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THE EPISTLE:
August 17, 2023
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Children and Youth Christian Formation Kicks Off THIS SUNDAY!
This Sunday morning, St. Thomas' Children and Youth Christian Formation classes will begin our Fall Programming! We're excited to be back from summer break and offering five different Sunday school classes for our children and youth! Come this Sunday, August 20, at 9:30am to meet each other, our dedicated teachers and check out your classrooms.
Pre-K - 1st grade: Godly Play- Renee' Redfield - Hiers 4
2nd grade-3rd grade: Love First- Laura Beth Bestor - Hiers 2 (new room)
4th grade-5th grade: Bible Stories & Art- Kathie Clayton & Lila Powell - Hiers 6
6th grade-7th grade: My Faith, My Life- Sonya Carrier & Jane Allgood - Hiers 5
8th grade- 12th grade: Science & Religion with the Rev. Jeannie Randall; Confirmation Classes starting Sept. 3 with the Rev. Ranie Neislar - Youth Room
Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor, at children@stthomashuntsville.org or our Youth Ministries Coordinator, The Rev. Jeannie Randall at jrann228@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to help out with this important aspect of our ministries.
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Adult Christian Formation Classes begin THIS SUNDAY!
St. Thomas' Adult Christian Formation classes will kick off for the Fall program year THIS SUNDAY, August 20th. Fr. Donavan will begin his Adult Christian Formation offering with his "Rector's Forum," starting at 9:30am in the Parish Hall. Each Week, Fr. Donavan will share with you something that speaks to him directly from the Sunday morning scripture, and he will share with you a visual or aural piece that he feels bring the Bible verses and message together. After his short presentation, he will invite you to share your thoughts or ask questions that can either go with the Sunday's scripture or something completely different to add to the discussion.
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And in the Conference Room beginning this Sunday, August 20th, Mtr. Ranie will begin a new Sunday morning book study for Adults, starting at 9:30am. The Adult Formation Book Study will pick back up the book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. Evans knows firsthand how a relationship with the Bible can be as real and as complicated as a relationship with a family member or close friend. In Inspired, Evans explores contradictions and questions from her own experiences with the Bible, including:
- If the Bible was supposed to explain the mysteries of life, why does it leave the reader with so many questions?
- What does it mean to be chosen by God?
- To what degree did the Holy Spirit guide the preservation of these narratives, and is there something sacred to be uncovered beneath all these human fingerprints?
- If the Bible has given voice to the oppressed, why is it also used as justification by their oppressors?
If you are interested in joining us we will be ordering books this coming week to purchase through the church for $10. Please email Ranie at associate@stthomashuntsville.org.
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NEW BIBLE STUDY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS, STARTING NEXT WEEK!
Join us Tuesday nights in Conference Room 2 from 6-7:30PM, beginning August 22nd, as we dive into Paul’s Letter to the Romans!
Many of our Christian beliefs are deeply formed by this sacred text from the New Testament. Bring a Bible, something to eat and drink, and come prepared to enjoy fellowship and learn "What Saint Paul is saying to the Romans" and what it means for modern-day disciples! Mtr. Ranie will be leading the class. If you have any questions please email her at associate@stthomashuntsville.org.
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St. Thomas Music Programs are back next Wednesday, August 16th!
Rehearsals for Adult Choir, Bell Choir and Treble Choirs are resuming August 16!
New members are always welcome.
Come sing and ring with us! Find rehearsal dates and times here:
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Treble Choir Minors (Grade Pre-K — 2) will rehearse Sunday afternoons 3:30-4:15 Starting August 20.
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Treble Choir Majors (Grade 2 – 8) will rehearse Wednesday afternoons 4:30 – 5:30
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Bell Choir will rehearse Wednesday evenings 6:00 – 6:45
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Adult Choir will rehearse Wednesday evenings 7:00 – 8:45
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Joyful Noise rehearses as needed, usually on Saturday morning the day before a JN service.
Contact Kathy Heim music@stthomashuntsville.org for information about Treble & Adult Choirs.
Contact Donna Clark clarkdf@aol.com for information about Bell Choir.
Contact John Hanson johnspacecadet31@gmail.com for information about Joyful Noise.
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THANK YOU for helping to make our RALLY DAY a big success!
Thank you to everyone who helped to make our new version of the St. Thomas Rally Day-Ministry Fair a big success and a wonderful kick-off to our Fall program year this past Sunday! We had a wonderful turn out at both worship services, including a joy-filled response to our special Jazz Eucharist, led by the Josh Couts Trio and our own Melanie Payne, and our Parish Lunch & Ministry Fair filled up the Parish Hall and the southside of the St. Thomas Campus.
There were many generous hands involved in putting our Rally Day together, but a special thanks is in order for our dedicated everyone who showed up early on Saturday morning for help "Spruce Up" our campus, to Junior Wardens, Ted Evans & David Hattaway (...David literally held the water hose in the Water Slide to keep our youth cool and having fun!), to our Children's Minister, Laura Beth Bestor, to Mike Bestor and his BBQ Bandit team, to the already mentioned master pianist and Jazz vocalist, Melanie Payne, to Bill Davenport, who helped set up the Parish Hall, to our faithful clergy, and to all our ministry committees, teams, and leaders. And that only gets us started! There were so many hands and hearts to be thankful for at our church this past weekend! THANK YOU for a great Rally Day!
And be sure to scroll down and see more Rally Day photos in the "At a Glance" section of The Epistle below!
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Lobsterfest 5K Early Bird Registration and Sponsorship OPEN NOW!
