In This Issue

• Advent Wreath
• Mrachek Middle School Holiday Extravaganza
• Coffee Hour: This is a 5th Sunday open for volunteers
• St. Francis Center: Male Volunteers Needed

Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath is a circle of greenery, marked by four candles that represent the four Sundays of the season of Advent. An additional candle is lit as each new Sunday is celebrated in Advent. Advent wreaths are used both in churches and in homes for devotional purposes. The candles may be blue, purple, or lavender, depending on local custom. Some Advent wreaths include a white candle in the center known as the “Christ Candle,” which is lit on Christmas Eve.

Feed My People Campaign

Food insecurity impacts 1 in 6 Denver residents. We know that St. Thomas members want to help prevent hunger in our community! There are multiple ways to help, and we hope that everyone will get involved in a way that works for you. Thank you to St. Thomas members, Park Hill neighbors, and English Learning Center participants who have donated and volunteered this week!

Here are three ways that you can help now:

• Donate money to Food Bank of the Rockies: Thanks to Caroline McDermott Worsham, St. Thomas has its own virtual fundraiser! Here are the updated instructions on how to join St. Tyomas in supporting Food Bank of the Rockies:

1. Go to the St. Thomas fundraising page at Food Bank of the Rockies and click Donate Now. Enter your donation amount and click "Give on behalf of a company/ organization." (See screenshot below.) Write in "St. Thomas Episcopal Church." Complete the rest of the form and you're done! 

2.Share this website with your friends and family. You can give them the option to write in St. Thomas Episcopal Church if they'd like to.

• Bring non-perishable food to St. Thomas and we will distribute it to local food banks. You can also help stock our “mini pantry” on the stage in the Great Hall. Feel free to “shop” here and share with friends and neighbors in need!

• Volunteer to help pack and distribute food at the Park Hill Food Bank (55 E. 26th Ave) on Fridays, 12:30-3:30. Please contact Liz Sunderland if you would like to help: Lizsunderland4115@gmail.com, or text (970) 593-2892.

Volunteers prepare to distribute food at Park Hill Food Bank last Friday

We will update this space with new opportunities to give or volunteer as they arise!

Written by Liz Sunderland

Mrachek Middle School Holiday Extravaganza

"Help make the Mrachek Middle School Holiday Extravaganza Shine!"

We’re spreading cheer this season with our 3rd annual Holiday Extravaganza @ Mrachek Middle School–and we need your help to make it extra special! We’re looking for donations such as gently used toys, clothing, books, jewelry, bikes, stuffed animals, toys, electronics, tools, etc. The donations can be for any age. Declutter while helping make our event awesome! Every donation, big or small, helps us create a joyful celebration for everyone. 

The mission of the Holiday Extravaganza is to provide an opportunity for Mrachek families to shop for holiday gifts at a significantly reduced cost as well as to celebrate the holidays as a community. 

Please bring your donations to church with Angela Sunderland's name on the items by December4th (Angela is a teacher at Mrachek).

Thank you for helping us make this holiday season bright for our community!

Coffee Hour

This is the 5th Sunday, when we rely on people to step up and help with coffee hour. If you can help please contact Emma Jurado Hillenburg at 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

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