THE EPISTLE:

September 26, 2024

Everybody's Pub Theology

TONIGHT, 6pm at PaPPo's Pizzeria!

Sit down with Fr. Donavan and Dcn. Jeannie TONIGHT, Thursday, Sept. 26, from 6-7:30pm, at PaPPo's Pizzeria, located at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, to get the first report from Jeannie's recent visit to Honduras to prepare for our next Medical Mission trip in March of 2025. Great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion is guaranteed for all!

ADULT CONFIRMATION BEGINS THIS SUNDAY!

For youth, 9th grade and up, and adults interested in Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church, or the Reaffirmation of their faith, Fr. Donavan will begin a Confirmation class and luncheon THIS SUNDAY, September 29th. If you have signed up, you will be receiving an email from Fr. Donavan later today. If you haven't signed up but are interested in the class, you are invited to sit in this Sunday! Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation will be offered this year during Bishop Glenda Curry visit to St. Thomas on Sunday, October 27. If you have questions about the class, you can email Fr. Donavan HERE or Mtr. Katie HERE.

It's time, St. Thomas, to make your Pledge for 2025!

Our Fall Stewardship campaign is now underway, and our prayers are that St. Thomas will be "all in" this year, as we "Walk in Love" together and prepare for new ministry and continued growth in 2025!

A letter from Fr. Donavan (HERE) was emailed to everyone last Friday and again on Monday this week, and tomorrow, Friday, September 27th, pledge cards for 2025, along with a letter from our Senior Warden, George Harriman, will be placed in the regular mail to go out to the entire parish. 

This year, our Stewardship campaign is set to run from now through Sunday, October 20th, when all pledge cards will be gathered together and prayed over during all three Sunday worship services. Until then, be on the lookout for weekly bulletin inserts each week focusing on a variety of interviews and commentaries on stewardship and giving from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship. Also this year there will be special "Walk in Love Stewardship 2025" tri-fold brochures available with more information on what making a pledge to St. Thomas supports and how to work towards proportional giving. These special stewardship brochures will also be a way to pick up or pass along additional pledge cards.

We ask everyone to please prayerfully consider how you can financially support your church next year and to please make a pledge. Let us "walk in Love as Christ loved us," continuing our work together to expand our ministries of discipleship and outreach and to build up our St. Thomas family, by opening our doors wider to our community, inviting and welcoming everyone to grow with us in faith in Jesus Christ!

Pledge online TODAY by clicking HERE!

St. Thomas Educational and Medical Mission

While in Honduras last week, Dcn. Jeannie and Bob Harwell visited with sponsored teachers, Marivi and Leony, and distributed funds to our scholarship Students. They also travelled to La Ceiba where they met with the vestry and priest of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Plans are for St. Thomas to join and assist their outreach efforts as they re-open a medical clinic in the neighborhood of Suyapa. They also visited the mission Church of the Transfiguration in La Linea, where a satellite clinic will be held. The St. Thomas Medical Mission is planned for March 22-29, 2025. More information about the mission will be announced at a later date.

Blessing of the Animals this year is almost here! NEXT SUNDAY, October 6th, at 3pm

Please join us on the field across the north parking lot for the annual Blessing of the Animals for the Feast of St. Francis, on Sunday, October 6th, at 3:00 PM. No matter what type of animal you have – the 4-legged kind, the swimmers, the crawlers and the hoppers – bring ‘em on! Even if you don’t have a pet, you are invited. It is a fun celebration of all God’s creatures and one of the church's most beloved saints, St. Francis of Assisi. Don’t miss it! And don't forget to bring your lawn chairs or blankets.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 a.m. The race is family-friendly, with runners and walkers of all levels welcome. CLICK HERE to register. Register before Oct. 9 and you'll receive a sweatshirt with your entry! 

Also, you or your business can 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 USE THIS LINK or contact Crystal Knickelbein.

Lobsterfest Needs Your Help! Sponsorship Opportunities & Search for Two More Committee Chairs!

As we gear up for this exciting event, the Lobsterfest Steering Committee is still seeking sponsors for a very prominent area: the Music Tent!

As a sponsor for the Music Tent, your donation of $1200 covers the cost of the tent and provides significant visibility, and your company receives a sign that reads, “Your Company Name Lobsterfest Music Area,” ensuring your support is recognized and highlighted to all attending.

Partnering with us not only provides excellent exposure for your business but also demonstrates your commitment to supporting a beloved community event. We can’t wait to have you!



If interested, please contact Fr. Donavan, George Harriman, or Tom Perry at lobsterfest@stthomashuntsville.org.

