Our Fall Kickoff Sunday on 8/2 begins the Ministry Year for us and starts a Kickoff Season that will run through Labor Day Weekend!
Message from the rector:
We have made extensive overall updates to the St. Thomas website ahead of the Fall Kickoff Season and to serve us going forward! We have redesigned the navigation, introduced more dedicated pages for different ministries, and added resources and content throughout. This reflects our ongoing growth and maturing as a young church and the varieties of ministries that we can offer. Thanks be to God! I encourage you to spend some time exploring. There is time-sensitive information for the Fall under Worship, Kids, Youth, Groups & Classes, Membership, Baptism, and Confirmation. There are also key next steps listed for several different demographics and a reminder about our optional Online Member Directory. We also have resources for Prayer and the BCP plus guidelines for Marriages and Funerals at St. Thomas.
That also means that we can use this Fall page to focus on some key calendar events and overall information for the Parish (instead of it functioning like a whole website in one webpage!) Check out some of the key events below and mark your calendars. Remember that one of our key phrases is all may, some should, none must. As you look at everything going on across our parish, please don’t feel the pressure that all should do all, but prayerfully discern what you should do. The only exception to that is that we are going to have name tags available during the entire Fall Kickoff Season and our asking that all may, all should, and all must wear a name tag to help facilitate our overall welcome and fellowship!
In Christ,
Daniel+
The Rev. Daniel Adkinson
8/2 - Fall Kickoff Sunday
Our Fall Kickoff Sunday begins the Ministry Year for us and starts a Kickoff Season that will run through Labor Day Weekend! On Sunday we will reopen all of our St. Thomas Kids classes and host an Open House. Join us in the Fellowship Hall between and after services for Coffee, Fellowship, and an Engagement Fair to learn about all the ways to serve at St. Thomas and more about all of the upcoming opportunities.
8/29 - Foundations Interest Meeting
Foundations is an intensive 8-month discipleship experience led by Fr. Daniel. We will meet early on Saturday mornings for prayer, discussion, and study. Those interested need to attend an interest meeting at 7:00 AM on Saturday, August 29th in the Fellowship Hall. Register using this form. Information will be available including a commitment form. Note that there is a registration cost for Foundations that covers all materials, books, and a Spring Retreat. The class will begin on September 12th.
8/30 - St. Thomas 101
St. Thomas 101 is a class for those new to St. Thomas! It’s designed for those exploring our church and those ready to learn more about our membership process.
We will share our brief history as a church, our current goals, vision for the future, and answer any questions you may have! Childcare is available and lunch will be provided. We will meet from 1 pm - 3 pm in the Fellowship Hall. You can register here.
9/1 - Anglican Essentials Begins
Anglican Essentials is a four-week class meeting on Tuesday evenings this September in the Fellowship Hall (9/1, 9/8, 9/15, 9/22). We will explore church history, sacramental theology, how to use the Book of Common Prayer, and what to expect during the confirmation process. There will also be plenty of time for questions and conversation. An optional meal will be served at 5:30 pm and childcare is available. Teaching will be from 6 pm - 7 pm. Learn more and sign up using this form.
9/6 - Instructed Service - Many at St. Thomas are new to the Anglican Way. We set aside a Sunday every 1-2 years for an Instructed Service to help walk everyone through how and why what we do in worship. This teaching occurs in lieu of the sermon and we will have an annotated special bulletin with more information. We are looking forward to an instructed service together on Sunday, September 6th at both of our morning services. This is a great service to invite someone to who is new to the Anglican Way or curious about St. Thomas.
9/13 - First (Monthly) Evensong Service
One new thing happening this Fall we really want to highlight is a monthly Evensong Service on Sunday nights at 5 pm! Evensong is a church service held near twilight in the Anglican tradition. For us this will be a slightly shorter service utilizing Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (2019) with a sermon followed by Holy Communion. The Fall dates for this service are 9/13, 10/11, 11/8, and 12/13. Eventually, this may become a weekly service for us instead of just a monthly offering.
9/27 - Archbishop Foley Beach Visits
Our Bishop will be visiting St. Thomas! Archbishop Foley will be preaching at both morning services and administering the sacramental rite of Confirmation.
There is more information throughout our website about Confirmation for both Adults and Teens. Adults will need to be part of the Anglican Essentials course and our Teens will have a separate process that parents can learn more about at the Youth Open House (8/23) or by talking with Sam Cargill, our Intern for Youth.
11/1 - Feast of All Saints
We will observe the Feast of All Saints together and administer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism!
We have updated resources on our website about Holy Baptism and the Preparation Process for infants / young children and for older children and new adult believers.
If you are interested in participating, please review that information and reach out ASAP. Parents, there will be a Baptism Prep class on 10/18 in the Sanctuary after the 11 am service.
Advent & Christmas
The Advent & Christmas Seasons are really special at St. Thomas! There will be a lot going on including special worship services, mercy ministry care drives for our local partners, and Vestry elections.
For now, we want to go ahead and give you some key dates to go ahead and mark on your calendars:
11/29 - Advent Wreath-Making Between Services
12/6 - Evening Lessons & Carols Service with Children’s Choir Singing
12/13 - Advent Evensong Service at 5 pm
12/24 - Thursday Christmas Eve Services - 4 pm (Family), 6 pm & 8 pm (Candlelight)