Parish Weekly February 27, 2026

Mission: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is a welcoming spiritual community dedicated to following the teachings of Christ Jesus. We grow through learning, celebrate joyful worship, and serve our neighbors.

Vision: We open hearts and minds to create community in Christ.

Rector's Notes

Dear St. Thomas’,

Lent is a time for intention, a kind of inventory taking that allows us to notice things

that we might take for granted, areas of joy, deficiencies, situations that we need courage, companionship, and healing. Your morning coffee or tea time might be

the only space you have to savor and reflect. Below is a portion of a prayer from

Every Moment Holy, Volume I, p. 135. It invites discernment and speaks of little moments of resurrection that we can encounter each day. (By resurrection, I mean

the opportunities in which we begin again.) It is a way of letting go and healing anew with each new day. May you find it helpful.

From the discords of yesterday, resurrect my peace.

From the discouragement of yesterday, resurrect my hope.

From the weariness of yesterday, resurrect my strength.

From the doubts of yesterday, resurrect my faith.

From the wounds of yesterday, resurrect my love.

Faithfully,

Amma Leslie+

Mark Your Calendars

Episcopal 101 Class, Sundays, March 1, 15, 22, 29, 11:15 am, Lounge
Lenten Wednesday Classes, Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2:00 pm, Lounge (see details below)
Girl Scout Cookie Sale, Sunday, March 8, following service, Lower Hall

Click to View All Upcoming Events Listed in the Parish Calendar

Click to View the Prayers for Public Policy and Witness

Worship Ministry

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross are located in the Nave of the Church, with narrative descriptions on each windowsill near the stations. The temperature in the Nave has been raised for your comfort while you pray.

Prayer at the stations is open to all weekdays between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm until April 2, or accessible by contacting the Parish Office at 585.442.3544 to make arrangements to pray during off-hours. If you do not have a door code, please use the intercom, and the

staff will buzz you in to gain entrance to the church.

Worship Notes

For most of the church year, we sing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"

and end with strong “Alleluias” as our Doxology after the Offering. During this season

of Lent, our usual words praising God are replaced by ones without Alleluias.

Below is a contemporary text by G. W. Dub Shepherd, created to be sung with the traditional "Old 100th" tune.

Praise God throughout these forty days

Praise Christ, our Lord, whom God did raise.

And praise the Spirit who imparts

God’s love in Christ into our hearts. Amen.

Look for them in the bulletin and enjoy singing with your usual strength of heart
and voice!

Formation

Lenten Wednesdays Classes

Living Well through Lent devotions will be available in

the Parish Office and at each of the church entrances beginning Sunday, February 8. We will gather for a small group reflection on Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Lounge. Please register for the class using the link below. (There is an eight-person requirement to hold the class.)

For more information, contact Amma Leslie at leslie@stthomasrochester.org.

Click to Register for Lenten Wednesdays Classes

Fiber Ministry

March Meeting

With hope that the peak of a very cold and snowy winter is now behind us, we look forward to gathering again to share fellowship, along with crafting support and guidance at the next meeting on Tuesday, March 10, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Lounge.

Anyone who enjoys knitting, crocheting, or sewing is welcome to join the group; you

do not need to be a member of St. Thomas. We encourage fiber artists of all skill levels who are eager to help enhance our group's abilities to participate. Our main purpose in gathering is to share fellowship and support.

As a reminder, all parish members are encouraged to use our inventory of prayer shawls for anyone you

know who needs comfort during

an illness, after surgery, or maybe going through a hard time. We also have an inventory of baby blankets to give a warm welcome hug to any newborns you may know.

Please bring any items you are currently working on and enjoy refreshments and conversation. An RSVP is not required, but it would be appreciated for better planning.

Contact either group co-chairs, Carol Oldenburg at oldenburg.carol@gmail.com,

or Jan Gates at ladygates47@gmail.com for more information.

Community Engagement

United Thank Offering During Lent

Each Lent, St. Thomas' holds a collection for the United Thank Offering (UTO), a ministry of the Episcopal Church that provides one-time grants

to assist in missionary, health and well-being needs, including projects supporting the environment, overseas projects, community building including LGBTQ+ initiatives, and the Diocese of Jerusalem. The UTO started in 1889, and has addressed needs

in the U.S. and around the world through these gifts. Notice the blessings around you, and give thanks to God through the UTO.

Last year, the UTO funded a $45,000 grant for The Episcopal Diocese of New York's
I Sea You, Equipping Chaplains to Support the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Needs of Mariners Marginalized by Sea Blindness initiative for the Seamen’s Church Institute.

UTO coin boxes and brochures are available at both church entrances. Alternatively, you may mail a check to the church with "UTO" noted in the memo section. All contributions will be will be gathered at the end of Lent on April 19. Please consider joining us in giving thanks this Lent through the UTO. For more information, visit United Thank Offering or contact Wendy Petry, UTO Chairwoman, at wendywhp@yahoo.com.

Brighton Food Cupboard Requests

The Brighton Food Cupboard is a program

of Jewish Family Service of Rochester in partnership with the Brighton Central School District and Foodlink. March and April donation needs for the Brighton Food Cupboard include toothpaste, toothbrushes, and shampoos, which will help keep our neighbors smiling and looking great.

Drop off your donations in the collection boxes located at each church entrance. Thanks for caring and sharing in the love!

Souper Sundays wraps up this weekend, and the collection of items to date has been

a tremendous success. Stay tuned to learn the final tally of how many pounds of soup and crackers were collected by our parish throughout February. Thank you to those who generously donated to the cause.

Children and Youth Ministry

Abram’s Call

This week in Sunday School, we will read Genesis 12:1-9. In this passage, God calls Abram and Sarai to leave behind their lives

as they know them and go to a new land.

God also promises to bless Abram and Sarai and their family forever. Our lesson this week will focus on how God leads us and remains with us even when we are uncertain where

our path may lead. We will discuss what it is like to go on a journey and how we might trust God as we move through the season of Lent.

Youth Group

During the season of Lent, we will continue our exploration of images by engaging

with artwork by Henri Matisse and activities and questions for contemplation from

the SALT project. An excerpt from the introduction to the study:

"The word 'Lent' refers to the 'lengthening' sunlight each day (in the Northern Hemisphere), shining down and drawing out the colors from the earth: the immersive, annual Easter poetry of creation…What better guide, then, to this colorful pageant

than the artist Henri Matisse, one of the most innovative, influential, and beloved

artists in modern history, celebrated above all as a master colorist…Week by week, with the words of Scripture and the art of Henri Matisse as our guides, we’ll travel through the colors of Lent—all the way to the vibrant, joyful dawn of Easter morning.”

The Youth Group will meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. All are welcome. Please contact either Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org or Paula Gitlin at paula@stthomasrochester.org with any questions or concerns.

Click to Register for Youth and Children's Programs

In Case You Missed It

Fourth Annual International Women’s Day Celebration

The International Women’s Fellowship of the Church of the Ascension is hosting

its Fourth Annual International Women’s Day Celebration on Saturday, March 7,

at 10:00 am, at the Church of the Ascension on 2 Riverside Street in Rochester.

See the flyer for more details on how to register for the event.

Click to View the International Women’s Day Flyer

Diocesan Discernment Day

Diocesan Discernment Day will be held on Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Henrietta, New York. The day will begin with Holy Eucharist, followed by panel discussions, lunch, private prayer time and conversations. All are welcome, If you are discerning a call, please speak with Amma Leslie prior to registering for this event. In-person attendance and registration are required.