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Save the Date
Sunday, October 5, 2025
- Locally Haiti Discussion after service
- Blessing of the Animals after service
October 9-11, 2025 - Colorado Diocesan Convention
- Bishiop Michael Curry Keynote Address 10/9 7pm (livestream)
In This Issue
- News from the Pews: Blessing of the Animals
- Vestry Profiles: Brian Casey
- Diocesan Convention
- Coffee Hour: Team B is up
- St. Francis Center: Male Volunteers Needed
- Chapman Foundation Opportunities
- LifeSpark Gala
- Office space available
| | This feature is a way for the congregation to stay connected and know what is going on in one another's lives. Send prayer requests or submissions about anything going on in your life (new job, vacation, kids accomplishments, hobbies, etc.) to srwarden@saintthomasdenver.org | | |
The blessing of the animals is a joyful event, often held around the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi (October 4th), where Episcopal churches celebrate and give thanks for their animal companions and all of God's creation. Clergy offer blessings, sometimes with holy water or oil, to pets of all kinds, as well as photos or stuffed animals for those who can't attend. The service is a reminder of the human responsibility to care for all creatures and connects people with the wonder of the natural world.
This year St. Thomas will hold the blessing of the animals on Sunday, October 5, 2025, immediately following the service.
| | The Annual Spaghetti Dinner has become a signature event for St. Thomas. This year on Saturday, September 27th, mother nature provided a beautiful evening that enabled parishioners, neighbors, and guests to sit both inside and outside on the patio under the lights. Dinner organizers Amy Boatright and Emma Jurado Hillenburg, along with sauce master Georgina Lucas, and a host of volunteers made this year a rousing success. Guests dined on spaghetti with homemade sauce (from a recipe shared by Georgina), salad, garlic bread, brownies, sparkling water, and wine. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's dinner a wonderful event. | |
This time of the year we remember St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis is often quoted as saying, “preach the gospel at all times, and when absolutely necessary use words.” As you will see this exemplifies Brian Casey.
Brian has been a member of St. Thomas since 2017. A former Roman Catholic, Brian was seeking a relationship with a higher power in a setting that would support him. His neighbors George and Marty Smith invited him to attend their “special” Episcopal Church in Park Hill, St. Thomas. He attended an 8:00 am service with 25 others. After the service, almost everyone there greeted him and welcomed him to St. Thomas. He said he found what he was looking for. To this day, Brian says he’s grateful for that welcome because St. Thomas has made such a difference in his life.
Brian grew up on a vegetable farm in South Dakota, one of 8 children. He and two of his brothers often retreat to their childhood home for rest and relaxation.
Looking for an adventure, Brian moved to Denver in 1981and secured a job as a truck driver. Some of those he worked for saw Brian’s entrepreneurial talent and business sense. They were the impetus to start his own business, Haulistics, which moves commercial goods throughout the US and world. After 35 years, Brian will go into semi-retirement at the end of the year. This will give him more time to spend with his wife Chris and his adult children and their families: Michael in Golden, Megan in Seattle, and Natalie in Park City, Utah. Brian and Chris were the first couple to be married by Rev. Terri in our courtyard in 2023.
Because Brian feels he was given so much in life, he has wanted to give back. And he has in so many ways. His younger sister has multiple sclerosis (MS). Brian’s company is the primary sponsor of several events to support the MS Society. They support the annual MS Walk in City Park; the annual MS bike ride from Boulder to Greely, providing trucks to tote bikers and their gear; and the annual MS hike in Winter Park. As a result of a bonfire, Brian experienced severe burns and spent many days in the Burn Center at the University of Colorado Health Center. Haulistics and the Denver Fire Department are now the sponsors of an annual golf tournament to support the Burn Center. Haulistics gave a major contribution to the Red Cross in 2018 to help Houston in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey. After establishing a relationship with Red Cross leadership, Brian has begun a quarterly blood drive in the Park Hill area, hosted by St. Thomas.
Brian has put his heart and resources into supporting Locally Haiti to help build a hospital in Petit Trou. He sponsors annual events to raise support from others. You will hear more about Locally Haiti on Sunday.
In addition to his support of organizations outside of St. Thomas, Brian gives back to St. Thomas as well. He is our church treasurer, has overseen several building projects including the beautiful restoration of our floor in the Great Hall. Over the past year, Brian has been working on the upcoming installation of heat pumps in the church, securing grants and city approvals. For the past 2 years, he has led our annual giving campaign, being a generous pledger himself. This Sunday you will see Brian as you enter the church. He will be welcoming people, as an usher, in the way that he was lovingly welcomed to St. Thomas 8 years ago. Thank you, Brian, for all you do for St. Thomas and others.
