuring my worthiness and “love-ability”

– and be weak and powerful and naked.

I want to release my strength and kneel down

– still and silent as it crumbles into deep dark soil.

I want to dangle on the branches of my life’s deepest purpose

– and to ripen into richest colour and flavour.

I want to need someone again,

I want to need someone again.

I want to give away what I have kept,

fall down from where I have climbed,

receive the deepest blessing of inheritance

which is mine to share with another

in the wide restful heart of the Sabbath.

And I want to stop wanting.

~Christopher Giffen

Rector's Sabbatical

The Rev. Terri Hobart (she/her) will be taking a well deserved respite sabbatical between Memorial day and July 4th. In her absence The Rev. Tori Moir (they/them) will be preaching, presiding and providing emergency pastoral care.

If you have a question during this time, please contact the following individuals:

Pastoral Emergency

• Karmen Carter (May 29 - June 14)
• Angela Pleasants (June 15 - July 4)

Buildings and Grounds

• Burns Davison

Finances

• Judy Swinnerton

Other Questions or Concerns

• Angela Pleasants (May 29- June 14)
• Karmen Carter (June 15-July 4

Thank You to the Congregation

The Parish Success Ministry Team thanks you, the St. Thomas congregation, for your generosity during our Annual Giving Campaign. We kicked off the campaign on April 16 and at its conclusion on May 21, you all gifted us with just over $241,000, $21,000 beyond our aspirational goal. Thank you for believing in our mission, supporting our programs, and investing in our future. We also want to thank you for supporting the events we hosted and for signing up for varied ministries that are vital to St. Thomas. Sharing your time, talent, and treasure make a difference in the ability of St. Thomas to fulfill its mission.

Gratefully yours,

The Parish Success Ministry Team: Kathi Atkins, Amy Boatright, Burns Davison, Tyler Gonzalez, Georgina Lucas, Benny Samuels, Anne Speck and Judy Swinnerton

Sign Up to March in Pride Parade with St. Thomas and the Episcopal Church in Colorado

June 25, 2023

On June 25th, St. Thomas will worship in the Park before we march in the Pride Parade. We will be joining Bishop Kym Lucas (The Episcopal Church in Colorado) Bishop Jim Gonia (Rocky Mountain Synod ELCA), and Methodist Bishop Karen Oliveto (Mountain Sky Conference, United Methodist Church), invite parishioners from across Colorado from the three denominations to march at this year's Denver Pride Fest Parade. 

For those unable to attend the Pride Parade, we will offer 10:00 morning prayer at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Gun Violence Prevention Initiative

Leading With Love in Our Community: Gun Violence Prevention

Saint Thomas has been awarded a $10,000 mini-grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to distribute free firearm trigger locks to the community! Gun ownership is an independent risk factor for firearm injury, and households that practice safe gun storage using devices like trigger locks significantly reduce the risk of self-inflicted firearm injury or death.

Events for Volunteer Signups

June 10th Five Points Jazz Festival (Five Points Neighborhood)

• 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM

June 17th & 18th - Juneteenth Festival (2700 Welton Street)

• Noon to 7 PM both days

June 24th & 25th - Pride Festival (Civic Center Park)

• 11 AM to 7 PM on the 24th
• 10 AM to 6 PM on the 25th

Sign-ups are in two hour shifts, but you're welcome to stay longer and enjoy the entertainment! We might be able to set up a carpool for anyone planning on staying all day.

Event ideas are welcome! Please let us know if you would like to set up an event at a school, health clinic, veteran's organization, or anywhere else we might be able to engage with folks at risk of gun violence.

We're also scheduling appointments for individuals to pick a lock up at the church. If you know someone who may need a lock, please have them send us an email at [email protected]

Neighborhood Shoutout!

A to Z Home Vet Care

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm

"Quality Pet Care From Our Heart to Your Home"

What We Do:

Personalized in-home veterinary care and end of life services for cats, dogs, and exotic pets.

