This Week...

NEW Christmas Eve + Making Room at the Inn

NEW Children's Activity Kits

NEW Blue Christmas

Children's Nativity

Advent Calendar

NEW Mary Colhoun Service

NEW Epiphany Service

Taize

Membership Update

Prayer List

Making Room at the Inn on Christmas Eve

Our Children’s Nativity Pageants on Christmas Eve are among the most beloved of St. Thomas traditions, and they attract many visitors. We offer two Nativity services, one at 2:00 and one at 4:00. The 4:00 service is always standing room only. While that may seem like something to celebrate, it often contributes to an inhospitable environment and a negative experience for some who come to celebrate with us. People show up with their families and then can’t find a seat because seats have been saved by others, who have then left. And we turn people away every year. 

Given this, in the Christmas spirit of hospitality and grace, we invite you to consider, if possible, attending the 2pm Nativity service. Please note that we have also decided not to open the doors for seating until 20 minutes before these services, and we ask that your party plan to arrive together as much as possible rather than saving seats.

And don’t forget that we also offer choral Eucharists at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.

We look forward to a joyous Christmas Eve!

Children's Activity Kits

If your child would like to join you during worship, please ask an usher for an activity kit. Each bag contains a children's book, a lacing card, a drawing pad, along with sensory and fidget toys. We hope your child enjoys these activities! Please return the kit to an usher after the service.

Children's Nativity

Last Chance! Sign up by Friday, December 19 

Nativity Rehearsals & Costume Fittings:

Tuesday, December 23, 2:00-3:00 pm for the 2:00 Service ~ Meet in the Parish Hall

Tuesday, December 23, 3:00-4:00 pm for the 4:00 Service ~ Meet in the Parish Hall

Christmas Eve Nativity ~ December 24:

Children and Youth arrive one hour before the service. Bonus, you get a good parking spot and the best seats in church. 



Sunday, December 24, 2:00 pm Service

~Report to the Parish Hall at 1:00 pm

Sunday, December 24, 4:00 pm Service

~Report to the Parish Hall at 3:00 pm

Sign up with Sara Gorby at sgorby@stthomassv.org with children's names and ages, and which service you plan to participate in.

Celebration of Love for Mary Colhoun

A “Celebration of Love” for Mary Colhoun will be held at St. Thomas on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome.

Jan 6th Epiphany Service

On Tuesday, January 6th we will observe Epiphany (El Dia de los Reyes Magos)with a bilingual service at 5:30 PM with our neighbors from the Hispanic community. The service will be followed by dinner prepared by Community Table, a youth outreach of Sun Valley Community School and Wood River High School. Please join us at this fun event.

In order to make this event a success we need volunteers to help with set up, cleanup hospitality etc. If you are able to help, please contact Jonah Kendall (jkendall@stthomassv.org).

Membership Committee Update

The recently formed Membership Committee is up and running and is launching two initiatives where your involvement is welcome. As a reminder - at its core, the goal of the Membership Committee’s work is to nurture membership.

Communications Content Creation – this initiative is meant to provide support to staff in the development of communications across most St. Thomas Church programs, large and small. The objective is to have more hands and minds dedicated to developing communications in collaboration with St. Thomas’ director of communications, Brett Moellenberg, and other staff members and ministries. Cait Nielson, Jordan Koch, Duncan Morton, and Paul Holle are lending a bit of their time and their many talents to this effort, and we are looking for at least a couple of other parishioners to join them should you possess some of these desired skill sets: Developing and deploying organizational and event communications, ability to be inventive and imaginative with communication opportunities, content, and positioning, ability to develop content that speaks with relevancy to distinct age groups, good communications planning, etc. If you feel this is something that may interest you, please contact Mardi Shepard (mardi.shepard@gmail.com; (208)720.7631) or Richard Waycott (richardwaycottsv@gmail.com; (209)402.7707)

Greeters – this initiative is focused on the creation of the St. Thomas Greeters who would work in collaboration with clergy, staff, and ushers to greet and provide follow up to newcomers. The objective of this initiative is to ensure that, to the extent possible, newcomers are welcomed in a friendly and earnest manner, made to feel comfortable, and are provided with the initial information about St. Thomas and the worship service that they desire. Greeters will also offer follow-up outreach through obtaining newcomer contact information. We are looking for 20 or more parishioners to sign up for this ministry. Individual greeters would be assigned to services on a rotating basis much like lectors and ushers currently are. Professional training will be provided based on best practices developed by the Episcopal Church’s Invite-Welcome-Connect program. If you feel this is something you may want to do and would like to find out more, please contact Richard Waycott (richardwaycottsv@gmail.com; (209)402.7707)

Prayer List



Amanda, Loring, Tara, Bob, Tyler, Patrick, Terry, Lisa, Evelyn, Mike, Tayt, Cindy, Judy, Sam, Luella, Kris, Lois, Molly, Blake, Myrna, Mary, Sally, Reuben, Rachel, Jane Alexandra, Aimee, Amy, Gunner, Anne, Jane, Anne, Barbara, Marilyn, Susan, Sarah, Lynda, River Thomas, Hollie, Margaret, Philip, Mike, Barry, Lindy, Genevieve Mae, Arthur, Page, Bill, Jane, Kathryn, Michael, Karen, Horace, Vincent, Dana, David, Richard, Red, Marty, Becca, Ashley, Robert, Gretchen, Fan, Teresa, Carole, Scott, Janie, Elizabeth, Melinda, Benjamin, Robin, Chuck, Bob, Carol, Susan, Greet, Jill, Steve, Cece, Judy, Sunday, Charlotta, Lisa, Winston, Elizabeth, Dave, Margie, Darren, Austin, Kirky, Claudia, Kenny, Judy, Maria, Landon, John, Bill, Judy, Caitie, Patty, Bennett, Lou, Kim, Antoinette, Suzan, Peter, Jane, Tim, Cris, Leslie, Jayne, John, Joe, Steven, Jordan, Carlee, Pete, Charlotte, Pat, Bob, Jennifer, John, Elise, Debbie, Chris, Mike, Gary, Sandie, Rebecca, Tod, Roman, and Ann.