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THE EPISTLE:
April 18, 2024
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Pray the Rosary again with Fr. Donavan TOMORROW, Friday, April 19th, at 12:05pm
With the great turn out and interest in praying the traditional Rosary during the seasons of Advent and Lent, Fr. Donavan is beginning again a twice monthly, Rosary prayer group. For the remainder of the Easter Season and after Pentecost, we will be praying the five Glorious or the five Luminous Mysteries at 12:05pm every other Friday, beginning tomorrow, April 19th. If you'd like to pray the Rosary, join Fr. Donavan again at 12:05pm tomorrow in the church.
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The St. Thomas Mission Team is on its way to Honduras this weekend!
The St. Thomas World Mission Team is leaving for Honduras early Saturday morning, April 20th, to work and support the Sloan Clinic, our medical mission, and our village school near Puerto Cortes. This past Sunday, during the 10:30am Holy Eucharist, Fr. Donavan, who is going with the group this year, offered a special prayer and blessing for our team and our team leaders, Bob Harwell, Brett Tomlin, and Dcn. Jeannie Randall, who left yesterday to get things in order for the rest of the team's arrival this weekend. This Sunday, former Interim Rector, the Rev. Virginia Monroe, with the assistance of our Deacon Associate, Dave Drachlis, will be leading our 8, 10:30, and 5pm Eucharists, and we will be praying for each member of our World Mission Team. The team will return on Saturday, April 27th, and Jeannie will be preaching on Sunday, April 28th to share with all of us the Good News of our continued important mission work in the country of Honduras. Please join in praying for each member of the team each day of the week they are away. Our 2024 Honduras World Mission Team is: Fr. Donavan, Deacon Jeannie, Bob Harwell, Brett Tomlin, Tim Davis, Gail Dodson, Nell Fisher, John Hanson, Linda Hanson, Tracy Ganem, Ted Beck, Leonard Hall, Sr., Leonard Hall, Jr., Lucian Cronkite, Nicole Hargrave, Jane Allgood, and Ana Reed.
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Next Scrapbook and Paper Crafter's Gathering THIS Saturday, April 20th
Scrapbookers and paper crafters, please join us in the Parish Hall to work on your projects on Saturday, April 20th, from 9am to 5pm. Lunch will be provided, but you may bring a snack to share. If you have any questions, please phone Rebekah Callahan at 256-603-0219. Future scrapping dates are scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, and Saturday, June 8th.
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Find out what Cursillo is all about THIS SUNDAY at 9:30am!
Have you heard people talking about their deep faith experience attending Cursillo? Ever wondered what it's all about and how you might attend? Well, come find out all about it THIS SUNDAY, April 21st, during the Christian Formation hour, starting at 9:30 in the Parish Hall! While Fr. Donavan is away in Honduras and his Adult Christian Formation class is on hold, a special presentation will be offered by members of the St. Thomas Cursillo group to outline the events of the 3 day Cursillo weekend. We will be available to answer any of your questions, so come find out about Cursillo THIS SUNDAY!
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"Wisdom & Works" Spring Stewardship Drive continues THIS SUNDAY!
As we enter our Spring season of growth here at St. Thomas and in the world around us, we have decided to kick off a second phase of our annual Stewardship drive, Giving for Growth, focused exclusively on WORKS & WISDOM! We will use the month of April this year to encourage everyone at St. Thomas to consider ways that we can all share time, talent, and knowledge to keep our many ministries growing and expanding here at the church.
And for our “WORKS & WISDOM” Spring Stewardship drive this year, we are going to focus on two of our biggest outreach ministries, the summer Bailey Cove Farmers’ Market and this November's Lobsterfest! Have a listen to speakers each Sunday, read special inserts in our Sunday worship bulletins, and reach out to the ministry leaders to get signed up and help! "Giving for Growth" needs all of our works and wisdom, as well as our pledge drives, so consider signing up to help an outreach ministry at St. Thomas this month!
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The Bailey Cove Farmers Market Opens on Saturday, May 4th! Sign up to Volunteer THIS SUNDAY!
The Bailey Cove Farmers Market at St. Thomas kicks off this year on Saturday, May 4th! But we can’t have it without you! Please volunteer to help this year by signing up on the poster on the bulletin board in Information Hall. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to help out! Then start making your Farmers Market grocery list!
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Happy Earth Day from the St. Thomas Stewardship of Creation Committee! | |
Earth Day 2024 falls on Monday, April 22nd, and serves as a vital reminder of our responsibility to help the planet thrive. This year's overarching theme, "Planet vs Plastics," urges us to reflect on and diminish our reliance on plastics for the betterment of our planet. Check out the earthday.org website for more tips and info. Also, join the City of Huntsville's Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20th, at Hays Nature Preserve, 10 am to 2 pm. Visit 'City of Huntsville' online for details. | |
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Help Needed: Locating Parts for the Outdoor Movie Screen!
The church is missing ALL the PVC connectors for the outdoor movie screen frame which is stored in the Hiers Hall attic. These connect the 1.5 inch PVC frame together and 12 are missing: 8 - 3 way T connectors, 2 - 4 way cross connectors, 2- L connectors. We are also missing a 5 ft, 1.5 inch PVC pipe and an 18-24 inch long 1.5 inch PVC pipe. If you have them or any information about them please contact Ruth Erwin 256-337-2564 or Linda Hanson 256-337-0033.
