The Season of Advent has arrived at St. Thomas and Christmas is coming.

CLICK HERE now to download our full calendar of events for Advent & Christmas at St. Thomas.

THE EPISTLE:

December 11, 2025

Advent Taizé Service Wednesday, December 17

6 PM

Focusing on the Longest Night

This year, our Wednesday evening Advent Prayer Service on December 17 focuses on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, and on those who struggle with loss or sadness during the holiday season. As typical of our Taizé style worship services, the lights will be dimmed and candles will be lit, with special music and hymns offered by Kathy Heim and Sam Wright. Our clergy will offer an Advent devotion for anyone finding Christmas celebrations particularly difficult. Prayers will be offered for those who are lonely, missing a beloved family member or friend, or simply find the dark nights and the cold days difficult this time of year.

Our Longest Night Advent Prayer Service begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, in the Nave and will be followed by a light supper in the Parish Hall.

Rosary Advent Prayers

Continue

Join us Tomorrow, December 11

The St. Thomas Rosary Prayer Group meets every Friday in Advent. The Rosary will be offered each and every Friday during the season of Advent at 12:05 p.m. in the Nave.

Each prayer session lasts around half an hour and, during Advent, includes the reading of each scripture passage for the five decades of the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. And during Advent, our scripture readings for the Joyful Mysteries will be read from the King James Version of the Bible.

If you’ve never prayed the Rosary before, we always have Rosary beads available, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.

See the Sandhill Crane Migration with a Holy Hike

THIS SATURDAY, December 13, at 10 AM

Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur

The annual Sandhill Crane Migration is underway! Take a 'Holy Hike' and see them on Saturday, December 13.

Our next Holy Hike will be a trip to see the annual sandhill crane migration at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur. This will be a shorter walk (a mile or so) with several stops along the way to witness the cranes in action.  

We'll meet at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 3121 Visitors Center Rd, Decatur, AL 35603 at 10 a.m.  Bring binoculars if you'd like!  Those who'd like to carpool, meet in the South parking lot at 9a.m. on December 13. Contact Brett Byford with any questions at brettbyford59@gmail.com or 256.808.5776.

*Please Note: Dogs are not allowed in the Refuge's observation buildings* 

Exploring Prayer with Icons during Advent Class continues THIS SUNDAY!

For the season of Advent this year, Fr. Donavan invites you to walk with him through an exploration of the beauty and mystery of Orthodox Christian Iconography. 

Based upon two books written by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, Fr. Donavan will present one Orthodox icon for us to gaze at and examine each Sunday morning. Next, he will suggest ways in which we might "read" the 2-dimensional forms of the icon in order to help us meditate more upon the Bible stories and saints the icon represents. Finally, we will talk about how each icon might help us to pray. 

We will be exploring two Orthodox icons of Jesus and two Orthodox icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the hope that you will finish each Sunday with a new understanding of how Christian prayer can be expanded and deepened by these beautiful images from the Eastern Church tradition. This Advent class promises to provide both visual and spiritual ways to help you pray during this Advent season, so please don't miss it.

Exploring Prayer with Icons during Advent continues THIS SUNDAY, at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall!

It ain't over till it is over!

Your pledge is still needed!



St. Thomas is blessed in so many ways and none more so than your generous financial support. As of Wednesday, December 10, we have received a total of 145 pledges totaling $647,928.00, but in order to reach and possibly exceed the number of pledges we received last year, we are still waiting on around 20 pledges to come in! If you have already pledged, THANK YOU! If you have not, please consider getting your pledge in THIS WEEK!

Additional pledge cards will remain available in the church office and in the Narthex. OR for your convenience, you can simply call the front office and speak with our finance office directly!

OR YOU CAN FILL OUT YOUR PLEDGE CARD ONLINE RIGHT NOW! Get caught up with your pledge for 2026 by clicking the button below and help St. Thomas grow it's ministries in the year ahead! THANK YOU!

