Don’t forget this Sunday is the first Sunday of the month so all loose plate (non-pledge) cash and checks are earmarked for the Rector’s discretionary fund. The discretionary fund provides resources for Father Howie to help our friends and neighbors in need. Donations can he made anytime during the month by writing “discretionary fund” on your check or giving online at www.stthomasparish.org. Grocery and gas cards are also helpful.
Carpenter’s Helper news for January 5, 2020
Happy 2020! A new year gives us all the opportunity to make adjustments to align ourselves with our goals, and to reexamine our goals. One of my goals is to be a better creation steward. I pray to be made aware of small adjustments that can add up to significant change.
So, to that effect, this week I will not be printing out 120 Helpers to put into all of the leaflets. I am sending this electronic link, and will have copies available in the Great Hall and lobby. Please give me your feedback! This amounts to a savings of around $20 per week, so not huge, but a small change that can add up to saving both money and paper. However, if this change is at the expense of you knowing what is happening in our parish, and being connected to the excitement, then it’s totally not worth it. All past Helpers are available from our website and Facebook.
So, without further delay, see the January 5, 2020 Carpenter’s Helper newsletter. See all Newsletters or Announcements.
A few reminders:
- EPIPHANY Fellowship, Pot-Luck, and burning of the greens is this Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 5:00 in the evening. I hope to see you at our favorite pot-luck of the year!
- Next Sunday, January 12, 2020, the Finance Committee would like to have everyone attend their update at 9 a.m. There will be doughnuts!
- Novel Theology will be meeting on January 19, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. in the Classroom . An Irish Love Story by Patrick Taylor will be discussed.
- Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at noon, starts a new service of Intercessory Prayer with Holy Eucharist.
Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
Epiphany Potluck on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at 5 p.m.
Come join in the Epiphany celebration with your St. Thomas’s family on Sunday evening, January 5, 2020, starting at 5 p.m.
It’s our favorite potluck event of the year!
Ham and a pasta dish will be provided. All you need to bring is side dishes or desserts. (If you’re not up to cooking just bring yourself.)
We’ll start off with Evening Prayer around the tables and round off the night with a bonfire of our Christmas greenery from the church.
Come join us, and bring a neighbor! ALL are Welcome!
Cana Hartman and Sally Price
Novel Theology for January – May 2020
Novel Theology is a lively discussion group that meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Classroom. Meetings are the second Sunday of September through May. For January, April and May 2020, we will meet on the third Sunday.
The reading list for the 2019-20 is:
Sept. 8, 2019 – The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Oct. 13, 2019 – Love Heals by Becca Stevens
Nov. 10, 2019 – The Walk by Richard Paul Evans
Dec. 8, 2019 – Gabriel’s Angel by Nora Roberts
Jan. 19, 2020 – An Irish Love Story by Patrick Taylor
Feb. 9, 2020 – A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans
March 8, 2020 – A Live Coal in the Sea by Madeline L’Engle
April 19, 2020 – The Other Side of the Sun by Madeline L’Engle
May 17, 2020 – Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Please join us! Reading the book is not a requirement. For more information, contact Susan Hechter at susanahechter@gmail.com.
Novel Theology 2020 Spring schedule updated
Novel Theology is a lively discussion group that meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Classroom. Meetings are generally the second Sunday, September through May. The April 2020 Novel Theology date falls on Easter and the May 2020 date falls on Mother’s Day so those two months will meet on the third Sunday. The January 2020 date has been moved to January 19, 2020, due to a parish meeting scheduled on January 12, 2020.
The reading list for the 2019-20 is:
Sept. 8, 2019 – The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Oct. 13 , 2019 – Love Heals by Becca Stevens
Nov. 10 , 2019 – The Walk by Richard Paul Evans
Dec. 8 , 2019 – Gabriel’s Angel by Nora Roberts
Jan. 19, 2020 – An Irish Country Love Story by Patrick Taylor
Feb. 9, 2020 – Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans
March 8, 2020 – Miracle at St. Andrews by James Patterson & Peter de Jonge
April 19, 2020 – Lamb by Christopher Moore
May 17, 2020 – Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Please join us! Reading the book is not a requirement. For more information, contact Susan Hechter at susanahechter@gmail.com.
Sunday, December 29, 2019, ONE service at 10 a.m.
This Sunday, December 29, 2019, there will be ONE SERVICE only at 10 a.m. This will be a special service of Lessons & Carols with Holy Eucharist Rite II.
