THE EPISTLE:

April 10, 2025

Seder Supper, Tuesday, April 15

RSVP Deadline TODAY!

Seder is a serious and joyful event where the Passover story from the Bible is retold. Looking to our Jewish roots, we tell the Exodus story, with its themes of power and mercy, bondage and freedom, hope and despair. Seder is a service interspersed with a dinner (lamb, chicken, or vegetarian), which concludes as the meal ends. We follow the traditional Jewish Seder, remembering that at the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated Seder with his disciples.  

The meal will be provided for a donation of $12 per adult and $5 per child. RSVP deadline is TODAY, Thursday, April 10 either online through the LINK HERE or by calling the front office.

We are in need of volunteers to ensure this service is successful. Volunteer sign-up sheets are also on the Information Hall Bulletin Board. Contact Mike or Laura Beth Bestor via EMAIL HERE to see how you can help. 

Spring Cleanup Day April 12th

Spring Cleanup Day

THIS Saturday, April 12 at 8 AM

Everyone is invited to help with Spring Cleanup! This is the time of year we do a little spring maintenance and clean the grounds in preparation for Easter. We will meet at 8:00 AM in the Parish Hall. A light breakfast will be provided. Bring your favorite pair of work gloves and gardening tools, and let’s make St. Thomas beautiful for Easter!

"Palms and Pizza"

THIS Saturday, April 12

All ages are welcome to join Mtr. Katie in the Parish Hall on Saturday, April 12th at 5pm for Palms and Pizza, to enjoy a supper of pizza and make palm crosses together as we prepare to begin Holy Week!

Easter Sunday Brunch

Sign up THIS SUNDAY to bring your Deviled Eggs to the Easter Brunch!

Sign-up sheets will go up this weekend for help with the annual Easter brunch this Easter Sunday, April 20th! The brunch will be held between the two Easter services this year, from 9:00 - 10:15 am. Deviled eggs, sliced ham, hot cross rolls, fruit salad, hot pineapple casserole, punch, and champagne mimosas will be served.

Donations of deviled eggs and fruit salad needed!

Deviled egg trays will be handed out Sundays, April 6 and April 13, between services. We only need as many deviled eggs as we have trays – 20 dozen – and we will need 25 people to donate fruit bowls with 4-6 servings each. All other items will be provided by the church. We are excited to celebrate this joyous occasion with out church family!

Plan to join us at this festival brunch to celebrate a glorious Easter morning! Grab a bite, say Happy Easter, then make room for others to do the same!

Book Club

April 14 at 10 AM in the Parlor

Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig

The St. Thomas Book Club will meet on April 14 at 10 am in the Parlor. We are reading Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig, which is a novel based on the story about a group of women from Smith College who risked their lives in France during WWII. Everyone is invited to join us. For information call 256-604-8669.

Easter Flower Donations

Easter Flower Donations

Easter flower dedication envelopes are in the pews if you'd like to make a donation in honor, memory, or in thanksgiving of someone special. Dedications are a wonderful way to both beautify our church and honor loves ones. Please print legibly and with correct spelling. Simply place the envelope in the offertory plate or with the church office. Donations require a $50 minimum and must be received by Sunday, April 13.

A Choral Meditation on the Passion of Christ

Good Friday, April 18

6:00 pm

Join us for this beautiful service of lessons and music to continue the observance of Holy Week. The service was designed in 1985 by the Dean of Chapel, the Rev. Andrew Macintosh, and the Organist, George Guest, at Cambridge University. The students of Cambridge University are not present during Holy Week, so a service was designed for the St. John’s College community to reflect on the mysteries of this key part of the Christian story beforehand.

This service has been a tradition at St. Thomas which started in the 1990's as a Good Friday offering and is now returning to its Good Friday spot in our Holy Week Services.

Music will include several Christmas Carols that reference Christ’s passion, as well as other music written especially for Holy Week such as: "I Wonder as I Wander" - arr. John Rutter, "Bethlehem Down" - Peter Warlock, "That Virgin’s Child" – Thomas Tallis, "Sing Lullaby" – Basque, "Carol of the Passion" – Gerald Near, "Stabat Mater" -Giovanni Pergolesi, "Solus ad Victimam"- Kenneth Leighton

This contemplative service will also include congregational hymns and readings from the prophecies and Passion Gospels.

