 A note from the Interim Rector
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Easter is 50 days according to our liturgical calendar!
Easter is also a way of life!
Let us continue the celebration of Easter this Sunday by wearing bright and colorful clothes! And remember cascarones (a.k.a. confetti eggs) from last year? We will celebrate Easter Texas- style with the festive and fun cascarones in the Great Hall after the 10 a.m. liturgy. It is fun for all ages! I hope you can join us!
Amma Leslie+
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 Attitude of Gratitude
Happy Easter! We have so much to be grateful for in our life together! I am deeply thankful for the many acts of service that made our journey through Lent, Holy Week and Easter one of love, nourishment and prayerful intention.
- Let us give thanks to God for the Altar Guild ministry led by Paula Valeri.
- Let us thank our mid-week Lenten program speakers: The Rev'd Canon Bill Logan, Joanna Hodgeman, Johanna Bond and Stan Jones and our cooks: Rob Ferris, Pete and Connie Barker, Karolina Fero and The Rev'd Andrea Stridiron, Ellie Nace for providing the salad and all of those who helped each week to set up and clean up.
- Let us give thanks to the choir for their beautiful music, and to Clay Jenkins and his student, Charlie Carr, for the glorious Easter brass.
- Let us give thanks for the Usher Ministry, Acolytes, all Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers and Lois Giess and her faithful crew who helped with the Agape Meal.
- Let us give thanks to Linda Coleman for taking pictures at our Easter Vigil Baptism and for organizing the joyful reception after that service.
- Let us give thanks to God for The Rev'd Louise Johnson-Toth for being our guest preacher at the Maundy Thursday service.
- Let us give thanks for Lois Giess, Laura Thomas, Johanna Bond, Stan Jones, John Moore-Levesque, Caroline Yates and Vicky Rupley who helped with the Confirmation Reception and clean up.
- And last but not least, let us give thanks to God for The Rev'd Christa Moore-Levesque, Kathleen Merritt, The Rev'd Andrea Stridiron and Dr. Rob Ferris for their support and ministry among us.
Let us always be grateful! Amma Leslie+
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 Prayer for Daily Life
Season of Easter
Resurrected Christ, during this season of Easter may we celebrate with joy and feasting your grace, mercy, and victory over death. Nourish us with this food, making us mindful of those who have neither food nor peace. You give us all that we need to be Easter people – workers of love and mercy who bring hope to a weary world. In the name of the risen Christ, Amen.
Table Talk: What is one “joy” from your day or week, or from this season of Easter?
Peanut Butter and Jelly Prayers by Julie B. Sevig
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Children's Ministries News
- We have two Family Eucharist services to end April. All children are welcome in worship on April 23 and April 30.
- Parents, if you do not want a bunch of empty plastic eggs at home, you can return your Easter Egg Hunt eggs to church and we’ll use them again next year!
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Youth Ministries News
No Youth Group this Sunday or next Sunday. Join us again on Sunday, May 7!
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 Worship Ministries
Feel free to help yourselves to an Easter plant or two after the 10:00 service this weekend.
Altar Flowers
Several dates are available to donate altar flowers in the next few months. If you would like to see the available dates, call the parish office, or you can view it online via St. Thomas’ Connect.
- To sign up online simply click on the Altar Flower box on the right side of this page or log in to STC and click on the Altar Flowers link on the homepage. After clicking on the link, you will see all the available dates for flower sponsorship.
- Select one by clicking “I’ll Take It”.
- You can pay online or mail a check to the Parish Office along with your dedication. The cost is $45.
- If you choose to pay online, follow the instructions at the top of the Altar Flower page and email your dedication to the parish office.
Thanks for sponsoring our beautiful flowers!
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Outreach Ministries News
Can Monroe County Reduce Poverty by 50% in 15 Years? April 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Asbury First Methodist Church. Panelists: Tori Toliver-Powers – Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative at United Way; LeShunda Leslie-Smith – Connected Communities, Inc.; Henry Fitts – Mayor’s Office Innovation & Strategic Initiatives; Vincent Esposito – Empire State Development, Finger Lakes Regional Office. All are welcome. Register at www.lwv-rma.org. For more information call League of Women Voters at 585-262-3730.
CURB (Community Uprooting Racism in Brighton) invites you to attend our upcoming event! Living Race in Brighton: Sharing Stories and Taking Action
Wednesday, April 26, 6-8 p.m.
Temple B'rith Kodesh
2131 Elmwood Ave
Enter through Door F in the back.
In this guided dialogue we will connect through our individual and collective stories and uncover themes of racial isolation in our community. We will integrate feedback from previous meetings and discuss actions that we can take individually and collectively to effect change.
Childcare available. Please email Kathryn.the.mom@gmail.com with the number and ages of children you'll be bringing.
Spring Public Policy Workshop on Saturday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St. John’s, Canandaigua. The topic is Youth Incarceration Issues in New York State. Speakers will be Jon Greenbaum, Lead Organizer for Roc/ACTS; and Rosemary Rivera, Organizing Director of Citizen Action of New York. To register, contact Dorothy Romanet dromanet@rochestser.rr.com or 585-621-5215. Mention any dietary or accessibility needs.
The United Thank Offering Concludes
The Ingathering for the United Thank Offering is Sunday, April 30. The UTO gives one-time grants in support the Sustainable Development Goals (replacing the Millennium Development Goals). Their aim is to alleviate poverty and improve levels of food security, health, access to water and sanitation, equality, and economic growth in the U.S. and around the world.
UTO grants fund several kinds of ministry, with environmental stewardship as the focus of grants given this past year. Last year, our contributions helped provide over $1.2 million dollars in grants to communities with very real needs.
A list of last year’s grants is on the Outreach bulletin board near the Lounge. Here is an example of recipients:
Diocese of Virginia, Young Adult Grant
Sacred Solidarity: Race Justice at the University of Virginia (Grace Aheron). To host a unique weekend retreat led by Circles and Ciphers, a group comprised of young men who have had gang, prison, and court-related experiences who foster open communication and racial healing through hip-hop music and art. The participants, primarily university students, will experience racial reconciliation through the retreat and then commit to a one-year follow-up to share their circle work in their own spaces. Grant of $2,500.
Coin boxes and brochures are located at church entrances. Envelopes will be available for the Ingathering of contributions on April 30. Please join in giving thanks this Lent with the UTO.
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Stewardship Statistics
Weekly Financial Report 4/16/17
Budget Pledges Year to date: $110,769
Actual Pledge Payments Year to date: $111,660
Thank you for your support!
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