THE EPISTLE:

April 9, 2026

The Ordination of Deacon Jeannie Randall to the Priesthood is at St. Thomas on April 15th!

Make plans to join us this upcoming Wednesday, April 15 at 6 pm. The Rt. Rev. Glenda S. Curry, Ph. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama, will ordain our very own Jeannie Randall, along with Deacon Taylor Johnson of St. Matthew's, Madison, to the Sacred Order of Priests! The Bishop will also receive Lutheran Pastor Amy Diller Guida as an Episcopal priest.

Jeannie has been working through the process towards ordination to the priesthood over the last year with the full support of St. Thomas, and this will be a very special day to celebrate her completion, to honor her many years of service here at St. Thomas, and to join with the people of St. Timothy's Church in Athens, where Jeannie has been serving this year and will now become their new Priest in Charge!

A special reception will follow immediately after the ordination in the Parish Hall. Childcare is available for the evening.

Where do you find Episcopalians who know all about Artemis II? At St. Thomas, of course!

Did you see the national story about St. Thomas' connection with the launch of Artemis II last week?? That's right, Episcopal News Service, the official national and international news source for the Episcopal Church picked up our prayer post on social media last Wednesday before the launch and reached out for a full story on some of our "rocket scientists" here at St. Thomas! The article includes quotes from Jill Eskew, John Hanson, and Fr. Donavan! So, if you missed it, just click HERE, and you can check it out on ENS' website right now!

Moms' Group TONIGHT

Thurs., April 9 at 6:30 PM

Moms' Group is having a night out on the town TONIGHT for their April meeting! Meet at 6:30 pm at El Vaquero (10020 Memorial Parkway SW, Huntsville) for chips, salsa, and a margarita.

St. Thomas' Moms' Group is a ministry for mothers with children ages 0-18. Feel free to bring a mom friend. Contact Audrey Cain HERE for more information.

Bailey Cove Farmers' Market Pop-Up

THIS Saturday 8 AM-12 PM

Since the March Pop-up for the Bailey Cove Farmers’ Market went so well, we are doing one more pre-season pop-up on Saturday April 11 from 8 am until noon! We are calling it the Strawberry Pop-up because we will have fresh STRAWBERRIES! Besides the vendors bringing yummy, sweet berries, 40 other vendors will be setting up their booths and offerings to ensure that there is something for everyone! 

Come be a part of this wonderful outreach as a shopper or a volunteer! Volunteers are always needed for set-up and take-down. Those helping with set-up need to arrive at 6:45 am to help put up tents and tables for our vendors.  Set-up is generally completed in less than an hour. Those interested in take-down need to arrive by 11:45 am to help break down tents and tables. Take-down is generally completed in 45 minutes.

For questions, email Tracy Ganem by clicking HERE, or call her at 256-479-3925!

Help serve in our community on Saturdays starting April 11!

It's time to begin another house for Habitat for Humanity! This year, we'll be at 206 Lake Drive. We'll raise the walls Saturday, April 11, with the starting ceremony at 9 a.m.

On typical weekends, we begin building by 8 a.m. and always finish by 3 p.m. You are encouraged to come as you can and leave when you need to. Call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669 for more information.

Newcomer's Episcopalian Class

April 12 at 9:30 AM

If you're a newcomer to St. Thomas and the Episcopal church and would like to know more about the rich history, structure, and practices of our faith, plan to join Elouisa Stokes after breakfast on Sunday, April 12 for a welcoming introduction. This engaging, informal class starts at 9:30 am in the Conference Room.

Easter Review: The Cross, the Atonement, & the Resurrection - THIS SUNDAY!

This Sunday morning during the Christian Formation hour, join Fr. Donavan as he leads a deep dive review into the meaning of Holy Week & Easter in the church. We will discuss the importance of the Cross and Good Friday, along with the various theories Christians have used over the centuries to answer the question of why Jesus had to die. Then we will briefly look at the ancient Christian teaching of the "Harrowing of Hell" by Jesus on Holy Saturday before connecting everything to Jesus' physical resurrection on the first Easter Sunday. Don't miss this opportunity to revisit the fundamental parts and pieces of the most important story ever told, the story of Easter! THIS SUNDAY, April 12th, beginning at 9:30am in the Parish Hall.

Support the Honduras Mission Team!

Commissioning of the Team THIS Sunday

Support our annual Honduras Mission! The mission will start next Saturday, April 18 and last through April 25. At the 10:30 am Holy Eucharist THIS Sunday, April 12 , our 2026 St. Thomas Missioners will receive a special prayer and blessing. This year's team from St. Thomas is Fr. Donavan, Jeannie Randall, Jane Allgood, Leonard Hall, Leonard Hall Jr., John Hanson, Linda Hanson, Jeffrey Ramclam, Brett Tomlin, Gil Vela, and Peter Wilson.

