The Draft

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March 6, 2025

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Bulletin for Sunday - March 9, 2025

Dear People of St. Thomas',

This coming Sunday, the First Sunday in Lent, will feature a number of changes to our Liturgy. We shift to Eucharistic Prayer C (the one that has you making responses, so get those prayer books ready!), the Sanctus bell goes silent for this season, the service begins with the Penitential Order (and this Sunday with the Great Litany), and we will once again use the shofar to signal the start of the service.

What is a shofar? A shofar is a hollowed-out ram's horn that emits a loud, trumpet-like sound when blown. It is a part of both ancient and contemporary Jewish practice, blown during Rosh Hashanah services, and every day except the Sabbath in the preceding month. It sounds like a loud cry, reminding the people to look inward and repent of their sins. Above all, it is a call to remembrance. 

As we begin our Lenten services with this sound, let it mean more to us than just the signal to rise from our pews. Let it truly be a call to remembrance, a call to spend good time in penitence and soul-searching. Let it be a reminder that God cares for us and loves us. 

I am grateful to Luis Quixtan and Jonathan Mitchell for blowing the shofar for us this year, thank you.

God bless you!

Faithfully,

Fr. Ryan+

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.

Don't be late to church!!

Reminder: Move your clocks forward one hour.

Capital Campaign Survey

If you have not already done so, please take a moment to complete the survey that was sent in a special Draft message on Monday. There is a link below. All responses should be completed no later than Sunday, March 9. Thank you.

The survey was sent on behalf of Horizons Stewardship, our Capital Campaign Consultant. All information filled out in that survey is confidential and only the Horizons team will view it. This is a crucial part of our ability to conduct our campaign so please fill it out. If you did not receive the survey, please let our office know and a new one can be sent to you. Thank you!

Art Project: Stations of the Cross Opening Reception

Friday, March 7

Come pray the Stations of the Cross with us every Friday during Lent

at 12:00 pm (March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11) and on Monday April 14 at 7:00 pm.

Children's Choir

Sunday, March 9

Beginning on March 9 from 11:30am-12:00 pm we will be starting our first iteration of a children's choir! This first season will be rather informal. The children will meet each Sunday following the 10 am service and will practice 1 song which they will sing on Easter Sunday at the 10 am service. While the ages are not set in stone, there is one requirement, being that the child can read. While it is true that they will do a great deal of learning from listening, being able to read and follow along on the page is very important to this process (reading music is not required). We will also invite any youth through 8th grade to join us. These will be the co-leaders, showing the younger singers how to behave and follow along. Imagine the look on the congregation's face when they see a choir of St Thomas' youth standing up front singing on Easter Sunday! What a joy that will be. Please feel free to invite outside youth to join as well. This will be the starting point for our formal choir program next Fall. Contact me directly for more information.

Isaiah's Place Ministry: Hot Meal Prep

Saturday, March 15

On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, Isaiah's Place makes hot meals for those who need food. They had been preparing meals at Allendale UMC but Allendale's kitchen is undergoing renovations.

We need helpers between 11:00am-3:00pm (you do not have to stay the entire time) to help with cooking, prepping and plating food. Please consider helping with this vital ministry.

March Giving Plate: Honduras Mission Trip 2025

Sunday, March 16

Our next Giving Plate Sunday will be Suday, March 16. It cost $1000 for each individual traveling to Honduras for the week's mission trip. That does not include airfare. Any gifts you make will go to support the travel of our missionaries. We also need supplies (see below). Our trip will be May10-17. And we will have a packing night after Supper, Song, and Prayer on May 7th. Please join us if you can.

Donation Bins in Back of Church

We need the following supplies to take to Honduras.

For general Health Kits: washcloths (1200), toothbrushes (600), combs (1,000), hair ties (1,200), band aides (as many as possible), sewing kits (600), $$$ to purchase soap and toothpaste in Honduras.

