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THE EPISTLE:
January 23, 2025
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Silver Saints CANCELED
Due to a burst waterpipe, the water has been turned off in the building today and Silver Saints has been canceled. Be on the look out for a rescheduled time for this month.
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Everybody's Pub Theology Returns! | |
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Everybody's Pub Theology TONIGHT, January 23!
Sit down with Fr. Donavan, Mtr. Katie, and Deacon Jeannie tonight, January 23rd, from 6-7:30pm, at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion!
Email Jeannie at jrann228@gmail.com and let her know if you plan on joining us!
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New Christian Formation with Fr. Donavan | |
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New Adult Christian Formation Class begins
THIS SUNDAY, January 26th:
Credo: What the Creeds say today & where they come from
This year, 2025, is the 1,700th Anniversary of one of the most important parts of our Christian worship each and every Sunday, the Nicene Creed. In this new class, lead by Fr. Donavan, we will take a deep dive into both the Nicene and the Apostles Creed, seeking to better understand what the Creeds actually profess and the where and why they were developed for the early church in the first place. Find out about the early controversies and heresies which brought about the need for creeds and the inevitable further controversies and divisions the creeds caused in the Western and Eastern Church. Join Fr. Donavan in the Parish Hall at 9:30am this Sunday!
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Pray the Rosary at St. Thomas | |
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Praying the Rosary with
Fr. Donavan returns TOMORROW, Friday, January 24th at 12:05 pm
Each prayer session lasts around half an hour and includes the reading of each scripture passage for the five decades of either the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. If you’ve never prayed the Rosary before, we always have Rosary beads available, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.
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Earth Prayer Gathering
this Sunday,
January 26 at 3:30 PM
Creation Care’s Earth Prayer gathering begins this Sunday January 26th at 3:30 pm in the Parlor.
As well as Holy Scripture, we will be hearing from Hildegard of Bingen’s writing on the preciousness of Creation. Join us for this time of quiet prayer for Earth, our planet home. Questions ? Contact Belinda Greenaway at belinda223@gmail.com.
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Interested in Missioning in Honduras? | |
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Calling all Missioners!
Honduras Meeting
Sunday, February 2
Sunday, February 2, we will have a meeting of all persons interested in being a part of the 2025 Medical mission trip to Honduras, which is March 22 - 29, 2025. Join us in the Conference Room after the 10:30 AM Eucharist Sunday, February 2. We are looking for folks in the medical and dental field, as well as folk who are handy with a hammer and a paintbrush. We also need people who can count ( pill packers). Also looking for people and those who like working with children. In other words, if you have an interest, we will find you a job. The ability to speak Spanish is a plus but not a requirement or necessity. If you are interested but cannot attend the meeting let Jeannie Randall, Brett Tomlin, or Tracy Ganem know.
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New BCP's and Updated Bulletins | |
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NEW WORSHIP BULLETINS ARE COMING:
Get a First Look this Sunday in the Parish Hall!
Fr. Donavan plans to unveil the new, updated worship bulletins this Sunday between the two morning services during breakfast in the Parish Hall! These new bulletins will return St. Thomas to using the Book of Common Prayer more frequently again each and every Sunday. We will still have readings, special music, and special prayers in our Sunday bulletins, but we are returning to a Pre-COVID worship layout, when only the Prayer Book page numbers were included for the Sunday Eucharist. This return to using our Prayer Books again is supported by both the St. Thomas Creation Care Committee, as well as our Finance Committee, cutting paper use of every bulletin from 8 or more pages each Sunday to only 2! We also have over 50 BRAND NEW PRAYER BOOKS, thanks to memorial donations and gifts, to add to our pews and take the place of older, damaged BCPs. Be sure to come early or stay late to get ready for the first use of the new bulletins coming up on Sunday, February 2.
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Cookie Refreshment Volunteers Needed! | |
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Volunteers Needed for Sunday Morning Refreshments
We need your help to keep the refreshments coming on Sundays following the 10:30 am service. Bring homemade or store-bought sweet treats for a Sunday so that we can spend a few minutes gathering after worship. Please sign up using the poster in Information Hall. Thank you for helping us keep this vital part of our parish thriving!
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Scrapbookers and Crafters Gathering | |
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Scrapbookers and Crafters Unite!
February 8, 9 AM-3 PM, Parish Hall
Please join us February 8 from 9-3 for fellowship and to work on your scrapbooking or crafting projects. Lunch will be provided. Contact Rebekah Callahan at 256-603-0219 if you plan to attend.
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BBQ Bandits Annual
Super Bowl Event
February 8-9
The BBQ Bandits are firing up the smoker for the annual Super Bowl event supporting First Stop. This year’s Super Bowl is just a couple of weeks away (February 8-9) so look for Charlie’s email on the menu items and pick up information. The website will be available this week for online orders CLICK HERE or visit https://st-thomas-bbq-bandits.square.site. There will also be a link on the church website. Please email us at stthomasbbq@gmail.com to get included if you are not already on our distribution list!
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Patterson Place Puzzler Fundraiser | |
Lobsterfest Thank You to the Pikes! | |
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Phi Kappa Alpha Appreciation Dinner, February 15th: SIGN UP THIS SUNDAY
We will be having a Pot-luck dinner for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity that helps with Lobsterfest on Saturday, February 15th. The dinner will be from 2-5pm, and we have the Parish Hall from 12-6pm. The St. Thomas BBQ Bandits will smoke a coupe of Pork Butts and Chickens for the dinner. A signup sheet for volunteers to make food for the dinner has been posted in Information Hall.
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Sunday "Come As You Are" Eucharist | |
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"Come As You Are"
5pm Holy Eucharist
This Sunday, and every Sunday, at 5pm in the Nave, you are invited to the "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas. The 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, special gospel music chosen by our amazing pianist and organist, Sam Wright, and casual sermons preached from the floor. On most months, the first Sunday of the month includes a simple dinner in the Parish Hall immediately following the Eucharist. The next Sunday with supper after the 5 o'clock service is FEBRUARY 2.
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Yearly Contributions Envelopes Available in Finance Office
To help you stay consistent with your weekly giving, numbered boxes containing 52 envelopes are available for pick-up. These envelopes are a simple and convenient way for you to track and organize your contributions, ensuring your contributions make a meaningful impact throughout the year. If you’d like a box set, please contact Irene or the Front Office to request one.
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Children's Ministry Offerings and Music Information | |
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Children's and Youth's Ministry every Sunday at St. Thomas
Now you can find out the regularly scheduled Children and Youth Sunday School offerings by simply clicking the link below. You can also find both Adult and Treble Choir rehearsal times and times for Bell Choir rehearsals with just a simple click of the button below!
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Week at a Glance: January 16 - January 22 | |
The newest Vestry members who were voted in last week at the St. Thomas Annual Parish Meeting.
Pictured with Fr. Donavan:
(L-R) Penny Nielsen, Maggie Hall, Frances Steel, and Doug Eskew
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Bob Thurber presented with a plaque and renaming of the Finance Office in his honor. | |
The Calhoun Chorale performing "Heaven and Nature Sing" concert. Brought to us by the St. Thomas Concert Series | |
Phishing Scams continue: Please know that you will NEVER receive texts or emails from Fr. Donavan, Mtr. Katie, Dcn. Jeannie, Dcn. Dave, or any church staff asking you for money or gift cards. This has become a very common phishing scam for churches around the country, and it has increased in frequency here at St. Thomas, especially with both emails and texts claiming to be from Fr. Donavan, over the last month. If this happens to you, please do not respond to the communication and if you have questions, please contact the church office. | | | | |
