THE EPISTLE:

August 8, 2024

St. Thomas Trash Pandas Night is THIS Sunday, August 11th:

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Now through Saturday is your LAST CHANCE to get seats for our annual parish outing to a Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball game. Join us on August 11 to help show the Rocket City some St. Thomas spirit as our choir sings the National Anthem before the Trash Pandas take on the Birmingham Barons. First pitch is at 4:05 pm at Toyota Field, and to be able to hear our choir sing the National Anthem this year, it is suggested that you get to Toyota Field by 3:45 pm.

Purchase your ticket(s) NOW online directly by clicking on this link. The deadline is this Saturday, August 10, at 2pm! Financial assistance is available by contacting Fr. Donavan or Deacon Jeannie. If there is enough interest, we will take the church bus to the Trash Pandas game. For help ordering tickets or if you're interested in riding the bus, contact the church office at 256-880-0247 or email Laura Beth children@stthomashuntsville.org.

Mom's Group

TONIGHT, August 8

St. Thomas’ Mom's group ministry for mothers with children ages 0 - 18 is meeting again TONIGHT, Thursday, August 8, at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall! The monthly Mom's Group is a time to come together as mothers with young children to support one another, share in the love and laughter, and help each other through the challenges and struggles that motherhood brings. Being a mom is not always easy, so one night a month we come together to ask the good Lord for patience and strength and to lean on one another in this shared experience. Please bring a mom friend! Contact Audrey Cain HERE for more info.

Pray the Rosary 

TOMORROW, Friday,

August 9

The St. Thomas Rosary Prayer Group is now gathering every other Friday in the church at 12:05pm to pray the Rosary. Each prayer session lasts around half an hour and includes the reading of each scripture passage for the five decades of either the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. If you’ve never prayed the Rosary, we always have Rosary beads available, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice. If you would like to join us, the Rosary will be prayed again at St. Thomas tomorrow, Friday, August 9, at 12:05pm.

EfM Info Presentation: THIS SUNDAY between 8am & 10:30am Eucharists

Do you have an inquiring mind or heart?  EfM (Education for Ministry) has answers for you.  EfM is a 4 year Seminar plan designed by EfM staff at Sewanee and offered at St. Thomas on Tuesday nights, beginning in September. Each year, EfM helps participants to think through and address for themselves the following questions: Who am I?  Who should I be?  What’s the Bible really about?  What kind of service can I offer to the Glory of God?  Along with mutually inquiring minds, with diversity and inclusion, EfM offers a safe place to consider these questions. Through studying the Bible, Church History and Theology, plus learning to think using Theological Reflection, each learner is enabled to discern their own path to a more mature spirituality. This goal is to discern  the way in which God is calling them to be the hands and feet of Jesus in serving those in need, whether physical or spiritual. 

THIS SUNDAY between the two morning Eucharists, beginning at 9:30am in the Parish Hall, there will be a short, EfM Informational Presentation and Q&A offered by two of our current St. Thomas EfM members. We will also be in information Hall between services ready to answer your questions. Please don't miss this opportunity to find out more about Education for Ministry, or send your questions to Sally Barnett by clicking HERE.

St. Thomas Book Club

How to Walk Away

by Katherine Center

August 12

We all had a great talk about India last meeting and are looking for another meeting on August 12. This month's book is How to Walk Away, by Katherine Center. Hope to see you at 10 a.m. in the church Parlor. Call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669. for more information. We'd like to see you even if you have not read the book.

Choral Evensong for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thursday, August 15th

The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on the church calendar every year on August 15th. This year, on Thursday, August 15th, at 6pm, St. Thomas will celebrate this important Feast Day of the Mother of Jesus with a special Choral Evensong, led by the St. Thomas Choir. Classic pieces from Richard Ayleward and Sergei Rachmaninoff will be offered, as well as compositions of the Phos Hilaron, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis from the St. Thomas Evening Service, composed by our own Director of Music, Katherine Heim! Fr. Donavan will officiate and will offer a short homily. 

Please mark your calendar for August 15th and join us for this special Choral Evensong for the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Nave.

St. Thomas' Rally Day Sunday is less than a week away on Sunday, August 18th!

This year for Rally Day, we will have ONE MORNING EUCHARIST at 10 AM to bring our church family together, with special Southern Gospel Music, lead by our Choir, our talented Gospel pianist, Sam Wright, and special musical guests! After worship, we will have a Parish lunch in the Parish Hall, where our Ministry Fair will be on display for the upcoming Fall season. And for children and families, we will have a big waterslide, a smaller waterslide/bouncy house combo, and a 2-station sports inflatable. We need responsible adults who can help make sure our young parishioners and friends are playing safely on the water slides and bouncy house. There are two shifts available: 11:30-1:00 and 1:00-2:30pm. Email our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth, (children@stthomashuntsville.org) if you can help.