For Women's Health Kits: tampons (200), pads (200) combs (200), washcloths (200)

For Kid's Gift Bags: pencils (as many as possible), crayons, small packs (600)

School Supplies: Crayons (large packs), pencil sharpeners, rulers, glue sticks, erasers, $$$ to purchase notebooks/paper in Honduras

Other Supplies Needed: surgical gloves (as many as possible), gallon plastic bags (1,500), large heavy duty garbage bags (50), AA batteries (20), blood pressure monitor (1), soccer balls, deflated (8 or more), jump ropes, fingernail polish, bright colors (as many as possible), frisbees (12), Mardi gras bead (as many as possible), alcohol wipes (as many as possible), glucose test strips and machines (600), glucose lancets (600)

The Rev. David Gould to be Ordained

Sunday, March 16

On Sunday, March 16 at 2:00pm at St. Thomas', The Rev. David Gould will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests. Please make plans to attend this joyful celebration! The Right Rev'd Douglas F. Scharf will preside and The Rt. Rev'd Phyllis A. Spiegel, Bishop of Utah, will preach at the ordination service.

Chorus Angelorum & Iona Consort Concert

Wednesday, March 19

Please make plans to join us on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 pm. Together with the Iona Consort, Chorus Angelorum will perform superb vocal and instrumental music in a concert that is free and open to all. Mark your calendars and invite family and friends to join you for this beautiful winter musical experience.

Music for Sunday

March 9, 2025

Voluntary: "Aus tiefer Not Out of the Depths I Cry to You" by Max Drischner (1891-1971)

The Great Litany by Robert Delcamp (b. 1946)

Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16 Tone IV.4

Sequence Hymn #143 The glory of these forty days Erhalt uns, Herr

Offertory Anthem: "Litany to the Holy Spirit" by Peter Hurford (1930-2019)

Communion Hymn #328 Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord Song 46

Hymn #449 O love, how deep, how broad, how high Deo gracias

Voluntary: "Postlude on Aberystwyth" by Ashley Grote (b. 1982)

Meet our Tenors...

Luis Quixtan (Tenor Staff Singer) Through music, we connect with others beyond the limits of words. Each Sunday, I am honored to raise my voice alongside this church and choir, united in experiencing the profound power of the Lord.

Mary Ellen Shevlin: I am a native of St. Petersburg. I've been a member of St. Thomas for 36 years. I majored in music at Florida State University. I've sung in choirs since junior high. In high school, I sang alto and tenor. Now, I sing tenor with the voice I've got left. Singing is a wonderful way to praise God.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Thank you to St. Augustine's Men's Group for inviting us to attend their Shrove Tuesday celebration. Members of St. Augustine's, St. Thomas', and St. Alban's were in attendance for a delicious pancake supper, wonderful live music, and great fellowship.

Youth Ministry

Truthseekers

Class meets this Sunday

in the Guild Room

at 9:00 am

Happening #89

April 4-6

Happening is a unique high school experience weekend that helps teens foster a personal more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. During a Happening weekend, participants will experience the love of Christ through music, talk, prayer, worship and a community led by fellow students, all of which is supported by clergy

and lay adults.  

Adult Learning Opportunities

LENTEN Formation Class

Begins Wednesday, March 12

2025 Lenten Adult Formation Class, beginning on Wednesday, March 12. We will study this book together across the weeks of Lent. Class begins at 7pm, in the Guild Room, on Wednesdays following Supper, Song, and Prayer. See you there!

​Order your copy today from Tombolo Books, or wherever you like to buy books.

Reading Assignment Schedule:

March 12: Part I (Chapters 1-3)

March 19: NO CLASS (Chorus Angelorum Concert)

March 26: Chapters 4, 5

April 2: Chapters 6, 7

April 9: Chapters 8, 9

April 16: NO CLASS (Holy Week)

April 23: Chapter 10

April 30: Chapter 11

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.

Please note: WoW will not meet on 3/6 or 4/17.

Men's Bible Study

The Men's Bible Study will be starting a study of Ecclesiastes on February 19. It's a great time to join! The group meets on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 am in the church chancel.

If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Ryan.

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

Outreach

F.A.S.T.