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Just a friendly reminder: Send Mail to Post Office Box
Due to break-ins in late 2022 & early 2023, St. Thomas no longer has a physical mailing address. For the past 12 months, the postal service forwarded St. Thomas mail to our P.O. Box, but that has now expired and mail sent to our physical address is being returned to the sender. To avoid your mail being returned, please send ALL pledge payments, donations, cards, or letters to: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 14509, Huntsville, AL 35815-0509
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Coming to St. Thomas THIS TUESDAY, April 23rd, at 10am! You are invited! Sign up and learn more HERE | |
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Adult Christian Formation: The Post-Resurrection Appearances of Jesus & the Shroud of Turin will return Sunday, April 28th
The stories in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances have fascinated and inspired Christians for centuries. As we continue to celebrate the Great 50 Days of the Easter season, come join Fr. Donavan for a special Easter study of these amazing stories from the New Testament and discuss the deep meaning of bodily resurrection for our Christian faith. Also, we will consider the mysterious Shroud of Turin, and discuss whether or not it is the greatest of Christian relics or the slyest of Medieval frauds! Don’t miss a single session of this intriguing Easter meditation on the resurrected Christ, RETURNING NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH at 9:30am in the Parish Hall!
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Are you NEW to St. Thomas? Join the Newcomers Class Next Sunday!
Come learn all about our church and our history in our new monthly Newcomers Class! We are really excited to have you here at St. Thomas.
Newcomers 2 will be held April 28th and we will take a tour of St. Thomas during which you will learn the story of St. Thomas.
Call Elouisa Stokes 256-604-8669 for more information.
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Everybody's Pub Theology Returns Next Month, May 23rd
Fr. Donavan and Dcn. Jeannie are both missioning in Honduras this week and next, so Everybody’s Pub Theology will not meet this month. Everybody’s Pub Theology will reconvene next month on May 23rd. Thank you for your understanding.
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Sunday Children and Youth Formation at St. Thomas
We offer five different Sunday school classes for our children and youth!
Pre-K - 1st grade: Godly Play- Renee' Redfield - Hiers 4
2nd-3rd grades: Love First- Laura Beth Bestor - Hiers 2
4th-5th grades: Thou Art- Kathie Clayton & Lila Powell - Hiers 6
6th-7th grades: My Faith, My Life- Sonya Carrier & Jane Allgood - Hiers 5
8th-12th grades: Youth Room
Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor, at children@stthomashuntsville.org if you have questions or would like to help out with this important aspect of our ministries.
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"Come As You Are" and sing some great Gospel hymns at St. Thomas'
5 PM Holy Eucharist!
St. Thomas' "Come as You Are" 5pm Sunday worship service is every Sunday, with dinner served on the first Sunday of every month immediately following worship! Our 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal and gospel music chosen by our skilled keyboard master, Sam Wright. We also have good sermons preached from the floor, and Holy Communion. Come as you are and invite a friend to join you for the 5pm Evening Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas. The next Sunday night supper will be Sunday, May 5th!
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New Acolyte Sign-Up Genius is now available!
Calling all youth and children 2nd grade and older! A new St. Thomas Acolyte Sign-Up Genius is available by clicking here for 2nd graders and older. We'd appreciate it if you could sign up to serve once a month. If your child(ren) need to be trained or refreshed, feel free to reach out to Deacon Jeannie (jrann228@gmail.com) or me and we will get something scheduled. Contact The Rev. Jeannie Randall at jrann228@gmail.com or our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor at children@stthomashuntsville.org.
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Habitat for Humanity
Habitat: We hope to do insulation Saturday if inspections are done. Meet at 215 Lake Drive between 8 and 3. Call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669 to confirm.
Directions to 215 Lake Drive:
Take Meridian north toward Drake State and turn left on McDonnell Ave. Take a left on N Plymouth Road and Lake Drive is on the left.
We are looking for someone to take over the Habitat for Humanity Coordinator role at St. Thomas. If you are willing to take on this role, please call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669 or contact our Senior Warden, George Harriman, or Fr. Donavan.
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Medical Supply Ministry at Latham Church
St. Thomas is currently directing all medical item donations to Latham Church, located on Weatherly Road. Latham Church operates a Medical Supply Ministry that accepts walkers, wheelchairs, potty chairs, bedside commodes, canes, and crutches. The Medical Supply Ministry is free of charge and requests your help in expanding their inventory. If you have any of these items or if you need them, you can eliminate "the middle man" (St. Thomas), and now go straight to Latham Church!
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AT A GLANCE: April 11-April 17 | |
Invite, Welcome, Connect Newcomer Social on April 12th | |
And the first photo is in from the 2024 World Mission trip to Honduras! Bob Harwell, Jeannie Randall, and Brett Tomlin arrived yesterday, April 17th, to get things in order for the St. Thomas team arrival this weekend! | |
PHOTOBOMB: Fr. Donavan and Deacon Jeannie attended the ordination of Sam Burcham to the Diaconate at St. John Episcopal Church in Decatur last week. Somehow, Fr. Donavan managed to "sneak" into a photo later posted online with Bishop Glenda, new Deacon Sam, and other members of the clergy. Our Rector claims the "photobomb" was unintentional. The St. Thomas staff is not so sure! | | | | |
