THE EPISTLE:

November 21, 2024

Silver Saints TODAY

Thursday, November 21 Because of Winn-Dixie

Your Silver Saints Matinee Movie  for November 2024 is a funny, raucous story of a young girl new in town and her very special dog. Don’t worry… this is a happy dog story so handkerchiefs are not necessary. Our movie; Because of Winn-Dixie, starring Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, AnnaSophia Robb, and others, is a “Sweet, Family-Friendly, Touching and Funny” story about a girl and her dog who bring magic to her community. This is a movie with a nod to St. Thomas and all of its food ministries on the door steps of Thanksgiving.  Come join us in the St. Thomas Parish Hall at 1:00 PM on Thursday, November 21, 2024. 

The Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers fun and fellowship with our parishioners and visitors much like going to a theater, but free. We offer snacks and beverages, and we will even pick you up and return you home if you wish. We offer comfortable seating and a time-out break half way through the movie. Please bring your friends and ask people from our neighborhood. Call Jack or Becky Stokes at 256-881-4748, or the church office at 256-880-0247. Please call 24 hours ahead if you will need a ride. Please come join us and be happy.

St. Thomas Blood Drive

THIS SUNDAY, Nov. 24

7:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M

"For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve, We thank you, Lord."

BCP, pg. 836

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving, St. Thomas!

This year let’s show our gratitude by helping someone in need. If you are able, please give blood. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. All donors will receive a $20 e-gift card. Link to sign-up online: CLICK HERE or use the button below.

Election of St. Thomas Delegates for Diocesan Convention: Your voice is needed! DEADLINE: December 8th

If you are interested in being a delegate for next year's 194th Diocesan Convention for the Diocese of Alabama, January 30-February 1, right here in NE Alabama in the city of Decatur, now is the time to give us your name. In the coming weeks, St. Thomas will need to elect a slate of 5 delegates plus alternates for the next year's convention. If you would like to represent St. Thomas at convention next year, please send your name to our Communication Director, Carey McIntyre, by clicking HERE.

Sign up THIS SUNDAY to provide gifts for Shellie's Kids this Christmas!

This year St. Thomas is once again partnering with Friends of 400, better known as Shellie's Kids, to provide Christmas gifts to children in the Huntsville area. St. Thomas' goal is to provide 40 children with Christmas gifts. The collection point will be the Library at the front office entrance and all gifts will need to be in by December 8. If you are interested, please stop by the table in the Narthex each Sunday after the 10:30 service for more details or contact Travis Lee at (850)-503-5587 or tlee777790@gmail.com.

Advent Wreath Lighting

Sunday Mornings in Advent:

SIGN UP NOW!

During the Advent season, we have families light the Advent wreath in the Nave at the beginning of the morning worship services. Families will need to arrive 15 minutes prior to the service (7:45am or 10:15 am), be willing to read the short passage, and light the candle(s) on the wreath. Interested parties can sign up NOW by using this LINK, the sign-up sheet in Information Hall, clicking the button below, or by contacting Deacon Jeannie or our Children's Ministry Coordinator Laura Beth.

South Huntsville Interfaith Thanksgiving Service this Sunday evening at Faith Presbyterian

When:  Sunday, November 24 at 6:00pm

Where: Faith Presbyterian 5003 Whitesburg Drive

Please bring a donation of nonperishable food item for the Food Bank of North Alabama

A reception with light refreshments will follow the service. 

Please join us as we give thanks and celebrate the diversity of our community!

Friendsgiving

November 28th at 4 pm

Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Thomas - Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm. Parishioners without large families nearby will be gathering at the church that day to share a Friendsgiving meal. The proteins will be provided and participants are asked to bring a side dish to share. Use this link to sign up or visit Renée in Information Hall. Sign-Up Here. If you have questions on how you can help, contact Renée Redfield at renee.redfield@hsv-k12.org or 256-698-1184.

NO ROSARY ON NOV. 29th: The Rosary will be offered in Advent every Friday, beginning Dec. 6th

The St. Thomas Rosary Prayer Group will not meet at its usual time on Friday, November 29th. But beginning on Friday, December 6th, the Rosary will be offered every Friday at 12:05pm in the Nave during the Season of Advent.

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. During Advent, we will follow the scripture readings for the 5 Joyful Mysteries, read by Fr. Donavan from the King James Version of the Bible. If you’ve never prayed the Rosary before, we always have Rosary beads available, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.

Advent Wreath Making set for Sunday, December 1 at 9:30am in the Parish Hall

Make plans to join us for the First Sunday of Advent, Sunday, December 1st at 9:30am as all ages gather in the Parish Hall to make Advent wreaths. This event takes place during the Christian Formation hour and everyone is encouraged and welcome to help! Please bring live greenery from your home (or neighbors home with permission!) to share so that we have the fullest wreaths. Come join us for this fun and seasonable intergenerational gathering to begin the upcoming season of Advent!

Brass Band of Huntsville at

St. Thomas December 5

The Brass Band of Huntsville will present its Christmas concert, Goodness and Light, at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 5, in the Sanctuary. The concert will feature many Christmas favorites like Silent Night and Good King Wenceslas. The concert is free to the public with a reception following.

St. Thomas Book Club

December 9

St. Thomas Book Club will meet on December 9 in the Parlor at 10 a.m. We will discuss Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and Marsh by Geraldine Brooks. Marsh tells about the little women's father who served in the Civil War during the story of when Little Women was told. Should be a lively discussion. For more information, call Elouisa Stokes at 256-604-8669.

Final Class on the BCP led by Mtr. Katie this Sunday

Join Mtr. Katie in the Parish Hall for one more Sunday to hear about her love for our Book of Common Prayer and to learn about using the Prayer Book along with online tools for personal prayer and Bible reading in an ever-ancient, ever-new tradition practiced around the world: the Daily Office! If you own a Book of Common Prayer, please bring it with you (we will have extras)!

Sunday Book Study with Fr. Donavan CONCLUDES this Sunday: Seculosity by David Zahl

The vast number of polls, studies, and reports say that religion in America is continuing to decline. But is religion and faith for Americans really going away, or is it just being REPLACED by other attempts to bring purpose and meaning to our lives? Join Fr. Donavan for one more session of his book study during the Christian Formation hour in Conference Room 1, beginning at 9:30 AM on the book, Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance became our New Religion and What to Do About it. The book’s author, David Zahl, is on the staff for Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, and has written numerous books on Culture, Religion, and Faith. Come join Fr. Donavan for this final Sunday at 9:30 AM in what has been a conversation concerning our Christian faith and perhaps the greatest struggle it is facing in the 21st century.

"Come As You Are"

5pm Holy Eucharist

This Sunday, and every Sunday, we have our "Come As You Are" Holy Eucharist. Our 5pm parishioners find this Sunday evening worship service meets their needs or schedules better than our morning worship. The 5pm Holy Eucharist features joyful hymns from the Alleluia III hymnal, gospel music chosen by Sam Wright, and casual mini-sermons preached from the floor.

Info on regular programs and rehearsals at St. Thomas are now just a click away!

Now you can find out 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! Give it a try this week!

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org