Monday, March 10

On March 10th, at the FAST Rally, St. Thomas’ will be welcomed as a Covenanted Congregation! We would love for you to join us along with the many others in the community by attending. The event takes place at 7 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 2281 State Road 580 Clearwater, FL. This is an event you will want to attend as you will hear updates from the Affordable Housing and Water Quality research committees. For additional details, please visit:

https://www.stthomasstpete.org/fast-justice-ministry.html

To encourage attendance, we will carpool from St. Thomas’. Please meet up in the parking lot no later than 6:10 p.m. to catch a ride.

The results from the FAST Rally will inform the Nehemiah Action on April 7th. Details to follow! Please contact Adrienne Ruga,727.428.0356 / adrienneruga@yahoo.com or Bill Barns, 757.646.5146 / wfbarns75@icloud.com.

Lent Black Bag Drive

Black bags will be available on the Welcome Table beginning March 23. Please take one home and bring back at the end of Lent with items you no longer want or need. All bags will be donated to Mercy Keepers.

“A mindful, methodical approach to the Lenten Season…with the goal of freeing up physical space while cleansing the spirit too! Place one clothing item in the bag each day of lent. Ending with 40 items to donate to Mercy Keepers when you return your bag to church!”

Pack-a-Snack

Thanks to all for your help with Pack-a-Snack at 

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church

Pack-a-Snack Volunteers for the Week of March 9

Packing: WOW Group/Joan Barns Thursday, March 13 (2 week quantity as usual)

Delivery: Thursday, March 13 Amy Kelso (2 week quantity for Spring Break)

Pack-a-Snack Volunteers for the Week of March 16

Staging: Mike and Linda Davis Tuesday March 18

Packing: Jordan Markham/Choir Thursday March 20 (or option to pack no later than Wednesday evening the 26th)

Delivery: None due to Spring Break

Pack-a-Snack Volunteers for the Week of March 23

Packing: Jordan Markham/Choir Thursday March 20 (or option to pack no later than Wednesday evening the 26th) 

Delivery: Bill Thomas Thursday March 27

Upcoming needs: We need a Delivery person May 22. For May 22 we will have 6 plastic bins as it is the last delivery for the school year. Either a large enough vehicle or willingness to make two trips to the school is required. Please email Amy Kelso at askelso41@yahoo.com if you can help us. Thanks!

Our Next Sandwich Sunday

Sunday, April 6

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 200 turkey, ham, and cheese sandwiches. This is an important outreach ministry and the sandwiches we make go in support those who are food deprived in our community.

Build Back Update

Our intent is to provide regular monthly updates of the most significant information to everyone via The Draft and this is the first attempt. The progress of restoring the St. Thomas’ and the Canterbury Hough Lower School Campus to their pre-storm condition has been steady. Initial damage remediation from Hurricane Helene was promptly provided by BMS CAT and that effort is complete. We are thankful for the work by several volunteers from St. Thomas’, St. Augustine’s, St. Bartholomew, and the Cathedral Church of St. Peter who pitched in to assist with contents disposition. We are grateful for each pair of hands that assisted!

Bids were received for build-back, carefully evaluated, and the Vestry accepted the proposal from Create Building Company, LLC. The dry wall in the administrative building, the Guild Room, and the school has been replaced and the walls have been prepared for painting. We are awaiting electrical work before completing the finishing touches.

There are many other moving parts in a complex problem set. First, a FEMA application is in the works to recover lost essentials; this alone was a herculean effort. Second, we have received monies from the Church Insurance Company along with funds from the Hurricane Restoration Fund to apply to the loss. Finally, we have prioritized some weather-hardening items which should mitigate future storm damage and established a “wish list” to upgrade select areas. There is a Design Team in place of parishioners: Mary Jane Park, Michelle Jennings, and Jordan Markham who are thinking through the practicality and aesthetics of this process. Ann Leavine, Capital Campaign Chair, is deftly coordinating the FEMA application. Sexton Jon Ward is providing invaluable on-site expertise to the Create personnel and Bill Barns, who is managing the project. These teams are in near-constant contact and meeting regularly with Canterbury and St. Thomas’ key stakeholders to achieve a successful outcome.

