THE EPISTLE:

August 6, 2026

The Feast of the Transfiguration

Rally Day

SAVE THE DATE- August 16

St. Thomas' Rally Day Sunday is less than TWO WEEKS away, so SAVE THE DATE NOW for Sunday, August 16!

To bring our church family together, we will have ONE MORNING RALLY DAY EUCHARIST at 10 AM with jazz music by the Bone Yard of Brass band. After worship, we will have a special Parish lunch prepared by our Fellowship Team and the BBQ Bandits. Save time to peruse our Ministry Fair in the Parish Hall, which will feature many exciting ministries for the upcoming Fall season.

And for children and families, the water slides, bouncy house, and dunk tank are returning for another afternoon of fun! We'll have BOTH the Kona Ice and Baskin-Robbins trucks to help us cool off on the back playground.

So, mark your calendar right now for RALLY DAY on Sunday, August 16 at St. Thomas!! And don't forget to invite your FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO JOIN US AND SEE WHAT MAKES ST. THOMAS SUCH AN AMAZING CHURCH COMMUNITY!

If you are a ministry leader, please remember to let our Invite, Welcome, Connect Committee Chair Kurt Dietz know if your ministry needs table space at the Ministry Fair by emailing him in advance here. Ministry chairs are also encouraged to bring desserts to share for the Ministry Fair Dessert Table.

10:47 AM Bible Study

The 10:47 am Bible Study with Fr. Donavan is returning this week. Start off your weekend by joining this discussion.

Pray the Rosary at 12:05 PM

Join us to pray the Rosary tomorrow, August 7, and 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.

Special Discussion of Upcoming Bed-Build Project This Sunday, during Christian Formation Hour

George Harriman will join us for a portion of the Adult Christian Formation hour this Sunday, August 9th, to discuss St. Thomas' upcoming Bed-Building Project. Come find out more about the plans and how you can sign up now!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 23 and join your fellow St. Thomas parishioners and members of the Church of the Nativity as we once again build beds for children in Huntsville. Countless children in Madison county are currently sleeping on the floor, on a couch, or sharing a bed with their parents or a sibling and would be thrilled to have a bed they can call their own. Last year, we built 45 beds for children at the Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) site near the UAH campus and we hope to surpass that number this year. No special skills are needed; the SHP staff will teach you everything you need to know. The build begins at 2 PM and lasts about 2 hours. Children 12 and older are invited to attend but must be accompanied by an adult. Since its inception, the local SHP chapter has built over 3100 beds and there are AT LEAST 70 children in Huntsville waiting for a bed at this time.

You can sign up for the event by clicking this link.  Registration is required so we know how many people will attend. Water and donuts are usually on site, but feel free to bring something else to drink. Remember to wear your work clothes because this is a large carpentry shop, not a fall social event. If it’s hot, feel free to wear shorts. If you have any problems with registration, please call George Harriman at 256-509-6666.

The SHP warehouse is just off Sparkman Drive. From I-565, go north on Sparkman and turn left at the first light, Technology Drive. Take the 4th left hand turn at the General Dynamics sign and go to the last building on the right in the parking lot. That is the SHP worksite.

This is an outreach program for everyone wanting to help! If you are unable to attend, we are once again collecting new twin bedding to be delivered with each bed. Vendors like Walmart, Amazon, and Target have twin bedding sets for a reasonable price in bright colors and themed for boys and girls. Older children typically like something more gender neutral. These "bed in a bag" sets contain sheets, pillow cases, and comforters and make every delivery a special event for the children. Bring your new bedding sets to the office, and we will take them to the build site that day. Hope to see you there!            

Adult Christian Formation: Rector's Forum

Join Fr. Donavan in the Parish Hall at 9:30 am this upcoming Sunday for an open discussion on the church, on plans for the upcoming Fall season at St. Thomas, and on any questions you may have about faith, the Bible, and the spiritual life.

Education for Ministry (EfM) Sunday

Make plans to join us at the 10:30 am service this Sunday, August 9 to congratulate this year's Education for Ministry (EfM) graduates- John Callahan and Maggie Powell at the 10:30 Holy Eucharist. Want to learn more about EfM? Find John Callahan or Jane Allgood, our EfM representatives, for more information.

August Book Club at 10 AM

Our August book is a mystery! Pick up a copy of Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters and join us on August 10 at 10 am in the St. Thomas Parlor.

With so many good books, our list is growing. For your planning purposes, mark your calendars for:

September 14 - This is Happiness by Niall Williams

October 12 - In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

The group will take a break in November. Please consider joining even if you haven't read the book. Lunch is an option afterwards. For more information, call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669, and look for the Book Club table at Rally Day!

Creation Care Committee Meeting

at 5:30 PM

Interested in the Creation Care at St. Thomas? Make plans to attend the next Creation Care Committee meeting at 5:30 pm on Monday, August 10 in the St. Thomas Library.

World Mission Meeting

at 6:30 PM

Join us for the next World Mission meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, August 10 in the Conference Room. Our topic for this quarter is the medical aspects of our mission. We are actively looking for new people to join us in our annual mission trip to La Ceiba and La Linea. We are specifically looking for medical providers, such as doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, along with nurses and pharmacists. But we have also need people without specific medical training to serve alongside the medical team. These opportunities include patient intake, pharmacy support, dental support, and clinic management and support. Please join us to learn more about our mission!

Buildings & Grounds Meeting August 11, 6 PM

The Buildings and Grounds Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 11 at 6 pm in the library. Anyone with interest is welcome to attend.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study- NEW TIME - 5 PM

The Wednesday Evening Bible Study has changed its start time from at 5:30 pm to 5 pm. Join Fr. Donavan in the Library as we read passages drawn from the upcoming Sunday’s lectionary. In this Bible Study, we learn to read short selections from Scripture more deeply and allow the words of the text to illumine our understanding of the Bible and our lives. Please join us this Wednesday at 5pm for this Evening Bible Study!

