THE EPISTLE:

June 6, 2024

THIS WEEK

Mom's Group

TONIGHT, June 6th,

at 6:30 pm

St. Thomas’ Mom's group ministry for mothers with children ages 0 - 18 is meeting again TONIGHT, Thursday, June 6th, at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall!

The monthly Mom's Group is a time to come together as mothers with young children to support one another, share in the love and laughter, and help each other through the challenges and struggles that motherhood brings. Being a mom is not always easy, so one night a month we come together to ask the good Lord for patience and strength and to lean on one another in this shared experience. Please bring a mom friend!

Scrapbooking and Paper Crafter's Event THIS

Saturday, June 8th

Scrapbookers and paper crafters, please meet in the Parish Hall THIS Saturday, June 8th, to work on your projects from 9-4 pm. Lunch will be provided.

Please contact Rebekah Callahan at 256-603-0219 if you plan to attend or have any questions.

Dcn. Jeannie to lead Morning Prayer this Sunday, June 9th

This Sunday, June 9, Deacon Jeannie will be the officiant for all three services. She will lead Morning Prayer and preach at the 8:00 and 10:30 services and will conduct Evening Prayer and deliver a message at 5:00. While anyone, lay or clergy, may officiate these services, this is an opportunity for Jeannie as she begins, her preparations for a change in her ministerial calling. In March, she was approved to move from vocational deacon to transitional deacon. She is now a postulant for the priesthood and part of her training is to experience more of our liturgy.

10:30 Children’s Moment & Chapel taking "Summer Break,"

starting June 9th

The Children's Moment and Children's Chapel will return on Sunday, July 7th. As always, children are welcome at every worship service at St. Thomas, and there are always “Wiggle Bags” with children’s activities on the children's rack outside the Nave on Sunday mornings. Please use this short time to worship with your children in the pews, and, for the younger children, the St. Thomas nursery is always available and free every Sunday morning from 8am to 12pm for ages 0 to 5 years old.

VBS Volunteers Needed

Join our Children's Ministry Coordinator at 9:30am on Sunday, June 9 in the Parish Hall to see how you can help with our Aslan Is on the Move Vacation Bible School, which will be July 15-19. We need adults and youth to help make the scenes from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe come to life here at St. Thomas through decorations, storytelling, activities, games and more. If you can't make it, check out the bulletin board in Information Hall or email Laura Beth (children@stthomashuntsville.org) for more.

St. Thomas Book Club

Monday, June 10th

St Thomas Book Club will meet this coming Monday, June 10th, at 10 am in the Parlor. We will discuss the first 5 Parts of the Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Please join us even if you have not read the book! For information call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669.

ATTENTION BUDDING BREAKFAST COOKS!

If you would like to share your cooking skills with the rest of the parish, we are looking for a team to cook breakfast on Sunday, June 30th.

We all enjoy our breakfast on Sunday mornings, but the food does not prepare itself. Gather a group of friends and treat the church to the gift of your culinary expertise. The menu is at your discretion. Surprise us with something new and exciting! If you are interested, contact George Harriman at 256-509-6666. Assistance with the workings of the kitchen will be happily provided.

Little Free Pantry Items Needed for Summer

School is out and summer is in full swing! Children are now home all day and this may be a stressful time for parents. Many families may need help providing food for their children. Our Little Free Pantry will need lots of extras to help those in need. Please consider purchasing a few extra items (watch for BOGOs!) when you are at the grocery store for our Little Free Pantry. Cereal, shelf stable milk, bread, peanut butter, and snack items are always good choices. Feel free to put your donations in the pantry itself or in the Little Red Wagon in information hall. Thank you!

UPCOMING

Silver Saints Movie Matinee Presents: Moonstruck

Thursday, June 13th

Our June 2024 movie will feature a really real great, fun movie of a New York Italian family at their best. Please come join us for an entertaining afternoon. Your Silver Saints Matinee Movie group will meet in the St. Thomas Parish Hall on THURSDAY, June 13 at 1:00 PM. Our movie this month, Moonstruck, with Cher, Olivia De Havilland, and others is a fun-filled comedy with a family living under a full moon. You will leave with a smile in your heart.

