The EPISTLE 6.15.22

THE EPISTLE: June 15th, 2022

The St. Thomas Profile is complete!

(take a bow committee members)

You’ll find it on our website --- look for the Rector Search tab (upper right-hand corner) click --- there you’ll find the Profile.

Now the Discernment Committee is ready to go and is accepting names for our Rector position. If YOU know of a particular priest to recommend, please for this information to Brett Tomlin at [email protected]

Little Free Pantry

This Sunday, June 19, is Little Free Pantry Sunday. Please bring a grocery bag filled with non-perishable items to the church or drop the bag by the office.

We are grateful for your support for this vital ministry.

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, June 23, to join us for a very special Silver Saints Movie Matinee. We will show the movie, October Sky, based on the book, Rocket Boys by Mr. Homer Hickam. The movie is Homer’s story of when he was a teen in a West Virginia coal-mining town but loved rockets. He went on to join NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center training astronauts. Homer will join us for the movie to share his thoughts prior to the movie and then be around for questions afterward.

Remember, Thursday, June 23, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. We have snacks and will break for a rest stop partway through the movie.

Call us by the 22 if you need a ride. Please bring friends and neighbors. Let’s properly welcome Homer to St. Thomas. Call Jack Stokes at 256-881-4748 / 256-468-2743 (cell).

5:00 P.M. Summer Service

Join us for a "come as you are" service throughout the summer beginning June 19.

This casual service will feature simple music and our signature laid-back hospitality at its best!

A light supper will be served in the parish hall following the service.

THIS SATURDAY

June 18th, 2022

Youth Canoe Trip down the Flint River. We will meet at church @ 10:00 A.M.

Parents are invited and encouraged to paddle with us. Youth under 12 yrs of age need to bring a parent.

Call 256.348.9918 or email Jeannie [email protected] or more details.

BACKPACK BONANZA RETURNS!

Immigrant children in our community are preparing to go back to school again! Once again, we are supporting this community by donating new backpacks to children in Huntsville and we would love your help!

We are aiming to donate or contribute to 100 backpacks. If you are able, please donate a new backpack roughly the equivalent of $25-35 for an elementary school child by Monday, July 18th, or make a contribution to backpacks that have already been purchased through the church.

Please designate checks “Backpack Bonanza” and drop them by the church office. Thank you for loving all the children in our community!

Waterworks! Park Vacation Bible School registration is now open (link here)! VBS will be from 9 am until 12 pm from July 11-15. Classes will be available for rising pre-K through 6th graders. There are limited nursery slots open for children under 4 years. We also need adult and youth volunteers to teach, help prep materials, lead games, perform the opening skits each morning, lead crafts, prep snacks and serve snacks.

Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor ([email protected]) if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

PARENTS' MORNING OUT UPDATE

On Wednesday, June 22, only the nursery room for ages 6 and under will be available for Parents' Morning Out. This is due to a staffing shortage.

Intinction for Holy Communion

All who seek Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table. The wine is by intinction only. You may choose to receive only the bread. Please be assured that receiving the bread is a full communion.

Meals on Wheels Delivery Volunteers Needed!

Meals on Wheels provides a nutritious lunch Monday-Friday, year-round to Huntsville seniors age 60 or over, who are unable to cook for themselves, have no one available to cook for them, and are primarily homebound.

The St Thomas MOW delivery team needs volunteers who can deliver one day each month. If you want to join this ministry or need more information, contact Mark Dixon at (256) 426-0381 or [email protected].

Everybody's Pub Theology

Sit down with Ranie and Jeannie Monday, June 27 from 6-7:30 PM on the patio at Mellow Mushroom, 2230 Cecil Ashburn Drive SE, Huntsville, AL, 35802 for great fellowship, good food, drink, and hearty discussion!

Please note that if the weather is obscenely hot, we will most likely sit indoors. Text Jeannie and let her know you plan on joining us at 256-348-9918 or email Ranie at [email protected]. We will be discussing summer topics at this meeting so bring your ideas!

Hand Bell Ensemble

We would like to put a hand bell ensemble for a summer Sunday.

We are thinking of doing a “mini bell retreat.” It would involve rehearsing on a Friday evening and Saturday and then playing bells for the Sunday service.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Donna Clark [email protected] or 256-655-2417.

Habitat for Humanity

We still have a lot of interior work to do on our house. We need you if you are 16+ with a parent or 19+. Our house is at 6221 Maywick Road. It is in northwest Huntsville off of Winchester Road. We work 8 to 3 on Saturdays and from 8 to 12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We can always find a job to do for you. For information, call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: [email protected]