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Parish Weekly January 30, 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.
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Dear St. Thomas' Beloved,
Thank you to all who attended the Annual Parish Meeting; we had a great turnout
in person and online. I am continually grateful for our livestream ministry that allows folks who are unable to attend worship in person, to still gather through the ether.
If you missed worship, log on to St. Thomas' YouTube page and worship any time.
You can hear my homily that includes the Rector's address highlights by clicking
on the link below.
February 17 is Shrove Tuesday’s pancake dinner. (See details in article below.) February 18 is Ash Wednesday. We will have two worship services. A service
of Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist will be held at Noon in the Chapel,
and at 7:00 pm, we will gather with Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church
for a service of Imposition of Ashes and prayers with choir.
There are many ways to journey through Lent, please see articles on adult formation and confirmation, both for adult and youth in articles below.
Stay warm and be brave,
Amma Leslie+
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake & Sausage Dinner, Tuesday, February 17, 5:00 pm (see details and registration link below)
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Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 18, Noon and 7:00 Worship
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Quarterly Parish Potluck, Sunday, March 8, following service, Lower Hall
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New Year, New Calendar
Please email Anita Herring at finance@stthomasrochester.org with meeting schedules
for 2026, and if you require a Zoom link or a Lounge/Conference room reservation.
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Parish Drop Off Box
When the office is closed, please drop off items (i.e., checks, etc.) in the secure white Parish Drop Off Box located outside of the Parish Office. Thank you.
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Diocesan Discernment Day
Each person has gifts and graces for ministry, whether it is as a lay person or as
an ordained person. If you are discerning a call, please speak with Amma Leslie
prior to registering for this event. Discernment is a communal effort, and pastoral guidance is necessary.
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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 exploring discernment and what calls us to lay or ordained ministry. After lunch, there will be time for private prayer and discernment, and quiet conversations with those who have recently discerned a call. All are welcome, including those who are curious about discernment, those in the ordination process, and those who are being nudged by the Holy Spirit. In-person attendance and registration are required.
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Episcopal 101
A class of confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation into the Episcopal Church will meet during Lent. It is a preparation for the Bishop's visit on Easter Sunday, April 5. It is a class for anyone who desires to know more about the Episcopal tradition or to renew their commitment to faith and to the church. We will meet after church on Sundays, March 1, 15, 22, with a walkthrough on March 29.
Please register for the class using the link below. If you have questions, please contact Amma Leslie at leslie@stthomasrochester.org.
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Lenten Wednesdays
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, February 25, 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.
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Altar Flowers
If you appreciate the beauty of altar flowers, have an occasion to give thanks for, wish
to celebrate a special event, or want to honor a loved one, consider sponsoring flowers for our weekly worship services. There are many available dates in the coming months for you to make a donation.
Signing up is easy and fast! Call the Parish Office at 585.442.3544 or click the link below. For more details, contact Vicky Rupley at vrupley@gmail.com or 585.233.2546.
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Souper Bowl Sundays Are Back
St. Thomas' is collecting cans of soup and boxes of crackers for the Brighton Food Cupboard to address hunger and food insecurity for those in need. It is especially important for children and seniors to have a helping hand this time of year. Drop off your soup and crackers in the marked barrels located at the Highland entrance and in the Lower Hall during the month of February.
Brighton Food Cupboard is a program
of Jewish Family Service of Rochester
in partnership with The Brighton Central School District, and Foodlink.
| | Children and Youth Ministry | | |
The Beatitudes
This week in Sunday School we will hear
part of the Sermon on the Mount, known
as the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5:1-12.
As Jesus’ ministry continues, more and more people come to hear and learn from him. In
this sermon, Jesus teaches that all people are blessed as God’s love knows no boundaries.
In our lesson we will talk about blessings; what they are and when we have received or given blessings in our own lives.
In keeping with our Emergency Preparedness Plan, it is important we have your contact information. If you are new to our Sunday School/Nursery Program and/or if you have
not yet filled out a registration form, please click on the following link.
