Worship With Us This Sunday

8:00 AM and 10:30 AM

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View Sunday 10:30 AM Service: click here: online

📢Announcements 📢

🥳Ingathering Sunday, Liturgy of Belonging

This Sunday, Oct. 26th, join us as we celebrate our shared commitment to St. Thomas by bringing forward our pledges of financial support for the coming year.

We’ll also celebrate The Liturgy of Belonging: A Celebration of Membership, a special moment to welcome new and returning households into the life of our church. Membership simply says, “I belong here,” and together we respond, “Yes, you belong here.” It’s about offering your time, talents, and resources in a way that fits where you are in life today.

After the service, stay for a special coffee hour featuring fried chicken with all the fixin’s, ice cream (from everyone's favorite local vendor, Sundae Scoop), popcorn, and more!

We look forward to celebrating with you!

❤️Action is Here!

We’re excited to share that our Love in Action Stewardship Campaign has launched! To learn more about the campaign or make a pledge, please click here. A life of faith is a life of action!

🗳️Noon Prayer for Elections

We will be offering a Noon Prayer for Elections. At 12:00 p.m., Rev. Mark+ will offer words of welcome, followed by a musical meditation. The service includes a responsive reading of the Litany for Elections, selected Collects, and concludes with the Lord’s Prayer. For those unable to attend, we will stream the service here.

🕊️We Welcome your Household to be Baptized

We welcome children, youth, and adults to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism, a joyful entry into the life of faith and the family of the Church. To learn more or to schedule a baptism, please contact Rev. Mark+.

Events

Women of St. Thomas

The Women of St. Thomas will meet again in Taylor Hall, October 28th, at 6:30PM. Everyone is encouraged to bring an appetizer and beverage of choice to share. The program for the evening will be for the group to put together provided items for CAST!

Please click the link below to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact Kay Yopp. We look forward to seeing you there! Link to Sign Up.

Formation

Book Study (meets in Classroom A)

The Book Study will continue discussing Sources of Strength, by Jimmy Carter. Chapter 27, "Woman and Man, Equal Before God", Page 127; Chapter 28, "Leadership and Reformation", Page 131.

Each Chapter stands alone; it is not necessary to have read the previous chapters. All are welcome even if you have not read or have the book.

Wired Word (meets in the Multipurpose Room)

Join us each week for Wired Word, where we explore current events in the news and connect them to scripture. This class offers timely and thought-provoking discussions that help deepen our understanding of both the world around us and the teachings of the Bible. Participants will receive the week’s topic, scripture, and discussion materials via email ahead of each week's meeting.

Click to view this week's Wired Word.

For more information or to sign up, contact our facilitators:

Cheryl Ausband

Hunter Swafford-Nowell

Luis Quilantan

Opportunities to Serve

Dave Long Meal Train

Notes from Cindy Sumner:

Dave is undergoing cancer treatment and we would like to give them a reprieve of cooking duties on his treatment day! There are just 2 at home and have no allergies or dislikes! Having been missionaries and living all over they enjoy many foods & Dave is normally the home cook which he very much enjoys doing! Sue says she likes things like chicken pot pies! Please text/call Sue the day before to coordinate delivery.

Blessings,

Link to Sign Up.

Coffee Hour Hosts Needed!

Help us extend the fellowship of the altar table by hosting Coffee Hour. The church provides drinks and paper goods, hosts bring simple snacks (bagels, donuts, fruit, etc.) and handle setup/cleanup. Sign up with a friend, many hands make light work!

Link to Sign Up.

Agape Feast Weekly Meals

Agape Feast is an interdenominational, volunteer organization that supports and houses homeless individuals and families in Chesapeake through several programs. Join us in the Taylor Hall kitchen weekly on Wednesdays at 2:30 to help make meals.

CAST Meeting

The Women of St. Thomas group is meeting Oct. 28 to prepare sandwiches and desserts to be frozen for CAST.

Please help by signing up to drop off some sliced turkey or cheese or cookies at church between next Sunday Oct 26 and Tuesday Oct 28.

(CAST is our largest outreach project. CAST stands for Chesapeake Area Shelter Team. During the winter, area churches take turns hosting up to 60 citizens experiencing homelessness overnight at a city facility in Greenbrier. St. Thomas’ first week of hosting will be December 10-17. There are LOTS of ways to volunteer and you will be hearing much more in the weeks to come.)

Link to Sign Up.

Looking Ahead & More

Litany of the Saints

On Sunday, November 2nd, we will pray the Litany of the Saints at each service.

At the 10:30am service, the litany will be chanted and include an extended procession weaving through the pews, creating a moving and immersive act of worship. Those who have departed from us in the past year will have their names included in the litany. If you have not already added your loved one's name to the Prayers of the People, please submit their name by clicking this link and filling out the form.

All are invited to join us as we honor the great cloud of witnesses who inspire and guide us in faith.

The Stories of Jesus

Beginning Nov. 2nd, Join Pastor Dave Long during formation hour for an inspiring series to learn about the life and times of our Savior. Grow in faith and community each week during formation through thoughtful teaching and open discussion.

Muffins With Mark+ - NEW DATE

Make your mark with Muffins with Mark! Which will be November 9th. If you’re new to St. Thomas, have questions, or just wanna chat, join Rev. Mark+ in his office and share some words as well as lovely baked goods.

Advent Series Training Session

There will be a training session for the group leaders of the Advent Series Sunday, Nov. 2nd during coffee hour.

Acolyte Meeting & Training

All middle and high school youth: There will be an acolyte meeting on Sunday, November 2nd, following the 10:30 AM service for all trained acolytes and anyone interested in learning more about this important ministry. We are deeply grateful for the time and talents our youth share with the St. Thomas community. This will be a brief meeting to share updates and information, followed by a training session for those who would like to get involved. Any questions? Please contact Michelle Hawthorne or Nancy McCarthy.