We will return to our regular schedule the following week, January 5, 2020:
8 a.m. Rite I
10:30 a.m.Rite II
On Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at noon, a new service of Intercessory Prayer with Holy Eucharist will be added.
Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
Adult Education on Dec. 22 and 29, 2019
Dear Friends,
Adult Ed will be meeting neither Sunday, Dec. 22nd nor on the 29, 2019. On Jan. 5, we will begin our considered discussion of, and reflections on, the first chapter of Robin DiAngelo’s book, White Fragility. Please join us then, and in the interim have a blessed Christmas and joyous new year.
Pax,Ronnie wilbur, Rue Manning, and Larry Duggan
Lay Eucharistic Ministry – a glimpse into this important ministry
Celebrant: In the name of God and of this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in the body and blood of Christ.
All: We who are many are one body because we all share in one bread and one cup.
On Sunday mornings at the end of the Eucharist, you see Eucharist Visitors be charged by the priest to take Holy Communion to our house-bound parishioners. This is a way to make our brothers and sisters know that they are indeed an essential part of the congregation, even though they cannot be physically in the building with us. Our lay Eucharistic visitors are rewarded beyond measure for their service. If there are others of you who think you might like to be part of this ministry, you are invited to go along with our lay Eucharistic visitors and see what it’s like. Then, you can tell Larry Duggan that you’d like to be scheduled once a month as a visitor yourself, perhaps as part of a team of two.
Recap of this year’s 2019 Annual Bazaar
The Annual Bazaar was held on December 6th and 7th for the general public and after each of the services on Sunday, December 8, 2019.
On December 5th, the Great Hall was filled with parishioners setting up displays and bringing in craft items, specialties for the Bake Table and the food for lunches to be served on Friday and Saturday.
However, the real work was done in monthly planning meetings beginning in early May. In September at Rally Day, we showcased some of the items that would be for sale and had the congregation vote on the tiles of the Pilgrimage Windows that we would ask Christina School District Networks to produce for sale at the Bazaar.
A core group consisting of Katherine Doggett, Debbie Kearns, Joy Lynam, Connie Malin, Carol Palermo, Lisa Goodwin, and Barb Graham solicited everything from craft items, baked goods, and gently used items for the white elephant room to quarts of soup to sell (always a big favorite). As in the past, the parishioners went over the top in their response. In addition to items donated by our congregation we had returning and new vendors.
The event was advertised on Facebook, Instagram, and our web page. Over 650 people viewed the article on Facebook and we had more vendors apply than we could handle. We produced flyers announcing the Bazaar as in years past. In addition, thanks to Teresa Coons, we had very attractive post cards with the dates and times of the Bazaar and some of the offerings on the back. All were encouraged to take and distribute the flyers and post cards.
Parishioners also supported the Bazaar during the sale. This year, as in the past, all proceeds from the sale go to St. Thomas’s Outreach Ministries.
The Committee is a great group to work with. Our first organization meeting will be held in early May. You may want to consider joining this fun and valuable group.
Barbara Graham, Annual Bazaar Chairperson
Carpenter’s Helper news for December 15, 2019
Happy Advent friends! As you’ll see in the reminders below, it certainly is a busy time of year! I hope that you have found ways to make this season extra special.
I haven’t had the pleasure of attending one yet, but I hear that the Sunday evening Advent prayers have been marvelously intimate and meaningful. If you go, share your experience with others, in person or through social media (or throw some photos or text my way and I will be glad to share!).
Please see this week’s Carpenter’s Helper, and be sure join us at noon this Sunday for our next Coffee Hour Speaker: Dorothy Thayne will speak to us about the symbolism of icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus.
Save the dates:
*Dec. 15, 2019 at 6 p.m. – Advent Evening Prayers
*Dec. 22 , 2019 at noon – Greening of the Sanctuary
*Dec. 22 , 2019 at 5:30 p.m. – Children’s Christmas Pageant & Advent Prayers
*Dec. 24 , 2019 5:30 p.m. carols and 6:00 p.m. service with Eucharist. Also, 10:30 p.m. carols and 11:00 p.m. service with Eucharist
*Dec. 25 , 2019 CHRISTMAS! 10:00 a.m. service
*Jan. 6, 2020 EPIPHANY potluck and burning of the greens- more info to come, but save the date!!! The fire permit has been pulled, and the pink slip for the potluck is turned in. This will be Fr Howie’s first time attending this awesome event at St Thomas’s; let’s show him how we let our light shine (literally…with a huge bonfire in the parking lot).
See all Carpenter’s Helper newsletters and announcements.
Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator