THE EPISTLE:

January 22, 2026

Keeping an eye on this Weekend's Weather!

As of today, January 22nd, the latest forecast for Huntsville and most of North Alabama has changed from snow and ice to rain, with temperatures staying above freezing until Sunday afternoon and evening. Our dedicated Vestry Wardens, David Hattaway, Doug Eskew, and Brett Tomlin, will be keeping an eye out throughout the weekend for any changes to the current forecast, as well as keeping watch directly for what is happening at St. Thomas, and they will be giving Fr. Donavan their full reports as we get closer to Sunday morning.

At this time, both morning Holy Eucharist worship services, at 8am and 10:30am, are set to be offered at St. Thomas this Sunday. If the roads remain wet on Sunday afternoon and the temperatures do drop, as predicted, there is a good chance we will cancel the 5pm "Come as you are" Eucharist. If there is a decision to change or cancel any Sunday worship service at St. Thomas, an email will go out this Saturday, and we will also post the changes on the St. Thomas website and on all our social media pages.

Right now, please pray for those around the country facing this serious winter storm, and please pray for those in our own community who are homeless or alone during this season of cold weather and winter storms (and look below for a way you might be able to help those in need this weekend).

January's Movie Matinee

TODAY, January 22 at 1 PM

In keeping with the marriage theme from last month’s movie, Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers in January a “laugh-out-loud funny romantic comedy;” The Proposal, with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. It is the adventure of an aggressive boss lady demanding her subordinate to marry her so she will not be deported to Canada, and all that comes of the demand. You wanted a light one for January – you have it. Come join us in the St. Thomas Parish Hall at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

The Silver Saints Movie Matinee offers fun and fellowship with our parishioners and neighbors much like going to a theater, but for 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 256-468-2743, or the church office at 256-880-0247. Please call 24 hours ahead if you will need a ride. Please come join us.

Everybody's Pub Theology TONIGHT, January 22!

Sit down with Fr. Donavan and Dcn. Jeannie TONIGHT, Thursday, January 22, 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! This month, we will have a chance to hear about Dcn. Jeannie’s new ministry at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Athens, AL, and Fr. Donavan will be moving around to tables to answer questions about the election of a new Bishop, which will now be happening on Saturday, January 31st at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. Come join us for Pub Theology TONIGHT, January 22, at 6pm at Pappo’s Pizzeria!

Warming Center in Downtown Huntsville Needs Volunteers NOW!

ShowerUP Huntsville, along with the Church of the Nativity, will be opening up a Community Warming Center for the homeless community in Huntsville at The Livin' Room on Governors Drive this weekend. They want to keep the Center open through Tuesday, January 27th, and in order to do that, they need help! If you are available and would like to assist with those who need a warm place to stay, a warm shower to clean up in, food, and a place to sleep during this weekend's dropping temperatures, please click HERE now and sign up for a time to volunteer! And if you have any questions, you can contact Mtr. Rosie Veal Eby from the Church of the Nativity by clicking HERE.

Come pray the Rosary TOMORROW and every other Friday at 12:05 PM

Join us to Pray the Rosary every other Friday at 12:05 pm in the Nave of the church. 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.

Scrapbooking and Crafting

Canceled Due to Winter Storm: Next Meeting Date - March 21

Unfortunately, the predictions of snow and ice have forced us to cancel for this weekend. Or next date is Saturday, March 21!

For our scrapbooking and crafting gathering, you bring your crafting projects for a day of fun and fellowship. Upon request, a scrapbooking beginners class will be taught. Lunch will be provided but please bring a snack to share. For further information, please contact Rebekah Callahan at 256-603-0219 or rebekah-callahan@comcast.net.

A Message from our New Chair of L&NO, Travis Lee: First Meeting coming February 23rd!

All of us at St. Thomas agree that we are saved by faith and not by good works, and that good works are the way we show the world our faith. In the spirit of this belief, and as the new Chairman of the Local and National Outreach Committee, I would like to invite any and all to join the committee. We are revamping many things about the LNOC in an effort to allow as many people who would like to be involved in church outreach to join. 

