Don't miss this week's great photos from Rally Day and the new cross in the St. Thomas Courtyard in "At a Glance" at the bottom of The Epistle! | | |
THE EPISTLE:
August 21, 2025
| | Children's Christian Education is Back! | | Children's Sunday School Begins THIS Sunday, August 24 at 9:30 AM | | |
Children's Sunday School returns this Sunday, August 24 at 9:30am-10:15am! Join us in Hiers Hall as we gear up for a year of faith, love, and fun!
Our Godly Play class for Pre-K through 1st graders will be led by Renee' Redfield in Hiers 4.
Storymakers, our new class for 2nd and 3rd graders, will be led by Nichole Hargrove in Hiers 6.
Laura Beth Bestor will lead our Thou Art class for 4th through 6th graders.
Our nursery is open from 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sundays for those younger than Pre-K. We have our Play'n'Worship curriculum available for those in the nursery to enjoy on Sunday mornings. Contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator via email at children@stthomashuntsville.org.
| | Youth Christian Education Starts Sunday! | | Sunday School and EYC begin THIS Sunday, August 24 | | 7-12th Graders! Weekly EYC is starting up THIS Sunday, August 24 from 6-8 p.m. Dinner is provided! Bring a snack to share at the "get-to-know-you" snack potluck! Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan, at youth@stthomashuntsville.org for more information. | | Do you have questions about the Bible? Have you wondered about what everything in the Book of Common Prayer means? Come to Youth Sunday School to try and answer those questions and more! 7-12th graders meet during formation time in the Youth Room at 9:30 a.m. on August 24 to talk about Covenants in the Bible! | | Fall Adult Christian Formation Kick-Off | | |
Adult Christian Formation Returns THIS SUNDAY at
9:30 AM in the Parish Hall: HOW FAITH GIVES HOPE & BALANCE IN OUR BEST OF TIMES & WORST OF TIMES
This Sunday, at 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall, Sunday Adult Christian Formation returns with a special class intended for the entire church led by Fr. Donavan! For four Sundays, we will discuss the ways in which our Christian faith and the church can give us the hope, balance, and rhythm of life we desperately need today, whether you feel your life is the best it's been or you feel you are in a time of worry, anxiety, fear, and struggle.
In his sermon on Rally Day, Fr. Donavan said, "The church is, above all else, a hospital and a health care facility for the care of our souls." With that proclamation in mind, this Adult Formation Class is meant to be a kick-off to an entire season of Christian Education offerings focused on how our faith as Christians is meant to be medicine that heals our spiritual wounds, gives us strength to face the struggles of life, and keeps us spiritually resolved and focused "in our best of times & worst of times." Whether you come to the 8 AM Eucharist or the 10:30 AM Eucharist, please plan to either come early or stay late for a great breakfast and this important discussion on putting Christian faith to work in our busy lives!
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Welcome Back Pool Party
THIS Sunday, August 24
2 PM-4PM
Treble Choir is kicking off the new Program Year with a Welcome Back Pool Party at Miss Kathy’s House THIS SUNDAY August 24 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All kids in grades 2-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES are invited to come splash around before our rehearsals begin next month. We are especially hoping for lots of new choir members this year to join those returning from past years.
Treble Choir Rehearsals Begin September 7
The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 worship service and our special services this year will include Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve.
The Treble Choir schedule will be posted on the bulletin board leading to Hiers Hall, the choir bulletin board in Hudson Hall, and the St. Thomas Website. Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. beginning September 7.
Please email Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for details!
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Pray the Rosary TOMORROW,
Friday, August 22 at 12:05 PM
Join us to Pray the Rosary every other Friday at 12:05 p.m. 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 before, we always have Rosary beads available, and written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.
| | Blood Drive at St. Thomas August 24 | |
Lifesouth Bus at St. Thomas
THIS SUNDAY, August 24!
The LifeSouth Bus will be at St. Thomas, this Sunday, August 24, from 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. This is a wonderful time of year to donate blood. Unfortunately, holiday weekends are always at an increased need for blood as injuries and accidents are more frequent. Luckily, this one is the weekend before Labor Day. Please use the link below to schedule your time to donate!
