Hello faith family! This is the Fifth Sunday of Easter – April 28, 2024, Year B. Alleluia!
This week, we commemorate Saint Monica, who is known as the patron saint of mothers. Monica is a relatable figure, as she had to face several challenges in her life, which are still prevalent today.
She struggled with her abusive mother-in-law and her husband’s infidelity and anger issues. Religion was a significant point of disagreement between Monica and her husband. After his death, she was left alone to raise her three children in a society that didn’t provide much support for single mothers. Some accounts paint her as meek and gentle, while others show a manipulative and controlling mother. Despite all of the challenges and regardless of how we might judge the way she survived, it is unrefuted that Monica remained steadfast in her faith.
Monica’s daughter, Perpetual of Hippo, grew up to become an abbess. One of her sons, Augustine of Hippo, grew up to be a great philosopher and theologian, who wrote lovingly about his mother in his autobiographical work, Confessions, though he never called her a saint.
You MAY explore more about this captivating family beyond what is available in Wikipedia. Even after over 1,600 years, their story still carries a human quality that we can all relate to.
By delving into their history, we can feel a closeness with our early Christian faith family. We may discover similarities between their experiences and our own, and feel inspired to reflect on the way they lived their lives.
Weekly News
See our Carpenter’s Helper Weekly Newsletter. And, many congratulations and much love to fellow parishioner Teri Quinn Gray on her appointment with our Episcopal Diocese of Delaware on becoming the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Our weekly Worship schedule
- Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
- Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).
- Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person. (Intercessory Prayer booklet).
- Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer, live via Zoom. (booklet).
This Sunday’s Schedule
- Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Adult Education
- Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries program
- This Sunday at 10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at YouTube (10:00 a.m. booklet). Bishop Kevin Brown will be visiting and joining us for lunch in the Overflowing Cup Cafe. Sign up to help!
Growth and Fellowship
- Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – lectionary bible study in the classroom.
- Third Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Novel Theology
- 3rd Monday of the month – Hope Dining Room
- Last Sunday of the month – Family Church Sunday
- Last Sunday of the month – Coffee and Fellowship between services
Other Parish Events
- Sunday, May 19, 2024 – Pentecost, outdoor worship and picnic. 8 a.m. worship will be indoors indoors, as usual, and 10:30 a.m. indoor/outdoor worship and picnic immediately following worship service.
The church is aware that some of its members are struggling to make ends meet. If you are in this situation, please let the clergy know of your needs, pray for the church, and feel no guilt about your giving. But if you are able to give, options for giving include mailing a check to our church or online giving.
If you have anything to add to the Parish calendar or the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter, please email the office at StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com.
To see worship, events or news, see our website, FaceBook, InstaGram, YouTube, or the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.
Regardless of whether we are together in-person or virtually, we are connected by the Holy Spirit: Always together; never apart…maybe in distance, but never in heart.
Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644