In expectation of tomorrow's winter storm, the St. Thomas Church Office will be closed Friday morning, January 10th, and the Rosary has been rescheduled for Jan. 24th.

As of today, we are planning to open the church for worship at our usual times this Sunday, January 12th. If that decision changes due to weather conditions, a parish-wide email will be sent out on Saturday, January 11th, and an announcement will be posted on the church website and all social media pages.

THE EPISTLE:

January 9, 2025

St. Thomas Annual Parish Meeting & Vestry Election: THIS SUNDAY, January 12th

*** If weather conditions this weekend lead to a change in worship times this Sunday, the Annual Meeting will be moved to next Sunday, January 19th. Please be on the lookout for an email this Saturday for an update, or check the St. Thomas website HERE. ***

St. Thomas' Annual Parish Meeting & Vestry Election is set for THIS SUNDAY, January 12th, between the 8am and 10:30am Eucharists, during the breakfast/Christian Formation time. 

A faster, continental-style breakfast, prepared by World Mission, will again be offered this year, beginning at 9am, and the meeting will begin promptly at 9:15am. 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 2025 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 Natalie Brock, Doug Eskew, Maggie Hall, Linda Hanson, Paul Heim, Crystal Knickelbein, Tony Loop, Penny Nielson, and Frances Steel. Short Bios for each Vestry Nominee, along with photos are available HERE, and there will be hard copies of the bios on each table in Parish Hall. Thank you to each person who agreed to stand for Vestry election this year!

Please plan on being present for this important Parish Meeting next Sunday, January 12th, beginning at 9:15am in the Parish Hall!

The St. Thomas Mom's Group meets TONIGHT, January 9th!

Continuing the theme from our last few months, the St. Thomas Mom's Group has moved our meeting time to the second Thursday of the month! We are meeting TONIGHT, Thursday, January 9, at 6:30 pm, in the Parish Hall.

The St. Thomas Mom's Group is a special ministry that is dedicated to women who have children at home ages 0-18. The monthly Mom's Group is a time to come together as mothers with young children to support one another, share in the love and laughter, and help each other through the challenges and struggles that motherhood brings. Being a mom is not always easy, so one night a month we come together to ask the good Lord for patience and strength and to lean on one another in this shared experience. Please bring a mom friend! Contact Audrey Cain at audreysherkin@gmail.com for more info

'Holy Hike' with Sandhill Cranes rescheduled for Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 20th

Our next Holy Hike, originally planned for this weekend, has been moved to Monday, January 20th, for the MLK Jr. Holiday! We will take a trip to see the annual sandhill crane migration at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur. This will be a shorter walk (a mile or so) with several stops along the way to witness the cranes in action.  

We'll meet at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (3121 Visitors Center Rd, Decatur, AL 35603) at 10am. Bring binoculars if you'd like!  Those who'd like to carpool, meet in the South parking lot at 9am on Monday, January 20th. Contact Brett Byford with any questions brett256@gmail.com, 256.808.5776.

Please Note: Dogs are not allowed in the Refuge's observation buildings. Also, this will be during the Refuge's "Festival of the Cranes," so you're welcome to stick around town and attend presentations for that event. Its schedule can be found here. 

Scrapbook and Paper Crafter's Gathering this Saturday, January 11th

Assuming roads have cleared Saturday morning and traveling is safe after tomorrow's winter weather, scrapbookers and paper crafters are invited to gather in the Parish Hall this Saturday, January 11th, from 9am to 3pm, to work on your projects. Lunch will be provided, but you may bring a snack to share. If you have any questions or concerns about the weather, please phone Rebekah Callahan at 256-603-0219.  

Book Club: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kristen Miller January 13 at 10am

The St. Thomas Book Club will meet on January 13,

We have been reading Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller. We meet in the Parlor at 10 am and everyone is invited. Call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669 for more information.

St. Thomas Presents: "Heaven & Nature Sing" with the Calhoun Chorale, Saturday, January 18th

The Calhoun Chorale of Calhoun Community College in Decatur, under the direction of Granville Oldham, will offer a free concert at St. Thomas on Saturday, January 18th, at 4pm in the Nave! The Chorale will be offering pieces of Classical and Modern choral music from the works of Byrd, Passereau, Debussy, Mendolssohn, and others in a concert entitled "Heaven and Nature Sing". A reception will immediately follow the performance in the Parish Hall. Please invite your friends and the "St. Thomas Presents" Concert Series for this free performance of the Calhoun Chorale!

Silver Saints Presents: Dreamer

January 23 at 1pm

It is a new year and time for us to watch a good movie!

The January 2025 movie will be Dreamer, starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, a wonderful film inspired by a true story. It is about an amazing young girl who believes that she can bring back a horse to great things. Yes, it is a horse story which you will love. Please come join us for a fun afternoon at the St. Thomas Parish Hall on January 23, beginning at 1:00 PM. As always, we will serve snacks and beverages, provide comfortable seating, and transport you to/from the Parish Hall if you so desire. This will be a great way to start your New Year. Please join us and bring your friends and neighbors. Please give us 24-hour notice if you will need a ride. Call Jack Stokes at 256-68-2743.

Everybody's Pub Theology Thursday, January 23!

Sit down with Fr. Donavan, Mtr. Katie, and Deacon Jeannie on Thursday, 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!

Praying the Rosary with

Fr. Donavan has been moved to Friday, January 24th at 12:05 pm

Due to expected winter weather this Friday, January 10th, Praying the Rosary with Fr. Donavan has been cancelled. Please pray the Rosary this Friday in the comfort and safety of your own home! Fr. Donavan will reopen the church to pray the Rosary on Friday with him on 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.

Earth Prayer During Epiphany

January 26



Join Belinda Greenaway in the Parlor for 4 Sundays during Epiphany, for a prayerful gathering centered around Creation.

We will meet from 3:30 - 4:40 pm beginning Sunday, January 26th.

Questions ? Contact Belinda at Belinda223@gmail.com.

Lobsterfest 31 Success!

2024 Lobsterfest 31

The audit of Lobsterfest 31 has been completed and the proceeds from Lobsterfest was $40,000, which will be distributed to The Honduras Medical and Educational Ministry, First Stop and Patterson Place.

2025 Lobsterfest 32

Lobsterfest 32 will be led by Doug Eskew. We are looking for someone else to help Doug with Lobsterfest. If you are interested contact Doug or one of the Lobsterfest Steering Committee leads: Father Donavan, George Harriman or Tom Perry.

Pi Kappa Alpha Dinner

We will be having a Pot-luck dinner for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity that helps with Lobsterfest on Saturday February 15, 2025. The dinner will be from 2-5pm and we have the parish hall from 12-6pm. In the coming weeks we will get a signup sheet for volunteers to make food for the dinner. The St. Thomas BBQ Bandits will smoke a couple of Pork Butts for the dinner.

Sunday "Come As You Are" Eucharist

"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.

News from the Creation Care Committee:

We really need your help with recycling. Please contact Richard Williams at rbwilliams67@gmail.com if you can help. A second prayerful gathering around the sacredness of Creation will be offered on Sunday afternoons for 4 weeks during Epiphany.

Operation Christmas Cleanup, offered by the City of Huntsville Green Team, will take place at John Hunt Park Saturday January 11th from 8am until 1pm. They'll take live Christmas trees for mulching, flattened cardboard boxes and electronics. Contact Belinda Greenaway at belinda223@gmail.com for more information.

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!

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org