THE EPISTLE:

July 17, 2025

You're Invited to VBS Compassion Camp Closing Program TOMORROW,

Friday, July 18 at 12 PM

We have had a great week at Compassion Camp VBS! All in the Parish are invited to attend the short closing program by the VBS participants on Friday, July 18 at 12 p.m. in the Nave.

You will also have a chance to hear special music from our VBS children who have been in music with our Music Director, Miss Kathy Heim. This Sunday, the children will sing during the Offertory at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist!

And be sure to check out photos below of this year's "Compassion Camp" VBS at St. Thomas!

20 Backpacks Still Needed for 6^th-8^th Grades!

Thank you for all the support for our backpack ministry. Through your generous donations we have purchased school supplies to fill 100 backpacks!! We still need 20 “large” backpacks for middle schoolers. Please drop them by the church office tomorrow or bring them with you to our Intergenerational Backpack Outreach event between the 8am & 10:30am Eucharist THIS SUNDAY!

Please only purchase and donate backpacks or give a monetary donation this Sunday, earmarked for "Backpack Ministry" to help our Local & National Outreach team pick up the larger backpacks that are needed this year!

Thank you!

AND DON'T MISS OUR "MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK": Intergenerational Outreach Events, beginning THIS SUNDAY, July 20, at 9:30am!

This Sunday, July 20, we will have an intergenerational outreach activity during our Christian Formation hour between the 8am and the 10:30 a.m. Eucharists. Everyone is invited to gather after breakfast in the Parish Hall at 9:30 a.m. 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 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, July 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.

Over $5,000 given for Flood Relief in Kerr County, Texas

Thank you so much, St. Thomas, for your generous giving in donations for Flood Relief in Kerr County, Texas following the tragic flash flooding of the Guadalupe River on July 4th. Combined with the donations from the Rector's Discretionary Fund, St. Thomas was able to send over $5,000 total in donations, divided between the "All Hands and Hearts" Emergency Relief Team serving Kerr County, the Flood Relief Fund for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Kerrville, TX Flood Relief, and the Disaster Relief Fund for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. Thank you to everyone who gave for the help and assistance of those working and providing care for so many who lost loved ones and for those who had their homes, properties, and lives damaged or destroyed. And please continue to offer your prayers for everyone suffering from natural disasters this summer!

Sunday Morning Adult Christian Formation will return on August 24th!

In order to take a short break and prepare for new classes following our annual Rally Day Kick Off Celebration on August 17th, our clergy will be taking a few Sunday's off from Adult Christian Formation classes for the rest of July and the first two Sundays of August. But never fear, a full list of new Adult Christian Formation options will be ready for you to check out on Rally Day during our Ministry Fair, including a new weekday evening Adult Bible Study, new Clergy led book study offerings, and special Saturday learning events this Fall to help every adult have a chance to grow and learn in faith and Christian discipleship at St. Thomas, In the meantime, enjoy breakfast and conversation, including with our clergy, every Sunday between the 8am and the 10:30am Holy Eucharists!

Sisters in Faith meet

this Wednesday, July 23!

Sisters in Faith will meet this Wednesday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. for fellowship with the program beginning at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall. If you liked the quick quizzes we used to take in magazines back-in-the-day, you’ll love this month’s program. Jenna Pirani will share a presentation she recently gave at an education conference on Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework (see description below) which she promises will have us laughing as we learn more about ourselves and each other. Please have your smartphone handy for the quick assessment. 

Gretchen writes, “We all face two kinds of expectations—outer expectations (meet deadlines, answer a request from a friend) and inner expectations (keep a New Year’s resolution, start meditating).” Your unique response to expectations determines your Tendency, which in turn helps harness your strengths and cultivate a better understanding of your friends. Discover how knowing your Tendency can help you make better decisions, meet deadlines, fulfill promises to yourself, and engage positively with others.

UPCOMING

Everybody's Pub Theology

Next Thursday, July 24,

6 PM at PaPPo's

Please join us next Thursday, July 24, from 6–7:30 p.m., at PaPPo's Pizzeria, at 7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, for great fellowship, good food, tasty drinks, and hearty discussion!

Back-to-School Backpack Blessing is set for Sunday,

August 3 during

10:30 AM Eucharist

Join us for our annual Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, August 3, at the 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist. All children and teachers are invited to come up to the front of the church before the Passing of the Peace with their backpacks and school bags for a special blessing from Fr. Donavan with his "Holy Water Super Soaker!"  Backpack tags will be available at all three Sunday worship services.

St. Thomas is going out to the Ballgame August 31st

Our annual outing to cheer on the Huntsville Trash Pandas has been set for Sunday afternoon, August 31st! And once again, not only will we be cheering on the Trash Pandas, we will also be cheering on our very own St. Thomas Choir as they sing the National Anthem that evening! So put the date on your calendar and look for more information in the coming weeks!

LOBSTERFEST 2025!

This year's Lobsterfest 5K Registration is OPEN! Register TODAY!

Registration for the Lobsterfest 5k is OPEN! Register at an early bird rate until August 1st on Run Sign Up. CLICK HERE to register NOW!

You can also CLICK HERE.

All proceeds go to Local Outreach and the Honduras Medical Mission. Support the cause by donating below. 

ONGOING

Help Recycle - Adopt a Month

The Creation Care Committee desperately needs your help with the church recycling.

We are looking for individuals or families who have recycling at their home, who will commit to one week a month of recycling on behalf of the church.

This means emptying four bins from the church into your home recycling bin once a month.

Look for the sign up sheet on the bulletin board in Information Hall.

Questions? Contact Richard Williams at 256-426-3429 or rbwilliams67gmail.com.

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!

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!

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.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org