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❤️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!
🏠Fall House Gatherings - Final Opportunities to Join!
Our Fall House Gatherings have been a wonderful way for members to connect in a casual, home setting. Thank you to everyone who has hosted or attended a gathering this fall, your participation has made these events truly meaningful and spirit-filled.
There are just three gatherings remaining, and we’d love for you to join us if you haven’t yet had the chance.
Upcoming Gatherings:
Eric & Debbie Gunderson — Saturday, October 18 at 2:00 PM
Ken & Kathleen Kimball — Sunday, October 19 at 2:00 PM
Larry & Jill Sunderland — Sunday, October 19 at 7:00 PM
If you’d like to attend one of these gatherings, please reach out by clicking here and we’ll connect you with the hosts.
⛪Worship Ministry Fair
This Sunday, come see what there is to offer at the Worship Ministry Fair! To view this week's Messages from Mark+ that includes a special tour of the Sanctuary (with ministry explanations!), click here. We hope to see you there!
🗳️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+.
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Ingathering Sunday, Liturgy of Belonging
October 26th we will have Ingathering Sunday, where 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, popcorn, and more!
We look forward to celebrating with you!
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🥓Men's Breakfast Ministry
When: Saturday, October 18th, at 8:00am
Where: Taylor Hall
Interested in connecting with other men through food, fellowship, and faith? Join us for Men's Breakfast Ministry, all men are welcome! Don't miss out on our special speaker for the event, Andrew Sinclair!
Click here to sign up.
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🧵Needles and Threads Ministry
The next Needles and Threads meeting will be held on October 18th at 9am-12pm. The event will take place in Taylor Hall. For more information contact Joyce Osterman
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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.
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Book Study (meets in Classroom A)
The Book Study will continue discussing Sources of Strength, by Jimmy Carter. Chapter 25, "The Christian Citizen,", Page 117; Chapter 26, "Do We Really Believe in Human Rights?", Page 121.
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
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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.
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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.
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Cook-In for LGBT Life Center
We’ll be cooking on Tuesday, October 21st, @ 9:30 am. Please drop off your items at the church kitchen on Sunday or Monday 9:00am - 4:00pm prior to the event. The Cook-In prepares and provides 100 meals each month to support our Outreach partners. Click the link below to donate ingredients for the meals, or to learn more about the event.
Link to Sign Up.
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Cook-In for LGBT Life Center
Tue Oct 28, 2025 – Wed Dec 17, 2025
Chesapeake Area Shelter Team Volunteer Signup for St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Join us for a special opportunity to shelter the homeless this Fall and demonstrate our love for Jesus by obeying his command to "love your neighbor as yourself."
This season, we will host our guests at the recently opened Chesapeake Cares Resource Center, located in the Greenbrier area. MANY volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks. Please read the sign up spot details carefully, noting especially the dates and times to report.
The Women of St. Thomas will be prepping sandwiches and cookie bags at their Oct 28 gathering. Please donate food items in the next week if you are able.
There will be a "Lunch 'n Learn" training session at St. Thomas on Sunday November 30 at noon for all volunteers who can attend.
Link to Sign Up.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Advent Series Training Session
There will be a training session for the group leaders of the Advent Series Sunday, Nov. 2nd during coffee hour.
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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.
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Formation Steering Team Meeting
The Formation Steering Team will hold a meeting Nov. 9th following the 10:30am service.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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: Cheryl Moore, William, Gordon Kay, the Huff family, Barbara Gecek, Josh Smith, Amy Sherrill, Paige Proctor, Joyce Carter, Charles and Karren Cress, Henry Grant, Jenn Briggs, Al Davis, Junior Harper, Maggie Nipper, Bob Smalley, 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: Kristina Duffman, Pearson, Ann Rowe, 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 RG Huff and 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
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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!
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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:
bookkeeper@stthomaschesapeake.org
Office hours: Monday - Thursday 9am-4pm
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Vestry
The Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet
Bob Samuel, Senior Warden
Paulette Lassiter, Junior Warden
Anne Evans
Andy Hawthorne
Rose Jaques (appointed to vacant seat till annual meeting (Feb 2026)
Joyce Osterman
Jim Sposato
Hunter Swafford-Nowell
Andrew Sinclair
Sue Thomas
Lenore Whitehurst
Samantha Lunde - Youth Representative
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