Got large suitcases taking up room in your closet?

Your Honduras Medical Mission group needs your assistance for our upcoming mission trip! Large suitcases are used to transport vital medications from Alabama to our clinic in Honduras. We are currently in low supply of these suitcases! If you have any large suitcases with roller wheels to donate, please bring them to church and leave them in the Youth Room.

Next Meeting: Monday, April 13

10 AM in the Parlor

Our book for April 13 is The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Be careful when you order it as there are at least two books by that title. We will meet in the St. Thomas Parlor at 10 a.m. that day.

Looking ahead, our book for May 11 will be The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng. It is set in Shanghai before and after World War II.  

Hope you can all join us at these events. A few of us go to lunch afterward and we'd be glad to have you, too. If you can't get the book read in time for the meeting, come anyway. We're always glad to have lots of us.

Well done, St. Thomas!

The Lobsterfest Steering Committee thanks everyone for supporting the appreciation dinner for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. The dinner, which was held Saturday, March 28, fed around 50 people. There was enough leftovers for the fraternity to take home to feed the guys that could not make it to St. Thomas.

Thank you to the St. Thomas BBQ Bandits for cooking the meats and all the parishioners who provided sides, desserts or drinks and those that came for setup and cleanup.

UPCOMING

Silver Saints Matinee Presents:

The Greatest Game Ever Played

April 16 at 1 PM

As a tip of the hat to the 2026 Masters Golf Tournament, your Silver Saints Matinee Movie for April 2026 is another really good golfing movie. “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” starring Shia LaBeouf, and Stephen Dillane, is a movie based on a true story of a young amateur golfer who finds himself in an incredible match with the World’s greatest golfer of the time. You asked for a feel-good movie. Come join us in the St. Thomas Parish Hall at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers fun and fellowship with our parishioners and visitors much like going to a theater, but free. We offer snacks and beverages, and we will even pick you up and return you home if you wish. We offer comfortable seating and a time-out break half way through the movie. Please bring your friends and ask people from our neighborhood. Call Jack or Becky Stokes at 256-881-4748, or the church office at 256-880-0247. Please call 24 hours ahead if you will need a ride. Please come join us and be happy.

Scrapbooking and Crafting

Saturday, April 18

Parish Hall 9 AM – 3 PM

Scrapbookers and Crafters Unite! Please join us in the Parish Hall on April 18 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and bring your crafting projects for a day of fun and fellowship. Upon request, a scrapbooking beginners class will be taught. Lunch will be provided but please bring a snack to share. For further information, please contact Rebekah Callahan at 256-603-0219 or rebekah-callahan@comcast.net.

Special Session: May 30-June 5

Volunteers Needed

Have you heard about Special Session? This weeklong camp for people of all abilities began at St. Thomas in 1998 and is now a beloved part of Camp McDowell’s summer program.

This year’s session runs May 30–June 5 for staff and June 1–5 for campers. This will be the 29th summer! Special Session offers a joyful, Spirit-filled environment where campers are fully welcomed, supported, and free to enjoy all the fun of camp. Over the years, it has become a meaningful reunion for many, while continuing to welcome new friends each summer.

Get involved

We are in need of nurses and counselors and always especially male counselors. Ages 15 can serve as counselors-in-training and 16+ as counselors. Visit the Special Session webpage HERE to find out more.

Adult Ministry

Monday Compline Online with Dcn. Jeannie on

St. Timothy's Facebook Page

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. Timothy's Episcopal Church Athens, AL Facebook page HERE. You simply need a Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and to turn to pg. 127. Please contact jrann228@gmail.com or the front office for more information.

Morning Prayer in 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!

Friday Bible Study at 10:47 am!

Meet with Fr. Donavan to study the Letter of James in this 1 hour Bible Study on FRIDAY in the Conference Room beginning at 10:47 AM! If you are interested in joining a Bible Study at the church and are available on Friday mornings, you are invited!

Children's & Youth Ministries

Weekly Offerings & Upcoming Events

Sundays

9:30am-10:15am- Sunday School

• Godly Play (Pre-K through 1st grade, Hiers 4)
• Storymakers (2nd-3rd grade, Hiers 6)
• Thou Art (4th-6th grade, Hiers 2)

10:30am- Children's Moment & Children's Chapel during Holy Eucharist

Nursery available on Sunday mornings from 7:45am until noon.

Upcoming

• May 17- End of Sunday School Year Celebration
• July 13-17- Vacation Bible School (9am-12pm)

Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth Bestor, HERE for more information.

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 9:30am 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 pm.

Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, HERE for more information.

Music Ministry

Treble Choir

The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship service and our remaining special services this school year will include special music on Easter morning and Mother's Day! 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!

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org