Parish Weekly October 9, 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

Sunday, October 11

St. Thomas' continues to celebrate the season of stewardship this Sunday with

a Stewardship Moment from Riley Flaum. Our liturgy will be family-focused, with child-friendly aspects intentionally incorporated into the lessons, psalm, gospel,

a children's sermon, and Children's Creed, along with our common practice of inviting children to the table for the liturgy. (The readings will be simple so all may better understand what is said.)

Last Sunday's New Member Welcome

In case you missed last week's new member welcome, below are photos and brief bios of the beloved folks we welcomed. Please join me as we continue to know one another and share our gifts. Introduce yourself to them and share your stories!

Kaitlyn and Taylor Eaton

Kaitlyn's journey to St. Thomas' began moving from her hometown of Syracuse to Rochester a few years ago. But for her husband, Taylor, it was a return to his roots. Having grown up attending St. Thomas', Taylor knew it was the perfect place to raise their own family when they welcomed their daughter, Annie. They began attending services when Annie was just six weeks old. When she isn't at church, Kaitlyn balances life as a part-time veterinary receptionist and being a stay-at-home mom. The family resides in the vibrant North Winton Village neighborhood, which they share with their two beloved dogs. Kaitlyn has plans to get involved in church activities and groups once Annie is a little older, but enjoys being a part of the community.

John Graham

Before moving to Rochester from Fredericksburg, Virginia, last November, John and his husband of 15 years, Bert, scouted and bounced back and forth between two local parishes before landing permanently at St. Thomas'.

Like many newcomers, our community's warmth, deep commitment to inclusivity, gospel of love, and shared desire to stand with the vulnerable and marginalized drew them

to our parish.

Raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area as a lifelong Roman Catholic, John attended graduate school at the University

of Virginia and spent over 20 years working as a French-English translator and editor in the Washington, D.C. area

a career he now continues as a freelancer. John is also a proud father of two sons—one of whom is deceased—and a loving grandfather to one grandson. As an active member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, he discovered a passion for Celtic Christian spirituality. As the couple settles into their new life in Rochester, they will focus on building mutual connections while pursuing their own individual interests.

Megan and Andrew Kless

Andrew was born and raised in Rochester and is

no stranger to our parish. He first became a member

of St. Thomas’ in 1995 while attending services alongside his father. His wife, Megan, brings a global perspective to the family, having grown up all over

the world as a "Navy brat." Megan’s faith journey eventually led her to St. John's Episcopal Church

in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where Megan and Andrew were married.

Both Andrew and Megan serve the greater community through dedicated professional careers: Megan as the director of International Student Services at RIT, and Andrew as an associate professor of history and global studies at Alfred University and as a major in the Army Reserves. Now residing in Brighton, the couple is busy raising their two children, Nora (6) and Scotty (4). As a family, they love the outdoors, spending most of their free time hiking and swimming. Nora and Scotty thoroughly enjoy Sunday school, and the family is incredibly happy to be here and looks forward

to continuing to anchor their roots and settle into our vibrant community.

Darryl Osterling

After a 32-year career as a US Airways flight attendant, a lifetime of relocation, and a strong need for spiritual guidance, Rochester native Darryl has found a new spiritual home. Darryl grew up attending the Episcopal Church in Mount Morris before moving away for work. While living in Pittsburgh, Darryl joined a Methodist church. Subsequent career moves left Darryl without

a permanent parish for many years. Eventually, Darryl returned to the Rochester area, settling in Brighton

with Philip, Darryl's partner of 22 years and husband

of 12. Following a challenging year, Darryl felt a strong need for spiritual guidance. Today, Darryl is embracing retirement, working in the garden or taking Brody, his beloved rescue dog, to the local dog park. While still settling into the parish, Darryl looks forward to becoming more involved with our community over time.

Pat Wheelhouse

Pat brings a rich tapestry of faith, artistic passion,

and spiritual devotion to our parish. Her connection

to St. Thomas' began years ago during a visit to attend a Bible study class and when she led an inspiring Arts and Faith Retreat. As a PhD student

at the Eastman School of Music, Pat attended

St. Luke and Simon Cyrene. Pat is a retired Visual and Performing Arts Director and continues to channel

her creativity through collage art, singing in our choir, and attending the Women of St. Thomas' meetings, and is eager to actively participate in our social justice outreach programs.

Also, if you missed the Stewardship Moment last week, use the link below to hear it.

Click to Listen to the October 4 Stewardship Moment

Faithfully,

Amma Leslie+

Mark Your Calendars

God, Scripture & Gender Series, Sunday, October 11, 11:15 am, Great Hall (see details below)
Family Worship, Sunday, October 11, 10:00 am, Church (no Sunday School)
Indigenous Peoples' Day, Monday, October 12, Parish Office closed
Women of St. Thomas' Meeting, Thursday, October 15, 11:30 am, Lounge (see details below)
Jazz Worship Service, Sunday, October 18, 10:00 am, Church
Safe Space: Ally Training, Sunday, October 18, 11:30 am, Great Hall (see details below)
Fiber Arts Ministry Meeting, 1:30 pm, Lounge (see details below)
Ingathering Parish Luncheon, Sunday, October 25, 11:30 am, Lower Hall (see details below)

Click to View All Upcoming Events Listed in the Parish Calendar

Click to View the Prayers for Public Policy and Witness

Adult Formation

God, Scripture & Gender
Sunday, October 11, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm, Great Hall

This series explores how language impacts how we see God, ourselves, and our neighbors. The power of language can transform how we pray and impact how we imagine God, in whose image we are all made. Throughout these sessions, we will examine our image of God, both traditional and expansive pronouns, and the binary versus the spectrum.

Click to Register for the God, Scripture & Gender Series

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.

Click to Register for the Safe Space: Ally Training

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

Click to Register for Beyond the Headlines

Fellowship Ministry

Women of St. Thomas’ October Meeting

At the next meeting of the Women of St. Thomas’ on Thursday, October 15, Jane Andrews and Anne Bauer will share details and photos of their recent travels to Japan. Jane’s trip focused on textiles, while Anne’s trip featured exploring Japanese culture.

The program will begin at 11:30 am in the Lounge,

with lunch following the presentation. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sandwich, salad, or soup for themselves. Beverages, chips, pickles, and dessert

will be provided. We hope you will join us. Contact

Linda Coleman at 585.313. 3164 for more information.

Fiber Arts Ministry

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 convers-ation 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.

Creation Care Ministry

Although the Diocesan Creation Care month ended in September, creation care remains an important part of Episcopal life year-round. Confronting the threat global warming poses to God's creation and the people it disproportionately harms is an explicit mission of the Church.

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.

Music Ministry

Sing Mozart with the Choir

Mark your calendars and invite your family, friends, and neighbors for the annual Jarvis concert on Sunday, November 1. This year’s feature performance highlights movements from Mozart's Missa solemnis (K. 337). The Adult Choir welcomes new voices to participate in this special musical event. No prior experience is required, and newcomers are highly encouraged to join. Rehearsals will be held weekly throughout October on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 8:30 am in preparation for the performance. For more information, contact Rhonda at organist@stthomasrochester.org. The special music

for the service is supported, in part, by the William L. Jarvis Memorial Choir Fund, established in 2001, which continues to receive donations to support classical choral activities at St. Thomas'.