Parish Weekly June 19, 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

The Event Behind Juneteenth

Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865

to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth honors the end to slavery

in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. A federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth occurs on Friday, June 19,

in 2026.

Mark Your Calendars

• Parish Office Closed (in observance of Juneteenth holiday), Friday, June 19
• Parish Office Closed (in observance of the Fourth of July holiday), Friday, July 3
• Rochester Pride Parade, Saturday, July 18 (sign up below)

Note: Beginning next week, the Parish Weekly newsletter will be emailed every other week throughout the summer. The next edition will be released on July 2, due to the holiday.

Stewardship

Keep Your Gifts Up To Date

Your ongoing financial support is vital for sustaining

St. Thomas' community and programs throughout the

year. Please consider maintaining your support during

the summer months to keep our community thriving.

Pledges may be made online or by mail. The St. Thomas’ Connect (STC) site offers a convenient way to manage your gifts anytime and from anywhere for a seamless and user-friendly online giving experience. STC is accessible using

a desktop computer, a laptop, the link provided below, or by scanning this QR code

with a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

Community Engagement

Magazine Donations Needed for Summer Day Program

Rhiannon Butchko, Associate Regional/Youth Coordinator of Western New York Rural Migrant Ministry (RMM), is seeking magazine donations to support the WNY Center's

Summer Day Program. This annual two-week program, held at RMM’s centers, serves 100 middle-school-aged children from isolated parts

of New York State. Each year, the camp features

a unique theme— this summer’s theme is "Roots." As part of this year’s activities, children will use magazine clippings to create vibrant art projects, helping them explore the meaning of roots, identity, family, community, and belonging.

Parishioners wishing to contribute can drop

off magazines in bags labeled "RMM C. Mabb"

at either the Highland or Winton Road church entrances this weekend only. Carolyn Mabb will ensure all donations are delivered to the Rural Migrant Ministry in Lyons,

so they reach the campers in time for the program.



2026 Rochester Pride Parade

Mark your calendars to join the Episcopal Diocese

of Rochester in the Rochester Pride Parade on

July 18, 2026. See the form below to sign up and

for more information about other upcoming Pride events throughout the Diocese.



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. June donation needs for the Brighton Food Cupboard include rice and unscented soap.

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

Attitude of Gratitude

Throughout the 2025-2026 program year, St. Thomas' hosted quarterly potluck luncheons, each one brimming with celebration and fellowship. These gatherings offered the perfect chance to share laughter, meet new folks, and reconnect with cherished church friends. We are deeply grateful to our Parish Connections Ministry

for coordinating these wonderful moments to connect and be together, and to Anne Bauer for her leadership and dedication to the team. 

In appreciation, 



Amma Leslie+

If you have thanksgivings to share, please email Amy Holowczenko, Communication

& Reception, at communications@stthomasrochester.org.

In Case You Missed It



Join the Choir

All teens and adults are invited to join

the Choir for any or all of the Sundays through June 28. Please wear white and black attire, rather than the usual formal robes. Rehearsal begins each Sunday

at 8:45 am in the Choir Room, where we review three anthems plus service music

for that morning. Choir participants may

opt to sing most of the service from their

pew and come forward to join the choir

for the anthem and Doxology.



Contact Rhonda Wright at organist@stthomasrochester.org with any questions.

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. 

Emergency Contacts

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

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

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

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.