DOK Training for New Members Begins August 13

Ladies, if you are searching for more in your spiritual life and a deeper connection with God and His people (that's probably all of us!), prayerfully consider The Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK). DOK will hold a six-week training program of discernment, beginning August 13 and continuing through September 17. The training will be from 6 pm until 7:30 pm in the the church conference room. You will learn about the Order and how it can enrich your life. Sessions include Study, Reflection, and Discussion. If this interests you, or you want to find out more, contact Barbara Meyer here or Gayle Dodson here. Commitment to membership is after the conclusion of the training.

UPCOMING

Next Showtime: 1 pm, August 20

With another nod to our parish's horse lovers, Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers Flicka, starring Alison Lohman, Tim McGraw, and Maria Bello. Come join us in the St. Thomas Parish Hall at 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as we watch a good horse story. If you like this one we can offer a sequel later.

As always, the Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers fun and fellowship with our parishioners and visitors much like going to a theater, but free. We offer snacks and beverages, and we will even pick you up and return you home if you wish. We offer comfortable seating and a time-out break half way through the movie. Please bring your friends and ask people from our neighborhood. Call the church office at 256-880-0247 at least 24 hours in advance in you need a ride.



LNOC Meets August 24

Everyone is invited to join us at our next LNOC meeting on Monday, August 24 at 6 pm. We will be hearing from representatives of Alabama Credit Union's Secret Meals Charity and Patterson Place. We invite anyone who has a food or school related charity that they would like to present to the LNOC for funding or participation to join us and make a presentation. If you have any questions, or would like to be placed on the agenda, please contact Travis Lee by emailing him here.

Save the Date- August 30- for Acolyte Training

Are you a 3rd-12th grader? Are you looking for a way to help in the parish? Saint Thomas wants YOU to come to acolyte training! Whether you are a first-time acolyte or a veteran acolyte, join us on August 30 after the 10:30am service to learn more about the roles and hone your skills! We'll have training for torchbearers, crucifers, and servers. If you are a returning acolyte, please come to learn a new position, refresh your knowledge on your current one, or help a new acolyte learn their role. Lunch is provided! Email our Youth Minister Ethan Evans here to let him know your family will be participating.

Save the Date-

September 12

Save the date- Saturday, September 12^th from 9 to 1. An Introduction to Centering Prayer will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 12200 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville, AL. Members of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Homewood, Alabama will be conducting this free program collaborating with Church of the Nativity, St. Thomas, and Contemplative Outreach Ltd. 

Your creations are appreciated!

Do you realize that Lobsterfest is only four months away? Last year, the St. Thomas Creates booth at the Artisan Fair was a resounding success. We will once again be looking for hand-made creations from our talented congregation. Perhaps you would like to donate something you've created to Lobsterfest. This is just a little reminder to start thinking about what you might like to create this year, so you can plan ahead and get to work before November 14 arrives . Contact Donna Clark via her email with any questions.

Cookies and Lemonade- Yum!

Sign up this weekend

We still need more volunteers to bring cookies for the brief fellowship time after the 10:30 am service? Contribute to this ministry by signing up for a week on the sheet in Information Hall. No need to bake as store-bought treats are fine, and instructions are available when you sign up! Can you help us out this fall?

Habitat for Humanity Update

The sod is laid, as are the floors, cabinets, and all the amenities of a new home. Look for Katrina to receive the keys to 206 Lake Drive in the next month. Thanks for all your help in supporting Habitat for Humanity!

Bailey Cove Farmers' Market Continues!

Next Blood Drive August 15

The regular Bailey Cove Farmers' Market season will end on September 5. Don't be in despair though...mark your calendars for the pop-up markets on September 26, October 24, and November 21. Consider being a part of this wonderful outreach as a shopper or a volunteer! For questions or to volunteer at the Farmers' Market email Tracy Ganem by clicking here, or call her at 256-479-3925!

The LifeSouth Bloodmobile will be at the Farmers' Market on August 15 and 22. For more information on either blood drive, contact Paul Heim by clicking here.

Children's & Youth Ministries

Notes for the Summer

Sundays

9:30 am- 10:15 am- Summer Gatherings (Hiers Hall)



Upcoming

• Aug. 16- Rally Day
• Aug. 30- 1st Day of Christian Formation (9:30 am); Acolyte Training, 3rd grade & up (12 pm)



Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor, here for more information.

Youth Ministry

Sundays

9:30 am- 10:15 am- St. Thomas Summer Mornings, 7th-12th graders (Youth Room)



Upcoming

• Aug. 30- Acolyte Training (12 pm)

Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, here for more information.

This Afternoon, Thursday, August 6

4 pm- Centering Prayer, Crossroads Room

Friday, August 7

10:47am- Bible Study, Conference Room

12:05 pm- Pray the Rosary, Nave

Sunday, August 9

8 am- Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Nave

9 am- Breakfast, Parish Hall

9:30 am- Christian Formation for Adults, Youth & Children- Parish Hall, Youth Room, Hiers Hall

10:30 am- Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Blessing of the Backpacks, Nave

5 pm- "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist, Nave

Monday, August 10

8 pm- Compline (Book of Common Prayer, page 127) with Rev. Jeannie on Facebook page link here

Wednesday, August 12

9:30 am- Bible Study with Fr. Donavan - The Gospel of John, Conference Room

5 pm- Bible Study - Lectionary, Conference Room

Thursday, August 13

7 am- Morning Prayer, St. Anne's Chapel in Hiers Hall

4 pm- Centering Prayer, Crossroads Room

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org