     We will be having meetings once a quarter, and each meeting will have a theme. The dates and themes are as follows:

February 23 - Food Ministries

May 25 - Construction Ministries

August 24 - School Ministries

November 2- Holiday Ministries

Each meeting will begin around 6 pm. and will end no later than 7:15 pm! Each meeting will feature representatives speaking about ministries at St. Thomas that are currently ongoing or that the church is wanting to start. During the meetings you will not only learn about different outreach opportunities, but also learn about ways to become involved with each ministry presented. Also, you will get the chance to be involved in voting on the distribution of moneys raised by St. Thomas for our own ministries, and for ministries outside St. Thomas. Lastly, each meeting will be held in Conference Room 1. We hope you will join us for this important ministry here at St. Thomas!

IF YOU LOVE DEMOCRACY, RUN FOR DELEGATE! NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN NOW!



At the St. Thomas annual parish meeting on February 15, 2026, we will be electing parish delegates to Diocesan Convention for 2027 (two thousand twenty-SEVEN)! 

Diocesan Convention is the legislative body of the Diocese of Alabama, which meets in early February every year. Each year, St. Thomas elects lay members to represent us as delegates and alternate delegates. The dates and location for Diocesan Convention 2027 will be announced the first weekend of February 2026.

If you are a member of St. Thomas and you love democracy, this is a great opportunity to participate in the leadership of our diocese! If you are interested in running for delegate at our annual meeting, please submit your name to the parish office NOW by clicking HERE!

Pictures are from Convention 2025.

Nominations for the St. Thomas Vestry END this Sunday, January 25!

St. Thomas is preparing to elect four new Vestry members at the upcoming Annual Parish Meeting & Breakfast, now set for Sunday, February 15. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving on the vestry, please submit the name in the box marked VESTRY in the Narthex. If you'd like to nominate someone, please be sure to discuss it with that person first to be sure they are willing to serve the three-year term. 

Vestry responsibilities include:

·Attending vestry meetings on the third Tuesday evening of each month.

·Attending a Saturday Vestry Retreat.

·On a rotating basis, two vestry members count the offering and secure the building each Sunday after worship services.

·Vestry members also cook, serve and clean up breakfast on a rotating schedule, one Sunday per month. Each vestry member signs up for breakfast four times a year.

If you would like more information or have additional questions about the responsibilities and expectations of serving on the St. Thomas Vestry, you are very welcome to ask Fr. Donavan, Mtr. Katie, our Sr. Warden, Brett Tomlin, our Jr. Wardens, David Hattaway and Doug Eskew, or any current member of the Vestry. To set up a time to meet with Fr. Donavan, you can email him HERE and to set up a meeting with the Senior Warden, email Brett HERE.

Please prayerfully consider if you, or someone you know, may be called to serve our parish in this important leadership role. Nominations will close this Sunday, January 25, and nominations will not be accepted from the floor during the annual parish meeting.

To be nominated for the Vestry, a person must be a confirmed communicant in good-standing, known to the treasurer to be pledging, and a regular participant in the life and worship of the parish.

Lobsterfest 2025:

THE NUMBERS ARE IN!

Thank you to All!

The total proceeds from Lobsterfest 2025 were $45,000.00! Thank you all for the support during this event as the proceeds will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries.

A Message From your Lobsterfest King and Queen:

Hold on to your butter sauce! The Houses are officially your new Lobsterfest King and Queen. We are absolutely thrilled to accept this 'royal' honor, and our hearts are incredibly full. St. Thomas has been such a cornerstone of our lives, and Lobsterfest is the perfect reflection of the love, fellowship, and service that makes this church so special!

We've always loved Lobsterfest for the way it brings our entire church family and the community together, with each person using the gifts that God gave them to make such an amazing event happen! Being chosen to serve the parish this year is a joy that we'll never forget. We are counting down the days until we can put on our crowns and celebrate with the best congregation around!

Sincerely,

Zach and Lila

Election of the next Bishop of Alabama

is now set for January 31 in Birmingham

Please join the entire diocese in praying for the upcoming election of the 13th Bishop for the Diocese of Alabama. You can view and hear the statements from each of our candidates, the Rev. Candice Frazer and the Very Rev. Richard Lawson, HERE, and you can watch the "Meet the Bishop Candidate" Q&A that occurred at St. Luke's, Birmingham on January 3 by clicking HERE (...fast-forward to the timestamp 18:00 for the beginning of the event). 

