In This Issue...

Spring Forward

Easter Candy Donations

Pilgrimage Update

Community Urgent Needs Fund

Lent, Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Lenten Series

Job Listing

Rector's Discussion Group

Correction

Children Youth and Family

Vacations

Prayer List

Daylight Savings kicks in this Saturday/Sunday!

Be prepared to spring forward one hour.

Pilgrimage 2024 Update!

Youth have been meeting regularly to prayerfully discern a Pilgrimage adventure for spring of 2024. Here is an update.

What has been accomplished:

• Fundraising Plan with matching donor
• February ~ Super Bowl Chili Fundraiser
• Research 12 locations
• Narrow down locations to 3
• Deep research of 3 locations
• Narrow down to 1 location
• Presentation for Parents

What is coming up:

• April TBA ~ Bingo Nite @ St. Thomas Fundraiser
• April 24 ~ Vestry Presentation for Approval
• May TBA ~ Presentation to the Parish

St. Thomas Community Urgent Needs Fund

It is a tradition of the Church during the season of Lent not only to look inward through self-reflection and prayer, but to outwardly recognize and respond to the needs of others. In that spirit, we want to make you aware of a special fund at St. Thomas, which was established several years by generous parishioners. This “Community Urgent Needs Fund,” enables us to respond to particular needs of people in the community that are shared with us through St. Luke’s and The Advocate’s vetting process. Decisions regarding our support are made by the Rector with input from staff. This week we made grants to assist with rent for a single mother, and dental work for a young immigrant child who had been suffering from malnutrition in their native home. 

If you feel led to contribute to the fund, please contact Judi Fuller ([email protected]) or simply send a check payable to St. Thomas with the notation “Community Needs Fund” in the memo.

‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40

Lenten Series Continues March 12

In this session we will explore some of the other theological constructs for understanding Jesus' life, death and redemptive ministry. Drawing on Abelard and Franciscan theologians from the Middle Ages to the present, we will consider arguments for a theology based in grace and love.

Job Listing: Director of Youth Ministries

Given the incredible success and growth of St. Thomas Playhouse, as of late spring/early summer Sara Gorby will transition out of her role as the St. Thomas Director of Youth Ministries so that she can work full-time for Playhouse. This transition creates an incredible opportunity for Sara as well as for St. Thomas Playhouse and the youth ministry program of St. Thomas Church.

Director of Youth Ministry Position

In the wake of the COVID 19 Pandemic, our youth and family ministries of St. Thomas are in a rebuilding phase. While we have maintained a core group of families as well as welcomed several new families, we seek to reinvigorate our offerings to further encourage and attract more families to participate in the life, worship and service of our congregation. With the recent growth of our St. Thomas Playhouse program and children’s choir, we recognize that we have incredible potential and that this is an exciting opportunity for St. Thomas. The Director of Youth Ministries we seek will help us reimagine and develop our parish youth program.

The Director of Youth Ministries will serve to provide an environment for youth at St. Thomas to know, love, and serve God and their neighbor, through Christian education, fellowship, worship, prayer, and service. The Director of Youth Ministries will work collaboratively with youth volunteers, parents, clergy and staff, as well as the youth of the church. The position is part-time (15 hours a week). She or he will report to the Rector.

Please share this opportunity with anyone you think might be a good fit for us. And if you are interested please speak with our Rector, Jonah Kendall ([email protected]).

Rector's Discussion Group

Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times

By Bishop Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

In his book, Bishop Curry offers a message of hope in the redemptive power of love and offers a roadmap for living the way of love, illuminated with stories from his own life’s journey. Through the prism of his faith, ancestry, and personal journey, Love Is the Way shows us how we have come this far by faith, and it shines a light the long way that lies ahead of us in addressing the deep divisions in the world today.

This winter please join the Rector’s Discussion Group for a study of Bishop Curry’s book. Gatherings occur via zoom at 12pm on Wednesdays. Please contact Judi Fuller in the office if you need assistance obtaining the book. The schedule is as follows:

March 15, Session 4

Read Chapter 7: Leave No One Behind, and Chapter 8: When the Spirit Reworks You.

March 22, Session 5

Read Chapter 9: The Real E Pluribus Unum, and Chapter 10: The Great Relationship Revival.

March 29, Session 6

Read Chapter 11: The Still More Excellent Way, and Chapter 12: Hope, Help, and Healing.

Correction: The birthdate noted for Mike Phillips in this past week's Pastoral Update was incorrect, and should have been March 13, 1939, not 1937. We apologize for the error.

Children, Youth and Family

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Vacations

March 12-25

Sara Gorby

March 20-21

Jonah Kendall

March 20-22

Joanna Sattler

Prayer List

Amanda, Loring, Betty, Tara, Bob, Tyler, Patrick, Laurie, Patty, Terry, Eric, Aly, Annie, Joan, Lisa, Marcia, Evelyn, Lexi, Mike, Stephen, Tayt, Marilyn, Peter, Sandra, Midge, Cindy, Anita, Judy, Sarah, Sam, Luella, Janet, Holden, Elsa, Abbot, Dani, Priscilla, Kris, Lois, Molly, Blake, Myrna, Heather, Mary, Sally, Robert, Tricia, Reuben, Sandie, Dawn, Brendan, Carolyn, Rachel, Sarah, Fiona, Greet, Diana, Betty, Jane, Rick, Alexandra, Aimee, Julia, Ed, Lynne, Amy and Margery.