Worship Ministries Schedule …

Rector Search Process enters its final phase as we begin 2010. A Search Committee has been named, and the Parish Profile is being completed. For more information, see the Rector Search Update page. To nominate a priest, download the recommendation form and turn it in to the Church Office or to a member of the Search Committee.

Schedule Changes for Spring Break — March 13–21.

The following activities will NOT meet:
   Sun, Mar 14 — Breakfast, Junior Choir, Sunday School, Adult Forum,
        Contemporary Service, EYC
   Thu, Mar 18 — Adult Bible Study
   Sun, Mar 21 — Breakfast

These activities continue at scheduled times during Spring Break:
   Tue, Mar 16 — Holy Eucharist (6:30AM), Book Study (12:00PM)
   Wed, Mar 17 — Eucharist (12:15PM)
   Sun, Mar 21 — Junior Choir (9:30AM), Sunday School (9:40AM),
        Contemporary Service (5:30PM), EYC (6:15PM) 730 Evensong

Lenten Season at St. Thomas — 2010
February 17 – April 3

Tue, Feb 16		5:30PM		Canterbury Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner & Auction
Wed, Feb 17		7:00AM 12:15PM 6:30PM		Ash Wednesday Worship    (3 services)
Tue, Feb 23		6:30AM 12:00PM		Holy Eucharist (Rite I) Lenten Book Study
Wed, Feb 24		12:15PM		Holy Eucharist & Healing Service
Tue, Mar 2		6:30AM 12:00PM		Holy Eucharist (Rite I) Lenten Book Study
Wed, Mar 3		12:15PM		Holy Eucharist & Healing Service
Tue, Mar 9		6:30AM 12:00PM		Holy Eucharist (Rite I) Lenten Book Study
Wed, Mar 10		12:15PM		Holy Eucharist & Healing Service
Thu, Mar 11		11:30AM		Lenten Light Lunch
Tue, Mar 16		6:30AM 12:00PM		Holy Eucharist (Rite I) Lenten Book Study
Wed, Mar 17		12:15PM		Holy Eucharist & Healing Service
Tue, Mar 23		6:30AM 12:00PM		Holy Eucharist (Rite I) Lenten Book Study
Wed, Mar 24		12:15PM		Holy Eucharist & Healing Service
Thu, Mar 25		11:30AM		Lenten Light Lunch
Tue, Mar 30		6:30AM 12:00PM		Holy Eucharist (Rite I) Lenten Book Study
Wed, Mar 31		12:15PM		Holy Eucharist & Healing Service
Thu, Apr 1		7:00PM		Maundy Thursday Worship (Church)
Fri, Apr 2		7:30AM 12:30PM		Good Friday Pilgrimage    (meet at St. Francis) Good Friday Liturgy (St. Andrew's)

Lenten Book Study
Each year during Lent, our parish offers a book study group. Aneya Elbert is leading a study of An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. All are welcome to join in this book study. Feel free to bring a lunch and eat while we meet.
[ see the author's web site … ]

Lent Light Lunch (3-L’s) on Mar 11 & 25 from 11:30-1PM … come and go. If interested in volunteering to make soup, bring bread, salad, or maybe a dessert, please contact the church office or sign up on parish hall bulletin board. Please bring a canned good or two for the Food Bank.

A Good Friday Pilgrimage
Journey with members of the Episcopal congregations and schools in Bryan-College Station on Good Friday, April 2, 2010, on a pilgrimage that will allow us to walk and worship together and allow us to slow down and see the community around us. We will meet at St. Francis (1101 Rock Prairie, College Station) at 7:30 am to gather and walk the Stations of the Cross. Then, with good walking shoes and water, we will walk together to St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the St. Thomas Early Learning Center (906 Geroge Bush, College Station) for rest, restrooms and refreshments before continuing on the St. Michael's Episcopal School (2500 South College Avenue, Bryan) for another rest stop. We will then walk on to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (217 West 26th Street, Bryan) and join together for a Good Friday liturgy at 12:30, preceded and followed by a lunch of soup and salad. Transportation will be available along the way for pilgrims who cannot walk the entire route and also to bring pilgrims back to their cars from St. Andrew's. Walkers can join us at any point of the journey. All are invited for the service and meal at St. Andrew's.
 
Please let Lisa or the church office know if you would like to participate. If you don't wish to walk but can provide light refreshments (water, Gatorade, granola bars, and fruit) at St. Thomas on Good Friday morning, please call Lisa or the church office.

ELC Board Nominations. The ELC is accepting nominations for those interested on being on the ELC Board.  Self nominations are encouraged.  Please send any nominations to Tammy Tiner, Michelle Engelke, Corinna Strayer or the church office.  Parishioners must be communicants in good standing meaning: “those baptized members who have received Holy Communion at least three time during the preceding year” and are faithful “in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented” and “in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God”.

The 2010 Flower List been posted in the Narthex. Donations are a minimum of $50.

