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Upcoming Events!
- Courtyard Cleanup - March 18 9am to 12pm
- Children's Acolyte Training - March 19 11am
- Cherish the Chalice - March 26 11am
- Celebration of New - Ministry May 10 6:30pm
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
- Courtyard Cleanup - March 18 9am to 12pm
- Children's Acolyte Training - March 19 11am
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A Transformed Life ~ The Way of Love in Lent~A Weekly Lenten Journey Grant for
- St. Thomas Receives $10,000 Grant for Gun Violence Prevention!
- What Draws People to St. Thomas? What Does St. Thomas Provide the Community?
- Church of the Wild", Book Group Every Other Monday Starting April 17 from 9am to 11am
- Locally Haiti Fundraiser
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Courtyard Clean-up Party
Getting Ready for Easter!
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Bring your shovels!
Bring your gloves!
Bring your friends and family!
Join us for courtyard cleanup to prepare for our Easter celebration on March 18th from 9am to 12pm.
Help to bring some beauty to the face of Saint Thomas Episcopal. From gardens to lights we want to transform the space to be welcoming for everyone experiencing the Mystery of Easter.
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Acolyte Training for Children and Youth | |
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After service this Sunday, children 6-years and older may sign up to do Acolyte training!
Younger children will learn to carry the crucifer and how be torch bearers.
Older children will learn to use the thurible (incense holder).
If you would like your child to be a part of this new program, please find either a Warden or Tyler after service.
For families who will not be able to attend Acolyte training this Sunday but who still want to be involved can email Tyler at [email protected] to learn more about future opportunities.
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Grant for Gun Violence Prevention | |
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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.
We’ll be planning distribution events in the near future with plenty of opportunities to volunteer – more information coming soon!
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A Transformed Life ~ The Way of Love in Lent
A Weekly Lenten Journey
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The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into Christ’s life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, you are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Each week, you are invited to reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings.
Our weekly reflections will walk us through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption. These reflections tie the Easter Vigil readings to the seven practices of the Way of Love. Drawing on the ancient practice of setting aside Lent as a period of study and preparation for living as a Christian disciple (known as the catechumenate), these reflections encourage you to reflect on salvation history; walk toward the empty tomb; and embrace the transforming reality of love, life, and liberation. They will lead us to Easter where we will stand with the three women at the empty tomb, we hear the call to go and live that transformed reality.
Miriam Stark will be coordinating a ZOOM reflection group on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 7:30. Please email her at [email protected] if you would like to participate.You also may do these reflections on your own or gather a small group to reflect together at another time.
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Growing in Our Knowledge and Experience of God's Gifts | |
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The practice for the 3rd week of Lent was to Learn, responding to the prayer to have God “grant us an inquiring and discerning heart.” We are grateful for the heart-centered responses to the question of what aspects of God members of the St. Thomas community would like to learn more about to strengthen our spiritual lives.
Most individuals wanted to learn about more than one aspect of God among those suggested: Grace, Peace, Prophecy and Service. Peace was the most frequent response followed by Grace. Several added Love. Others wanted to learn more about The Holy Spirit, how God is experienced in other cultures and at other times in our history and the connectedness of everything in the cosmos.
Humility, forgiveness and reconciliation were also mentioned and appeared to build on themes related to peace within and among others. One person wanted to better understand “how peace can heal and reconcile.” Another wrote, “making peace with the mistakes of the past and accepting God’s forgiveness.” Still another wrote, “I want to feel the peace that passes all understanding deep within my soul. I feel glimpses of it but want to know it fully.”
The sincere struggle to balance the modern pressures of life with faith development and the desire to serve were reflected in these comments: One person share a sincere desire to learn “how discipline is possible with modernity.” Another wanted to learn more about “reconciling service with modern life – giving but staying in balance with daily/family responsibilities.”
The responses to this important question in the 3rd Sunday of Lent reinforced the responses to one of the questions we asked on the 1st Sunday in Lent, “What could St. Thomas do to help you return to the heart of God?” Most responding to that question by asking for more opportunities for faith formation through discussion groups and community.
Your responses to our Lenten questions so far have given us much guidance on how to shape some of our future educational programming. Thank you.
STEPPING OUT IN FAITH!
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"Church of the Wild" - Book Group | |
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You are invited to participate in a book group this spring!
According to the late “geologian” Thomas Berry… “The divine communicates with us primarily through the language of the natural world.”