It's the 30th anniversary of Lobsterfest at St. Thomas, and we want YOU to join us for the SHELL-ABRATION! Early bird (and best price) registration for the Lobsterfest 5k is now open. We have a NEW time and NEW swag this year...but still donate ALL proceeds to local and international outreach. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 4 at 3:00 p.m. The race is family-friendly, with runners and walkers of all levels welcome. And with your race entry, you'll receive a cool sweatshirt to keep you warm all winter long. To sign-up NOW click HERE!
And you (or your business) can also really help by becoming a Lobster Friend or LobSTAR race sponsor! As a sponsor, you not only directly support our St. Thomas Lobsterfest outreach ministries...your name will also be featured on the sweatshirt! If you'd like more information on how to become a Lobsterfest 5K sponsor, click HERE!
Let's have a great showing of parishioners at this wonderful community event; sign up TODAY to walk, run or sponsor the Lobsterfest 5K!
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Our First Stop Breakfast Group needs you!
Part of our Outreach efforts here at St. Thomas includes reaching out to people in our community experiencing homelessness. One of the ways we serve is through a breakfast ministry at the nonprofit group First Stop here in Huntsville. We are in need of volunteers for either the 1st or the 2nd Friday of the month for our First Stop Breakfast Crew. If you can help prepare and serve food in the mornings on either the 1st or 2nd Friday of each month, please contact Ranie at associate@stthomashuntsville.org. If you are interested or have questions, please feel free to reach out. The church reimburses food costs. We and our neighbors just need your time!
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All women of St. Thomas are invited to join the Daughters of the King! Find out more on August 24th
If you are searching for more in your spiritual life, more in your prayer life, more in your connection with God and His people (that’s all of us), then I encourage you to consider Daughters of the King. We are beginning a training program of discernment to become a Daughter starting August 24th through September 28th. These will be six sessions from 6pm to 7:30 in which we will discuss what The Daughters of the King is about and how it can enrich your life. There will be time for study, reflection, and discussion for community building. If this interests you, come join us on Thursday August 24th and see what we’re all about.
For further questions, ask me or anyone wearing the cross. Blessings, Barbara Meyer at bmeyer2944@gmail.com.
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YOUTH CONFIRMATION CLASSES BEGIN SEPT. 3RD!
If you have or know of a youth in the 9th grade ready for confirmation, we would love to have them participate in Confirmation Classes on Sunday mornings, beginning on September 3rd with our Associate Priest, Ranie Neislar. We will explore the essentials of our faith in preparation of the Bishop’s visit to St. Thomas on Sunday, October 22nd this year. Get signed up today by emailing Ranie at associate@stthomashuntsville.org.
And if you're an adult interested in Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church, or if you'd like to Reaffirm your faith when Bishop Glenda Curry is here in October, look for more info COMING SOON. Fr. Donavan is planning to offer an Adult Confirmation class and luncheon on Sundays beginning later in September. More information will be included in NEXT WEEK'S Epistle!
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Choral Evensong set for the Eve of the Feast of the Holy Cross
The St. Thomas Choir, with Fr. Donavan officiating and preaching, will present a special service of Choral Evensong on Wednesday, September 13, to commemorate the Eve of the Feast of the Holy Cross. More information about this special service is coming soon!
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Sunday night Dinners following the 5pm "Laid Back" Sunday Eucharist are now once a month
St. Thomas' "Laid Back" 5pm Sunday worship service is here to stay, but we have made a change to our Sunday evening dinner offering. As the days get shorter and the Fall season approaches, dinner will now be offered only on the FIRST SUNDAY of each and every month, on September 3rd, October 1st, November 5th, and December 3rd. Our special "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist will continue every Sunday, with simple hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, 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 EVERY SUNDAY at St. Thomas.
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The Bailey Cove Farmers Market at St. Thomas is open every Saturday!
The Bailey Cove Farmers Market at St. Thomas is open from 8am to 12pm every Saturday all summer long through September 2nd!
And you can help! Sign up to volunteer for 'Set up' and 'Take down' any weekend in Information Hall. Or, if you'd like to assist, call Kim Cantrell at (256)508-2363, and she will give you all the info.
Hope to see you at the Farmers Market THIS SATURDAY at St. Thomas!
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St. Thomas now has a VENMO account for easier online giving!
Forget your checkbook or cash and want to contribute to St. Thomas? Consider using our brand new VENMO account! If you have a VENMO account, you can now look for our new VENMO QR code (included here!) in the church and parish hall, or simply search on your VENMO app for @StThomasHsv. And please help the Finance Office by being sure to note where your contribution should go in the "What's it for?" line (e.g., breakfast, supper, donation, pledge, baseball game, Clergy Discretionary account, etc.).
And THANK YOU to Gail Perna and members of our Finance Committee for doing the hard work to bring the ease of VENMO to St. Thomas!
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Caregivers Support Group
If you or someone you know is or has been a caregiver for a loved one, we have a Caregivers Support Group at St. Thomas. This group wants to be a community support for caregivers and we welcome anyone who needs that resource whether or not a parishioner here. We have a volunteer licensed therapist, Jane Allgood, as group facilitator. We meet every other Wednesday from 1 until 2:30 pm in the Crossroads Room. If you are interested just show up then. If you have any questions about the group, call or email Mona Parker: 256-599-9942, mona.s.parker@gmail.com
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Habitat for Humanity Work Opportunities
Habitat will paint interior walls this week and next. Please join us this Saturday. We begin at 8 and work until it is done. Bring paint clothes but brushes and rollers will be on hand. 3126 Andros is the house for Saturday. We need lots of hands so please join us for a few hours. See you there. Elouisa Stokes, 256-604-8669.
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AT A GLANCE: August 10 - August 16 | |
Rally Day 2023 at St. Thomas! | |
St. Thomas Pilgrims at August 11-12 Jonathan Daniels & the Martyrs of Alabama Pilgrimage | | | | |
