The Draft

Our Weekly E-Newsletter

November 14, 2024

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Bulletin for Sunday - November 17, 2024

Our Mission: Making a difference for others, because God is making a difference for us.

Our Vision: To create a safe, loving, and accepting place for all people to grow in their faith and spread love out into the beloved community.

Hurricane Assistance: At the drop down, please choose either "Hurricane

Restoration" or "Discretionary Fund".

Methods to donate are on the St. Thomas’ website and on the church’s Facebook page. If you prefer to write checks, please make them to the order of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. On the memo line, please designate "Hurricane Restoration" to help efforts at the church, or "Discretionary Fund" to help those affected by the storm.

Despite Helene's and Milton's devastation, we continue Growing Together in Love.

November Giving Plate:

This Sunday, November 17

On Sunday, November 17, the cash from the collection plate will go to Daystar Life Center. Broadly speaking, Daystar Life Center is a Pinellas County non-profit organization that has a 42-year history of fighting hunger, poverty, and hopelessness by providing the necessities of life to neighbors in need. Daystar staff coupled with numerous volunteers, engage, educate, and empower the community by promoting the value of nutrition and financial literacy to low income households, individuals who have experienced recent financial trauma, and individuals who are at risk for homelessness. Daystar serves over 47,800 people annually. Please visit their web site for more information: daystarlife.org.

Thanksgiving Celebration!

Nov. 20

On Wednesday, November 20 we will have our annual Thanksgiving Day Supper, Song, and Prayer celebration at 6:00 pm. The church will be providing the turkey and we ask you to bring the "fixings" to share. Specifically, we need: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, butter, green vegetables, casseroles, roles, stuffing, and pies (i.e. pumpkin, apple, pecan). Bring your appetites and bibs!

Nursery

Our Nursery has restarted and our attendants will be happy to watch over your children who are now located on the Canterbury playground. Parents are encouraged to allow a little more time for drop off and requested to send your child with their own water bottle (and snack).

Seeking Creches

The St. Thomas' Art Project seeks Nativity scene sets to display in the clear pedestals at the rear of the main worship space during Advent and Christmas. if you have a creche set to share with our worshippers from around Thanksgiving until the beginning of February, please contact co-chairpersons Mary Jane Park [email: maryjanepark@aol.com; telephone: (727) 409-5347; or Gina White [email: ginabwhite@yahoo.com; telephone (727) 278-9404.

Oblationers Needed

What is an oblationer?

We have two each Sunday at 10:00 am!

These are the folks who bring up the bread and wine at the offertory on behalf of the entre congregation. It is a very easy way to become involved. If you are interested, please contact Russ Martin, office@stthomasstpete.org

Church Cleaning

The Altar Guild will be performing their semi-annual, pre-holiday cleaning of the church for an hour or two on Saturday, December 7 beginning at 9:00 am. Anyone who would like to join in the fun is welcome to come be a worker bee and help prepare for Christmastide.

This week you will hear the first public showing of my newest hymn tune, Snell Isle, obviously named for our location. I wrote this tune specifically for the text "O Thou, who all things canst control," sometimes called "Zion implored," whose words spoke so deeply to me. I, personally, do not prescribe to the "happy-clappy" idea of modern theology where everyone is happy, there is no sinfulness, there should be no sadness, et cet. I resonate far more with deep reflection of the self. I do not believe we are each perfect in our actions, and if we do see ourselves as perfect indeed, we excuse ourselves from ever bettering our lives, which is exactly what these words implore God to help us to do. The text was translated from the German by John Wesley, brother of Charles and founder of the society called Methodists. The original text was written within some 10-20 years of each other. 

Wesley's translation:

O Thou, who all things canst con­trol,

Chase this dead slum­ber from my soul;

With joy and fear, with love and awe,

Give me to keep Thy per­fect law.

O, may one beam of Thy blest light

Pierce through, dis­pel the shades of night:

Touch my cold breast with hea­ven­ly fire,

With ho­ly, con­quer­ing zeal in­spire.

For zeal I sigh, for zeal I pant;

Yet hea­vy is my soul and faint:

With steps un­wa­ver­ing, un­dis­mayed,

Give me in all Thy paths to tread.