In Church of the Wild, Victoria Loorz offers a compelling perspective on how to fall in love again with our natural world, as we increasingly recognize ourselves as part of it. More than a book discussion, we will venture out into nature to live into the beauty of spring and early summer as we slowly savor “how nature invites us into the sacred".
“An absence of a sense of the sacred is the basic flaw in many of our efforts at ecologically or environmentally adjusting our human presence to the natural world. We will not save what we do not love…eventually only our sense of the sacred will save us.” Thomas Berry
We will meet every other Monday, beginning April 17 from 9-11am St Thomas Courtyard in pleasant weather (indoors if not)
Facilitators: Catherine Welch and Nancy Arko
If you are interested in participating, please email [email protected] or [email protected]
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We are making a concerted effort to improve the quality and consistency of the audio quality for those who attends our ZOOM services. To do that we need help from ZOOM participants. If the audio is not satisfactory, please provide details to the ZOOM Host during and after the services. We need to know exactly what the issues are from no sound, too loud, too quiet, too distorted, whatever you are experiencing. Please type the issue into chat and identify specifically which mic was being used and what part if the service was affected. Thanks! | |
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Inquirers Classes
Learn More About The Episcopal Tradition
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On the second Sunday of each month, The Rev. Terri Hobart will lead Inquirers Classes for those who would like to learn more about the beliefs, history, worship, and practices of the Episcopal Church. Each class will cover a different aspect of the Episcopal Church. This series is ideal for those newer to the Episcopal Church, as well as anyone who has questions or would like to deepen their understanding of the Episcopal Tradition. Parishioners are invited to attend the whole series or just classes of particular interest. Those who are considering or who will participate in confirmation or reception should participate in all sessions or schedule a make up, if necessary.
Jenifer Gamber’s Your Faith, Your Life: An Invitation to the Episcopal Church, available online through Church Publishing Incorporated, is recommended as a companion to this series.
Prayer, Spirituality, Mission – Ask about next date!
History and Polity - May 7th
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Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education Event | |
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On March 18th, author Pat Pascoe speaking at Park Hill Library about her book "A Dream of Justice".
Did you know that Park Hill was at the center of a Supreme Court case filed in 1969 that ordered the school board to desegregate the entire district “root and branch” in 1973? Join Pat Pascoe, author of "A Dream of Justice" to find out more. Following the presentation Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education will host an in-depth discussion.
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Great Opportunity to Meet Fellow Parishioners
Serve As A Greeter and Usher
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We need to build up our Usher ranks! Ushers welcome people to our worship services and manage the offerings and communion process. Would you be willing to in serve once a month. If you are interested in this relational ministry, please contact me at [email protected] for more information and any questions you have. Thank you for considering this opportunity.
Kathi Atkins
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Script Program and Other Ways
to Support St.Thomas
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Vehicles For Charity
“Vehicles for Charity” is managed by ARC. You go to their website, https://www.vehiclesforcharity.org/, type in St. Thomas Episcopal Church and fill out the online form.
King Soopers' Script Program
Information coming Soon!
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Cherish a Chalice—A Polishing Party | |
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Embrace an ewer
Cherish a chalice
Ponder with a paten
Get chummy with a candlestick
Dear Siblings in Christ—
I could go on—but hearing the groans in the background—I won’t.
We, the St. Thomas family are holding a special party on Sunday, March 26th. A Polishing Party! As you all know, we are in the most holy season of Lent—we are preparing ourselves—and by extension—God’s house for Easter.
We will gather together in the Great Hall immediately following the service to start our party! All supplies will be furnished, including protective wear, i.e., aprons and gloves. Tables will be set-up, supplies laid out and polishing mentors will be available!
You may be saying, “But I’ve never polished silver!” Don’t worry, it’s never to late to start. OR, you may be saying, “I thought I was done polishing silver!” Give it another go, grandmother would be so proud.
Lunch will be “served.” As Sundays are feast days during Lent, it will be hearty!
As a special token of appreciation—at the end of the party there will be homemade Scottish shortbread or a loaf of communion bread (Tina’s special request) to take home.
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Sign-ups for Coffee Hour and Flowers | |
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Beginning in September, we would like to resume a regular coffee hour. As such you will find a sign-up sheet by the church door. We encourage you to find a partner and sign -up to host a coffee hour. All that is required is to come a few minutes early to make the coffee (instructions are provided) and help tidy up after coffee hour. Providing a snack is optional.
There is also a sign-up sheet to provide flowers for the altar. You have the options of making a donations so that we can order flowers or you can provide them. If you would like to donate flowers in memory or honor of someone, please email the office and we will include that in the weekly bulletin.
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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?
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