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Parish Weekly - February 14, 2016
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Briefly Noted

  • The Everybody Welcome Ministry will host wine & cheese after the 5:00 service this Saturday, and a coffee hour after the 8:00 service on Sunday.
  • The Lenten Series “Together We Grow” begins Wednesday, February 17. See article on the right for details.
  • Our first Town Hall Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 28 at 9:00 a.m. See article on the right for details.

Get Ready for Sunday

Read the Revised Common Lectionary for the First Sunday in Lent: click here.
 

Handy online forms:

Calendar Highlights

Saturday, February 13

Food, Fun & Fellowship Breakfast 8:30 a.m.
(Lower Hall)

Holy Eucharist 5:00 p.m.
(Chapel)

Sunday, February 14

Holy Eucharist  8:00 a.m.
(Chapel)

Church School 9:45 a.m.
(Classrooms)

Great Litany/Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m.
(Church)

Coffee Hour after 10:00 a.m. service
(Lower Hall)

Monday, February 15

Parish Office closed for Presidents' Day

Wed., February 10

Holy Eucharist 12:00 noon
(Chapel)

Staff Meeting 12:45 p.m.
(Rector's Office)

Together we Grow Lenten Program 5:30 p.m.
(Lower)

Adult Choir Rehearsal 7:15 p.m.
(Choir Room)

Staff Parish Relations Committee 7:30 p.m.
(Lounge)

Saturday, February 20

Everybody Welcome Committee 9:00 a.m.
(Lounge)

Holy Eucharist 5:00 p.m.
(Chapel)

Sunday, February 21

Holy Eucharist  8:00 a.m.
(Chapel)

Church School 9:45 a.m.
(Classrooms)

Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m.
(Church)

Coffee Hour after 10:00 a.m. service
(Lower Hall)

Youth Group 11:30 a.m.
(Youth Room)










































 

Attitude of Gratitude




St. Thomas' has many ministries to celebrate. In the midst of our business, we forget to take notice, we forget to say thank you, and we unintentionally take for granted the many ways people serve to make our lives easier and meaning-filled. From now on, I will take on the practice of raising up the names of various people and ministries who make our common life better, easier, life-giving.

On Saturday, we had a Connector's meeting to assess what is working, get feedback and give thanks for this new ministry. The Connectors formed out of the Capital Campaign initiative, to assist everyone in being engaged in the life of the church, to open up communication and to instill an environment where everyone is important and valued. I am deeply grateful to the Cluster Leaders: Laura Thomas, Brian Eshenaur, Susan Pickhardt, Sue Scanlon, Janet Morse and Debbie Cougler. Thank you for your organization skills and for your passion to help the St. Thomas' family feel connected.
  
At the meeting, I was blown away with the number of Connectors who showed up! The list includes Linda Auer, Connie & Peter Barker, Bill Blackmon, Jackie Bowman, Joanne Brandt, Susan Chazan, Janice Corea, Denise Eshenaur, DeWain Feller, Jere Fletcher, Judy Gilbert, Croft Hangartner, Rose Hodge, Dorothy Johnson, Nick Jones, Judy Kiley, Christine Long, Carolyn Mabb, Marilyn Meritt, Marcy Meyering, Janet Morse, Ann Nadeau, Gavin Phillips, Chuck Pickhardt, Suzie Seipel, Janeen Thompson, Barb Tuke, Paula Valeri, Kathy Walczak, Caroline Yates. Thank you to each of you! These are folks who make phone calls, emails, personal connections to the rest of the congregation in order to help everyone have an opportunity to be informed and involved. It is immensely important to the life Jesus calls us to live as community. Thank you to all of you for your time, for listening and for sharing!

We give thanks to God for you! 
Leslie +
Interim Rector


Worship Ministries News



Lenten Series at St. Thomas’ begins this week

St. Thomas’ will hold a mid-week series called “Together We Grow: An Intergenerational Journey Through Lent” at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays during Lent (February 17, 24, March 2, 9, 16).  We will begin our time together with a simple shared meal of soup with intentional table conversation followed by a short lesson about a Saint with some reflection and conversation time, and ending with Compline at 7:00 p.m.  All of this will take place in the lower hall.  Please be sure to register – either online by clicking here or on the chart near the church entrance - so we know how many people to anticipate feeding.  This is a child friendly event!  It is for EVERYONE!  Please come, see and be involved!

The saint for this first week will be Saint Thomas the Apostle.