While it is premature to designate a completion date, we are closely monitoring the vendor’s efforts and are estimating an April / May finish. Please continue to pray for this parish and school as well as all involved in the restoration.

News from the Diocese of Southwest Florida

Memorial Service for Bishop Dabney Smith:

March 9



News from the Episcopal Church

and the Anglican Communion

‘Ashes to Go’ on Ash Wednesday, continuing a 15-year Episcopal Church tradition

Episcopal congregations churchwide began Lent by offering Ashes to Go on Ash Wednesday as a convenience for people unable to attend worship services in the middle of the week. This is open to all branches of Christianity and “creates opportunities for people to take a fresh look at the church and the gospel.” It began in 2010 with imposing ashes on people in public areas, including suburban train platforms, coffee shops and outside grocery stores and laundromats.

Pastoral Care

Healing prayer is offered at the 10:00 am 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.

The First Sunday in Lent



Acolytes: Joni James, Daniel Nicolas, Doninic Nicolas.

Altar Guild: Susan McMullen, Courtney Bermudez, Diane Robinson

Camera Operator/Digital Commentary: Joy Howerton, Russ Martin

Coffee Host: Charlotte Higgins.

Flower Guild: Pam Holley.

Greeter (10am): Cathy Zanbaka, Diane Robinson, Edy Nicolas.

Healing: Kay Mahoney.

Lay Eucharistic Minister: Dudley Savage.

Lector (8am): Jack Day 

Lectors (10am): Elise Whitley, Kanika Tomalin.

Master of the Blast (Baal Tekiyah): Luis Quixtan  

Nursery: Angel Bickert, Joan Groendal-Patterson.

Oblation Bearers: Steve and Susan McMullen.

Ushers: Tom Shevlin, Bill Hendry.

Perpetua , Felicity, and their companions

Vibia Perpetua, born in 181, was a young widow, mother of an infant, and owner of several slaves, including Felicity and Revocatus. With two other young Carthaginians, Secundulus and Saturninus, they were all catechumens preparing together for baptism. Early in the third century, Emperor Septimius Severus decreed that all persons should sacrifice to the emperor. Many Christians, confessing faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ, believed that they could not do this. Perpetua, Felicity, and the other catechumens were arrested and held in prison under miserable conditions. At the public hearing before the proconsul, Perpetua refused even the entreaties of her aged father. Pointing to a water pot, she asked him, “See that pot lying there? Can you call it by any other name than what it is?” Her father answered, “Of course not.” Perpetua responded, “Neither can I call myself by any name other than what I am—a Christian.” Felicity was eight months pregnant at the time they were arrested. Because pregnant women could not be executed, she was anxious lest the others be executed apart from her, while she would be condemned to die at another time alone. Two days before the scheduled execution, however, she gave birth to a baby girl, who was adopted and raised by an anonymous Christian woman in Carthage. A document that is attributed to Perpetua recounts the visions that she had while in prison. One was of a ladder to heaven, which she climbed to reach a large garden; another was of her brother who had died when young of a dreadful disease, but was now well and drinking the water of life; the last was of herself as a warrior battling the devil and defeating him to win entrance to the gate of life. “And I awoke, understanding that I should fight, not with beasts, but with the Devil.” On March 7, 203, Perpetua and Felicity, encouraging one another to bear bravely whatever pain they might suffer, were sent to the arena to be mangled by a leopard, a boar, a bear, and a savage cow. Perpetua and Felicity, tossed by the cow, were bruised and disheveled, but Perpetua, “lost in spirit and ecstasy,” hardly knew that anything had happened. To her companions she cried, “Stand fast in the faith and love one another. And do not let what we suffer be a stumbling block to you.” Eventually, both Perpetua and Felicity were put to death by a stroke of a sword through the throat. The soldier who struck Perpetua was inept. His first blow merely pierced her throat between the bones. She shrieked with pain, then aided the man to guide the sword properly. The report of her death concludes, “Perhaps so great a woman, feared by the unclean spirit, could not have been killed unless she so willed it.”

[Feast Day: March 7]

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.