Welcome To The Rev. Donavan Cain

We welcome Fr. Donavan Cain as the eighth rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He comes to us from All Saints Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida where he has served as rector for the last 9 years. Prior to that he served for two years as the Associate Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville. Before moving to Northeast Florida, Fr. Donavan served for three years as the Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Paris, Kentucky, in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington.

Fr. Donavan received his Master of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City, and prior to that, he served as a Lay College Chaplain in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, serving Episcopal student groups at Berea College in Berea, KY, and Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.

Fr. Donavan was born and raised in the Central Appalachian Coalfields of Eastern Kentucky, and, prior to entering the ordination process in the Episcopal Church, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He is an accomplished traditional Appalachian musician, and he has performed Old Time and Bluegrass music, both solo and with the Berea College Bluegrass Band, around the United States and in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Fr. Donavan, his wife Audrey, and youngest daughter Aoife, will join the St. Thomas family on January 8, 2023. They have two older daughters; Erin is in college at Eastern Kentucky University and Abby is a head recruitment specialist for a youth advocate program in Kentucky.

Here’s a wonderful message from Fr. Donavan:  

Blood Drive

St. Thomas Friends,

This Sunday, December 4, is our last St. Thomas blood drive of the year. The need for blood is critical once again. If you can donate, please stop by the bloodmobile in the parking lot between 7:30 a.m. and noon. You are welcome to stop by at your convenience or you can sign up for an appointment at the link below:

https://donors.lifesouth.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/749419

 Give someone an amazing gift this Christmas! 

Many thanks for your help!

Betsy Hill

Stewardship

If you made a pledge to St. Thomas for 2023, we want to express deep gratitude. Thank you. If you have not yet pledged, please consider doing so in the near future. As we plan for an exciting new year with our new Rector, Donavan, your support is vital to the ministries through St. Thomas.

Children's Ministry

Calling all young/young-ish adults to pull out that ugly Christmas sweater or other festive clothing to join the ReGeneration group on the evening of Saturday, December 3 starting at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall!  Our fellow St. Thomas parishioners and chocolatiers, Gary and Elaine Dinstuhl, will be showing us how to make some sweet treats for the holiday season. We're asking the attendees to chip in by bringing an appetizer, heavy hors d'oeuvre, or beverage for the group to share.  Here's the sign-up link to help us stay organized. You are welcome to come and hang out even if you don't want to take part in candy making or wear an ugly sweater.  You are also welcome to bring friends!  

We're planning to do a "favorite things" gift exchange, with the price limit of $10. All the ladies should bring a gift for a lady, and each guy should bring something another guy would like. You may choose to "wrap" your gift in a new pair of socks, gift bag, or wrapping paper. We'll play a fun game to see who brings home what. No gag gifts, please.

For those that are interested, we will have childcare from 5:30pm until 8:00pm that evening.  Contact Laura Beth Bestor ([email protected]) or Michell York ([email protected]) to let us know if you are coming or if you have any questions.

Children's Ministry Christmas Party

The St. Thomas Children's Ministry invites all children to our Children's Christmas Party on Saturday, December 17 from 11 am-1 pm. We'll have lunch followed by cookie decorating and games. Like last year, parents are welcome to drop off their children during this time to get some holiday tasks done or simply have a break. We are in need of adult and youth volunteers to help with the party. Contact Laura Beth Bestor ([email protected]) if your family will be attending or if you would like to help out.

A Festival of Lessons & Carols

You are cordially invited to a service of Lessons and Carols at 5:00 PM Sunday, December 11. Our choir members are busy practicing for the service. Give yourself the gift of spiritual reflection and beautiful sounds during this busy season. There will be a reception

following in the Narthex.

Vestry Elections

St. Thomas will elect four new Vestry members at the annual parish meeting on Sunday, January 8. Cynthia Geis, Bob Harwell, Suzanne Mohler, and Jenna Pirani are completing their terms. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on the vestry, please submit the name in the box marked VESTRY in the Narthex. If you nominate someone, please discuss it with that person first to be sure they are willing to serve the three-year term. Nominations will be closed after church on

December 11. Nominations will not be accepted from the floor of the annual parish meeting. Please prayerfully consider if you, or someone you know, may be called to serve our parish in this important leadership role. 

Vestry responsibilities include:

• Attending vestry meetings on the third Monday evening of each month.
• Attending the vestry retreat, an overnight at Camp McDowell in January.
• Serving on task forces or ad hoc committees as required throughout the year.
• On a rotating basis, two vestry members count the offering and secure the building each Sunday after services.
• Vestry members cook, serve and clean-up breakfast on a rotating schedule one Sunday per month. Usually, each vestry member signs up for breakfast four times a year.

DATES & TIMES TO NOTE:  

Treble Choir Rehearsals are on Sundays at 3:30 pm.

Lessons & Carols Rehearsal Saturday, December 17, 10:00 am (Adults and Trebles)

Shellie's Kids Christmas Present Drive

St. Thomas will again this year be participating in Shellie’s Kids Christmas Present Drive. Shellie’s Kids is a local program that provides Christmas gifts to underprivileged kids in the Huntsville area. We will have a sign- up sheet to buy gifts for a specific child each Sunday morning between and after services. Any questions please contact Travis Lee at 850-503-5587 or [email protected].

Operation Santa Claus Time is Here! 

Each Christmas, St. Thomas parishioners help Santa gather items that are needed and wanted by clients in the Crisis Units at Wellston Behavioral Health Center. Susan Smith will have a table in the Narthex between services and after the 10:30 service to offer you an opportunity to provide a gift to bring cheer to a client for Christmas. 

Reminders

If you need to borrow or use anything in the church, please check it out in the church office. This includes coolers, wheelchairs, kitchen items, tents, tables/chairs, etc. Please help us be good stewards of our church. 

Our deadline for the EPISTLE and Week At A Glance is

Tuesday at noon.