The election will be held on January 31, and our new bishop will be seated in a special Consecration Eucharist in June. Please pray for Richard and Candice, our candidates, and for our electorate, especially our St. Thomas delegates, alternates, and clergy, Laura Beth Bestor, Belinda Greenaway, Maggie Hall, Zach House, Wyn Patterson, Brian Tipton, Kathy Heim, Paul Heim, Fr. Donavan, and Mtr. Katie.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a Bishop for The Diocese of Alabama, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will preach the Gospel, care for your people, equip us for ministry, and lead us forth in fulfillment of the Great Commission; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

UPCOMING

Mark your calendars: St. Thomas' Annual Meeting Sunday, February 15

The St. Thomas Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 15. Your Vestry voted to change the Annual Parish Meeting from January to February each year for several reasons. This change allows more time to wrap-up our stewardship drive and ensure our annual budget is as up-to-date as possible for presentation to the parish. For this year, in particular, moving our Parish Meeting to February also allows for a report on both the election of the 13th Bishop of Alabama and the 195th Convention of the diocese. Moving our annual meetings to February after our Diocesan Convention, also makes it possible for St. Thomas to elect delegates for the next year's convention at the same time that we elect our new Vestry members.

Finally, because February 15 this year will be the final Sunday of Epiphany, also referred to as Mardi Gras Sunday, this year's Annual Meeting will be held AFTER the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist to incorporate a special Mardi Gras style lunch into our Annual Meeting reports and presentations! Watch the Epistle for more information in the coming weeks!

Thank you to our St. Thomas Vestry for all their hard work over the past year and a special THANK YOU to our four off-going Vestry members (Grace Casey, Kathie Clayton, David Hattaway, and Richard Williams) who agreed to continue for one additional month in 2026 to allow for this Annual Meeting/Vestry Election alteration. All future elected members of the Parish Vestry will begin their three-year term immediately following the February Annual Parish Meeting and will finish their term at the February meeting three years later.

*Childcare is available during Parish meeting*

ONGOING

Volunteers Needed for

Refreshments after 10:30 AM Eucharist



We’re running low on volunteers!

We need a few more individuals or families to help provide Sunday refreshments after the 10:30 a.m. service. Providing homemade or store-bought sweet treats gives us the chance to linger, visit, and enjoy time together after worship. If you’re willing to help, please sign up on the poster in Information Hall. Instructions can be found in the manila envelope beneath the sign-up sheet. Thank you for supporting this meaningful and vital part of our parish life!

Compline Online

Mondays at 8 PM

with Dcn. Jeannie

Looking for a new prayer opportunity and a way to center yourself in prayer each week? Every Monday at 8 p.m., you’re invited to join Dcn. Jeannie online for Compline. Compline is a brief evening prayer service and a peaceful way to set your week with intention and to end your day with a sense of completion and stillness.

The service lasts just 15 minutes and can be accessed on St. Thomas’ Facebook page. You simply need a Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and to turn to pg. 127.

It will be LIVE every Monday at 8 PM.

Please contact jrann228@gmail.com or the front office for more information.

Morning Prayer at St. Thomas St. Anne's Chapel in Hiers Hall

Thursdays 7 AM

Every Thursday morning, join us for Morning Prayer in St. Anne’s Chapel at the end of Hiers Hall. Simply enter Hiers Hall and follow the hallway all the way to the end. There will be signs directing you. As we seek to expand our options for praying together during the week, we hope to see our early birds and any brave night owls at this service of prayer and Scripture. You don't have to know how to read Morning Prayer; we'll teach you!

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. every Sunday to talk about Covenants in the Bible!

7-12th Graders! Weekly EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) continues! EYC meets Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Got Questions? Contact our Youth Minister, Ethan Evans, HEREfor more information.

Children's Sunday School Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.! Join us in Hiers Hall as we share a year of faith, love, and fun! 

Godly Play class for Pre-K through 1st graders is led by Renee' Redfield in Hiers 4. 

Storymakers for 2nd and 3rd graders is led by Carey McIntyre in Hiers 6. 

Thou Art class for 4th through 6th graders led by Laura Beth Bestor in Hiers 2.  

Our nursery is open from 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sundays for our Pre-K and under children. 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.

Treble Choir

The Treble Choir sings approximately once a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship service and our special services this year will include Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve. All children in 2nd-8th Grades are invited to join! Bring a friend!

The Treble Choir schedule is available HERE and is 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. Please email Miss Kathy at music@stthomashuntsville.org for details!

Join the St. Thomas Adult Choir



You don't have to be a kid to sing! Click HERE to see and hear the St. Thomas choir practicing their anthem for this Sunday.

Phone: 256.880.0247

Email: StThomas@stthomashuntsville.org