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Parish Weekly September 11, 2026
Mission: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is a welcoming spiritual community dedicated to following the teachings of Christ Jesus. We grow through learning, celebrate joyful worship, and serve our neighbors.
Vision: We open hearts and minds to create community in Christ.
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St. Thomas' 2026-2027 Program Year theme is "Encircle with Love." The theme's image is a Celtic cross infused with the Trinity symbol that reminds us what it means to be community, while the colors, derived from the progressive flag, surround the transgender colors: white, pink, and blue in the central portion of the image. This year we will "Encircle with Love" our transgender and nonbinary siblings in a time when they need support and allies. We will also learn how to be allies and advocates to all our vulnerable neighbors. It will be a year of learning, hope, and building our capacity for grace and fierce love.
Below are a few upcoming formation opportunities. Please register so we may prepare and provide adequately.
Rochester Rapid Response Network (RRRN) Ally Training
This training is for community organizations, churches/faith-based groups, and neighborhood groups looking to protect their neighbors. This can be in partnership
with RRRN or a broader coalition of organizations formed specifically to prevent
ICE detentions.
Training Goals
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- To learn the mission of RRRN and the working groups within it that carry out this mission, providing information on how to get involved in a variety of ways to support our immigrant neighbors
- To introduce the Roc Watch coalition that specifically targets reducing the number of detentions in our area, its relationship to RRRN, and how to join
- To know what to do as an unaffiliated bystander when you see ICE activity, how to report it, community action, safety, rights, and bystander guidelines
- To understand the basics of documentation, including tips for capturing video on your phone during immigration enforcement incidents
- To provide actionable resources and next steps for all of the above
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Sunday, September 27, after worship – 1:00 pm
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Great Hall
Led by: Anne Schuler
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God, Scripture & Gender Series
Sunday, October 4 & Sunday, October 11, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Location TBD
Led by: The Very Rev. Leslie Burkardt
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Safe Space: Understanding LGBTQ+ Identities Presentation
This Safe Space session will provide fundamental information about sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The course will begin by helping participants to gain knowledge about the communities and their history and ever-changing terms and identities. We will finish by offering suggestions on how each of us can help to provide safe and inclusive places where LGBTQ+ people feel welcomed.
Sunday, October 18, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Great Hall
Led by: Scott Fearing
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Beyond the Headlines: How Current Laws & Policies Affect Transgender
& Nonbinary People & Those Who Support Them
Sunday, November 8, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Great Hall
Led by: Dr. Emma Forbes-Jones
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I hope you can join us for a thoughtful and enriching fall season of formation
at St. Thomas'!
Faithfully,
Amma Leslie+
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Women of St. Thomas' Meeting, Thursday, September 17, 11:30 am, Lounge (see details below)
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Sunday School Classes Begin, Sunday, September 20, 10:00 am, Lower Hall Classrooms
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Youth Group Meetings Begin, Sunday, September 20, 11:15 am, Youth Room
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Seeking Lay Delegates for Diocesan Convention
St. Thomas' is seeking two lay delegates to represent
our parish at this year's Diocesan Convention. Diocesan Convention 95 will take place on Saturday, October 24,
from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY. Delegates must be members in good standing and known to the treasurer.
If you are interested in serving, please contact Amma Leslie
at leslie@stthomasrochester.org.
| Children's & Youth Ministries | | |
Kickoff Sunday
St. Thomas’ Program Year Kickoff on Sunday, September 13, features many offerings for children and youth. Event highlights include:
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Worship on the Lawn (weather permitting)
Special children’s bulletins will be provided to help them follow the service.
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Backpack Blessing
Bring your backpack to be blessed for the school year.
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Red Light, Green Light
Join Rev. Lydia for a tour around the church and learn which places are safe to play and which need adult supervision.
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Lawn Games (weather permitting)
Sunday School Teachers team members will supervise lawn games following the Red Light, Green Light tour. Games will finish at 1:00 pm.
| Parents are requested to accompany their children during movement or bathroom breaks needed during worship to ensure their safety. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday! Direct any questions to Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org. | | |
Sunday School and Youth Group Registration Open
Registration for Sunday School (grades PreK-5) and Youth Group (grades 6-12) for the
2026-2027 Program Year is now open! Click the link below to register and direct any questions to Rev. Lydia at lydia@stthomasrochester.org.
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Women of St. Thomas’ September Meeting
Representatives from Episcopal SeniorLife Communities will
give an overview of the types
of senior housing and services
they offer and share strategies
for a successful move at the next Women of St. Thomas’ meeting
on Thursday, September 17.
The program will begin at 11:30 am in the Lounge, with lunch following the presentation. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sandwich, salad, or soup for themselves. Beverages, chips, pickles, and dessert will be provided. We hope you will join us. Contact Linda Coleman at 585.313. 3164 for more information.
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Altar Flowers
If you have a special occasion to celebrate, give thanks for, or wish to honor a loved one, consider sponsoring altar flowers for a weekly worship service. Altar flower sponsors can have St. Thomas' Watchcare ministry either deliver them to a homebound parishioner in need of floral cheer or take them home after the service. Sign-up dates are still available.
Signing up is easy and fast! Call the Parish Office at 585.442.3544 or click the link below. For more details, contact Vicky Rupley at vrupley@gmail.com or 585.233.2546.
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Thank you, Jane Smith, for stepping in and handling the office responsibilities a few weeks ago—your support and willingness to help out kept everything running smoothly.
The clergy and staff truly appreciate your teamwork and reliability, and we are grateful
you were able to help during our time of need.
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Get Ready
for Sunday
Read the Revised Common Lectionary
for the sixteenth Sunday
After Pentecost
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Parish Weekly Deadline
The deadline for submitting articles for
the Parish Weekly is Tuesday at 9:00 am. Unless noted, the newsletter is published
on Fridays at 10:00 am. Please send
articles directly to Amy Holowczenko at communications@stthomasrochester.org.
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Sunday Live Stream Service at 10:00 am is available on St. Thomas' YouTube channel—St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Rochester, NY. The live stream can
be viewed any time after 10:00 am throughout the week.
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Brighton Food Cupboard
(585) 271-5355
Centers for Disease Control
cdc.gov
Episcopal Relief
& Development
(faith-based response
to epidemics)
bit.ly/2VMcNuu
Interpersonal
Violence Hotline
(for physical and mental related to interpersonal violence and trauma)
(585) 275-HEAL
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Monroe County Department of Health
monroecounty.gov/health-coronavirus
National Child
Abuse Hotline
(800) 342-3720
National Suicide Prevention
988
New York State Mental
Health Provider Hotline
(844) 863-9314
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NYS Office of
Addiction Services https://oasas.ny.gov/
Rochester AA Support
(585) 232-6720
Willow Domestic
Violence Center
(585) 222-SAFE
The Trevor Project
(for LGBTQ youth, 13-14)
1 (866) 488-7386
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St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church of Rochester, New York, is proud
to stand with the Greater Rochester Black Agenda Group and its declaration that “Racism is a Public Health Crisis." As a community
of faith and followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that every person
is continually made in the image of God beautifully and wonderfully.
We are committed to doing the hard work of love. We are dedicated
to the practice of growing and learning how to know and love our neighbors as we seek to create community. We hold the hope that
love does win through forgiveness, kindness, and transformation.
We desire to be a people who work for the equity of all. We work to acknowledge our complicity
and part in racism, and we are committed to working together to tackle injustice in our lives, in our church, in our community, and in the world.
| | Copyright ©2026 St. Thomas' Church of Rochester, NY. All rights reserved. |
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