Save the Date

Sunday, November 2, 2025

• All Saints Day and Baptisms

Saturday, November 8, 2025 9:30 - 12:30PM

• Fall Clean Up Work Party - Let’s Ready the Grounds for Winter. Bring gloves, clippers, rakes. Does anyone have an edger? If so, please bring it.

Sunday, November 9, 2025

•  Family Service with Youth Acolyte Information and Training Session following the service. All youth 7+ are invited to attend.

Sunday, November 16, 2025

• All Congregational Meeting: How do we support each other and create a refuge during these times? What resources can the church and community provide you?



In This Issue

• Democracy: Code Red
• Daughters of the King: Service of Admission
• Episcopal Insider: Major Feasts
• Coffee Hour: Team A is up this Sunday
• Music at St. Thomas - Colorado Youth Pipe Band
• The Chapman Foundation Partners with the Cathedral
• St. Francis Center: Male Volunteers Needed
• Office space available

Church Life

This feature is a way for the congregation to stay connected and know what is going on in one another's lives. Send prayer requests or submissions about anything going on in your life (new job, vacation, kids accomplishments, hobbies, etc.) to srwarden@saintthomasdenver.org

Democracy: Code Red

St. Thomas was the sight of the event Democracy: Code Red on Wednesday. The event was a discussion about the current state of Christian Nationalism, its impact on our country and what we can do about it. The discussion was led by the Rev. Marty Martin (a retired evangelical pastor, ethics professor, author, past COO/CEO of Food for the Hungry, a faith-based international relief and development organization) and Adrian Miller (Executive Director of the Colorado Council of Churches).

The event was sponsored by Principles First Colorado, The Colorado Council of Churches, and Capitol Hill United Ministries.

Daughters of the King: Service of Admission

On Sunday at the Wilderness service at St. John's Cathedral, the Order of the Daughters of the King held a Service of Admission. Miriam Stark was admitted as a Daughter and Pandora Smolinski was reinstated.

Daughters reaffirm the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism. She receives support in this commitment from a worldwide community of like-minded women.

Episcopal Insider: Ordination of Women

On July 29, 1974, a group of women known as the Philadelphia Eleven were irregularly ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church by bishops Daniel Corrigan, Robert L. DeWitt, and Edward R. Welles, assisted by Antonio Ramos. On September 7, 1975, four more women (the "Washington Four") were irregularly ordained by retired bishop George W. Barrett. In the wake of the controversy over the ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven, the General Convention permitted the ordination of women in 1976 and recognized the ordinations of the 15 forerunners. The first woman canonically ordained to the Episcopal priesthood was Jacqueline Means on January 1, 1977, followed shortly thereafter by Tanya Vonnegut Beck. Both were ordained at All Saints Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first woman to become a bishop, Barbara Harris, was consecrated on February 11, 1989.

At the same time, there was still tolerance for those dioceses which opposed women's ordination. In 1994, the General Convention affirmed that there was value in the theological position that women should not be ordained. In 1997, however, the General Convention then determined that "the canons regarding the ordination, licensing, and deployment of women are mandatory" and required noncompliant dioceses to issue status reports on their progress towards full compliance.

Bishop Barbara C. Harris

Sunday Coffee Hour

Team A is responsible for coffee hour this Sunday. If you'd like to volunteer for a coffee hour team or wish to know what team you are on, contact Emma Jurado Hillenburg at emma.jurado@gmail.com

Music at St. Thomas: Colorado Youth Pipe Band

The Colorado Youth Pipe Band rehearses at St. Thomas, and they have invited members to attend their community concert.

Chapman Foundation Partners with St. John's Cathedral

Happy Fall, St. Thomas community!

The Chapman Foundation is excited to be partnering with Saint John’s Cathedral to offer COMPLIMENTARY learning sessions to the community.  Be the best partner/friend/neighbor/co-worker/boss you can be with these easy and impactful skills! 

FREE Communication and Leadership Series

1350 N Washington Street, Denver, CO

Wednesdays from 7pm to 8pm

October 8^th to November 5^th

Learn practical skills to communicate more clearly, listen more effectively, have tough conversations more successfully, and show your appreciation more sincerely.  In short, be a better friend, partner, neighbor, and colleague for the people who matter most in your world. 

Bring your loved ones, neighbors, and colleagues to learn practical skills that enrich both personal and professional relationships! All are welcome—we hope you can join us!

Join us for one, some, or all. Here is the schedule:

Logic and Emotion

October 8^th - 7p to 8p

Bring your best self into your relationships by making space for logic as well as emotion. Help others find balance to make better choices and healthy connections.

Reflective Listening

October 15^th - 7p to 8p

Learn the power of authentic listening. Be a better friend, partner, neighbor, and colleague by putting down your phone and leaning into others.

Empathy, Emotional Awareness, and Perception

October 22^nd - 7p to 8p

Empower yourself and those around you to participate in relationships fully present and tuned in. Use empathy, emotional awareness, and perception to strengthen your relationships and better connect with loved ones.

Effective Confrontation

October 29^th - 7p to 8p

Make confrontation a force for good and growth. Have tough conversations that connect instead of dividing. Learn the art of keeping grace and a warm heart during the toughest interactions.

Power of Recognition

November 5^th - 7p to 8p

Learn to celebrate the important people in your life. Build connection with a well-crafted recognition message. Because everyone needs to know how much they matter!  

--

Emma Jurado Hillenburg

(773) 316-8706

emma.jurado@gmail.com

St. Francis Center - Male Volunteers Needed

I am reaching out from St. Francis Center, a refuge for those experiencing homelessness in Denver. Each day, we open our doors to hundreds of neighbors in need, offering basic services such as showers, laundry, clothing, mail, and storage. These simple acts of hospitality allow our guests, many of whom are older men, to maintain dignity and hope in very difficult circumstances.

At this time, our greatest need is for adult male volunteers to help with our men’s showers. This role involves passing out towels and hygiene supplies to men who come to shower at our facility- on average, more than 300 each day. Because most of our current volunteers are women and unable to staff the men’s showers, this need is especially pressing.

We are open 7 days a week, and we welcome volunteers to serve on a schedule that works for them. We understand the idea of serving as a shower attendant may sound a little intimidating at first, but again and again our volunteers share that it becomes one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of their service. In the Shower Stations, volunteers provide far more than hygiene items—they offer dignity, care, and a fresh start. For many guests, a shower can be a grounding and rejuvenating moment that helps them feel human again.

We would be deeply grateful if you might invite the men of your congregation to consider this call to serve their brothers in a very tangible way. Even a few hours a month can make a profound difference in the lives of our guests.

Volunteers can sign up directly here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/2145380031

I would also be glad to speak further, provide tours of our facility for your members, visit your church, or provide more details if that would be helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your faithful leadership and for encouraging your members to be in service to their neighbors in need.

Sarah Taylor

Office / Studio Space Available

St. Thomas has one office available to lease. If you know of anyone who is looking for affordable office or studio space, please ask them to call us.

Faith Communities Against

White Christian Nationalism

Newsletter Editor: Angela Pleasants

St. Thomas Office Hours

Tuesday, 10:00 - 3:00

Send submissions to srwarden@saintthomasdenver.org