St. Thomas will be closed tomorrow, Friday, July 4th, in celebration of Independence Day. | | |
THE EPISTLE:
July 3, 2025
| | Backpack Ministry Donations & Events | | |
Urgent Need for Backpacks
In four short weeks we will be distributing backpacks and school supplies for elementary and middle school children, focusing on Challenger, Mountain Gap, and Weatherly students.
Last year we handed out 80 backpacks, and we would like to provide 100 this year, but we are behind last year’s collections. Please consider donating to this very important Ministry. You can purchase a backpack appropriate for elementary and middle school age children and place it in the Little Red Wagon in Information Hall. If you would rather not shop for a backpack, we welcome any monetary donations. Please make checks or digital donations to St. Thomas, earmarked for “Backpack Program” in the memo line and we will do the shopping for you!
MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK: Intergenerational Outreach Events for this year's Backpack Ministry!
Sunday, July 20, we will have an intergenerational activity during our Christian Formation between the 8am and the 10:30am Eucharists. Everyone is invited to gather after breakfast in the Parish Hall to help set up and fill our 100 backpacks with school supplies. Please plan on joining your church family in this important Outreach project!
And you are also encouraged you to participate in distributing the backpacks this year, if you'd like to do so! Backpacks will be handed out in the church parking lot on Thursday, July 24 and Friday the 25. The positive feedback from the recipients last year was heartwarming. If you'd like to help with the distribution, or if you have any questions about the Backpack Ministry, please contact Debbie Harriman at 256-509-6606 with any questions.
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St. Thomas Gospel Choir
at Baily Cove Farmers' Market
THIS Saturday, July 5
Our Gospel Choir will be singing once again at the Bailey Cove Farmer's Market (weather permitting) starting at around 9am. Stroll by and hear some old favorites as well as new songs featured in Sam Wright's new "Mi" shaped-note hymnal. Have a seat and sing along if you'd like!
Save the Date: August 31 is St. Thomas' annual outing to the Trash Pandas game and our choir will be singing the National Anthem.
| | Adult Christian Education Class Continues | |
"The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis
Come talk about devils with Dcn. Jeannie this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall! Deacon Jeannie will lead discussions of excerpts from C. S. Lewis' famous book, "The Screwtape Letters". A new letter will be discussed each week.
For those unfamiliar, the book is "satire [which] consists of a series of 31 letters in which Screwtape, an experienced devil, instructs his young charge, Wormwood, on effective strategies for tempting the human being assigned to him and making sure he continues on a steady path toward damnation[...]Through his satiric use of the demonic narrative persona, Lewis examines the opposing sides in the battle between good and evil." Please join us this Sunday for discussion!
| | Children's Chapel Returns THIS SUNDAY | | |
Children's Chapel Returns THIS Sunday, July 6
July sees the return of Children's Chapel at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist! Children are invited to come up for the Children's Moment at the 10:30 a.m. service and will follow the cross for Children's Chapel.
| | Local & National Outreach at St. Thomas | | |
Outreach Committee Meeting Monday, July 7 at 6 PM
There will be a meeting of the local national outreach committee Monday, July 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the main conference room. We will be discussing the current programs that St. Thomas supports, as well as possible new programs. Anyone interested in serving on this important committee or wish to come and share some ideas, please feel free to attend.
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St. Thomas Book Club
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll
Monday, July 7, 10 AM in the Parlor
Well, we had another great discussion of The Rose Code Monday. Thanks to everyone who was there. We decided that we wanted to do something a bit less dark so we chose Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Yes, most of us read it as children or teens but we wondered how we would approach it as adults. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [...] tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre." Please join us for discussions. Contact Elouisa Stokes at 256.604.8669 for more information.
| | Silver Saints Presents Matinee Film Series | | |
Silver Saints Presents: "Apollo 13"
Next Thursday, July 10 at 1 PM
In celebration of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center’s 65th Birthday, the July 2025 movie will be "Apollo 13" with Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, and others. It follows the story of how NASA as an agency and its contractors saved the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts.
Please come join us for a fun afternoon in the St. Thomas Parish Hall NEXT THURSDAY, July 10, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
As always, we will serve snacks and beverages, provide comfortable seating, and transport you to/from the Parish Hall if you so desire. This will be a great way to start your New Year. Please join us and bring your friends and neighbors. Please give us 24-hour notice if you will need a ride. Call Jack Stokes at 256-468-2743.
| | VBS Volunteer & Register NOW for July 14-18 | | |
VBS Compassion Camp–Changing the World with Lovingkindness
July 14-18!
The St. Thomas Children's Ministry is excited to announce that registration for our 2025 VBS is now open! We will be Changing the World with Lovingkindness at Compassion Camp from 9am until 12pm during the week of July 14-18. Register rising pre-K through 5th graders through this online VBS registration link. Limited nursery slots are available; nursery for non-parishioners is $25 for the week unless a parent/guardian is a VBS volunteer.
We need lots of volunteers to lead the way in demonstrating lovingkindness and hospitality for VBS. Sign-up online to HELP HERE or on the sheet in Information Hall. Questions? Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator, Laura Beth, at children@stthomashuntsville.org.
| | Youth Whitewater Rafting on the Ocoee | | Sisters in Faith New Date for July | | |
Sisters in Faith
New Date: Wednesday, July 23
Due to Vacation Bible School, the Sisters in Faith ministry will meet on the fourth Wednesday this month.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 23 at 5:30 pm, for this month’s meeting. Watch for more details in next week’s Epistle.
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Help Recycle - Adopt a Month
The Creation Care Committee desperately needs your help with the church recycling. Look for the sign sheet on the board in Information Hall.
We are looking for individuals or families who will commit to one month of weekly recycling on behalf of the church. All that is required it to empty one bin from the church into your home recycling each week for a month. There are 4 bins, so if 24 individuals or families sign up, the church’s recycling will be covered for 6 months! Contact Richard Williams at 256-426-3429 or rbwilliams67gmail.com with questions.
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Training for DOK
Ladies, if you are searching for more in your spiritual life, your prayer life and are seeking more connections with God and His people (that's all of us!) then we encourage you to consider the Daughters of the King (DOK).
DOK will begin a training program of six weekly sessions of discernment for those interested in learning more about DOK. Beginning Aug. 24 through Sept. 28 from
6–7:30 p.m. We will explain what DOK is and how it can enrich your life. There will be study, reflection and discussion.
If this interests you, please come join us and consider joining our order. Commitment to membership is after all our sessions. Please come August 24 to learn more! For information contact Barbara Meyer at bmeyer2944@gmail.com or ask any DOK member- we all wear our DOK crosses so we are easy to identify!
| | Bailey Cove Farmers' Market 2025 | | |
The Bailey Cove Farmers' Market is up and running!
Check it out this weekend and sign up 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!
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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.
| | One Remaining Bishop Search Listening Session | | |
Search for Bishop Last Listening Session Friday, July 11
The Diocese of Alabama invites all members to attend Listening Sessions in June and July as part of the search for the 13th Bishop.
These sessions provide a chance to share experiences, hopes for the future, and desired qualities in the next bishop.
Feedback will help the Search Committee discern the leadership needed. Use THIS LINK for a listening survey.
Everyone’s participation is important to this process. Click HERE for the bishop search website for more details.
| | Week at a Glance: June 26 - July 2 | | VBS Volunteer Kickoff Session | | Dcn. Jeannie showing off her artistic skills with her nametag for VBS | | Honduran students with youth from Church of the Ascension in Birmingham. Thank you to everyone at St. Thomas who helped make their trip a success! | | Scam Alert: Please know that you will NEVER receive texts or emails from our clergy or church staff asking you for money or gift cards. If this happens to you, please do not respond to the communication, and if you have questions, please contact the church office. | | | | |
