THE EPISTLE:

May 22, 2025

Everybody's Pub Theology

TONIGHT, May 22

6 PM at PaPPo's

Please join us TONIGHT, Thursday, May 22, from 6:00–7:30 p.m., at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion!

Blevins Gap Holy Hike

THIS Saturday, May 24 9 AM

May's Holy Hike is this Saturday ,May 24 at Blevins Gap Preserve at 9:00 a.m.

We’ll hike sections of both the Certain and West Bluff trails to a spot with some spectacular views of the valley below—you can barely see St. Thomas from the top! The first half-mile has some uphill hiking, but after that it’s very flat. You may want to bring a snack and something to drink, as well as a hiking stick or trekking poles.



We’ll meet at the Blevins Gap Trailhead located at 3470 Cecil Ashburn Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35802. There is a portable toilet near the trailhead. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Byford at brettbyford59@gmail.com or 256.808.5776.

Memorial Day Weekend

Blood Drive

THIS SUNDAY, May 25!

The LifeSouth Bus will be at St. Thomas, this Sunday, May 25, from 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. This is a wonderful time of year to donate blood. Unfortunately, holiday weekends are always at an increased need for blood as injuries and accidents are more frequent. This Memorial Day weekend, if you are able, please donate to help those in need. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Link to sign-up online: https://donors.lifesouth.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/854498

Rector's Forum Continues this Sunday in the Parish Hall

For the "Merry Month of May," Fr. Donavan will be hosting a Rector's Forum during the Christian Formation hour each Sunday in the Parish Hall. Every Sunday morning, Fr. Donavan will begin with a topic currently on his mind that is related to our faith and spirituality today. After that, you are invited to bring your own questions to add to the discussion. So come enjoy a nice breakfast this Sunday at St. Thomas, grab a refill on your cup of coffee and hang around for a special Rector's Forum with Fr. Donavan, starting at 9:30am, this Sunday, in the Parish Hall!

Choral Evensong on the Eve of the Feast of the Ascension, Wednesday, May 28, at 6 PM

The Great Fifty Days of Easter is coming to an end, and we will be celebrating Jesus' Ascension into heaven with a beautiful Service of Choral Evensong on Wednesday, May 28, at 6:00 p.m. Come enjoy the music of English Composers Richard Ayleward, William Crotch, Sir Joseph Barnby, and German Composer Michael Praetorius  as we commemorate this most holy feast depicted in our glorious east window.

We're Moving our June 8th Pentecost Sunday Eucharist & Parish Picnic to Ditto Landing this year! Don't miss it!

St. Thomas will worship this year at Ditto Landing on Pentecost Sunday, June 8! It will be a great way to kick off summer and to gather the entire parish family together for worship and a community picnic! This will be our ONE MORNING SERVICE at 10:00 a.m. on Pentecost Sunday, and it will be offered in the pavilion at Ditto Landing. The pavilion is easily accessible to all, and, with the beauty of the Tennessee River behind us this year, we will celebrate with the music of a Jazz Eucharist arranged by our own Kathy Heim.

As we recount the story of Pentecost according to Acts 2:1–6, it is the tradition of the church to have the reading read in multiple languages. If you speak a language other than English and would like to read a portion of Acts in that language for Pentecost Sunday, please sign up this Sunday in Information Hall with your name, your email address/phone number, and the language you’d like to contribute. 

And don't forget to to wear something RED to celebrate Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit! 

Again, we will only offer the 10 AM Holy Eucharist that morning at Ditto Landing in order to bring the whole family together. But if for some reason you can't make it that morning, we will also celebrate Pentecost Sunday at the church that afternoon with our "Laid Back" Holy Eucharist at 5pm.

Make sure you have June 8, Pentecost Sunday, on your calendar, for our annual Pentecost Service & Parish Picnic at Ditto Landing!

UPCOMING

Save the Date

Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 AM

Our Parish looks forward to celebrating our Golden Girls and Boys on Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon in the Parish Hall. If you or your spouse are 80 or over, you are the honoree: no cooking or baking or salad-making. You are our guests! We will have ham and side salads, cake, and lots of conversation with lots of people we haven’t seen in ages.

This is a parish-wide party; those of us who can’t claim Golden status are encouraged and invited to attend. The only difference is that we do the salad-making to share with the honorees: green salads, potato salads, fruit salads, deviled eggs, dips and spreads, nuts and olives, cheese and crackers. All are welcome!

If you can't attend but would like to honor these cherished members of our church, feel free to make a salad and drop it off in the Parish Hall.

If you do plan to attend, please RSVP by calling the church office at (256) 880-0247.

 It’s gonna be great!

ONGOING

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.

The Bailey Cove Farmers' Market is up and running!

Come check it out this weekend and sign up THIS SUNDAY to Volunteer

The Bailey Cove Farmers' Market at St. Thomas is here! But we can’t make this year's biggest Farmers' Market work 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!

Free Yoga Class

Saturdays on the Lawn

at BCFM at 9 AM 

St. Thomas will offer free yoga classes this summer as part of its Bailey Cove Farmers' Market! Bring your own mat and move your body outdoors for 50 minutes. All classes will be beginner friendly. Participants must be able to stand and sit on the ground unaided. Wear comfortable, moveable clothing. Babies, kids, newbies, all are welcome.

Volunteers Needed for Sunday Morning Refreshments



We are almost out of volunteers and we still need a few more individuals or families to help to keep the refreshments coming on Sundays following the 10:30 am service. Bring homemade or store-bought sweet treats for a Sunday so that we can spend a few minutes gathering after worship. Please sign up using the poster in Information Hall. Instructions are in a manilla envelope under the signup sheet. Thank you for helping us keep this vital part of our parish thriving!

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