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The Weekly Draft
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church
November 22, 2023
View as Webpage
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Have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving
from the staff and vestry!
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Today, Wednesday, November 22nd is the last day to buy tickets! | |
Race Route for Thanksgiving Day! | | |
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Lighting of the Garden
Friday, December 1st we will light the garden starting at 3pm. Come and help the men’s club and enjoy libations!
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Diocesan retreat in December
All 9th-12th graders are invited to attend the Happening retreat December 1-3 at DaySpring. Happening is created to allow space for high schoolers to have an experience that strengthens their personal relationships with God. Throughout the weekend, students will experience talks, skits, and worship that allow them to think about the ways that they see God working in their lives. All high school youth are eligible to attend.
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Christ the King Sunday November 26, 2023
Prelude "Nun Danket Alle Gott" - Georg Friedrich Kauffmann
Processional Hymn "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" - 450 CORONATION
Hymn of Praise "Glory to God" - WLP 900
Psalm 90: 1-8, 12 Psalmnary - James E. Barrett
Gospel Acclamation “God my King, Thy Might Confessing" – 414 STUTTGART
Offertory Anthem "Thy Kingdom Come, O God" - Martin How
Presentation Hymn "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" – OLD 100TH
Sanctus "Holy, Holy, Holy" WLP 859
Fraction Anthem "Lamb of God" S161
Communion Hymn "Draw Nigh and Take" 328 SONG 46
Processional Hymn "Sings of Endings All Around Us" – WLP 721 TON-Y-BOTEL
Postlude "Rigaudon" - Andre Campra
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Music Notes
The choir and I will soon complete our first month working together. I am grateful for their dedication, perseverance, and open hearts. In the week after Thanksgiving, we expect to welcome two more ‘new’ people; those who have not sung in the recent past. I have stressed to choir members that the choir changes every week; we work at singing better, and caring for the music, rehearsal space, and each other. Together, we create a place where music is planned, prepared, and sung in praise of God at St. Thomas Church.
It is interesting to note (pun intended) that it took a simple email and follow up to make a connection with someone. Maybe we’re on to a good idea! Let’s invite people to come to church–not just choir!
I hope that the Advent and Christmas service music brings both joy and inspiration to your observation of this season. And, maybe you know someone who would join you at church, if you invited them?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ruth
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St. Thomas’ offers sacramental rites (Baptism, Communion Basics, Confirmation), Feasting on the Word for Grades 1-5, Truthseekers class for Grades 6-12, guild apprenticeship ("Behind the Scenes"), and fun activities throughout the school year. The nursery is staffed at both Sunday services during the school year. For an overview of our youth program, check out the website. Go to Formation > Youth Ministry.
Save the date! The first Christmas pageant planning meeting will take place
during Sunday School on Dec. 3rd.
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If you'd like to read all of the families' letters sent by Owl Post, they are now on the website. There are also laminated copies of the letters in the back of the church. The "first years" are elementary school students, and the "fifth years" are middle and high schoolers. The "Learning Faith with Harry Potter" program ends on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 4pm to Wednesday, Jan. 3, at noon with a movie marathon/sleepover in the parish hall. Nursery kids are invited for dinner and the first movie on Jan. 2nd, 4-7pm. RSVP to Mother Anne if you're coming! HP-themed games and crafts, of course! | | | |
Sundays 9am in the Guild Room (take a left after you enter the parish hall). Coffee will be provided. | |
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God Help Me!
A Group for Parents
Kayla and Jonathan Mitchell invite parents of nursery and school-aged kids to meet between services for an informal, layperson-led conversation. The idea is to share the highs and lows of the week, then discuss the gospel for the day - all while the nursery takes care of the kids.
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Truthseekers' Class Recap
(Grades 5-12)
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Happy Sunday Everyone! This week we focused on the Gospels. We discussed Jesus as both the messenger of the Good News as well as the fulfillment of God’s new covenant, restoring our relationship and bringing us to the kingdom of God. We reviewed the differences and similarities of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, and highlighted how they connected the promises and prophecies from the Old Testament.
We previewed some common apologetics questions and next week we will be voting on the top questions to cover in next semester’s classes.
Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Mike & Gina
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Feasting on the Word (Grades 1-5) | |
This coming Sunday is our last Feasting on the Word class in 2023. We will meet at 10am in the Library to talk about Matthew 25:31-46. The Good Shepherd. In hearing the parable of the sheep and the goats, children will explore ways to love God through serving others. Teacher: Pat McKibben. See above for December activities during Sunday School. Classes resume on January 14. | |
See in "This Week at St. Thomas" above the invitation to this year's Hawaiian-themed gala. Mele Kalikimaka means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian. | |
Eucharistic ministers/visitors (except chalice bearers), our lunch is postponed until early in 2024. We're holding steady with assignments (see recent email). Starting in January, anyone taking home communion that week will come up to the altar at the post-communion prayer to be prayed over by clergy. We'll send you out in prayer to bless your service. | | |
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Longest Night Service: Thursday, December 21, 6:30 pm, St. Thomas Chapel
December 21st is literally the longest night of the year when the winter solstice creates more hours of darkness than light. For some the entire Christmas season can be too long amidst the merriment of others. Feelings of bereavement, illness, estrangement or worry, can often be amplified during the holidays. On the other end of the spectrum, others may be simply overwhelmed with too much Christmas and not have time to truly reflect on its meaning. Either way, the Longest Night Service offers comfort, hope, wholeness, and renewal for a time of quiet reflection, and meaningful liturgy. All shared in the good news of “God is with us: Immanuel!”