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Youth Group
This week in Youth Group, we will be exploring the Psalms. Often, we feel angry, sad, happy, nervous, and many other emotions when the unexpected happens to us or those around us. Are we allowed to express those emotions to God? Yes! How do we
know this? One way is through the presence of the Psalms in the Bible. In our time
together, we will interact with different kinds of psalms, prayers, and music, exploring
how these ways of expression might deepen our relationships with God.
Please contact either Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org or Paula Gitlin at paula@stthomasrochester.org with any questions or concerns.
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Confirmation Class 2026
Any youth of the parish are invited to attend Confirmation Classes this Lenten season
Classes will be held on February 8, February 22, March 8, March 22, and March 29 from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm in the Conference Room. The Confirmation rite will be part of our liturgy on Easter Sunday, April 5.
If your child is interested in attending classes, please fill out the form by clicking the link provided below.
For questions about Confirmation, please contact Rev. Lydia at 585.442.3544, ext. 104 or lydia@stthomasrochester.org.
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Thank you to the Parish Connections Ministry (and all of those who contributed food) for
a lovely breakfast at the Annual Meeting. I appreciate the groups that set up and cleaned up, which made it a true team effort.
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake & Sausage Dinner
Lent is fast approaching! To prepare for Lent, St. Thomas' will be gathering for Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday, February 17, at 5:00 pm in the Lower Hall. Event highlights include a pancake and sausage dinner, prepared by parish members, games, and
arts and crafts.
All are welcome. If you are interested in attending and/or helping, please register
online using the link provided below or by contacting Deacon Andrea at 585.442.8236 or ritastarryeyes@gmail.com.
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Get Ready
for Sunday
Read the Revised Common Lectionary
for the Fourth Sunday
After the Epiphany
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Parish Weekly Deadline
The deadline for submitting articles for
the Parish Weekly is Tuesday at 9:00 am. Unless noted, the newsletter is published
on Fridays at 10:00 am. Please send
articles directly to Amy Holowczenko at communications@stthomasrochester.org.
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Sunday Live Stream Service at 10:00 am is available on St. Thomas' YouTube channel—St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Rochester, NY. The live stream can
be viewed any time after 10:00 am throughout the week.
Daily Devotional (Forward Day by Day): click here for the link.
For Prayer Requests, click here or on the link at the bottom of this page.
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Brighton Food Cupboard
(585) 271-5355
Centers for Disease Control
cdc.gov
Episcopal Relief
& Development
(faith-based response
to epidemics)
bit.ly/2VMcNuu
Interpersonal
Violence Hotline
(for physical and mental related to interpersonal violence and trauma)
(585) 275-HEAL
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Monroe County Department of Health
monroecounty.gov/health-coronavirus
National Child
Abuse Hotline
(800) 342-3720
National Suicide Prevention
988
New York State Mental
Health Provider Hotline
(844) 863-9314
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NYS Office of
Addiction Services https://oasas.ny.gov/
Rochester AA Support
(585) 232-6720
Willow Domestic
Violence Center
(585) 222-SAFE
The Trevor Project
(for LGBTQ youth, 13-14)
1 (866) 488-7386
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St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church of Rochester, New York, is proud
to stand with the Greater Rochester Black Agenda Group and its declaration that “Racism is a Public Health Crisis." As a community
of faith and followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that every person
is continually made in the image of God beautifully and wonderfully.
We are committed to doing the hard work of love. We are dedicated
to the practice of growing and learning how to know and love our neighbors as we seek to create community. We hold the hope that
love does win through forgiveness, kindness, and transformation.
We desire to be a people who work for the equity of all. We work to acknowledge our complicity
and part in racism, and we are committed to working together to tackle injustice in our lives, in our church, in our community, and in the world.
| | Copyright ©2026 St. Thomas' Church of Rochester, NY. All rights reserved. |
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