Parish Weekly March 27, 2026

Mission: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is a welcoming spiritual community dedicated to following the teachings of Christ Jesus. We grow through learning, celebrate joyful worship, and serve our neighbors.

Vision: We open hearts and minds to create community in Christ.

Rector's Notes

Palm Sunday

Join us this Sunday, March 29, for Palm Sunday. We will gather outside on the lawn

for the liturgy of the palms and process down the sidewalk to the front of the church.

The youth and children will assist in distributing the blessed palm branches to those

in procession and then follow behind the cross into church and cut down to Sunday school. There will be teachers to walk the children downstairs to their classes.

If we have inclement weather, we will gather inside and hold the liturgy of the palms

in front of the chancel steps. The children will gather in the front and parade down

to Sunday school.

Maundy Thursday

On Maundy Thursday, April 2, at 7:00 pm, we will celebrate Holy Eucharist with the washing of feet and the solemn stripping of the altar. Our liturgy will be enhanced

by the musical offering of instrumentalists.

Good Friday

On Good Friday, April 3, we have two ways to walk the way of the cross. At 11:15 am,

we gather for an Ecumenical procession from St. Thomas’ to Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church to pray the stations of the cross in their sanctuary.

At 7:00 pm, we will gather at St. Thomas’ for the Good Friday liturgy with special leadership from the choir and cello.

The Great Easter Vigil

On Saturday, April 4, join us for the Great Easter Vigil at 7:00 pm. The liturgy begins with the kindling of the paschal fire, and then we will pray our way by candlelight into the first celebration of Easter.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday, April 5, join us for our annual Bishop’s visit with Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. Plan to arrive early to participate in the flowering of the cross and stay

after for the festive Easter Egg Hunt!

Gratitude

A special thank you to our Acolytes, Altar Guild, St. Thomas’ Choir, Lectors, Welcome Guides, and staff for their ministry of service throughout the week

Mark Your Calendars

Episcopal 101 Class, Sunday, March 29, 11:15 am, Lounge
Stations of the Cross Processional, Friday, April 3, 11:15 am, meet on St. Thomas' lawn and walk to Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Annual Bishop's Visit with Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, Sunday, April 5, 10:00 am, Church
Parish Office Closed, Monday, April 7

Click to View All Upcoming Events Listed in the Parish Calendar

Click to View the Prayers for Public Policy and Witness

Communication News

The Parish Weekly will not be published during Holy Week (April 3) or Easter Week (April 10).

During Holy Week, daily worship service emails will be sent with livestream links for those unable to attend the services in person.

The Maundy Thursday Worship Service email with the YouTube and bulletin links will be sent on Thursday, April 2, at 10 am
The Good Friday Worship Service email with the YouTube and bulletin links will be sent on Friday, April 3, at 10 am
The Easter Vigil and Easter Day Worship Service emails with the YouTube and bulletin links will be sent on Saturday, April 4, at 10 am

St. Thomas' Parking: Avoid a Fender Bender

Please be sure to keep a five-foot space away from the Church driveway entrance when parking on the street to prevent unnecessary fender benders with anyone pulling out of the driveway. This useful street parking rule applies anytime and anywhere when parking near a driveway. Thank you for your help!

Finance News

Year-End Statements for Tax Purposes

Parishioners may print out their own 2024 tax statements via St. Thomas Connect (STC).

Begin by logging into St. Thomas Connect (STC) using the link below.

Click on “Give” from the menu on the left side of the homepage.
Then click on "My Giving" on the top right side of that page.
Next, click on the "Schedule/History" tab.
Click on "Giving Statement" in the black box on the right side of that page.
Finally, click on "Family" for the Type and "Last Year" for the Date Range.

Both deductible and non-deductible donations may be selected to print, and whether you want to include the pledge information on the statement. Lastly, click on the “Run Report" box at the bottom of the page to view it onscreen before printing the statement.

If you would like a hard copy of your 2025 Tax Statement mailed, please contact Anita Herring at 585.442.3544 or by email at finance@stthomasrochester.org.

Click to Log Into STC

Worship Ministry

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will remain open weekdays between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm for prayer until Monday, March 30.

Last Chance to Sign-up for Flowers

Monday, March 30 at noon, will be

the last day to submit Easter flower dedications and donations to be included in Easter bulletins list of contributors. Please indicate whether the donation
is being made in memory of a loved one or as a special gesture when you sign up.

2 Easy Ways to Donate

• Click the link below to donate online

• Pick up and fill out a card at either church entrance and drop it off to the Parish Office

Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated. If paying by check, please make it payable to St. Thomas' Episcopal Church and write 'Easter Flowers' on the memo line. Sign-up forms and checks can be submitted to the Parish Office. Inquiries and questions may be directed to Vicky Rupley at 585.233.2546 or via email at vrupley@gmail.com.

Click to Make an Online Easter Flower Donation

Diocesan Peace & Justice Committee

St. Thomas' member, Carolyn Mok, has been asked to convene a diocesan Peace
& Justice Committee. If you would like to serve on this committee, please contact
Carolyn at d okmok@gmail.com.

