THE EPISTLE:

November 20, 2025

Silver Saints Movie Presents:

The Horse Whisperer

TODAY, November 20

Parish Hall 1 PM

As a tilt of the hat to our Parish horse lovers and in memory of the recently deceased actor, Robert Redford, we offer you a horse movie. Please come join us for our monthly Silver Saints Movie Matinee event to see the movie The Horse Whisperer, starring Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, and others. Come join us in the St. Thomas Parish Hall at 1:00 p.m. TODAY November 20, 2025, as we watch a thought-provoking and interesting movie.



As always, 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. Call Jack or Becky Stokes at 256-468-2743, or the church office at 256-880-0247. Please call 24 hours ahead if you will need a ride. Please come join us and be happy.

Stewardship Campaign 2025 Update!



St. Thomas is blessed in so many ways and none more so than your generous financial support. As of Ingathering Sunday, November 16, we have received a total of 134 pledges totaling $625,588. We are now in the process of winding down our campaign for 2026 and are beginning the important work of preparing our budget for next year. 

If you haven’t had a chance to turn in your 2026 pledge card, St. Thomas still needs you and there is still time! 

Additional pledge cards will remain available in the church office and in the Narthex. So at your earliest convenience, please complete and return it to the finance office or place in the offering plate this Sunday.

OR YOU CAN FILL OUT YOUR PLEDGE CARD ONLINE RIGHT NOW! Get caught up with your pledge for 2026 by clicking the button below and help St. Thomas grow it's ministries in the year ahead! THANK YOU!

Invite, Welcome, Connect

Realm Tutorial

Sunday, November 23

9:30 AM Information Hall

Many of our parishioners, both new and established, have not set up their Realm accounts in our online directory. The Invite, Welcome, and Connect committee will have volunteers on hand to help you get started Sunday, November 23. We can help you do any or all of the following:



• Log in and set up your account so that you can use it.
• Allow others to see selected information about you.
• Photograph you and add your picture in the directory.

We will have computers and a photography area set up in Information Hall and the Parlor between the 8 and 10:30 services. If you let us know in advance via e-mail at kabhmk2017@gmail.com we will also be available after the 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. services.

Admission to the St. Thomas Realm online directory is by invitation only and membership is supervised by the office staff. It is a secure site that only allows information to be shared to other parishioners who have been invited and set up on the St. Thomas Realm directory. Please come see us so that we can all be better connected!

Join Fr. Donavan for a special Rector's Forum

THIS SUNDAY, November 23!

This Sunday during the Christian Formation hour, beginning at 9:30am in the Parish Hall, Fr. Donavan will return to the podium to lead a discussion on all manner of topics, from Christ the King Sunday's history, to his favorite Thanksgiving dishes, to anything else you might like to discuss about the church and our quickly approaching Advent & Christmas season at St. Thomas! So grab your breakfast and get ready for a special Rector's Forum discussion this Sunday morning!

Friends of 400: Shellie's Kids Christmas Gifts only TWO left to Sponsor!

Each year, St. Thomas sponsors Friends of 400 and Shellie's Kids to help make Christmas brighter for children living in public housing and those active in Troop/Cub Pack 400 and the Searcy Boys & Girls Club. Last year they were able to gift over 450 local kids! And this year more children are waiting to be adopted. Let’s come together again to make sure every child wakes up to Christmas morning joy! The impact of our Christmas Gift Drive lasts far beyond the holiday season. 

How to Adopt a Child

1. Pick a child's information sheet from the "Shellie's Kids" table this Sunday at St. Thomas.

2. Each child lists 3 clothing needs and 2 “want” gifts (up to $30 each).

3. You may be extra generous, but please fit everything into 4 boxes (no more, no less).

4. Wrap and label each box clearly with the child’s name, and return them to St. Thomas for collection by our Outreach Committee by December 7.

Friendsgiving!

Thursday, November 27,

Parish Hall, 4 PM

Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Thomas - Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Parishioners without large families nearby will be gathering at the church that day to share a Friendsgiving meal. The proteins will be provided and participants are asked to bring a side dish to share. We will have a sign-up sheet in Information Hall or call the church to let us know what you can bring. Join us! If you have questions on how you can help, contact Renee' Redfield at renee.redfield@hsv-k12.org or 256-698-1184.

