St. Thomas will be closed next Thursday
in observance of Juneteenth.
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THE EPISTLE:
June 12, 2025
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Special Session Yearbook Success!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to St Thomas for your generosity in support of the 2025 Special Session yearbook! The campers and staff LOVED the yearbook again this year, and it is only through your support that we were able to offer this very special gift to all in attendance at Special Session. We added a scannable QR code to link campers to the landing page for an audio version of the yearbook, which will feature audio and video clips for our visually-impaired campers and staff to enjoy. Sam Herman, who grew up at St. Thomas, is working on populating that site with content over the next couple of weeks.
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Follow this link to see an online version of the paper yearbook. The recognition of St. Thomas in supporting the yearbook was printed on the inside cover and is reprinted here. Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for supporting this very special tradition!!
| | Pray the Rosary June 13th | | |
Pray the Rosary at 12:05 PM
Join us to Pray the Rosary every other Friday at 12:05 p.m. Each prayer session lasts around half an hour and includes the reading of each scripture passage for the five decades of either the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. If you’ve never prayed the Rosary before, we always have Rosary beads available and written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.
| | Adult Christian Education Class Begins | |
"The Screwtape Letters"
Come talk about devils with Deacon Jeannie this Sunday at 9:30 in the parish hall! For the next four weeks, Deacon Jeannie and Mtr. Katie will be leading discussions of excerpts from C. S. Lewis' famous book, "The Screwtape Letters," just a few pages at a time. We will be discussing the first letter this Sunday, and a new letter each week for the next four weeks.
| | Sisters in Faith Fellowship | | |
Sisters in Faith
Wednesday, June 18
6 PM Parish Hall
Join the Sisters in Faith ministry on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Sisters in Faith is a ministry for women in the mid-portion of their life looking for meaningful fellowship and connection. The midlife season is often marked by significant change - children leaving home, career shifts, health concerns or caring for aging parents. Sisters in Faith provides a welcoming space where women can come together for fellowship, encouragement and spiritual renewal each month. If you have any questions, please send an email to dapal1961@gmail.com.
| | VBS Volunteer & Register NOW for July 14-18 | | |
Save the Dates: Compassion Camp- Changing the World with Lovingkindness VBS Coming
July 14-18!
The St. Thomas Children's Ministry is excited to announce that registration for our 2025 VBS is now open! We will be Changing the World with Lovingkindness at Compassion Camp from 9am until 12pm during the week of July 14-18. Register rising pre-K through 5th graders through this online VBS registration link. Limited nursery slots are available; nursery for non-parishioners is $25 for the week unless a parent/guardian is a VBS volunteer.
We need lots of volunteers to lead the way in demonstrating lovingkindness and hospitality for VBS. Sign-up online to HELP HERE or on the sheet in Information Hall. Questions? Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth, at children@stthomashuntsville.org.
| | Golden Girls and Boys Luncheon | | |
RSVP for
Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 AM
Our Parish looks forward to celebrating our Golden Girls and Boys on Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon in the Parish Hall. If you or your spouse are 80 or over, you are the honoree: no cooking or baking or salad-making. You are our guests! We will have ham and side salads, cake, and lots of conversation with lots of people we haven’t seen in ages.
This is a parish-wide party; those of us who can’t claim Golden status are encouraged and invited to attend. The only difference is that we do the salad-making to share with the honorees: green salads, potato salads, fruit salads, deviled eggs, dips and spreads, nuts and olives, cheese and crackers. All are welcome! If you can't attend but would like to honor these cherished members of our church, feel free to make a salad and drop it off in the Parish Hall.
If you do plan to attend, please RSVP by calling the church office at (256) 880-0247.
It’s gonna be great!
| | Silver Saints Presents "The Terminal" | | |
Save the Date:
Thursday, June 26 at 1 PM
Our Silver Saints Movie Matinee is a bit late this month due to vacations. We have a most interesting and warm story for you this month. "The Terminal," starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones and directed by Steven Spielberg, shares the adventure of a man trapped in an airport terminal due to bureaucratic glitches, and how he engages in a most interesting world inside the airport. We will show this touching comedy on June 26 at 1 p.m. in the St. Thomas Parish Hall.
As always, the Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers fun and fellowship with our parishioners and visitors with free movies and a social time with those we love. Snacks and beverages are available, and we will provide transportation if you wish. We offer comfortable seating and a break halfway through the movie. Call Jack or Becky Stokes at 256-468-2743 or the church office for planning purposes. Please call a day ahead if you will need a ride with us. A rewarding afternoon awaits you. Please come join us.
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Help Recycle - Adopt a Month
The Creation Care Committee desperately needs your help with the church recycling. Look for the sign sheet on the board in Information Hall.
