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Church Office closed Dec. 25th - Jan. 1st
For pastoral emergencies during office closure, please call the clergy directly or the church office for an emergency number.
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THE EPISTLE:
December 26, 2024
The Feast of St. Stephen
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St. Thomas Church Bus heading again to see the "Galaxy of Lights," tomorrow, December 27th!
Come see the the "Galaxy of Lights" at the Botanical Gardens in the comfort of the St. Thomas Church bus! The bus will be available for boarding at 5:30 at the Church front door on Friday, December 27th. There is seating for 15 people. We request that those wishing to go call Jack Stokes to verify seats available. Travel time is 20 minutes from Church to entry line, ~45-60 minutes to entrance, 30 minutes to drive through and 20 minutes back to Church, approaching 2+ hours total. There will be no cost, thanks to Fr. Donavan's Christmas gift. Please come join us! Contact Jack Stokes by clicking HERE now to confirm your seat!
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Nominations for the St. Thomas Vestry OPEN through
December 29th
St. Thomas is preparing to elect four new Vestry members at the upcoming Annual Parish Meeting & Breakfast, set for Sunday, January 12th, at 9:15am in the Parish Hall. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving on the vestry, you can now submit the name in the box marked VESTRY in the Narthex. If you'd like to nominate someone, please be sure to discuss it with that person first to be sure they are willing to serve the three-year term.
Vestry responsibilities include:
·Attending vestry meetings on the third Tuesday evening of each month.
·Attending the January 25th, full day Vestry Retreat at the Valley Hill Country Club.
·On a rotating basis, two vestry members count the offering and secure the building each Sunday after worship services.
·Vestry members also cook, serve and clean up breakfast on a rotating schedule, one Sunday per month. Each vestry member signs up for breakfast four times a year.
Please prayerfully consider if you, or someone you know, may be called to serve our parish in this important leadership role. Nominations will close December 29th, and nominations will not be accepted from the floor during the annual parish meeting.
To be nominated for the Vestry, per the Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Alabama, a person must be a confirmed Episcopalian, a communicant in good standing, and known to the treasurer of the parish.
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Twelfth Night Burning of the Greens, Saturday, January 5th
Bring your tree and other greens to burn for our Twelfth Night of Christmas "Burning of the Greens" Celebration on Sunday evening, January 5th, at 6PM. We will be collecting Christmas trees and wreaths in the South Parking Lot after Christmas to be burned in a celebratory fire.
Join us in the church for the 5pm "Come As You Are" Eucharist, followed by a special procession to the parking lot immediately following the Post Communion Prayer and final Blessing of Christmastide for the Burning of the Greens. We will conclude the evening by feasting on King Cake (you know, "We Three Kings"), which was originally eaten on Epiphany and not Fat Tuesday, and hot chocolate as we bring the Christmas season to a fitting close! Fr. Donavan will also bless chalk to be picked up and taken home to bless your house with the inscription of the New Year and the initials of the traditional names of the Three Kings, 20+C+M+B+25, over your house door!
Don't miss one of the BRIGHTEST nights of the winter season, and invite your friends and neighbors to join us for our Twelfth Night celebration!
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Take a Holy Hike and see Sandhill Cranes | |
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The annual Sandhill Crane Migration is underway! Take a 'Holy Hike' and see them on January 11th
Our next Holy Hike will be a trip to see the annual sandhill crane migration at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur on January 11th. 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! Or, if you're interested in carpooling, you can meet at the St. Thomas parking lot at 9am on January 11th. Please 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.
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St. Thomas Annual Parish Meeting set for Sunday, January 12th
St. Thomas' Annual Parish Meeting & Vestry Election has been scheduled for Sunday, January 12th, between the 8am and 10:30am Eucharists, during the breakfast/Christian Formation time.
On that Sunday, all Adult Christian Formation classes will be put on hold, while Christian Formation for children and youth will still be offered, allowing parents to attend and take part in the Annual Meeting. A faster, "Continental Breakfast" will again be offered, beginning at 9am, to get everyone settled with their food for our Annual Meeting start time, which is set for 9:15am. At that time, Fr. Donavan will begin the meeting with prayers and his "State of the Parish" report, followed by the presentation of the 2025 Budget by the Treasurer, and the election of new vestry members.
Please plan on being present for this important Parish Meeting Sunday, January 12th, beginning at 9:15am in the Parish Hall!
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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.
Watch for details to come and contact Belinda Greenaway at belinda223@gmail.com for more information.
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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, we have our "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist. Our 5pm parishioners find this Sunday evening worship service meets their needs or schedules better than our morning worship. The 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, gospel music chosen by Sam Wright, and casual mini-sermons preached from the floor.
THERE WILL BE NO DINNER IN JANUARY. DINNER AFTER 5PM EUCHARIST WILL RESUME THE FIRST SUNDAY IN FEBRUARY.
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Children's Ministry Offerings and Music Information | |
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Children's and Youth's Ministry Returns
January 5th
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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At A Glance: December 19 - 25 | |
The Greening of the Church by St. Thomas' amazing Flower Guild! | |
St. Thomas Night Dinner Theater & Children's Christmas Party 2024 | |
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. | | | | |
