The Draft

Our Weekly E-Newsletter

July 9, 2026

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Bulletin for Sunday - July 12, 2025

Fr. Ryan is on vacation this week and will be back in the office on Monday, July 13.

PICTURE THIS...

Congratulations to vestry member Dr. Kanika Tomalin for being names Best Community Advocate by St. Pete Life magazine. "Working every day to help build a healthier, more inclusive community that honors every one who calls it home is one of the highest honors and most critical commitments of my life."

GIVING PLATE - JULY

July Giving Plate: Episcopal Charities

Sunday, July 19

The Episcopal Charities Fund serves as a catalyst, providing the financial resources necessary to bring powerful outreach initiatives to life. From addressing immediate needs to fostering long-term solutions, The Episcopal Charities Fund empowers parishes to make a meaningful difference where it matters most. True change often starts within our own communities, and The Episcopal Charities Fund provides local support to foster these changes.

Your Outreach Committee added The Episcopal Charities Fund to this year’s Giving Plate because Benison Farm was a recipient of a grant from the fund. And this year, Pack A Snack is applying for a grant. As you heard from Amy, Northshore Elementary has more children in need than we can financially support. This grant will help us to expand our ministry to feed hungry children.

The Outreach Committee will continue to apply for annual grants for our ministries, so your donations to this month’s Giving Plate help our ministries twofold! Please stop by the ATM on your way to church on July 19^th and give generously.

Thank you for your continued support!

Deacon Martha

This Summer...YOU get to decide!

This Summer at St. Thomas', we are replacing the Offertory Anthem with something deeply personal to you: your favorite hymn. There are blue forms at the Usher's station that you may fill out and put in the fishbowl. Each Sunday, one hymn will be selected and played by our Organist-Choir Jordan Markham. You may pick your selection from (1) The Hymnal 1982, (2) Wonder, Love and Praise, or (3) LEVAS, all found in our pews.

Interested in joining our Choir this Fall? Please contact Jordan Markham: 727-896-9641 or jordanm@stthomasstpete.org.

FELLOWSHIP

Click on the Name to go to the Website Information

St. Thomas'...let's get Rowdie!

Saturday, August 15

Come out for a fun night with the Rowdies and let's have some summer fun.

MUST have your paid reservation turned in on or by Noon, July 30th.

You can purchase your tickets on Realm! Use the drop down box and choose "Rowdies Soccer Tickets".

MUST have your paid reservation purchased online or turned in on or by Noon, July 30th.

Please let the office know if you are wanting an additional ticket for your child, so that we can make sure that gets purchased.

Men's Group and Women's Social Club

Summer Book Club

Virtual Happy Hour

OUTREACH MINISTRIES

Click on the Name to go to the Website Information

Benison Farm

F.A.S.T.

Honduras Mission Trip

KAIROS

Pack-a-Snack

MA (Marijuana Anonymous)

Tuesdays, 4:00 PM

AL-ANON

Saturdays, 7:00 PM

STEWARDSHIP

If you would like to know more about Stewardship or become involved with the Stewardship ministry at St. Thomas', please reach out to our committee chair, Joni James, joni.james@gmail.com or 727-410-3892.

Stewardship Information

Sojourners (Adult Formation)

Truthseekers (6th-12th Grades)

Explorers (K-5th Grades)

Nursery

Our Nursery is closed for the Summer and will reopen on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026

New Beginnings

Happening

PASTORAL CARE

Parish Prayer List

Don't see your birthday or anniversary listed?

Please call the office so we can update our records.

Bishop of the Armed Forces celebrates 250th

Bishop Ann Ritonia was honored to preach at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue’s Festal Eucharist over the Fourth of July weekend for Fleet Week New York, celebrating service members of the sea services and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Walking the Mourner's Path: Facilitator Training

July 30 through August 1

This workshop is for anyone who is interested in facilitator training for "Walking the Mourners' Path" for people who are grieving. Let people know that they should reach out to Fr. David for more information.

Diocesan Stewardship Workshop

Saturday, August 8

Join us for this year’s Stewardship Workshop, Saturday, August 8, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 

Each year, the Diocese of Southwest Florida offers regular support for the stewardship efforts of our congregations through our yearly Stewardship event, held in August. The goal of the Diocesan Stewardship program is to assist congregations not only in their yearly campaigns but in cultivating the unique gifts in our congregations. This year's workshop will feature guest speaker Richard Rogers, Partner and Senior Vice President of Horizons Stewardship. With more than 25 years of experience helping churches strengthen stewardship and generosity, Richard has worked with congregations across denominations and has helped churches raise more than $150 million through campaigns and coaching initiatives. He is also the author of Generational Generosity and The E-Giving Guide for Every Church.

