St. Thomas Updates - February 18, 2021
Ash Wednesday Photos
Becky Smith
Indoor In-Person Services Return
Dear Friends,
 
Last Thursday (2/4) Bishop Brian lifted his suspension of in-person worship. We are now permitted to resume indoor worship again, albeit with limited numbers. Therefore, on the first Sunday of Lent, February 21st we will hold two indoor in-person Eucharists, at 8:00 a.m. (Rite I) and 9:30 a.m. (Rite II & Glorious Gathering for Children & Youth). The services will follow the same format we have been using at our outdoor Sunday services. These services will be limited to 30 congregants and reservations will be required. Masks are mandatory and there will be no singing, though there will be music at the 9:30.
 
In addition, we will hold an outdoor service on the Labyrinth at 10:30 a.m. for those who do not feel comfortable coming inside. Our virtual offerings will continue, as well. We will discontinue the Thursday afternoon Eucharist for now. 

Virtual Services will continue and will be distributed at 11:00 a.m. The virtual service will include the in-person sermon from the 8:00 a.m service.
 
In Christ,
Jonah+
Bishop Search and Nominating Committee Application

You are invited to apply to be a member of the Search and Nominating Committee for the 14th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. The Search and Nominating Committee is tasked with searching for and creating a slate of qualified nominees to be presented to the Standing Committee. The Search and Nominating Committee will be comprised of 12 persons. We are looking for one layperson and one clergy from each deanery, plus four additional persons. The Search and Nominating Committee should reflect the diversity of the diocese. The Standing Committee does not make a distinction between people who are nominated by others and those who nominate themselves; the Spirit works in many ways.

Power & Passion:
Six Characters in Search of Resurrection
By Sam Wells

Read Chapter 1: Pontius Pilate (Pages 25-55) for first meeting

At the heart of our Christian faith is the story of Christ’s passion. In fact, so central is the Passion that it’s the one story that all four Gospels tell essentially the same way. Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified. Yet, what makes the passion so powerful is not only the lengths God in Christ will go to enter into the depths of our humanity, but the struggles that others find themselves facing in the midst of Jesus’ harrowing journey. In this way, Jesus’ passion is not only his, but our own as well.

Kathleen and Jonah invite you to join them this Lent in studying and discussing the book, “The Power and the Passion: Six Characters In Search of Resurrection,” written by Sam Wells. Recounting the passion of experiences of Pontius Pilate, Barabbas, Joseph of Arimathea, Pilate’s wife, Peter and Mary Magdalene, the book reveals how Jesus’ death exposes the truth about our world and how his resurrection makes possible a new way of life.

Gatherings will take place via Zoom on Tuesday at 5:30pm. The discussion group will run from Tuesday, February 23rd through Tuesday, March 30th.
Inspired by Jesus’ time of prayer in the wilderness, Christians throughout the ages have made it a point to begin or deepen their prayer practice during Lent. If you would like to make this part of your Lenten journey, please join Rev. Kathleen for a brief weekly zoom gathering for Celtic Evening Prayer, including prayers that celebrate God’s presence in the natural world and five minutes of silence in community. Thursdays in Lent, February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to Judi at [email protected] for the zoom link.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Sunday, Feb. 21 @ 1:00 pm
CYF Dollar Ski Adventure

Meet on west side of the lodge outside.