THE EPISTLE:

November 14, 2024

It was wonderful and exciting to have our campus open once again to our community for food, a spectacular artisan fair, good live music, and fun children's games and activities, all while generating proceeds for our local and global ministries.  We couldn't have done it without all of you--- THANK YOU AND WELL DONE, ST. THOMAS!!

And you can relive your Lobsterfest stories and memories THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16th for our Post-Lobsterfest Parish Work Day, from 10am-12pm! Come help us finish tidying up from Lobsterfest and prepare for the upcoming seasons of Advent and Christmas!  We will mainly moving Lobsterfest items back into storage until next year.

Also, if you have a Lobsterfest yard sign, please feel free to bring it to the church so we can recycle them. Parishioners can return their sign to Information Hall or just keep them and get a new sticker to update your signs for next year.

Thank You Bakers and Cookie Makers

Many thanks to all who worked to make the Lobsterfest dessert and bake sale tables a big success. The bakers produced a wonderful array of delicious treats and everything sold by mid-afternoon! The day-of workers brought friendly smiles and helping hands that showed St. Thomas hospitality. We are grateful for everyone who helped! 

Debbie Harriman, Gwen Monroe, Nancy Teasedale and Kathy Branick

Mom's Night

TONIGHT, November 14th

St. Thomas’ Mom's group ministry for mothers with children ages 0 - 18 meets TONIGHT at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall.

The monthly Mom's Group is a time to come together as mothers with young children to support one another, share in the love and laughter, and help each other through the challenges and struggles that motherhood brings. Being a mom is not always easy, so one night a month we come together to ask the good Lord for patience and strength and to lean on one another in this shared experience. Please bring a mom friend! Contact Audrey Cain at HERE for more info.

Final Thursday Evening Book Study on William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist, TONIGHT, November 14!

Fr. Donavan will finish his book study on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 bestseller, The Exorcist TONIGHT, Thursday, November 14th, at 6pm in Conference Room 1

If you’ve never read the book before, this is your final opportunity to do so with the full support and spiritual guidance of a priest. And if you have read the book and maybe watched the 1973 film, this is your chance to revisit it within a deep conversation on Christian faith, struggles with doubt, and encounters with spiritual evil.

Please note that this conversation is about the BOOK and not the MOVIE, though comparisons and reflections on the film will certainly come up in the discussion. Finally, due to the disturbing and mature content, this book study is for adults only. Please do not bring children.

For those without key fobs to access the office entrance to the church campus, please enter through the main Narthex entrance to the church, which will be open from 5:45pm to 6:15pm each Thursday evening.

Pray the Rosary with Fr. Donavan, TOMORROW, Friday, November 15

The St. Thomas Rosary Prayer Group is now gathers every other Friday in the church at 12:05pm to pray the Rosary. 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, as well as written directions to help you fully participate in this meaningful, scriptural, and contemplative prayer practice.

Election of St. Thomas Delegates for Diocesan Convention: Your voice is needed!

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.

Are you NEW to St. Thomas? Newcomers class THIS Sunday, November 17

Welcome all our newcomers. We're glad you are here. Elouisa Stokes will have a Newcomers 1 class on November 17 at 9:30 am in the Crossroads Room. Follow the blue signs. She will give the history of the Episcopal Church and answer questions about how we do things here. On December 8 we will have Newcomers 2 where Susy Thurber will tell you about the history of St. Thomas and travel all over the building explaining where things are. We'd love to have you. Elouisa Stokes for information -256-604-8669.

Silver Saints

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

Sunday, November 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

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. Please complete the Google form https://forms.gle/dvbmpDksrPTTT5r69 or sign up in the church office. Join us! If you have questions on how you can help, contact Renee' Redfield at renee.redfield@hsv-k12.org or 256-698-1184.

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.

Class on the BCP led by Mtr. Katie Resumes THIS Sunday, Nov. 17

Join Mtr. Katie in the Parish Hall this Sunday, November 17th, 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 Seculosity by David Zahl Resumes THIS Sunday, Nov. 17

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 his book study during the Christian Formation hour in Conference Room 1, beginning at 9:30 AM each Sunday through the end of November, with the exception of this Sunday, November 10th, 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. The book is available on Amazon for $12 and there is assistance available if you need help purchasing a copy. Just let Fr. Donavan know by emailing him HERE. Come join Fr. Donavan Sunday, November 17th, at 9:30 AM in what will be 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