THE EPISTLE:

April 24, 2025

Thursday in Easter Week

Meet and Greet

Sunday, May 11

after 10:30 AM Eucharist

We are very excited to announce that Ethan Evans has accepted our invitation to be St. Thomas' new full-time Youth Minister, beginning May 5th!

Ethan has led youth ministry in our diocese at the parish, camp, and diocesan level, and grew up in youth ministry in the Episcopal Church himself! Ethan has an extensive Camp McDowell background, spending two years working at the McDowell Environmental Center as a Raptor Care Assistant and Seasonal Instructor, and serving on Camp McDowell’s summer staff for three summers, and he has also served as the Youth Ministries Assistant at Saint Stephen’s, Birmingham. His love for youth ministry comes from a lifetime in churches small and large, from growing up as a youth leader in Episcopal parishes himself to working with the diocesan Youth Department as a past Advisor! 

Ethan is a Huntsville-area local, having graduated from Grissom High School in 2019. Some of his hobbies include photography, hiking, and playing the can-jo. 

Ethan will be developing new weekly Youth programs for our middle and high school youth, as well as planning monthly Youth events and future mission and pilgrimage trips for our youth. He will also lead our acolyte program, including working with clergy to train and prepare new acolytes!

We are very excited to welcome Ethan to our growing church family, and Ethan is excited to join us! He writes, “I am thrilled to be joining the Saint Thomas team! I can’t wait to meet y’all!”

There will be a special "Meet & Greet" for Ethan on Sunday, May 11th, immediately following the 10:30am Holy Eucharist!

Silver Saints Matinee Presents:

The Legend of Bagger Vance

TODAY, April 24 at 1 PM

As a tip of the hat to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta , GA, earlier this month, your Silver Saints Matinee Movie for April 2025 is The Legend of Bagger Vance, starring Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, and others. A rumored to be true American sports fantasy drama film directed by Robert Redford is a story about a mysterious golf caddy who assists a struggling golfer at the Masters golf course with some possible magic. Come join us in the St. Thomas Parish Hall at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

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.

Everybody's Pub Theology

TONIGHT, April 24

6:00 PM at PaPPo's

Sit down with Dcn. Jeannie, TONIGHT, Thursday, April 24, from 6-7:30pm, at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion!

Return of the Dodge:

Truck Blessing

Sunday, April 27, at 10 AM

DO YOU WANT TO HELP BLESS AL STOKES’ AWARD WINNING TRUCK? Al’s 1946 Dodge truck, a 30-year labor of love and the main character in St. Thomas' first car show last year, won 1st Place at the Antique Automobile Club of America Southeastern Fall Nationals! Join our clergy between services at 10am THIS SUNDAY, April 27, in the parking lot, as we celebrate with a special truck blessing! Well done, Al!

Are you NEW to St. Thomas?

Newcomers Class 2

THIS Sunday, April 27

If you're a newcomer to St. Thomas and would like to know a little more about our history and take a brief tour of the facilities, come join Suzy Thurber on April 27 at 9:30 after breakfast for an introduction to our church. Meet in the Crossroads Room; just follow the blue signs! We are really excited to have you here at St. Thomas.

The Bailey Cove Farmers Market Opens

Saturday, May 3! Sign up THIS SUNDAY to Volunteer

The Bailey Cove Farmers Market at St. Thomas kicks off this year on Saturday, May 3! But we can’t have it 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!

Sponsor the Special Session Yearbook for just $10!



Please help us offer a much-beloved part of Special Session! The brainchild of Mary Nell Sloan, a yearbook commemorating Special Session, a session at Camp McDowell for adults with special needs, is gifted to each camper and staff member.

The yearbook is presented to campers and staff members shortly before the dance on the last night of camp. Campers and staff spend Happy Hour (a daily pause for lemonade, water, and snacks) signing yearbooks for each other. The yearbook is a vitally important part of the camp experience at Special Session. We know of one camper who carries two or three copies of his beloved yearbooks, covering different years, to his day center each day. His father tells us that he has had to replace their covers several times because they have worn out.

Each yearbook is roughly $10 to prepare and includes the costs of printing the yearbook and its binding. All photos are taken by staff and provided to us at no cost. To keep costs as low as possible, we bind the yearbooks ourselves once they are printed. Please consider sponsoring one or more campers. If you choose to sponsor, you may submit your donation to the Finance Office at St. Thomas (please indicate SS Yearbook with your donation). We love and appreciate your willingness to consider this opportunity to bring joy to our community!

UPCOMING

Praying the Rosary with

Fr. Donavan returns on Friday, May 2

The Rosary is prayed at St. Thomas every other Friday at 12:05pm in the Nave of the church and returns next Friday, May 2nd.

Each prayer session lasts around half an hour and includes a reading from the scriptures for each of 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, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice. Please come pray the Rosary at St. Thomas every other Friday, beginning May 2nd, at 12:05pm.

Invite, Welcome, Connect Ministry

Newcomer Social

Friday, May 2

Calling all Newcomers to St. Thomas! If you've joined the church in the last year, the Invite, Welcome, and Connect Ministry invites you to a Newcomer's Social. Please join us Friday, May 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Narthex for heavy hors d'oeuvres, desserts, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Come mingle with other Newcomers, meet members of the IWC and the clergy, and have a great time!

St. Thomas Presents:

Concert with

Parker Hastings

May 10, 5 PM

We are happy to announce an encore concert with award winning Nashville guitarist and singer, Parker Hastings, on Saturday, May 10 at 5 pm. Parker, has won numerous awards, including Thumb-picker of the Year for his Merle Travis/Chet Atkins style guitar playing, and he is a member of the Nat'l Pickers Hall of Fame. Parker performs in the spirit of "music to make you smile," so you don't want to miss this most entertaining, guitar swinging concert. All concerts are free of charge.

Patterson Place Fundraiser

Dine with a Purpose

Thursday, May 1

Come support the Citizens of Patterson Place at their Dine with a Purpose fundraiser May 1st at The Jackson Center. There will be live music, fellowship, testimonies and celebrations. You can purchase your tickets on the website before April 25th. Visit pattersonplaceal.org for more information. You can also email eclark@pattersonplaceal.org for questions. 

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.

Daughters of the King Clothes Drive

A huge thank you to all who have supported St. Thomas’ Clothing Drive for Manna House. They are always so grateful and amazed at your generosity! The new bin for clothes, shoes, socks and underwear is in Information Hall. The need is greater than ever. Remember, as the seasons change, it’s a great time to clean out your closets!

Children's Chapel and Christian Formation

Children and Youth Christian Formation returns THIS Sunday,

April 27th

See the regularly scheduled Children and Youth Sunday School offerings by simply clicking the link below. You can also find both Adult and Treble Choir rehearsal times and times for Bell Choir rehearsals with just a simple click of the button below!

"Come As You Are"

5pm Holy Eucharist returns THIS Sunday, April 27th

Every Sunday, at 5pm in the Nave, you are invited to a "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas. The 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, special gospel music chosen by our amazing pianist and organist, Sam Wright, and casual sermons preached from the floor.

The 5pm Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas returns THIS Sunday, April 27th, for the Second Sunday of Easter! See you there!

Habitat for Humanity House

Calling all volunteers! Volunteers are needed for construction of this year’s Habitat house. The address is 4305 Blue Spring Rd NW. Please join in if you are able. Please contact George Harriman at 256-509-6666. We are also looking for a new lead contact person for Habitat for Humanity at St. Thomas, as our dedicated past leader, Elouisa Stokes, has stepped down after many years in that role.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org