We are looking for individuals or families who will commit to one month of weekly recycling on behalf of the church. All that is required it to empty one bin from the church into your home recycling each week for a month. There are 4 bins, so if 24 individuals or families sign up, the church’s recycling will be covered for 6 months!
Questions? Contact Richard Williams. 256-426-3429 or rbwilliams67gmail.com
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The Creation Care Committee asks you to bring your used and empty ink cartridges to the church for recycling. They will be taken to Staples, gaining points towards the church’s future purchases.
This is a chance to help the planet and for St Thomas to save money on office supplies.
Drop off your used ink cartridges at the volunteer window inside the front door.
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Backpack Ministry Donation Time
Is it really time to think about Backpacks already? YES!
We will be collecting backpacks to hand out to children in need again this year. Last year we handed out 80 backpacks, and we are shooting for 100 this year. Please consider donating to this very important Ministry. You can purchase a backpack appropriate for elementary and middle school age children and place it in the Little Red Wagon in Information Hall. If you would rather not shop for a backpack you are welcome to make a monetary donation to the Little Free Pantry earmarked for “Backpack program” in the memo line.
We encourage you to participate in distributing the backpacks. The positive feedback from the recipients last year was heartwarming.
We will let you know an exact date in the next few weeks, but currently are looking at mid-July. Please contact Debbie Harriman at 256-509-6666 with any questions.
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Non-Perishables Wanted
The Little Free Pantry needs your help! Please consider buying an extra jar of peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, tuna, chicken, soup, or anything you think would be a nice addition to the pantry. Donations can be dropped off in the Little Red Wagon in Information Hall or place it in the Little Free Pantry yourself. Thank you for supporting this important ministry.
| | Bishop Search Listening Sessions | | |
Search for Bishop Listening Sessions in June and July
The Diocese of Alabama invites all members to attend Listening Sessions in June and July as part of the search for the 13th Bishop.
These sessions provide a chance to share experiences, hopes for the future, and desired qualities in the next bishop.
Feedback will help the Search Committee discern the leadership needed.
Everyone’s participation is important to this process. Click HERE for the bishop search website for more details.
| | Equipping the Saints Diocesan Effort | |
A Message from the Diocese of Alabama Equipping the Saints $1 Million Match
We’re Almost There! The deadline for the match is June 30th. Your generosity has brought us to the brink of something extraordinary. With just $84,445 left to meet the $1 million match, we are poised to surpass our $7.5 million goal for Equipping the Saints. With your help, we can finish strong. Every dollar given now is matched, doubling your impact and fueling ministry, mission, and transformation across our diocese. Let’s complete this good work—together. Click here for more information about this diocesan campaign.
| | | Children's Chapel Takes a Break for June | | |
Children's Chapel on Break for Remainder of June
During the remainder of June, Children's Chapel at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist will be on break. Children are still invited to come up for the Children's Moment at the 10:30 a.m. service and return to their families for the remainder of the service. We will return to our normal programming in July.
| | First Stop Volunteers Needed | | |
First Stop Needs a Scrambled Egg Volunteer!
Do you have a heart for service and a knack for scrambling eggs? First Stop is looking for a volunteer to scramble 36 eggs on the first Friday of each month. You don’t need to deliver them, just cook them, and our team will handle the rest, ensuring delivery to First Stop by 8:30 a.m.
If you’re willing to help with this small but meaningful act of service, please contact Patty Moy at 256-655-2756.
| | Bailey Cove Farmers' Market 2025 | | |
The Bailey Cove Farmers' Market is up and running!
Check it out this weekend and sign up to volunteer.
The Bailey Cove Farmers' Market at St. Thomas is here! But we can’t make this year's biggest Farmers' Market work without you! Please volunteer to help this year by signing up on the poster on the bulletin board in Information Hall. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to help out! Then start making your Farmers' Market grocery list!
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Free Yoga Class
Saturdays on the Lawn
at BCFM at 9 AM
St. Thomas will offer free yoga classes this summer as part of its Bailey Cove Farmers' Market! Bring your own mat and move your body outdoors for 50 minutes. All classes will be beginner friendly. Participants must be able to stand and sit on the ground unaided. Wear comfortable, moveable clothing. Babies, kids, newbies, all are welcome.
| | Week at a Glance: June 6 - June 12 | | Children and Youth Pool Party | | Pentecost Service and Picnic at Ditto Landing | | Scam Alert: Please know that you will NEVER receive texts or emails from our clergy or church staff asking you for money or gift cards. If this happens to you, please do not respond to the communication, and if you have questions, please contact the church office. | | | | |