Memorial Flowers for Christmas:

Envelopes are now in the Pews

Christmas flowers are a wonderful way to remember your loved ones. You’ll find Christmas offertory envelopes in the church pews to use for your own memorials or thanksgivings. Simply fill out an envelope and put it in the offering plate or drop it by the church office. We must have your names no later than Sunday, December 21 in order for them to be included in the Christmas Eve service bulletins. We ask for a minimum donation of $30 to cover the costs of the Christmas arrangements and flowers.

Nominations for the St. Thomas Vestry OPEN through

December 28

St. Thomas is preparing to elect four new Vestry members at the upcoming Annual Parish Meeting & Breakfast, set for Sunday, January 11 at 9:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving on the vestry, you can now submit the name in the box marked VESTRY in the Narthex. If you'd like to nominate someone, please be sure to discuss it with that person first to be sure they are willing to serve the three-year term. 

Vestry responsibilities include:

·Attending vestry meetings on the third Tuesday evening of each month.

·Attending a Saturday Vestry Retreat.

·On a rotating basis, two vestry members count the offering and secure the building each Sunday after worship services.

·Vestry members also cook, serve and clean up breakfast on a rotating schedule, one Sunday per month. Each vestry member signs up for breakfast four times a year.

Please prayerfully consider if you, or someone you know, may be called to serve our parish in this important leadership role. Nominations will close Sunday, December 28, and nominations will not be accepted from the floor during the annual parish meeting.

To be nominated for the Vestry, a person must be a confirmed communicant in good-standing, known to the treasurer to be pledging, and a regular participant in the life and worship of the parish.

Wal-Mart Gift Cards for Operation Santa Claus are due THIS SUNDAY!

Santa needs some help to ensure that he could provide gifts for all of the recipients of St. Thomas's Operation Santa Claus. For each of the past 20-plus Christmases, we have provided Wal-Mart gift cards for 40 of our friends and neighbors who receive care at the local Mental Health Center (aka Wellstone Behavioral Health). Turn in your gift cards at the table in Information Hall and be assured that your donation will make the recipient very, very happy. Questions? Susan Smith at 256.503.0695.

UPCOMING

Carols with AVÉ

Monday, December 22

7 PM

Please come join AVÉ (Alabama Vocal Ensemble) for an evening of Carols arranged by leading composers throughout the centuries, from Michael Praetorius (16th century) to Kenneth Leighton (20th century), followed by an audience sing-along of some of our favorite carols included in the Hymnal 1982.

The concert is free and open to the public.

St. Thomas Night Presents

Christmas Pageant and Dinner on

Sunday, December 21 at 6 PM

Pick up your FREE tickets this Sunday!

Make plans to join us for St. Thomas Night Dinner Theater on Sunday, December 21! We'll be celebrating our parish's patron saint with an evening of faith and fun. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. followed by this year's show- "Christmas Snapshots." To help us plan for food and seating, free tickets will be available in Information Hall each Sunday. 

We need helpers- food prep and servers, setup, cleanup, stagehands- to pull the evening off. Check out the sign-up sheet in Information Hall or contact our St. Thomas Night coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor at children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Rehearsal for St. Thomas Night AND

Children's Christmas Party

December 20

Saturday, December 20

10 a.m. St. Thomas Night Tech Crew Meets (Parish Hall)

10:30am- 11:30 am St. Thomas Night Cast & Crew Dress Rehearsal (Parish Hall)

*11:30am- 1pm Children & Youth Christmas Party (Parish Hall)

*All St. Thomas children and youth are invited to our annual Christmas party. We'll decorate cookies, make ornaments, and have fun. Please contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor at children@stthomashuntsville.org if your family members plan to attend the party so we can have enough food and supplies. 