Diocesan Acolyte Festival

Saturday, August 22

Intergenerational and open to all, the 2026 Acolyte Festival invites acolytes, vergers, leaders, and volunteers with all levels of experience together on August 22, 2026, at the Cathedral. Through rotating workshops, a shared meal, and a closing service, we'll deepen our understanding of shared ministry at the altar and strengthen connections across our congregations.

The festival runs from 10 AM to 2 PM, with registration beginning at 9:30 AM. A light breakfast will be available before 10 AM, and a cookout lunch featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the fixings will be provided.

Whether you are a longtime acolyte, server, or verger, or are new to this ministry, all are invited to join in this special day of learning, celebration, and worship.

Diocese of Florida Selects Third Slate of Candidates for Bishop

When The Rt. Rev. John Howard announced his retirement in 2023 he thought his choice to succeed him would be The Rev. Charlie Holt. Despite two elections attempts, Holt could not secure the required churchwide diocesan endorsements to be elevated to replace Howard.

The selection process was bogged down in church politics and to ease tensions, giving the people of the diocese time to reflect and breathe, both Bishop Sharf (SWFL) and Bishop Holcomb (Central FL) were appointed by the presiding bishop to assist the diocese during a protracted period of discernment. Now three candidates for the 9th Bishop of Florida have been selected. Read more about them here.

Interestingly, Holt became rector of St. Mark's (Jacksonville), considered a plum parish of the diocese and where The Rev. Barnum McCarty served as rector (1971-1995). On Retirement Fr. McCarty went to become Interim Rector at St. Thomas', St. Petersburg for a shot period of time.

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - July 12

Acolytes (10am): Isaac Browne (C), Joni James (T1), Blythe Mitchell (T2).

Audio Visual (10am): Graham Stineman.

Cantor: (10am): Marisia Iannelli. 

Greeter (10am): Linda Sordan. 

Healing Ministers (10am): Kay Mahoney. 

Lay Eucharistic Ministers (10am): Dudley Savage, Yamilet Roman. 

Lector (8am): Jack Day.

Lectors (10am): Joe DiOrio (OT), Tom Alison (NT).  

Olation Bearers (10am): George and Ellen Burkhart. 

Prayers of the People (8am): Jack Day.

Ushers (10am): Tom Shevlin, Teri Andrés Coryell.

Altar Guild: Joanna Ritch, Diane Robinson.

Coffee Host: Charlotte and Don Higgins.

Collection Counter: Pam Holley, Tom Shevlin.

Flower Guild: Caron Burgess.

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.

Benedict of Nursia

Benedict is generally considered the father of Western monasticism. He was born around 480, at Nursia in central Italy, and was educated at Rome. Rome at this time was in the midst of considerable political and social instability. Benedict’s disapproval of the manners and morals of his society led him to a vocation of ascetic renunciation. He withdrew to a hillside cave above Lake Subiaco, about forty miles east of Rome, where there was already at least one other hermit. Gradually, after many setbacks and considerable opposition, a community grew up around Benedict. Sometime between 525 and 530, he moved south with some of his disciples to Monte Cassino, midway between Rome and Naples, where he established another community, and, around 540, composed his famous monastic Rule. He died sometime between 540 and 550 and was buried in the same grave as his sister, Scholastica. It has been said that no personality or text in the history of monasticism has occasioned more studies than Benedict and his rule. The major problem for historians is the question of how much of the rule is original. This is closely related to the question of the date of another, very similar but anonymous, rule for monks, known as The Rule of the Master, which may antedate Benedict’s Rule by ten years. This does not detract from the fact that Benedict’s firm but reasonable rule has been the basic source document from which most subsequent Western monastic rules were derived. Its average day provides for a little over four hours to be spent in liturgical prayer, a little over five hours in spiritual reading, about six hours of work, one hour for eating, and about eight hours of sleep. The entire Psalter is to be recited in the Divine Office once every week. At profession, the new monk or nun takes vows of “stability, conversion of life, and obedience.” The prologue to the Rule says: “And so we are going to establish a school for the service of the Lord. In founding it we hope to introduce nothing harsh or burdensome. But if a certain strictness results from the dictates of equity for the amendment of vices or the preservation of charity, do not be at once dismayed and fly from the way of salvation, whose entrance cannot but be narrow (Matthew 7:14). For as we advance in the religious life and in faith, our hearts expand and we run the way of God’s commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love. Thus, never departing from his school, but persevering in the monastery according to his teaching until death, we may by patience share in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13) and deserve to have a share also in his kingdom.” Gregory the Great wrote Benedict’s Life in the second book of his Dialogues. He also adopted Benedictine monasticism as an instrument of evangelization when, in 596, he sent Augustine and his companions to convert the Anglo-Saxon people. In the Anglican Communion today, not only are there several Benedictine communities, but the rules of many other religious orders also have been strongly influenced by the Benedictine rule.

[Feast Day: July 11]

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