Music Ministry

On Easter morning, we will conclude our celebratory service with Handel’s Hallelujah

chorus from his beloved oratorio, Messiah. All are invited to sing from your pews, with the choir, accompanied by organ and trumpets. A limited number of scores will be available, so you may wish to bring one from home, if available. If you plan to worship via livestream or prefer to print your own, click the link below to access the choral score from the Choral Public Domain Library: Hallelujah.

For those who wish to sing from a choir pew Easter morning, please contact Rhonda Wright at organist@stthomasrochester.org for the rehearsal schedule and other details. We welcome returning choir members as well as newcomers!

Click to View Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus

Community Engagement

United Thank Offering During Lent

This Lent, St. Thomas' celebrates the United

Thank Offering (UTO) with the tradition of giving thanks. Founded in 1889, the UTO provides one-

time grants to alleviate poverty, improve health,

and increase access to water, education, equality, and social justice.

Last year, the UTO awarded a $45,000 grant

to to the Southwestern Diocese of Brazil

(Anglican Province of Brazil) for the "Water,

Life, and Citizenship" project at the Cathedral

of the Mediator in Santa Maria. The project

aims to provide access to potable water and proper sanitation, likely addressing infrastructure needs for community members in need.

UTO coin boxes and brochures are available at both church entrances. Alternatively, you may mail a check to the church with "UTO" noted in the memo section. All contributions will be gathered at the end of Lent on April 19. Please consider joining

us in giving thanks this Lent through the UTO.

Wendy Petry, UTO Chairwoman, has been chairing the United Thank Offering at St. Thomas’ for 34 years, and has decided this year will be her last. Anyone interested in shadowing her, learning more about the UTO, and taking over this campaign next year should contact Wendy at wendywhp@yahoo.com.

Brighton Food Cupboard Requests

The Brighton Food Cupboard is a program

of Jewish Family Service of Rochester

in partnership with the Brighton Central School District and Foodlink. March and April donation needs for the Brighton Food Cupboard include toothpaste, toothbrushes, and shampoos, which will help keep our neighbors smiling and looking great.

Drop off your donations in the collection boxes located at each church entrance. Thanks for caring and sharing in the love!

Children and Youth Ministry

Holy Week and Easter Events

March 29, Palm Sunday

All children and families are invited to join the Palm Sunday procession beginning outside the church at 10:00 am, for the start of worship. See Rector's note above
for more details.

April 5, Easter Sunday

There will be no Sunday School/Nursery on Easter Sunday, April 5. An Easter Egg

Hunt will follow the worship service on the lawn. If you have your own basket, please

bring it along! We will have extra bags available if needed.

Sunday School/Nursery will resume classes on the Second Sunday of Easter,

April 12, at 10:00 am.

Youth Group

The Youth are invited to help with the handing out of palms for the Palm Sunday

procession this Sunday, March 29. Please arrive a few minutes early and meet
Rev. Lydia near the Highland Avenue entrance.

The Youth Group will not meet on Easter Sunday, April 5. Youth are invited to help with hiding eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, April 5. Please arrive

by 9:20 am, and find Paula Gitlin. Our regular Youth Group schedule will resume on April 19.

Please contact either Rev. Lydia at l ydia@stthomasrochester.org or Paula Gitlin
at paula@stthomasrochester.org with any questions or concerns.

Click to Register for Youth and Children's Programs

Confirmation Class

This Sunday, March 29, is our final Confirmation Class. We will walk through the liturgy

of Confirmation together and share the learnings and growth we have experienced

throughout our sessions.

April 24-26 Diocesan Youth Retreat

Are you in grades 6-12? Do you enjoy campfires, games, and having fun with new

friends? Then don't miss the Diocese of Rochester Youth Retreat! Join us at Asbury

Retreat Center, in Silver Lake, from 5:00 pm on April 24 through noon on April 26,
for a weekend of worship and great memories with other youth from the diocese.

If you are interested in attending and would like more information or have questions,

please contact Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org.

Click to Register for the Diocesan Youth Retreat

In Case You Missed It

April Creation Care Meeting

St. Thomas' parishioners are invited to join the

Creation Care Committee in a discussion of the book,

"The Serviceberry," by Robin Wall Kimmerer, at 8:00 pm

on Tuesday, April 7. Dr. Kimmerer will be speaking

at an event hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York on Saturday, May 2, for which this book is recommended preparation.

For more information, contact Allen Blair at 585.473.3453 or blairallen1959@gmail.com.

A Yummy Fundraiser

On Wednesday, April 22, from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm,

Adelita's Mexican Cocina & Tequila in Pittsford Plaza

will be donating 15% of its entire day's proceeds to

Family Promise of Greater Rochester. Formerly known

as RAIHN, the homeless shelter assists families at risk

of or experiencing homelessness to achieve sustainable independence by providing person-centered, holistic services in collaboration with the greater community.

The fundraiser includes lunch, dinner, and takeout orders. Come and enjoy a great meal, and assist Rochester's families in housing crises.

Click to View the Family Promise Fundraiser Flyer