Formation Steering Team Meeting

The Formation Steering Team will hold a meeting Nov. 9th following the 10:30am service.

Queer Community Potluck

First Lutheran Church will be hosting a Queer Community Potluck Saturday, November 8th, at 5:30pm. Open to LGBTQ+ adults of all ages and the allies who stand with them. Click here to read a note from our Friends of the LGBTQIA+ liaison, Linda Minner.

EYC Fall Weekend Theme Announced & Registration Open

EYC Fall Weekend - Anchored In God's Love: Encouraged By God's Promise!

November 7-9, 2025

Fall Weekend is an opportunity to connect with friends old and new from across the Diocese and to spend time in retreat with God at Chanco on the James. Youth in grades 6 — 12 are invited to join us for a weekend of fun and fellowship as we explore what it means to be anchored in God's love and encouraged by God's promise.

Participants will be staying in motel-style rooms and will have an opportunity to not only grow in their faith and develop community but also take advantage of some of the activities at Chanco.

Registration will be open 10/8-10/27. Visit the website for more information about a Fall Weekend that will be filled with music, fun, fellowship and spiritual growth!

Once you’ve registered, please forward your confirmation email from the Diocesan Office to admin@stthomaschesapeake.org so we can assist with the cost. The moor the merrier! (Obligatory boat pun).

Upcoming 4-H Programs

It doesn’t matter where you live or what you want to be when you grow up; 4-H is the place for you! The possibilities in 4-H are endless, there is a 4-H experience for you!

The Chesapeake 4-H program is growing throughout the city. 4-H provides “learn by doing” opportunities for youth to receive “hands on” experiences through work or activities. 4-H is for all youth, both boys and girls between the ages of 5 - 18.

... and More!

Flowers on the Altar

Flower dedications are a wonderful way to honor a loved one. Sign up here to select the week and to make your dedication. The suggested donation is $100. The donation can be made by check or online.

Pictures Wanted!

We love capturing the life of our parish! If you snap photos while enjoying church events or gatherings, please share them with the Communications Office. Your pictures help us tell the story of our community and celebrate the joy we share together. Click here to share.

Prayers of the People

To add a name to the prayer list for 30 days, email the name to be added to pastoralcare@stthomaschesapeake.org. Please help us keep the list up to date. Email the above address or call the office when prayers have been answered and names can be removed.

If you would like Sunday Eucharist brought to your home, please email with your contact info to pastoralcare@stthomaschesapeake.org and a team member will be in touch within 48 hours.

If you have a pastoral emergency, call the church office (757)-547-4662 and press #7, and you’ll be connected to our on-call team member.

We pray for those who are facing illness, surgery, injury or adversity, especially: Catharine Rowe, Joann, Karen Harrell, Cheryl Moore, William, Gordon Kay, Barbara Gecek, Josh Smith, Amy Sherrill, Paige Proctor, Joyce Carter, Charles and Karren Cress, Henry Grant, Junior Harper, Maggie Nipper, Sam Minner, Bailey Rogers, Rachel Wootten, Ann Quezada, Alice Miller, Dorothy Deckelman, Dennis Ackerman, Vernon Brinkley, Lee Martin, Jonathan, Linda Hammond, Eric Brummitt, Tim Kerr, Angela Mott, Debbie Oliveti, Kathy Garafola, Robert Butler, Andrew Curtin, and Johnny Guess.

Those parishioners who ask for our continuing prayers: June Austin, Winnie Washington, Dave Long, Julie Brown, Debbie Evans, Jeremy Dawson, John Wright, Noah Haislip, Jackie Ruth, Amy Downs, the Cring family, Vicky Hall, Shirley Nagrocki, Lynn Treffeisen, Charlie Gray, Cathie Stewart, Barbara Swint, Ray and Sandy Roundtree and Jeff

Cavanaugh.

Our loved ones needing continuing prayers: Collin, Erica Pearson, Ben Wallace, Greg Fitch, Peggy and Michael Attamanchuk, Mary Totin, Linda and Greg Mahue, Ben Sokolow, Marlene Miller, Beth Hart, Mary Lou Williams, David Malcom, Andrea York, Nadalie Efaw, Helen Hale, Ron Biesecker, Kathleen Kirsch and family, Charles Sumner, Patsy Rogers, Hunter Austin, Althea Grace Faulkner, the Volz family, Helen Guittard, and Willis Davis.

We ask for your prayers for the departed, especially Jaylen Grimes.

We ask for your prayers for those deployed, including Chris Swint, all sailors on the USS Truxtun, and Rick Fraenkel.

If you have a loved one who is deployed and would like them included in the prayer list, please contact the office or send an email to: pastoralcare@stthomaschesapeake.org

Newsletter & Prayer Submission Deadlines

To help us prepare each week’s News from the Office (NFTO) in a timely and accurate way, please note the following deadlines:

NFTO announcements/materials – due Wednesdays by 12:00 p.m.
Prayers of the People – due Tuesdays by 4:00 p.m.

Submissions received after these times will be held for the following week’s NFTO. Names for the prayer list, if given after the deadline, will be verbally announced at Sunday's services. Thank you for helping us keep our communications clear and consistent!

How to Reach Our Staff:

Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet, Rector:

rev.mark@stthomaschesapeake.org

Katherine Wright, Director of Music:

musicministry@stthomaschesapeake.org

Jenniffer Marcelo, Parish Administrator:

admin@stthomaschesapeake.org

Anna Delacruz, Communications Director:

communications@stthomaschesapeake.org

Donna Holub, Membership Coordinator:

membership@stthomaschesapeake.org

Michele Hershberger, Bookkeeper: