THE EPISTLE:

February 5, 2026

The Slate for the St. Thomas Vestry Election next Sunday, February 15, is Available Now!

The election of new Vestry Members will begin immediately following the opening prayer at the beginning of the meeting this year. After voting begins, Fr. Donavan will present his "State of the Parish" report, followed by the presentation of the 2026 Budget by the Treasurer, recognition of members going off the Vestry, and announcements of important upcoming events. Before the closing prayer, Fr. Donavan will announce the newly elected members of the St. Thomas Vestry. 

The nominees for the vestry this year are Jane Allgood, Kurt Dietz, Belinda Greenaway, Linda Hanson, Crystal Knickelbein, Jennifer Leon, Carolyn Seaman, Mark Stucker, and Bob Thurber. 

Short Bios for each Vestry Nominee along with photos are available HERE.

Bishops and Priests and Deacons, oh my! The Bible and the Clergy of the Church, led by Fr. Donavan THIS SUNDAY!

This Sunday, following the election last week of our new Bishop here in the Diocese of Alabama, Fr. Donavan will lead a two week Adult Christian Formation class on where the roles and titles of the clergy today come from in the Bible. Delving into the Acts of the Apostles, I Timothy, and other books and letters of the New Testament, as well as the reading of those scripture passages by other Christian denominations in the West, Fr. Donavan will discuss where we as Episcopalians get our understanding of the role of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and just what the Bible has to say about those called to take on those roles in the church. The class will run this Sunday, February 8th and next Sunday, February 15th, beginning at 9:30am in the Parish Hall!

LAST CHANCE: IF YOU LOVE DEMOCRACY, RUN FOR CONVENTION DELEGATE! NOMINATIONS CLOSE THIS SUNDAY!



At the St. Thomas annual parish meeting on February 15, 2026, we will be electing FIVE parish delegates and TWO ALTERNATES to Diocesan Convention for 2027 (two thousand twenty-SEVEN)! 

Diocesan Convention is the legislative body of the Diocese of Alabama, which meets in early February every year. Each year, St. Thomas elects lay members to represent us as delegates and alternate delegates. The dates and location for Diocesan Convention 2027 will be announced THIS weekend at Convention 2026 happening at Camp McDowell.

If you are a member of St. Thomas and you love democracy, this is a great opportunity to participate in the leadership of our diocese! If you are interested in running for delegate at our annual meeting, please submit your name to the parish office NOW by clicking HERE!

Convention Delegate Nominations will close THIS SUNDAY, February 8th.

Pictures are from Convention 2025.

Pray the Rosary

Tomorrow, Friday 6

12:05 PM

Join us to Pray the Rosary every other Friday at 12:05 pm in the Nave of the church. 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 and written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.

Mark your calendars for these dates: February 6, February 20, March 6, March 20

MANNA HOUSE ALERT!

DoK Collecting Winter Clothes Donations

The people who depend on Manna House for clothing are in urgent need in this unseasonably cold weather. If you can, please bring coats, gloves, sweatshirts, long sleeve T shirts, socks and shoes to the drop off bin in Information Hall. This Sunday, February 8, is the last day to donate. Please place donations in the bin in Information Hall.

Book Club in the Parlor

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Monday, February 9 at 10 AM

Our next book club meeting is Monday, February 9, in the Parlor at 10 a.m. Please come and discuss Persuasion by Jane Austen. It is her 250th anniversary and we felt this would be appropriate for valentine's day. Click HERE for a brief synopsis and reviews.



In March we will try The Last Flight by Julie Clark. We will meet March 9.

Order BBQ NOW for your Valentine's Weekend Feast and help support FirstStop!

The St. Thomas BBQ Bandits will be out cooking their famous BBQ on Valentine's Weekend, February 14-15, in support of FirstStop and their important work to help the homeless in Huntsville and Madison County!

The BBQ Store website is open and ready for your orders, so CLICK HERE NOW now or visit https://st-thomas-bbq-bandits.square.site/ to put in your orders!

BBQ Pickup Times:

Saturday, February 14 from 12-2 PM

Sunday, February 15 from 2-4 PM. Please note the time change on Sunday pickups due to our Parish Meeting. 

UPCOMING

St. Thomas' Annual Meeting is NEXT Week

Mardi Gras Sunday, February 15

The St. Thomas Annual Parish Meeting is NEXT SUNDAY, February 15. Your Vestry voted to change the Annual Parish Meeting from January to February each year for several reasons. This change allows more time to wrap-up our stewardship drive and ensure our annual budget is as up-to-date as possible for presentation to the parish. For this year, in particular, moving our Parish Meeting to February also allows for a report on both the election of the 13th Bishop of Alabama and the 195th Convention of the diocese. Moving our annual meetings to February after our Diocesan Convention, also makes it possible for St. Thomas to elect delegates for the next year's convention at the same time that we elect our new Vestry members.

Finally, because February 15 this year will be the final Sunday of Epiphany, also referred to as Mardi Gras Sunday, this year's Annual Meeting will be held AFTER the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist to incorporate a special Mardi Gras style lunch of homemade GUMBO into our Annual Meeting reports and presentations!

PLEASE DON'T MISS ST. THOMAS' ANNUAL PARISH MEETING NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH, BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE 10:30 HOLY EUCHARIST!

*Childcare will be available*

Laissez les bon temps rouler! 

Shrove Tuesday Celebration on February 17!

Join us in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, February 17, from 5:30-7p.m., for our annual Shrove Tuesday Celebration! 

Feast on pancakes, gumbo, and bread pudding prepared by the St. Thomas Youth and Fellowship Committee, while the Kiddie Krewe present their parade through the Parish Hall before we move outside to bury the Alleluias for the season of Lent! The evening will conclude with the Burning of the Palms to create the ashes for Ash Wednesday the next morning. 



Invite your friends and don't miss this evening as we prepare for the Holy Season of Lent.

Calling all St. Thomas Youth Grades 7 - 12:

MARDI GRAS COOKS and DECORATORS NEEDED!

Hey St. Thomas Youth! Are you ready for the Last Blast Before the Fast!? If so, join us for EYC on Sunday, February 15th, from 6-8pm, and come back for the big event on Shrove Tuesday, February 17th, at 4:30pm! We need your help flipping pancakes, making centerpieces, and ensuring that Saint Thomas is properly festive for Mardi Gras! DINNER WILL BE PROVIDED on Sunday, February 15th! 

Got questions? Reach out to Ethan Evans | youth@stthomashuntsville.org

Ash Wednesday Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes, February 18 at 7am, 12:10pm, & 6pm



St. Thomas will enter into the Lenten Season again this year with three Ash Wednesday services inside the church on February 18. The Ash Wednesday liturgy will include the Imposition of Ashes & Holy Communion and will be offered at 7 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 6 p.m. The 6 p.m. Ash Wednesday liturgy will include special music by the St. Thomas Choir. Come begin your Holy Lent on Ash Wednesday here at St. Thomas.

Silver Saints Movie Matinee will

Return in March

Silver Saints Movie Matinee Series is taking a short break next Thursday. Please note that Silver Saints will not meet this February. We look forward to gathering again next month and will share details soon. Be sure to check the Epistle each week and the website for information regarding March's Movie. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you then.

First Local & National Outreach Meeting coming February 23rd!

All of us at St. Thomas agree that we are saved by faith and not by good works, and that good works are the way we show the world our faith. In the spirit of this belief, and as the new Chairman of the Local and National Outreach Committee, I would like to invite any and all to join the committee. We are revamping many things about the LNOC in an effort to allow as many people who would like to be involved in church outreach to join. 

     We will be having meetings once a quarter, and each meeting will have a theme. The dates and themes are as follows:

February 23 - Food Ministries

May 25 - Construction Ministries

August 24 - School Ministries

November 2- Holiday Ministries

Each meeting will begin around 6 pm. and will end no later than 7:15 pm! Each meeting will feature representatives speaking about ministries at St. Thomas that are currently ongoing or that the church is wanting to start. During the meetings you will not only learn about different outreach opportunities, but also learn about ways to become involved with each ministry presented. Also, you will get the chance to be involved in voting on the distribution of moneys raised by St. Thomas for our own ministries, and for ministries outside St. Thomas. Lastly, each meeting will be held in the Conference Room. We hope you will join us for this important ministry here at St. Thomas!

ONGOING

Compline Online

Mondays at 8 PM

with Dcn. Jeannie

Looking for a new prayer opportunity and a way to center yourself in prayer each week? Every Monday at 8 p.m., you’re invited to join Dcn. Jeannie online for Compline. Compline is a brief evening prayer service and a peaceful way to set your week with intention and to end your day with a sense of completion and stillness.

The service lasts just 15 minutes and can be accessed on St. Thomas’ Facebook page. You simply need a Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and to turn to pg. 127.

It will be LIVE every Monday at 8 PM.

Please contact jrann228@gmail.com or the front office for more information.

Morning Prayer at St. Thomas St. Anne's Chapel in Hiers Hall

Thursdays 7 AM

Every Thursday morning, join us for Morning Prayer in St. Anne’s Chapel at the end of Hiers Hall. Simply enter Hiers Hall and follow the hallway all the way to the end. There will be signs directing you. As we seek to expand our options for praying together during the week, we hope to see our early birds and any brave night owls at this service of prayer and Scripture. You don't have to know how to read Morning Prayer; we'll teach you!

Do you have questions about the Bible? Have you wondered about what everything in the Book of Common Prayer means? Come to Youth Sunday School to try and answer those questions and more! 7-12th graders meet during formation time in the Youth Room at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday to talk about Covenants in the Bible!

7-12th Graders! Weekly EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) continues! EYC meets Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, HEREfor more information.

Children's Sunday School Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.! Join us in Hiers Hall as we share a year of faith, love, and fun! 

Godly Play class for Pre-K through 1st graders is led by Renee' Redfield in Hiers 4. 

Storymakers for 2nd and 3rd graders is led by Carey McIntyre in Hiers 6. 

Thou Art class for 4th through 6th graders led by Laura Beth Bestor in Hiers 2.  

Our nursery is open from 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sundays for our Pre-K and under children. We have our Play'n'Worship curriculum available for those in the nursery to enjoy on Sunday mornings. Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator via email at children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Treble Choir

The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship service and our special services this year will include Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve. All children in 2nd-8th Grades are invited to join! Bring a friend!

The Treble Choir schedule is available HERE and is posted on the bulletin board leading to Hiers Hall, the choir bulletin board in Hudson Hall, and the St. Thomas Website. Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Please email Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for details!

Join the St. Thomas Adult Choir



You don't have to be a kid to sing!

Click HERE to see and hear the St. Thomas choir practicing.

Pictures from last week's Bishop election at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Birmingham! Congratulations to our new Bishop, the Very Rev'd Richard Lawson!

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org