Liturgy in Lent
Lent is a season to try on, take on, let go, give up, clear out space in order to experience more clearly the ways God is moving in our lives and in the world. During Lent the liturgical color changes, we make things simpler, and this year, we will be using Rite I at the 10 a.m. liturgy. What is the difference? Rite I language is more like reading Shakespeare, with the thee, thou, etc. In many ways, it is poetic. It is our liturgical Lenten practice of doing something out of the ordinary. We will continue with Rite II liturgy at the 5 p.m. and
8 a.m. services. 
 
St. Thomas' Town Hall Meetings
During the Annual Meeting, Leslie announced that the vestry and she decided to hold Town Hall Meetings on a quarterly basis. The meeting will have a brief agenda. The goal of this gathering is to open up communication between leadership and congregation and provide the congregation opportunity to be engaged with the work of the Church. Also, it will be a prime time for leadership to update the congregation with the ongoing household projects and programs. The dates for the meetings are: February 28, May 22, August 21 and November 13. Our first meeting, February 28 at 9:00 a.m. If you have further questions, please contact Amma Leslie or your Wardens, Brian Kruschwitz or Bob Valeri.


Youth Ministries News


Exciting news for the Youth Group! We will be visiting the REACH home (a homeless shelter in Rochester) on Sunday, March 13. We are combining efforts with the St. Paul's Youth. We will bring lunch for the REACH residents, and hopefully have some time to play board games and socialize. Anyone in grades 6-12 is welcome to join! Contact Mother Christa with questions: curate@stthomasrochester.org.

The next youth group meeting will be Sunday, February 21st from 11:30-1:00. All youth are welcome!


Fellowship Ministries News



Needed: Coffee Hour Hosts!

Coffee hour offers an opportunity to welcome visitors and newcomers and to connect with friends. We are returning to the paper sign-up system in the Lower Hall.  Sign up for your favorite Sunday – your birthday, anniversary or just because you love coffee and conversation. Never did it?  Experienced mentors will help. If interested, contact Lois Giess at ljg114@hotmail.com or 442-9251 or the parish office at office@stthomasrochester.org or 442-3544.


Outreach Ministries News



Souper Sundays are back for February! 

Please lend a hand by bringing in a can of soup or a box of crackers for our Souper Sunday collection.  Donations go to the Brighton Food Cupboard to assist families in need.  It is especially important for children and seniors to have a helping hand.  Drop off your soup and crackers in the marked barrel at the Highland entrance during the month of February.

REACH
This month’s needed item is ground coffee. Please leave your donations of coffee in the marked container outside the parish office. Also needed are Wegmans or Tops gift cards, which may be dropped in the large white mailbox by the office door. As always, please keep the Rochester Emergency Action Committee for the Homeless in your prayers.
 
Diocesan Public Policy Workshop
Members of the Diocesan Public Policy Committee are excited to invite you to participate in a Poverty Simulation as our annual workshop presentation. This unique interactive experience is conducted by trained volunteers of CCSI. You will be immersed in realistic life challenges faced by families in poverty. This free educational opportunity will connect you with your brothers and sisters living in poverty. The workshop will take place on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Mark’s & St. John’s, 1245 Culver Road. Please save the date. Pre-registration will be required. Watch for information to follow.
 
The United Thank Offering 
Give thanks this Lent through the United Thank Offering.  The UTO supplies one-time grants in support the Millennium Development Goals, whose aim is to alleviate poverty and disease. 
 
Last year, contributions provided over $1.5 million dollars to communities with very real needs, including clinics, mission work, schools, building improvements and vehicles.  A list of last year’s grants is on the Outreach bulletin board near the Lounge.
 
Coin boxes and brochures are located at church entrances.  The Ingathering of contributions will April 10th.  Please join in giving thanks this Lent with the UTO.


Sharing our Joys and Concerns

Congratulations to Art Holtzman, who celebrates his 95th birthday this week.


Stewardship Commission News

 


Weekly Financial Report 2/7/16

Budget Pledges Year to date: $43,846
Actual Pledges Year to date: $36,291
Thank you for your support!

St. Thomas' Church of Rochester
2000 Highland Avenue  | Rochester, NY 14618
St. Thomas' is located on the northwest corner of the Highland Avenue / Winton Road South intersection in the city of Rochester. Look for our red doors!


(585) 442-3544 | office@stthomasrochester.org | StThomasRochester.org

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