Call (720)715-7387 or Go Online to book an appointment.

www.atozhomevetcare.com

A to Z Home Vet Care is a woman-owned small business providing personalized in-home veterinary care in the great Denver Metro area. We are passionate about creating a space that allows us to practice high quality medicine with an emphasis on compassion and adapting to the individual needs of our clients and their pets. We provide traditional wellness services but also sick visits and end of life care or in-home euthanasias. Our team consists of Dr. Maria Zayas and technician Aspen Dornburg and we would be delighted to meet you and your pets. Full details about our services, pricing, and reviews can be found on our website. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, we look forward to hearing from you!

League of Women Voters of Denver Flower Bulb Sale

Have you been enjoying the flowers and green of Spring? Once again it is time for the League of Women Voters of Denver (LWVD) Flower Bulb Sale. Order and pay for high quality bulbs now. I will deliver them to you in October just in time for planting. Then next Spring you can enjoy their beauty! Your support is appreciated because this sale is LWVD’s major fundraiser. The proceeds support the league’s work in voter registration, education, and advocacy,

On the LWVD website there are pictures of all the bulbs being sold, which include hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, and indoor bulbs like amaryllis and paperwhites. LWVD is taking orders now until June 23 and then they will be delivered in late October. If you don’t have a yard, you could get indoor bulbs for gifts or you could donate bulbs to “Beautify Denver. “ (This is how we got all those beautiful flowers blooming in our courtyard.)

• To order bulbs go to the LWVD website (lwvdenver.org) where you will find pictures and ordering options. If you are internet adverse, Peg Oldham (720-220-3988, [email protected]) has a catalog of the bubs available and paper order forms. Remember to order by June 23.

Colorado Black Arts Festival Volunteers Needed!

The Colorado Black Arts Festival strives to develop, promote and celebrate African arts and culture in Colorado.

Colorado Black Arts Festival proudly presents its 36th annual celebration of African American art and culture. A Colorado experience like no other takes place July 8, 9, and 10, 2022 in historic Denver City Park West. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Festival Hours:

Friday, July 8              12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 9       10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 10 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Volunteer Positions Below:

• Visual Artist Relief Staff
• Inventory Specialist
• Opalanga D. Pugh Children’s Pavilion for Art and Learning Assistant Coordinator
• Facilities Maintenance and Clean-up
• Performing Arts Stage Crew Member
• Performing Arts Production Technician
• Festival Set-up/Tear-Down Crew
• Festival Grounds Keeper
• Sponsorship Fulfillment Specialists
• Documentation Specialist (Photographers and Videographers)
• CBAF Office Assistants
• Marketplace Vendor Assistants
• Traffic Attendants
• Volunteer Coordination
• Survey Data Collector
• Information Booth Attendant
• Public Relations Team Member
• Assistant to the Gospel Stage Coordinator
• Scavenger Hunt Attendant

Volunteers are the backbone of the Colorado Black Arts Festival. Email Tyler ([email protected]) or click HERE to sign up!

Message from John Bailey

Community Partners, Elected Officials and Concerned Citizens:

I am reaching out to you today requesting you/your organization(s) to join CBRT and other community leaders in sponsoring a discussion on youth violence and summer program resources for our youth. This critical community conversation will be held on Monday evening, June 12th at 5:30pm in the New Hope Baptist Church Family Life Center, 3701 Colorado Blvd. I would appreciate a speedy response on your sponsorship support. Further, I would ask you to share this information with friends, family, parents, church members, community organizations, fraternities, sororities, anybody, everybody and somebody. 

The goal of this meeting is to continue to listen, learn, have a critical conversation on youth violence and community engagement as well as to get ahead of the potential for summer of violence by being proactive, informed as well as not only look at the challenges our youth encounter, but the choices our youth make and opportunities that need to be in place to support them. I would appreciate a speedy response and thank you for your consideration.

Blessings,

JB

Realm Communication and Directory Update!

Please help us update our database and verify that we have accurate information!

Below is the fillable form (email back to [email protected]) or you can fill out a physical form and to drop into the offering plate during service.

Click the form below to download the fillable version!

None of This Would Be Possible Without Your Financial Support!

Thank You!

We Make Church Together

Many Hands Make Light Work



How can you help?

What gifts do you have to offer?

Office Hours

Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00 - 3:00