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Parish Weekly October 16, 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.
| | Join me for this fall bounty of worship, education, and fellowship opportunities. | |
Jazz Worship Service
Sunday, October 18, our worship will begin with a Stewardship Moment shared by Norm Marshall, followed by the Jazz Worship service, led by parish member Clay Jenkins and his group, Trio East.
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At 11:30 am the Safe Space: Ally Training session, presented by Scott Fearing from
the Rochester Out Alliance, will be held in the Great Hall. Childcare is available.
(see details below)
Ingathering Sunday
Sunday, October 25, worship will begin with a Stewardship Moment shared by Kearie Baumgartner. We will celebrate our life together with a BBQ Chicken Luncheon and Pie! (see details below)
All Saints' Day and Jarvis Concert
Sunday, November 1, St. Thomas' will celebrate the feast of All Saints' by remembering our loved ones who have died in conjunction with the Jarvis Concert (see details below).
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Jazz Worship Service, Sunday, October 18, 10:00 am, Church
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Safe Space: Ally Training, Sunday, October 18, 11:30 am, Great Hall (see details below)
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Fiber Arts Ministry Meeting, Tuesday, October 20, 1:30 pm, Lounge (see details below)
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Ingathering Parish Luncheon, Sunday, October 25, 11:30 am, Lower Hall (see details below)
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All Saints' Day Worship Service and Jarvis Concert, Sunday, November 1, 10:00 am, Church
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All Saints' Day Dedications
St. Thomas' will celebrate the Feast
of All Saints' on Sunday, November 1, by remembering our loved ones who have died. During our liturgy, we will pray the names of our parish members who died in the past year, while the service bulletin will list other loved ones' names submitted by parishioners
Please submit the name(s) of family members online using the link below,
or by calling the Parish Office at 585.442.3544 by noon on Monday, October 26.
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Jarvis Concert
The annual Jarvis Concert will take place during All Saints' Day worship on Sunday, November 1, with movements from Mozart's Missa solemnis (K. 337), performed by our adult choir, vocal soloists, violins, cello, and organ. The special music that morning is supported, in part, by the William and Margaret Jarvis Memorial Choir Fund, which was established in 2001 and continues to receive donations in its support of classical choral activities at St. Thomas'. Invite your family and friends to join us for this annual celebration!
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Safe Space: Ally Training
Sunday, October 18, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, Great Hall
In this session, participants will learn fundamental information about sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and gain knowledge about the LGBTQ+ communities and their history, ever-changing terms and identities, and discover ways to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming places for LGBTQ+ people.
Presented by Scott Fearing, Executive Director of the Rochester Out Alliance. Scott
has been a champion for LGBTQ+ education since the early 1980s, when he began
his career focusing on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Before stepping into his current executive role, he spent 13 years as the agency's Director of Education and also brought his expertise to the University of Rochester in 2019.
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Beyond the Headlines: How Current Laws & Policies Affect Transgender
& Nonbinary People and Those Who Support Them
Sunday, November 8, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Great Hall
Led by: Dr. Emma Forbes-Jones
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2027 Pledge Campaign Underway
October is Stewardship Season and is an opportunity for our congregation to pull together our gifts and resources, which contribute to a bigger movement of love
in the community. With a goal of $380,000, the resources will help sustain and grow
our parish and the partnerships we form in the community. In addition to collecting pledges, the campaign will feature a special Stewardship Moment at the beginning
of each week's liturgy, in which a parish member will share why they chose St. Thomas' as their spiritual home.
If your pledge card has not arrived in the mail, or you have not returned it by mail or in person, please consider donating to our collective mission and ministry at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church.
Thank you for your support!
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October Meeting
St. Thomas' Fiber Arts Ministry will meet on Tuesday, October 20, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Lounge for fellowship and to discuss our upcoming fall donation projects. Please bring any projects you are working on and join us for conversation and refreshments. We are always happy to have new members join the group and can provide instruction, patterns, and support for new members.