Daughters of the King

Diaper Drive

It is time for DoK’s End of Summer Diaper Drive! Your gracious contributions go to DHR in Athens, AL, where adults in the care of the state usually have to wait “as is” because there are not enough diapers to take care of the number of people needing them. When I asked the Huntsville DHR if they needed help, the reply was that they had plenty of everything except maybe a “box of birthday cards”. Please look for the “Diaper Drive” container in Information Hall. Diapers of all sizes- adult and children- are needed.

The family of St. Thomas has been extremely generous in response to Manna House’s plea for clothes for their clients. In fact, you could say that they have been overwhelmed, but in a positive way! With your help, I would like to continue this ministry as the need is so great. This is an excellent opportunity to clean out a closet or find a good home for clothes that no longer fit. Therefore, the Manna House container will remain in Information Hall for clothes, socks, underwear, and shoes.

2024 Lobsterfest Season is Here!

The 2024 Lobsterfest season kicked off in June, with David Hattaway and Tom Perry chaired as co-Kings. This year's Lobsterfest offers a variety of opportunities for everyone, featuring both Drive Through and Eat-in options.

Several committees play a crucial role in making Lobsterfest a success. If you're interested in leading one of these committees, please contact David Hattaway at (256) 337-0973 or hattaway.david@gmail.com, or Tom Perry at (256) 348-4313 or perrytbne@aol.com. You can also reach out to any member of the steering committee. There's a book in the Information Hall that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the committee chairs, and past chairs are available to provide guidance.

The committees include BBQ, Lobster Alley, Lobster Rolls, Parish Dinner, Kitchen (Preparation and Serving), Bake Sales, Soup & Savories, Concessions, Meal Distribution, Music Tent, Children's Activities, Artisans/Crafters, Event Set-Up, Parish Hall Clean-up, T-Shirts, Decorations, and Parking.

Silver Saints Matinee Presents:

Fried Green Tomatoes

Thursday, August 22

In August 2024 we are showing the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, on Thursday, August 22. This memorable movie is about friends, resilience, supportiveness, and love based in the Old South. The film stars Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Mary-Louise Parker, among others. A nursing home-bound lady shares an incredible story to an unhappy housewife with heartwarming results.

The Silver Saints Matinee Movie offers you fun and fellowship with snacks and beverages, and we will even transport you if you wish. Comfortable seating and a mid-movie break make it even more enjoyable. Please bring your friends and ask people from our neighborhood. Call Jack or Becky Stokes at 256-881-4748 or the church office with questions or requests. Please call 24 hours ahead if you will need a ride.

Everybody's Pub Theology

August 22

Sit down with Fr. Donavan and Deacon Jeannie tonight, Thursday, August 22, from 6-7:30pm, at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion!

Email Jeannie jrann228@gmail.com and let her know if you plan to join.

St. Thomas Blood Drive

Sunday, August 25

7:30am - 1:30pm

So many people are in need and St. Thomas is always willing to help. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Link to sign-up online: CLICK HERE

All donors will receive a $20 e-gift card.

Stewardship of Creation

Needs Your Help!

We are trying to recycle what we can from our activities at St Thomas. There are 4 recycling bins around the building that need regular emptying. We invite those who have recycling pick-up services at their homes to sign up on a rotating basis to take the contents from the bins at the church and take them home to recycle. One bin contains mixed materials and needs emptying weekly; the other bins are mainly paper and will need checking every two weeks. For more information, contact Richard Williams rbwilliams67@gmail.com. Look for sign up sheets in Information Hall. You can also contact Belinda Greenaway at Belinda223@gmail.com, Stewardship of Creation Committee Chair.

The St. Thomas Choirs are back!

The choirs have returned this month and are behind the altar every Sunday morning at the 10:30 service.

Treble Choir - Grades 2-8 (4:30-5:15)

Adult Choir - Grades 9- Adult (7:30-8:45) rehearsals resume on Wednesday August 7.

Bell Choir - Resumes rehearsals on Wednesday, August 14 6:00-6:50.

Sunday Evening Gospel Choir - Rehearse just before each Sunday's 5pm service.

If there's enough interest, we'll bring back a choir for the younger kids PK-Grade 2 on Sunday afternoons (3:45-4:15), starting after Rally Day.

All of our choirs would be delighted to welcome new members. Contact Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for more information!

"Come As You Are"

5pm Holy Eucharist

This Sunday, and every Sunday, we have our "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist. Our 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal and gospel music chosen by our skilled keyboard master, Sam Wright. We also have good sermons preached from the floor. Come as you are and invite a friend to join you for the 5pm Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas.

The Bailey Cove

Farmer's Market

Please come out this weekend, support our local farmers, and get a taste of all our Farmer's Market at St. Thomas has to offer! If you'd like to help, we still need volunteers for set up and take down throughout out the season! You can volunteer to help by signing up on the poster on the bulletin board in Information Hall. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to support and help our Bailey Cove Farmers Market!! Start making your Farmers Market grocery list now!

Look for NEW Slides in the Church Hymn Board...the clergy are obviously a little excited.

The staff of St. Thomas had a small celebration of Bill Davenport, our handy volunteer. Many thanks for all your hard work and happy belated birthday!

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org