Written by Georgina Lucas
| Episcopal Insider: Diocesan Convention | |
The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry
On October 9-11, 2025, the Episcopal Church in Colorado will hold its 138th Annual Convention in Pueblo, Colorado. The convention is our opportunity to gather to accomplish the canonically required work of the church as well as find inspiration in our journey with God and each other. We will gather and pray together as we face our current realities and lean into our shared future in leading our diocese.
We will hear from former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry who will preach on the theme: "We Have a Witness Yet to Make." As we step into 2025, this theme invites us to carry forward the vision, courage, and faith of previous years and boldly proclaim the Gospel in ways that meet this moment — because the world still longs to see, hear, and feel the witness we are uniquely called to bring.
St. Thomas' delegates to the convention are Angela Pleasants, Liz Sunderland; and Erica Pomerenk.
The service is on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7PM at First United Methodist Pueblo (not open to the public) The service will be livestreamed and the diocese will publish the link on their website HERE when it is available.
| Locally Haiti Presentation on October 5th | | St. Thomas has a long history with the Locally Haiti organization. Their Executive Director Wynn Walent will speak after service on Sunday, October 5, 2025, about the organization's current projects in Haiti. | | The B Team is responsible for coffee hour this Sunday. If you'd like to volunteer for a coffee hour team or wish to know what team you are on, contact Emma Jurado Hillenburg at emma.jurado@gmail.com | | St. Francis Center - Male Volunteers Needed | | |
I am reaching out from St. Francis Center, a refuge for those experiencing homelessness in Denver. Each day, we open our doors to hundreds of neighbors in need, offering basic services such as showers, laundry, clothing, mail, and storage. These simple acts of hospitality allow our guests, many of whom are older men, to maintain dignity and hope in very difficult circumstances.
At this time, our greatest need is for adult male volunteers to help with our men’s showers. This role involves passing out towels and hygiene supplies to men who come to shower at our facility- on average, more than 300 each day. Because most of our current volunteers are women and unable to staff the men’s showers, this need is especially pressing.
We are open 7 days a week, and we welcome volunteers to serve on a schedule that works for them. We understand the idea of serving as a shower attendant may sound a little intimidating at first, but again and again our volunteers share that it becomes one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of their service. In the Shower Stations, volunteers provide far more than hygiene items—they offer dignity, care, and a fresh start. For many guests, a shower can be a grounding and rejuvenating moment that helps them feel human again.
We would be deeply grateful if you might invite the men of your congregation to consider this call to serve their brothers in a very tangible way. Even a few hours a month can make a profound difference in the lives of our guests.
Volunteers can sign up directly here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/2145380031
I would also be glad to speak further, provide tours of our facility for your members, visit your church, or provide more details if that would be helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for your faithful leadership and for encouraging your members to be in service to their neighbors in need.
Sarah Taylor
| | Chapman Foundation Opportunities | | |
You're invited: the Chapman Foundation is back for another special Our Community Listens class in Denver!
Our Community Listens
October 21st to 23rd
455 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80246
Register here!
As a special offer, please use the code LEAD for complimentary registration. The deadline to register is Monday, September 22nd.
Our Community Listens is designed to help participants learn to listen effectively, express themselves clearly, and build better relationships. These skills are essential for success in both personal and professional contexts. Our Community Listens provides opportunities for self-reflection, personal practice, and tangible takeaways to bring back to your organization to better team member interpersonal communication. Taking this class will equip you with practical communication and leadership skills to build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and enhance team engagement. You will gain self-awareness, understand behavioral tendencies, and learn how to adapt your communication to foster trust and collaboration. By applying these principles, you will improve both personal and professional interactions, creating lasting impact in your leadership and everyday life.
Please contact Emma Jurado Hillenburg at emma.hillenburg@chapmancommunities.org with any questions. We hope you can join us!
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LifeSpark provides Reiki and Healing Touch wellness sessions at no charge during and after cancer. We partner with hospitals, massage studios, spas, and churches. We offer in-person sessions along the Colorado front range and remote sessions across the country.
20th Anniversary Gala, A Carnival of Light
Saturday, October 25, 6 pm
DU Campus, Denver
LifeSpark’s 20th Anniversary Gala will be an unforgettable evening filled with joy, community, and inspiration. Reserve your spot today and help bring healing to those who need it most.
Click Here for tickets
| | Office / Studio Space Available | | St. Thomas has one office available to lease. If you know of anyone who is looking for affordable office or studio space, please ask them to call us. | | |
Faith Communities Against
White Christian Nationalism
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