As many will attest, the Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers fun and fellowship with our parishioners and visitors. with free movies and a social time with those we love. Snacks and beverages are available, and we will provide transportation if you wish. We offer comfortable seating and a break half way through the movie. Call Jack or Becky Stokes at 256-881-4748 or the church office for planning purposes. Please call a day ahead if you will need a ride with us. A rewarding afternoon awaits you. Please come join us.

Pray the Rosary at St. Thomas

Friday, June 14th

The St. Thomas Rosary Prayer Group is now gathering every other Friday in the church at 12:05pm to pray the Rosary. 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, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice. If you would like to join us, the Rosary will be prayed again at St. Thomas on Friday, June 14th, at 12:05pm.

Lobsterfest Stewardship

This is the summation of the 4 weeks of Lobsterfest stewardship. As you have heard and read over the past few weeks, the parish comes together annually on the second Saturday in November for Lobsterfest. We welcome the Huntsville community to St. Thomas as we raise a significant amount of money for outreach. Please consider how you might share your works and/or wisdom as St. Thomas hosts the 31st Lobsterfest on November 10, 2024 and the Lobsterfest 5K run on November 3, 2024. Opportunities to help before the big day are plentiful. King(s)/Queen(s) finalize committee chairs in early summer and work with the Steering Committee to set the theme and make plans leading up to and for the big day.

We currently have the following immediate needs for Lobsterfest:

Lobsterfest 5K Run Committee Chair – Lead the committee in organizing the annual 5K run.
Fundraisers for the Lobsterfest 5K – Secure sponsors and recruit LobStars for the 5K.
Future Kings/Queens – We are seeking individuals interested in leading future Lobsterfest events. Training will be provided to help you understand and manage the Lobsterfest process.

If you are interested in helping with the 5K run, contact Jenna Pirani or Lloyd Cook.

If you are interested in being a King and Queen, contact Rev. Cain, George Harriman or Tom Perry.

SAVE THE DATE: Golden Girls & Boys Luncheon Saturday, June 15th!

Our Parish is excited to honor our eighty and ninety-somethings on Saturday, June 15 at 11:30 with a luncheon in the Parish Hall. If you or your spouse are 80 or over, you are the honoree: no cooking or baking or salad-making. You are our guests! We will have ham and side salads, cake, and lots of conversation with lots of people we haven’t seen in ages.

Remember, this is a parish-wide party; those who can’t claim Golden status are encouraged and invited to attend. The only difference is that we do the salad-making to share with the honorees: green salads, potato salads, fruit salads, deviled eggs, dips and spreads, nuts and olives, cheese and crackers. All are welcome. If you can't attend but would like to honor these cherished members of our church, feel free to make a salad and drop it off in the Parish Hall!

Aslan Is on the Move VBS,

July 15-19,

Registration Now Open!

Sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, join us from

9am until noon July 15-19 as we explore the land beyond the wardrobe doors!

Aslan Is on the Move VBS registration for rising pre-K through 6th graders is now open. Register online here or use the QR Code below, and invite your friends to join us! Please note that a Realm account is not necessary to register for VBS, but it should reduce the information parishioners need to fill out. Volunteers are needed to help our youngest parishioners and friends learn about their call to Christian duty as we venture through the magical land of Narnia.

Register online to help by clicking here or look for the sign-up sheets in Information Hall. Nursery care is available for volunteers' family members.

Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor via email at children@stthomashuntsville.org for more information.

ONGOING

The Bailey Cove

Farmer's Market

The Bailey Cove Farmers Market at St. Thomas continues this weekend and every Saturday through September. Please come out this weekend, support our local farmers, and get a taste of all our Farmer's Market here at St. Thomas has to offer! And if you'd like to help, we still need volunteers for set up and take down, this weekend and throughout out the season! You can volunteer to help this year by signing up on the poster on the bulletin board in Information Hall. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to support and help our Bailey Cove Farmers Market!! Start making your Farmers Market grocery list now!

"Come As You Are"

5pm Evening Prayer

This Sunday, we will have Evening Prayer. This service 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. Come as you are and invite a friend to join you for the 5pm Evening Prayer at St. Thomas.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat: We have only a few weeks to go! Join us on Saturday, June 15, to finish up the bits and pieces that all houses need at the end. There will be a dedication later. Call Elouisa Stokes for more information at 256-604-8669.

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.