The Fiber Arts Ministry would also like to remind the parish that prayer shawls are available for anyone who is ill or undergoing treatment. Recipients do not need to be parishioners. For more information, please contact either co-chair, Jan Gates at ladygates47@gmail.com or Carol Oldenburg at oldenburg.carol@gmail.com.
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Bakers Needed to Sweeten Luncheon
The highly anticipated Ingathering Parish Luncheon is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it extra sweet! Parishioners are invited to share their favorite sweet treats by making or buying a pie or dessert.
Whether it is a classic fruit pie, a rich chocolate tart, or your own signature family recipe, all flavors, including regular and gluten-free options, are welcome. Share your culinary talents or favorite local bakery find by signing up in person during Hospitality Hour or by contacting Anne Bauer at aobauer1@gmail.com or Susan Hughes at shughes805@gmail.com. We look forward to gathering together and sharing a meal!
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Children & Youth Ministries | |
This week in Sunday School, the PreK-1st grade class will read Matthew 22:15-22.
In this passage, the religious authorities are trying to trick Jesus by drawing him into
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the ever-present conflict between following God’s “law” and the govern-ment’s laws. However, Jesus does
not fall for their trap. He explains
that those things which belong to
the emperor should be given to the emperor, and those that belong to
God should be given to God. This lesson continues to teach us that
we are God’s creation, made in God’s image, and are loved more deeply
by God than any system.
The 2nd-5th grade class will join
Rev. Lydia for an introduction to the Bible. The lesson will explore the questions: What is the Bible? How are the readings we hear in church and Sunday School chosen? How do we use the Bible? These discussions will help our class form a basis for the remainder of the program year and beyond. Please direct any questions to Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org.
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Youth Group
This week in Youth Group, we will have a Paint and Pizza activity. During the past two meetings, the group has explored what our program year theme, “Encircle with Love,” means to them, and now they will explore what it might look like. Together, they will create artwork for the Youth Room that reflects “Encircle with Love.”
Please direct any questions or concerns to Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org or Paula Gitlin at paula@stthomasrochester.org.
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A Delicious Fundraiser
On Wednesday, October 28, from 11:00 am
to 9:30 pm, Adelita's Mexican Cocina & Tequila
in Pittsford Plaza will be donating 15% of its entire day's proceeds to Family Promise of Greater Rochester. Formerly known as RAIHN, the shelter assists families at risk of or experiencing home-lessness to achieve sustainable independence
by providing person-centered, holistic services
in collaboration with the greater community.
The fundraiser includes lunch, dinner, and takeout orders. Stop by and enjoy a great meal that will help Rochester's families in housing crises.
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SMSJ Empty Bowls 2026 Fundraiser
The annual SMSJ Empty Bowls event will be held
on Friday, November 6, at St. Mark's and St. John's Episcopal Church on Culver Road. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit St. Mark’s and St. John’s Food Shelf Ministry and E.D.E.N Gardens. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online by scanning the QR code (on the flyer) or clicking the link below.
Contact Rev. Maria Hartz-Clienburg via email at mhartz@stmarksandstjohns.org regarding soup donations, raffle prize donations, or volunteering
time for the event, and for more details.
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Wegmans East Avenue Grocery Run
The Youth Group will be participating in this
year’s Wegmans East Avenue Grocery Run on Saturday, November 7. Please consider joining the team or supporting them with a donation using the QR codes on the flyer. All donations will benefit St. Mark’s and St. John’s Episcopal Church and House of Mercy feeding ministries.
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Creation Care Ministry Seeking New Members
St. Thomas' Creation Care Ministry meets monthly to discuss and act on issues related to our call to protect God's Earth, and occasionally coordinates with the diocese on larger initiatives. The most visible result of the group's work was eliminating single-
use cups and dishes from hospitality hour; however, the ministry also hosts book discussions, educational talks, a church energy audit, native flower plantings, and tabling events at faith gatherings and is always seeking new ways to make a difference.
All are welcome to join! For more information or to join the group, contact Allen Blair
via St. Thomas' Connect (STC) or at blairallen1959@gmail.com.
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Get Ready
for Sunday
Read the Revised Common Lectionary
for the Twenty-first Sunday
After Pentecost
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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.
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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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