Parish Weekly July 3, 2026

Mission: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is a welcoming spiritual community dedicated to following the teachings of Christ Jesus. We grow through learning, celebrate joyful worship, and serve our neighbors.

Vision: We open hearts and minds to create community in Christ.

Rector's Notes

Beloved St. Thomas’,

I am writing to you to share that we have a new staff member, Jaime Berthold,

our Finance & Office Manager. We are excited to have Jaime join our team.

Please be sure to introduce yourself to her and practice patience as she undergoes onboarding over the next few months. You can read more about Jaime below.

On another note, as we celebrate the United States 250th anniversary, it is a time

to reflect on who we are, who we hope to be as a people, and the work that is ours

to do. Howard Thurman’s poem that we often hear in Christmastide comes to mind:

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and the princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among brothers, To make music in the heart

This is a reminder that humanity's larger purpose is always to love and care for the vulnerable, rather than demean and dominate one another and creation. Our country

is not as it should be, and we are often not always living into who we are meant to be. Let us take time to gently reorient our hearts towards love and grace as a way to help

us to bend the arc towards justice. May you know that you are beloved, and may we work to create a world that reflects the ever-evolving rainbow of beauty that is made

in the image of God.

Here is a prayer from The Book of Common Prayer for you, your friends, and family

to pray on the July 4 holiday:

Almighty God, giver of all good things:

We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land.

They restore us, though we often destroy them.

Heal us.

We thank you for the great resources of this nation.

They make us rich, though we often exploit them.

Forgive us.

We thank you for the people who have made this country strong.
They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.

Inspire us.

We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land.

It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden

from its light.

Enlighten us.

We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety.

It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again.

Renew us.

Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy name. Amen.

Be safe, be well, know that you are loved.

Amma Leslie+

Mark Your Calendars

Parish Office Closed (in observance of the Fourth of July holiday), Friday, July 3
Rochester Pride Parade, Saturday, July 18 (sign up below)

Note: The Parish Weekly newsletter will be emailed every other week throughout the summer.

Click to View All Upcoming Events Listed in the Parish Calendar

Click to View the Prayers for Public Policy and Witness

Parish Office News

New Staff Addition

Taking on the role of St. Thomas' Finance and Office Manager and newest team member, Jaime Berthold brings a unique blend of financial expertise, local roots, and a deep passion for helping others.

Born and raised in Rochester, Jaime has always

had a natural love for math and numbers. She turned this passion into a career by earning her Bachelor

of Science degree in Sports Management from

St. John Fisher College. Before bringing her talents

to St. Thomas', Jaime built a strong professional foundation working in key office support and financial roles at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Mendon Golf Club.

For Jaime, managing finances is about much more than just balancing spreadsheets. Throughout her career, she has found genuine joy in supporting others and solving problems. She approaches her work with a rare combination of empathy, compassion, and precise attention to detail. As a true team player, she is excited to channel these skills to make our daily operations run smoothly and help our community thrive.

When she is not managing the office, Jaime stays highly active. You can often find

her playing volleyball, hockey, or golf, or enjoying a peaceful day out on the water paddleboarding. However, her greatest joy of all is spending quality time with her family. Outside the office, Jaime’s world completely revolves around her amazing daughter, Peyton, alongside their beloved family pets—Hughie the dog and Zayn the cat.

Please join us in giving Jaime a warm St. Thomas' welcome the next time you stop

by the office.

Worship Ministry

Throughout July, we invite everyone to join in proclaiming the Children's Creed in place of the

Nicene Creed. This change will help our youngest members feel truly included in the worship during

the summer. To help you prepare, below is the

Children's Creed:

I believe in God above.

I believe in Jesus’ love.

I believe the Spirit, too,

Comes to show me what to do.

Amen.

Children's & Youth Ministries

Throughout the summer months, watch this space for two features, Family Commentary and Saints to Know. Family Commentary will provide short interpretations of the Gospel readings for each Sunday along with questions for reflection, and Saints to Know will highlight one Saint in the Episcopal Church who will be remembered during those weeks. Both resources are intended to guide family discussion with children/youth of all ages. Consider spending some time together each week as a family, reading and reflecting on upcoming scripture and leaders of our faith.

Direct any questions to Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org.

Click to View this Week's Family Commentary

Click to View this Week's Saints to Know

Stewardship

Keep Your Gifts Up To Date

Your ongoing financial support is vital for sustaining

St. Thomas' community and programs throughout the

year. Please consider maintaining your support during

the summer months to keep our community thriving.

Pledges may be made online or by mail. The St. Thomas’ Connect (STC) site offers a convenient way to manage your gifts anytime and from anywhere for a seamless and user-friendly online giving experience. STC is accessible using

a desktop computer, a laptop, the link provided below, or by scanning this QR code

with a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

Click to Make an Online Donation

Community Engagement

2026 Rochester Pride Parade

Mark your calendars to join the Episcopal Diocese

of Rochester in the Rochester Pride Parade on

July 18, 2026. See the form below to sign up and

for more information about other upcoming Pride events throughout the Diocese.

Click to Sign Up for Upcoming Pride Events

Brighton Food Cupboard Requests

The Brighton Food Cupboard is a program

of Jewish Family Service of Rochester

in partnership with the Brighton Central

School District and Foodlink. July and

August donation needs for the Brighton

Food Cupboard include granola bars and

toilet paper. Look for healthier granola bars and fruit bars in regular-size boxes and toilet paper in bulk packages

Drop off your donations in the collection

boxes located at each church entrance.

Thanks for caring and sharing in the love!

Attitude of Gratitude

Thank you to the Parish Connections Ministry for the deep clean of the kitchen in June. I appreciate your ministry of hospitality and creating a clean environment for us to build connection and belonging.

Thank you to St. Thomas' Choir for your ministry of music leadership throughout the program year. Your time and talent add joy and hope in our praise of God.

A special thank you to our Choir Director and Organist, Rhonda Wright! Your pastoral intuition with the choir and liturgy expands our worship experiences and sense of community.