UPCOMING

Pray the Rosary

Every Friday in Advent, beginning December 5th

The St. Thomas Rosary Prayer Group will not meet at its usual time on, Friday, November 29th, but beginning on December 5th, the Rosary will be offered each and every Friday during the season of Advent at 12:05pm in the Nave.

Each prayer session lasts around half an hour and, during Advent, includes the reading of each scripture passage for the five decades of the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.  And during Advent, our scripture readings for the Joyful Mysteries will be read from the King James Version of the Bible.

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.

Daughters of the King to host an Advent Quiet Day on Saturday, December 6th in the Parish Hall

On Saturday morning, December 6th, beginning at 8:30am, the Daughters of the King will again be hosting a special Advent Quiet Day at St. Thomas in the Parish Hall. Coffee, tea, and orange juice along with some light breakfast food will be available, followed by an Advent program led by Pat Johnson, Mtr. Katie, and Fr. Donavan beginning at 9:15am. LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM IN NEXT WEEK'S EPISTLE!

Please invite a friend and join the Daughters of the King for this special Advent Quiet Day on December 6th at St. Thomas.

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Monday, December 8

10 AM in the Parlor

From the beloved author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe comes another charming and heartwarming tale. A Redbird Christmas, written by Fannie Flagg, invites readers into a small Alabama town where community, kindness, and a touch of holiday magic come together in a story that’s uplifting and full of hope, warmth, and holiday spirit. After a terminal diagnosis, Oswald T. Campbell relocates to the sleepy town of Lost River, Alabama, to spend what he believes is his last Christmas. Expecting solitude, he instead finds friendship, hope, and unexpected joy. At the center of it all is Red, a beloved redbird whose charm brings the town together in surprising ways.

Tis the Season for Giving! Your Blood is Priceless

Sunday, December 7

7 AM – 1 PM

St. Thomas friends, our next blood drive is set for Sunday, December 7. Please consider remembering Pearl Harbor Day this year with a gift of life. The cost is only your time. What better gift can you give? 

ONGOING

Compline Online

Mondays at 8 PM

with Dcn. Jeannie

Looking for a new prayer opportunity and a way to center yourself in prayer each week? Every Monday at 8 p.m., you’re invited to join Dcn. Jeannie online for Compline. Compline is a brief evening prayer service and a peaceful way to set your week with intention and to end your day with a sense of completion and stillness.

The service lasts just 15 minutes and can be accessed on St. Thomas’ Facebook page. You simply need a Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and to turn to pg. 127.

It will be LIVE every Monday at 8 PM.

Please contact jrann228@gmail.com or the front office for more information.

Morning Prayer at St. Thomas Returns First Thursday in Advent December 4 at 7 AM

Morning Prayer will not meet next Thursday, November 27, due to the celebration of Thanksgiving. We will return the first Thursday in Advent, December 4.

Do you have questions about the Bible? Have you wondered about what everything in the Book of Common Prayer means? Come to Youth Sunday School to try and answer those questions and more! 7-12th graders meet during formation time in the Youth Room at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday to talk about Covenants in the Bible!

7-12th Graders! Weekly EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) continues! EYC meets Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, HERE for more information.

Treble Choir

The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship service and our special services this year will include Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve. All children in 2nd-8th Grades are invited to join! Bring a friend!

The Treble Choir schedule is available HERE and is posted on the bulletin board leading to Hiers Hall, the choir bulletin board in Hudson Hall, and the St. Thomas Website. Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Please email Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for details!

Join the St. Thomas Adult Choir

You don't have to be a kid to sing! Click HERE to see and hear the St. Thomas choir practicing their anthem for this Sunday.

Children's Sunday School continues this Sunday at 9:30am-10:15am! Join us in Hiers Hall as we share a year of faith, love, and fun! 

Godly Play class for Pre-K through 1st graders is led by Renee' Redfield in Hiers 4. 

Storymakers for 2nd and 3rd graders is by Nichole Hargrove in Hiers 6. 

Thou Art class for 4th through 6th graders led by Laura Beth Bestor in Hiers 2.  

Our nursery is open from 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sundays for our Pre-K and under children.  We have our Play'n'Worship curriculum available for those in the nursery to enjoy on Sunday mornings. Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator via email at children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org