Baking Sale & Parish Hall Chairs Still Needed

Both the Bake Sale and Parish Dinner Committees play a crucial role in making Lobsterfest a success. If you would be interested in leading one of these committees, please contact David Hattaway at (256) 337-0973 or hattaway.david@gmail.com, or Tom Perry at (256) 348-4313 or perrytbne@aol.com. Bake Sale is changing this year to on-site/day of sales only this year, and Parish Dinner is always about the joy and celebration of Lobsterfest for the St. Thomas community on the Sunday morning following Lobsterfest! The co-Kings have information and outlines for the roles and responsibilities of committee chairs for both committees, and past chairs are always available to provide guidance. If you'd be interested in taking on these final two committees for Lobsterfest 2024, contact David or Tom now! Thank you!

Join Fr. Donavan for a special Rector's Forum Q&A, THIS SUNDAY, Sept. 29th!

This Sunday during the Christian Formation hour, beginning at 9:30am in the Parish Hall, Fr. Donavan will be offering a special Q&A opportunity for anyone with questions from his most recent class, "How the Bible became the Bible" or about anything happening in the church or the world. Fr. Donavan also plans to talk about what's coming next for Adult Christian Formation at St. Thomas, as well as what he is excited about in the church this Fall. Grab your breakfast and get ready for a special Rector's Forum Q&A this Sunday!

Led by Laura Beth Bestor Hiers Hall

Room 6

Second through sixth graders will gather to explore their faith and express it through different art media. We will discuss the Church seasons, Bible stories, and topics unique to Episcopalians.

Led by Diane Hutson, Suzanne Mohler, & Friends Hiers Hall Room 1

Babies, toddlers, and their parents are invited to join us as we gather for a short Bible lesson and hands-on activities about our Bible stories. If your little one(s) are still getting used to the church, this new class is for you. Come help our little ones build their community!

Led by Renee’ Redfield Hiers Hall Room 4

Children ages pre-K through 1st grade will use their creativity and imagination in a Montessori approach to learn about Bible stories, worship life, and rituals and symbols of our faith. 

Sign-up to be a helper with a children's Sunday school class once a month by clicking here.  Email our Children's Ministry coordinator, Laura Beth, with questions at children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Led by Jane Allgood, Grace Casey, and Kathie Clayton - Hiers Hall Conference Room 2

Through artistic expression, community service, as well as reflection on scripture and the Book of Common Prayer, 7th -12th grade girls explore the ways being grounded in grace provides strength and courage to tackle the challenges of becoming a confident young woman in today’s world.

Led by Mike Bestor, David Hattaway, Brett Byford, John Conover, John Falco, and

Dan Morrison - Youth Room

The middle and high school young men’s group will explore the lectionary through discussion-based ministry to encourage a deeper understanding of the Bible’s teachings. This class will provide a space to belong, believe, and become better men, while sharing experiences and learning how the Bible is visible to us in everyday life.

Season of Creation

Book Study: Earth Gospel

by Sam Hamilton-Poore

Interested in praying for out natural world? For four weeks during September, which is the church's "Season of Creation", Belinda Greenaway will be offering a prayerful gathering around Sam Hamilton-Poore's book, Earth Gospel. We will meet in the parlor Sunday afternoons from 3:30pm-4:30pm, beginning September 8th. You will need a copy of the book. Contact Belinda for more information at belinda223@gmail.com.

Treble Choir has expanded and is open to Kids Grade K to Grade 8, and our rehearsal time has moved to Sunday afternoons at 3:30 – 3:45.

Treble Choir - Grades K-8, 3:30-4:15pm, Sunday

Adult Choir - Grades 9- Adult, 7:00-8:45pm, Wednesday

Bell Choir - 6:00-6:50pm, Wednesday.

Sunday Evening Gospel Choir - Rehearse just before each Sunday's 5pm service.

All of our choirs would be delighted to welcome new members. Contact Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for more information!

"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.

On the first Sunday of the month, the 5pm Eucharist also offers a supper immediately following in the Parish Hall. Many of the congregation stay to enjoy each others company and conversation. The next Sunday Supper will be on October 6. The menu for this month is a Taco or Taco Salad Bar. You can sign up to contribute to the supper on the sign up sheet at the 5pm service on Sunday, or by emailing or texting either one of the coordinators Contact Carolyn Seaman by clicking HERE or Rebekah Callahan by clicking HERE for more information.  Come and join us for what we do best - worship!

From the St. Thomas Stewardship of Creation Committee

Along with Christians around the world, our Episcopal Church celebrates the Season of Creation in September each year. It is seen as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of Creation. To reflect this important season in the church, listen for an additional prayer for our natural world in the Prayers of the People each Sunday in September. The theme for this year’s season is ‘To Hope and Act With Creation,’ and you can take a look at HERE for more information from the Episcopal Church website.

Belinda Greenaway

Stewardship of Creation Committee

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org