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The list of names in the Prayers of the People will be published in the bulletin every week and in this section of The Draft.
If you would like to have someone's name mentioned in the prayers during a Sunday service, before the service, write the name(s) into the notebook on the lectern (the podium) on the Prayers of the People's page. These names will only be read at that service. To add someone to the long-term prayer list, contact Grace.
Long-term prayer list: Dona, Geoff, Sharon Joanne, Tara, Anne, Ed, Yvonne, Howard, Marcia, Ann, Jean, Jan, Pat, David, Billy, Carolyn, Brenda, Marissa, Katrina, Joe, Cindy, John, Sharon, Joey, Mike, Nancy, Anne, Donna, Michael, Tricia, Joyce, Susan, David, Charlie, Don, Robert, Estelle, Gina, Matthias, Jennifer, and Matthew.
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Next Sandwich Sunday will be on December 3 - We'll meet in the parish hall to make sandwiches between the 8am and 10am services. All ages welcome! I deliver them to Robin Taylor at Isaiah's Place. All ages welcome. - Mother Anne
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Thanks to all for your help with Pack-a-Snack at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church
Pack-a-Snack Volunteers for the Week of November 26th
Purchasing: Laura & Bill Vrooman
Staging: Linda Davis, Marilyn Smith
Packing: WOW!, 11/30/2023
Delivery: Julie Songster, Thursday, 11/30/2023
Pack-a-Snack Volunteers for the Week of December 3rd
Delivery: Lee Coryell, Thursday, 12/07/2023
Pack-a-Snack Volunteers for the Week of December 10th:
Purchasing: Laura & Bill Vrooman
Staging: Linda Davis, Marilyn Smith
Packing: S&P, 12/12/2023
Delivery: Lee Coryell, Thursday, 12/12/2023
*Triple order to accommodate Christmas Break*
Special thanks to Liz Stiles for her generous donation to Pack-a-Snack. Her gift helps this St. Thomas' ministry in curbing food insecurity for our community's most vulnerable children. We much appreciate Liz' gift!
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Women of the Word meet on Thursday mornings at 9:30 in the Founders Room.
We will be using a new devotional book “Move” by local author Amy Scott. The devotions are based on Joshua.
Please contact Julie Songster for information, 737-420-6839.
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Men's Bible Study - Wednesdays 7:30am
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ANGEL WANTED
The St. Thomas' Art Project needs a volunteer or volunteers to post information about current and upcoming shows to our Facebook and Instagram accounts. The efforts are not needed daily or weekly, but we do hope for several posts announcing upcoming shows and other activities and some to recap exhibition openings.
Are you the answer to our prayers? If yes, please email art co-chairpersons Mary Jane Park ([email protected]) and Gina White ([email protected]).
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Happy Birthday Blessings this week go out to: Rory McMahon, Dominic Nicolas, Whitaker Mitchell, Linda Sordan, Dick Nelson, Michael Mahoney, and Sarah Giberson.
Happy Anniversary blessings this week go out to: Grace and Rick Smith.
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Lay Minister Schedule
Acolytes: Colin Burkhart, Caroline Whitley, Luke Evanoff
Acolyte 8am: Rob Carter
Altar Guild: Barbara Bice, Linda Sordan
Camera Operator 10am:
Coffee Host: Laura Reitan
Flower Guild: Elizabeth Alison, Pam Holley
Healing: Anne Elstun
Lector 8am: Mike Bice
Lectors 10am: Mary Mellstrom, Laura Hine
Musicians: Chancel Choir
Oblations: Anne and Jim Elstun
Prayers of the People 10am: Jaime Elstun
Ushers 10am: Tom Brady, Tom Shevlin
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Parish Calendar
Friday, November 24
Office Closed
Saturday, November 25
Sunday, November 26-Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
8:00 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Spoken
9:00 am. - Truthseekers (Founders' room)
9:00 am - God Help Us! A Parents Group (Guild room in Parish hall)
10:00 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sung
Chancel Choir
Monday, November 27
9:00 am - Morning Prayer
9:30 am - Staff Meeting
Tuesday, November 28
9:00 am - Morning Prayer
Wednesday, November 29
7:30 am- Men's Bible Study
9:00 am- Morning Prayer
5:15 pm - Chapel Eucharist
6:00 pm -Supper, Song, and Prayer
6:45 pm -Compline
Thursday, November 30
9:00 am- Morning Prayer
6:30 pm - Chancel Choir
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