With out­stretched hands, and stream­ing eyes,

Oft I be­gin to grasp the prize;

I groan, I strive, I watch, I pray;

But ah! how soon it dies away!

The dead­ly slum­ber soon I feel

Afresh upon my spir­it steal:

Rise, Lord; stir up Thy quick­en­ing pow­er,

And wake me that I sleep no more.

Single of heart, O! may I be,

Nothing may I de­sire but Thee:

Far, far from me the world re­move,

And all that holds me from Thy love.

Jordan R. Markham

Organist and Choirmaster

Music for Sunday

November 17, 2024

Voluntary: "Adagio in B Major" by Carl August Fischer (1828-1892)

Hymn #48 O day of radiant gladness, Es flog ein kleins Waldvöglein

Psalm: Psalm 16 Conserva me, Domine   Tune: W.H. Havergal (1793-1870)

Sequence #498 Beneath the cross of Jesus, St. Christopher

Offertory Anthem: "O Sacrum Convivium" by Thomas Pavlechko (b. 1962)

Communion Anthem: "O Thou, who all things canst control" by Jordan R. Markham (b. 1989)

Hymn #530 Spread, O spread, thou mighty word, Gott sei Dank

Voluntary: "Allegro moderato in C Major" by Théophile Stern (1803-1886)

Choral Evensong, November 24

Come celebrate Evensong on Sunday, November 24 at 5:00 pm at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, located at 140 4th Street North in downtown St. Petersburg.

Youth Ministry

Truthseekers

Class meets Sundays

in the Canterbury courtyard

at 9:00 am

Happening 88: December 13-15

Happening is a retreat weekend for High Schoolers led by other High Schoolers who have previously attended the program. The weekend seeks to introduce youth to a deeper relationship with God by showing them the love that the Episcopal Youth Community has for all, and how they can take the next steps in their relationship with God as they go through High School. Registration is $100.

Camps for Christmas

Our festive Camp for Christmas program is back, and merrier than ever! 

Registration for our 2025 DaySpring Summer Camp is officially open, and we have a summer full of delights awaiting your camper! If you dash to register by December 13, you'll unwrap not just a registration discount but also a twinkling Christmas box that's ready to nestle under your tree! Use Early2025 at check out and you will receive $30 off along with your camper gift.

Adult Learning Opportunities

Women of the Word

Meets on Thursday morning at 9:30 am in the church.

This year WOW is studying the book of beginnings, Genesis. This is the story of God’s purpose and plan for His creation, and it sets the stage for the entire Bible. Our guide will be A Journey through Genesis, edited by Marek P. Zabriskie and published by Forward Movement (2023).

Please contact Joan Barns if you have questions,

757-567-5488, or email  joanmbarns@gmail.com.

Men's Bible Study

Meets on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 am.

The Men's Bible Study is studying the Old Testament book Exodus and using the "Story of God" commentary by Christopher J. H. Wright. You should acquire this commentary in whatever format best suits you. 

LARGE PRINT editions of the Forward Day by Day are now available in the back o the church at the usher's station.

News from the Farm

Workday: Workers Needed

This Saturday, November 16, we need as many workers as possible to assist with the ongoing work at the farm. Please plan to arrive at 9:00 am. If you have work gloves, bring them. Any questions please call Martha, 727-639-2123.

Outreach

Our Next Sandwich Sunday: December 1

Please join us at 9:00 am to make sandwiches for those in our community that need food. We will gather in the kitchen to prepare the sandwiches. This is an important outreach ministry and the sandwiches we make go in support of Isaiah's Place food ministry.

Pack-a-Snack

Please be advised, this ministry is currently on hold until St. Thomas' has the ability to provide this vital service to North Shore Elementary.

"We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give."

~Winston Churchill ~

The Gospel invites us to Walk in Love with our neighbor in their footsteps, with the outcast and the marginalized, with those who need us. As we spread the Good News in our world, we carry the love and support of our congregation and our prayers into our communities. When you share your many gifts with your neighbors, every step is walking in love.

Your 2025 Pledge Packet, including your commitment letter, will be mailed to you tomorrow, Friday, November 15. Please return the pledge letter on or before Sunday, December 1 - Consecration Sunday. All pledges received by mail will be placed in the alms basin on Consecration Sunday to be blessed as will those brought to church that day and turned in.

