Parish Weekly March 6, 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’,

Many of you might remember a prayer that I often shared a couple of years ago,

a prayer for Courage. It is from Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community. You

can read it below.

It seems right now, courage is exactly what we need. Courage to stay awake. Courage

to speak up. Courage to find joy, connections, and to remain engaged and present.

Some of us need courage to find healing and wholeness. Courage is the heart of holy resilience. May you know that you are capable of such work, and may you be swaddled in grace and fierce love as you practice courage.

Practicing with you,

Amma Leslie+

Mark Your Calendars

This Weekend—Daylight Saving Time Reminder

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8,

at 2 am local time and runs until November 1. Don't forget

to change your clocks this Saturday night.

Episcopal 101 Class, Sundays, March 15, 22, 29, 11:15 am, Lounge
Lenten Wednesday Classes, Wednesdays, March 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.

Easter Flower Sign-Up

When the light breaks through on Easter Sunday, our sanctuary will be beautifully decorated with an array of lilies and flowering plants, thanks to the generous donations from parishioners and friends

of St. Thomas.' These plants will enhance our celebration throughout Easter week.

You may donate towards the Easter flowers in one of two ways:

• Click the link below to donate online

• Individual cards, located at both church entrances

If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one or as a special gesture of thanksgiving, please indicate this when you sign up. We will include these names

in the list of contributors in the Easter bulletin. Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated. If sending a check, please make it payable to St. Thomas' Episcopal Church and write 'Easter Flowers' on the memo line. Sign-up forms and checks can

be submitted to the church office.

The deadline for submissions to be included in the Easter service bulletins is noon

on Monday, March 30. Please direct any inquiries Vicky Rupley at 585.233.2546

or via email at vrupley@gmail.com.

Click to Make an Online Easter Flower Donation

Creation Care Committee

April Creation Care Meeting

St. Thomas' parishioners are invited to join the

Creation Care Committee in a discussion of the book,

"The Serviceberry," by Robin Wall Kimmerer, at 8:00 pm

on Tuesday, April 7. Dr. Kimmerer will be speaking

at an event hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York on Saturday, May 2, for which this book is recommended preparation.

For more information, contact Allen Blair at 585.473.3453 or blairallen1959@gmail.com.

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 11, 18, and 25, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Lounge.

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

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.

Fellowship Ministry

Women of St. Thomas’ March Meeting

The next gathering of the Women of St. Thomas’ will

be held on Thursday, March 19, at 11:30 am in the Lounge. Andrea Calloway, the Director of The Sunset House, a home for the dying in Irondequoit, and fellow parishioner Maggie Detty, a volunteer at the home, will discuss the work of this ministry.

The program will begin at 11:30 am, followed by lunch. Each attendee should bring a sandwich, salad, or soup. Beverages, chips, and dessert will be provided. We hope you’ll be able to join us!

Note: If the weather is inclement and prevents the group from meeting, the gathering will be canceled. Group members will be notified by 9:30 am via email. Please contact Linda Coleman at 585.313.3164 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 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!

Children and Youth Ministry

Woman at the Well

This week in Sunday School, we will read the story of the Woman at the Well found in John 4:5-42. In this passage, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman and tells her about the living water he has come to provide. The woman is shocked at Jesus’ interaction with her,

as Jews and Samaritans did not engage with one another. After some time, she believes Jesus and goes to tell others

of the good news she has heard. The week's lesson will focus on how God’s love crosses human boundaries and labels. Those we might consider to be different from us or whom we might see as inferior are loved by God, no matter what.

Youth Group

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

Confirmation Class

Confirmation Class continues this Sunday, March 8, following worship. We will meet

from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm in the Conference Room. Please feel free to get lunch at the

Parish Potluck Luncheon, and bring it with you to class. This week, we will be exploring the Bible and evangelism.

In Case You Missed It

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!

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.