Sunday, December 21

9:30am- 10:15am Sunday School- St. Thomas Night Final Prep (Hiers Hall)

**5:30pm St. Thomas Night Cast & Crew Call Time (Youth Room)

6:00pm St. Thomas Night Dinner Theater- "Christmas Snapshots"

**An early dinner will be served in the Youth Room for the cast and crew.

Adventure Opportunities:

Galaxy of Lights Driving Tour AND

US Space and Rocket Center Planetarium

Two events are available to St. Thomas Parishioners utilizing our Parish Bus. Bill Davenport has graciously agreed to drive you to the events!

Galaxy of Lights-Date TBD

The first is a tour of the Botanical Garden’s Galaxy of Lights Tour. Available dates include December 7–16 and 28–31. One date will be selected depending on interest response. This experience will be an evening drive through the beautiful, ornamental light display on the grounds of the Garden. A cost is involved for entry into the exhibit but it's around $30 per vehicle. CLICK HERE FOR PRICING INFO.

US Space and Rocket Center Planetarium

The second event is an evening at the US Space & Rocket Center’s Intuitive Planetarium during December to see the annual story of how the Star of Bethlehem probably happened. Balancing both science and religion, they explore theories on what celestial phenomenon may have led the Magi to the Nativity more than 2,000 years ago. A cost is involved with this event. CLICK HERE FOR PRICING AND MORE INFO.

Pricing and Dates

Evening Shows

Dec 18-Dec 21 all evening shows at 7 PM. Matinee at 4 on Dec 21. Prices from $14 up.

Anyone interested in attending either one or both of these events should call the Church Office at 256-880-0247 or Jack Stokes at 256-468-2743 within the next week. Scheduling depends on Parish interest.

ONGOING

Compline Online

Mondays at 8 PM

with Dcn. Jeannie

Looking for a new prayer opportunity and a way to center yourself in prayer each week? Every Monday at 8 p.m., you’re invited to join Dcn. Jeannie online for Compline. Compline is a brief evening prayer service and a peaceful way to set your week with intention and to end your day with a sense of completion and stillness.

The service lasts just 15 minutes and can be accessed on St. Thomas’ Facebook page. You simply need a Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and to turn to pg. 127.

It will be LIVE every Monday at 8 PM.

Please contact jrann228@gmail.com or the front office for more information.

Morning Prayer at St. Thomas St. Anne's Chapel in Hiers Hall

Thursdays 7 AM

Every Thursday morning, join us for Morning Prayer in St. Anne’s Chapel at the end of Hiers Hall. Simply enter Hiers Hall and follow the hallway all the way to the end. There will be signs directing you. As we seek to expand our options for praying together during the week, we hope to see our early birds and any brave night owls at this service of prayer and Scripture. You don't have to know how to read Morning Prayer; we'll teach you!

Do you have questions about the Bible? Have you wondered about what everything in the Book of Common Prayer means? Come to Youth Sunday School to try and answer those questions and more! 7-12th graders meet during formation time in the Youth Room at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday to talk about Covenants in the Bible!

7-12th Graders! Weekly EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) continues! EYC meets Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, HERE for more information.

Treble Choir

The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship service and our special services this year will include Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve. All children in 2nd-8th Grades are invited to join! Bring a friend!

The Treble Choir schedule is available HERE and is posted on the bulletin board leading to Hiers Hall, the choir bulletin board in Hudson Hall, and the St. Thomas Website. Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Please email Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for details!

Join the St. Thomas Adult Choir

You don't have to be a kid to sing! Click HERE to see and hear the St. Thomas choir practicing their anthem for this Sunday.

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL DECEMBER 28

Children's Sunday School Sundays from 9:30am-10:15am! Join us in Hiers Hall as we share a year of faith, love, and fun! 

Godly Play class for Pre-K through 1st graders is led by Renee' Redfield in Hiers 4. 

Storymakers for 2nd and 3rd graders is by Nichole Hargrove in Hiers 6. 

Thou Art class for 4th through 6th graders led by Laura Beth Bestor in Hiers 2.  

Our nursery is open from 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sundays for our Pre-K and under children. We have our Play'n'Worship curriculum available for those in the nursery to enjoy on Sunday mornings. Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator via email at children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org