Easter Egg Hunt

Drop Candy Donations Sunday, April 13 in Information Hall

Join us at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 19, for the Annual St. Thomas Easter Egg Hunt! Come take a picture with the St. Thomas Easter bunny, and stay for a hot dog lunch after filling your Easter baskets. Let your friends and grandchildren know!

Our Youth will stuff the eggs this Sunday, April 13, during Christian Formation hour. Please have donations in Information Hall by 9:30am. Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator at children@stthomashuntsville.org if you have any questions.

Holy Week Services

April 14-17 12 PM

at Hope Presbyterian

The Southeast Clergy Association is sponsoring Holy Week Noonday Services and Lunch at 12 p.m. each day April 14 -17 at Hope Presbyterian Church located at 10001 Bailey Cove Rd SE. We will gather with the community at noon for a brief worship service followed by a light lunch, concluding by 1 p.m. Rev. Katie Kirk-Costas will be speaking Tuesday, April 15.

A different pastor will be providing the message each day:

Monday: Rev. Dr. Dedric Cowser, Senior Pastor -Trinity United Methodist Church

Tuesday: Rev. Katie Kirk-Costas, Associate Rector - St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Wednesday: Rev. Valerie Burton, Senior Pastor - Weatherly Heights Baptist Church

Thursday: Rev. Carl Malm, Executive Director - Huntsville Association of Pastoral Care;  Grief Counselor; Pastor - Old Brick Presbyterian Church, Muscle Shoals

We will also be collecting non-perishable items for the food pantry at the Huntsville Assistance Program, as they are critically low on supplies. 

Take a break and join us for worship, fellowship, and caring for our community as we prepare for Easter!

UPCOMING

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.

Recent Book Collection:

"Liturgical Mysteries" by Mark Schweizer

Donated by Donna Clark

Donna Clark recently donated her set of “Liturgical Mysteries” by Mark Schweizer to the church library.  These delightful novels are set in a small town in North Carolina. The main character is the chief of police as well as the choir master at the Episcopalian Church who longs to be a mystery writer.  Intrigue and comedy ensue!  The books are sequential, but you can begin anywhere in the series to enjoy the lovable characters and funny happenings at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. As a lifelong alto, Donna recommends beginning with “The Alto Wore Tweed.”

Invite, Welcome, Connect Ministry

Newcomer Social

Friday, May 2

Calling all Newcomers to St. Thomas! If you've joined the church in the last year, the Invite, Welcome, and Connect Ministry invites you to a Newcomer's Social. Please join us Friday, May 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Narthex for heavy hors d'oeuvres, desserts, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Come mingle with other Newcomers, meet members of the IWC and the clergy, and have a great time!

Patterson Place Fundraiser

Dine with a Purpose

Thursday, May 1

Come support the Citizens of Patterson Place at their Dine with a Purpose fundraiser May 1st at The Jackson Center. There will be live music, fellowship, testimonies and celebrations. You can purchase your tickets on the website before April 25th. Visit pattersonplaceal.org for more information. You can also email eclark@pattersonplaceal.org for questions. 

Daughters of the King Ministry Update

A huge thank you to all who have supported St. Thomas’ Clothing Drive for Manna House. They are always so grateful and amazed at your generosity! The new bin for clothes, shoes, socks and underwear is in Information Hall. The need is greater than ever. Remember, as the seasons change, it’s a great time to clean out your closets!

Sunday "Come As You Are"

"Come As You Are"

5pm Holy Eucharist

This Sunday, and every Sunday, at 5pm in the Nave, you are invited to the "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas. The 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, special gospel music chosen by our amazing pianist and organist, Sam Wright, and casual sermons preached from the floor.

Children's Chapel and Christian Formation

Children and Youth Christian Formation

See the regularly scheduled Children and Youth Sunday School offerings by simply clicking the link below. You can also find both Adult and Treble Choir rehearsal times and times for Bell Choir rehearsals with just a simple click of the button below!

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