Veterans Celebrated

Captain William "Bill" Barns, USN ret. was invited to deliver the homily at Canterbury Chapel on Thursday for their special Veterans’ Day Chapel celebration. Bill is a member of St. Thomas's vestry, a career naval officer, Surface Warfare officer, and adjunct professor at the US Naval War College.

Prayers for Everett

One of our four camera ministry technicians, Everett Jennings, is also a senior at Canterbury this year. Having done extremely well at Regionals, he will be attending the State Swim Championship in Ocala on Friday. Everett will swim the 100 butterfly and we wish him all the best of luck in the competition.

News from the Diocese of Southwest Florida

Advent Retreat at St. Peter's: Nov 16

All are welcome to the Cathedral Church of St. Peter's Praying in Color Advent Retreat on Saturday, November 16 from 10:00-1:00 pm.

Advent is the season of preparation for God’s coming into the world as flesh and blood at Christmas. With left-brain and right-brain exercises, we will explore some meditative and playful practices to journey through Advent--practices that also equip us to travel the entire liturgical year. Paper, pens, and colored markers will be provided. No artistic skill is necessary. Just bring a spirit of Holy Adventure. Suggested donation of $15. Learn more at https://spcathedral.org/arts.

The Women's Spiritual Day: Nov 23

Take My Hand Precious Lord

Diocesan Visioning Day

Saturday, January 4, 2025

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

This event will be an in-person gathering at DaySpring with an available option to participate virtually via live stream. During this gathering, I will provide important updates regarding the vision, mission, and goals for the diocese. You don’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to participate in the work of dreaming about our future together. This gathering will be open to everyone in the diocese (not just clergy and lay delegates). Registration information for this event will be available on November 1. 

News from the Episcopal Church

Welcome to the Episcopal Church's 28th Presiding Bishop,

The Most Reverend Sean W. Rowe

Pastoral Care

Healing prayer is offered at the 12:30 pm Sunday service. After communion you are invited to come to the back of the Cathedral and receive a confidential healing prayer from a trained parishioner. Prayer ministers share the heart of Jesus' love and care, and are guided by the Holy Spirit to listen, love, and pray into your prayer requests for physical, emotional, and/or spiritual needs. Intercessory prayers for others can also be given. If you have any questions about the healing prayer ministry or feel called to serve, please call Joan Barns, 757-567-5488 or email joanmbarns@gmail.com.

Samuel Seabury, First American Bishop

Samuel Seabury, the first bishop of the Episcopal Church, was born in Groton, Connecticut on November 30, 1729. After ordination in England in 1753, he was assigned, as a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, to Christ Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1757, he became rector of Grace Church, Jamaica, Long Island, and in 1766, rector of St. Peter’s, Westchester County. During the American Revolution, he remained loyal to the British crown and served as a chaplain in the British army. After the Revolution, a secret meeting of Connecticut clergy in Woodbury, held on March 25, 1783, named Seabury or the Rev. Jeremiah Leaming, whichever would be able or willing, to seek episcopal consecration in England. They extended the call first to Leaming, who declined; Seabury then accepted, and sailed for England. After a year of negotiation, Seabury found it impossible to obtain episcopal orders from the Church of England because, as an American citizen, he could not swear allegiance to the crown. He then turned to the Non-Juring bishops of the Episcopal Church in Scotland. On November 14, 1784, in Aberdeen, he was consecrated by the Bishop and the Bishop Coadjutor of Aberdeen and the Bishop of Ross and Caithness in the presence of many people. Upon his return home, Seabury was recognized as Bishop of Connecticut in Convocation on August 3, 1785, at Middletown. With Bishop William White, he was active in the organization of the Episcopal Church at the General Convention of 1789. Seabury kept his promise, made in a concordat with the Scottish bishops, to persuade the American Church to adopt the Scottish form for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. In 1790, Seabury became responsible for episcopal oversight of the churches in Rhode Island; and, at the General Convention of 1792, he participated in the first consecration of a bishop on American soil, that of John Claggett of Maryland. Seabury died on February 25, 1796, and is buried beneath St. James Church, New London.

[Feast Day: November 14]

God has given us the ability to laugh for a reason. It may seem like a little thing, but laughter is vitally important in the battle against stress, anxiety, fear and worry.