Click HERE to register!
| | Order Tickets for Trash Pandas Game | | |
St. Thomas is going out to the Ballgame
Sunday, August 31,
ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT! ORDER NOW!
Join us for our annual parish outing to a Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball game! The Trash Pandas will be taking on the Columbus Clingstones at Toyota Field with first pitch at 2:35 p.m. The St. Thomas Choir will be singing the National Anthem before the first pitch, so plan to arrive a little early to see them sing. Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets are $17.44 each and are required for persons 3 years and older. Children 2 years and under can sit in a parent's lap and not be ticketed. Purchase your ticket(s) through this Realm link by Monday, August 25th to guarantee we can be seated together in Section 10. Checks should be made payable to St. Thomas Episcopal Church with Trash Pandas Game in the memo line. Ticket(s) will be distributed at church after payment has been received. Financial assistance is available to those in need. Contact stthomas@stthomashuntsville.org for information.
| | St. Thomas Financial Report | | BBQ Bandits Labor Day Fundraiser | | |
BBQ Bandits St Jude's Children Hospital Benefit
Order Your BBQ Today
The BBQ Bandits are firing up the smoker to support St Jude's Children's Hospital. This year’s event is Labor Day Weekend Aug. 30-Aug. 31. The website is available for online orders CLICK HERE and there will also be a link on the church website. Please email us at stthomasbbq@gmail.com to get included if you are not already on our distribution list!
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Acolyte Training
Children and Youth
3rd Grade and Up
Sunday, Sept. 7 at 10:30 AM
Are you in 3rd-12th grade? Do you want to carry the torches? The Cross? The Gospel Book? Have we got an opportunity for you! Saint Thomas wants YOU to come to Acolyte Training on September 7 after the 10:30 a.m. service! Contact Ethan, our Youth Minister and Acolyte Director HERE or at youth@stthomashuntsville.org.
| | Monthly Sunday Suppers Returns! | | |
Sunday Suppers Are Back!
Beginning Sunday, September 7
On Sunday, September 7, we will have our first Sunday Supper of the fall. The supper will start at approximately 6 PM, after the 5 PM Eucharist. Enjoy an evening of no cooking and good company. John Callahan has graciously offered to grill hamburgers for us. We want to be sure to have enough, but we don't want to cook a whole lot more than we need. If you'd like to join us, please sign up HERE. Looking forward to seeing everyone on September 7th!
| | Artisan Fair at Lobsterfest | | |
Are You an Artist?
Showcase your talents with
St. Thomas Creates at Lobsterfest
We are seeking hand made items created by our members for our brand new “St. Thomas Creates” tent at Lobsterfest. Examples include stitching, knitting, painting, photography, woodworking, or stained glass.
All proceeds go directly to Lobsterfest.
Questions - please contact Donna Clark donnadfclark@gmail.com or
Maggie Hall Maggie.carter.hall@gmail.com
| | All proceeds go to Local Outreach and the Honduras Medical Mission. Support the cause by donating below. You can also CLICK HERE. | | Registration for the Lobsterfest 5k is OPEN! CLICK HERE to register NOW! | | Bailey Cove Farmers' Market 2025 | | |
The Bailey Cove Farmers' Market is Almost Over
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.
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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. Each Thursday, beginning Aug. 21 through Sept. 25 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, consider joining our order. Commitment to membership is after all our sessions. Please come TODAY to learn more! For information contact Gayle Dodson at hbd@hiwaay.net or 256-508-2651 or ask any DOK member- we all wear our DOK crosses so we are easy to identify!
| | At a Glance August 14-August 20 | |
New, custom made, Celtic Cross, given and installed last week by Bryan Dodson, for the beautification of our church courtyard and outdoor Columbarium. The cross was made for St. Thomas by Alabama Metal Art in Florence, Alabama. There will be a special dedication and blessing of the new cross on All Saints Sunday, November 2nd.
THANK YOU, BRYAN, FOR THE CROSS AND FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU DO FOR THE ST. THOMAS COURTYARD!
| | RALLY DAY 2025 AT ST. THOMAS! | | 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. | | | | |