Prayer Ministry — All are invited to participate in the power of prayer each Sunday, following the 10:30AM worship service. Members of this ministry team are available in the Chapel to pray with those wishing a partner.

Bible Study — Thursdays (upstairs classroom of the Ministry Center)
Mthr. Lisa is leading a Bible Study of the Gospel of Luke on Thursdays. The study started Sept. 17, but everyone is free to join at any time. Choose your time! Parallel studies will meet at 10:30AM and 7:00PM. Nursery is available for the 10:30AM study, if needed (please call the church office to confirm your need for the nursery).

Habitat for Humanity Apostle's Build. Thank you to all who worked Sat, Feb 13, building and feeding the volunteers at St. Thomas' Work Day. The assigned tasks were completed early (even with painting!) and lunch was superb! Habitat kalled Kay Parker & said that St. Thomas did a great job. And In November, we raised $3,922 for this Habitat Apostle'd Build.

Spread the Word — Thanks to all who donated: we ordered 120 Bibles for St. Thomas' pews.

Christmas at St. Thomas — 2009

Fri, Dec 25		10:30AM		Christmas Eucharist
Sun, Dec 27		8:00AM 10:30AM		Eucharist (Rite I) Eucharist (Rite II)    (no Christian Education)
Sun, Jan 3		8:00AM 10:30AM		Eucharist (Rite I) Eucharist (Rite II)    (no Christian Education)

Advent Events at St. Thomas — 2009

Sun, Nov 29		9:00AM		Advent Wreath-Making Event [ photos… ]
Thu, Dec 3		12:30PM		AGO Advent Recital
Thu, Dec 10		12:30PM		AGO Advent Recital
Fri, Dec 11		4:30PM		Mature Adults Christmas Dinner @ Abuelo's
Sun, Dec 13		10:30AM		Service of Lessons & Carols Angel Tree gifts due EYC Party @ the Street's home. Bring a "White Elephant Gift" and canned goods for the Church Pantry.
Thu, Dec 17		10:45AM 12:30PM		ELC Nativity AGO Advent Recital
Sun, Dec 20		8:00AM 10:30AM 11:45am 7:30PM		Holy Eucharist & Baptism Holy Eucharist & Baptism Greening of the Church St. Cecilia's Christmas Concert    (no Compline)
Christmas Eve
Wed, Dec 24		5:00PM 10:30PM		Children's Pageant & Eucharist Carols & Eucharist

Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off — Sun, Nov 1
This year, our annual Fall Festival was made a little more special with the addition of a Chili (& Side Dish & Dessert) Cook-Off and by the appearance of Reveille VIII.
[ photos… ]

CROP Hunger Walk — Sun, Oct 18
Teams representing the St. Thomas Green ministry, Family Ties & the Episcopal Student Ministry (Canterbury) participated in the Bryan/College Station CROP Hunger Walk will be at 3:00PM at the Veterans Park & Athletic Complex.

Confirmation — Sun, Oct 18
Bishop Dena Harrison preached & celebrated the Eucharist with us October 18. St. Thomas presented an amazing 24 people for baptism, confirmation or reaffirmation. Afterwards, we celebrated with an extra special Gathering Tree reception.
[ photos… ]

1994 Sanctuary Mortgage Burning! — Sun, Oct 11
WE DID IT! After 15 years, St. Thomas has successfully paid of the 1994 sanctuary. Join us Oct 11 as we BURN the church mortgage, have lunch, and discuss St. Thomas’ vision for the future. Congratulations and Way to Go!
[ photos… ]

Green Clean  Sun, Oct 4
On Sunday Oct 4 during adult forum, Jenny Adams and Jan Hughes led a workshop on green cleaning. Participants learned about the toxicity of many commercial cleaning products and the hazards they pose to to one's health and to the environment and alternatives that can be made from ingredients founds in most households that are effective, easy, and save money. Participants then prepared their own all purpose cleaner to take home.

Blood Donation Drive — Sun, Sept 27
In our first ever Blood Drive, St. Thomas donated 18 units of blood to The Brazos Valley Neighborhood Blood Center.
… [ photos… ]

Rally Day: Passport to St. Thomas — Sun, Aug 30
Between breakfast and the 10:30 service (beginning at 9:40) and immediately following the service, everyone was invited to take part in a fun way to get ready for fall. We had Passports to St. Thomas available for everyone to pick up and take with them on their tours of the campus, stopping along the way at the Ministry Booths vying for everyone's attention. As people toured their community of faith, they considered where they were called to invest their time and talents at St. Thomas. those who had their Passport stamped at every destination, claimed a frappacino at Café Canterbury.
… [ photos… ]

In general, the Church Pantry has been very busy this summer. Interviews lasted an hour over closing. A lot of food to people who really needed help. In September, clients are able to come once a month & will not be required to have Social Security cards. We need more food & more volunteers. More information to follow. Please keep the canned goods, dried rice, beans, toilet articles, baby supplies, etc. coming. They are needed and we thank you!
Pat Koppa
 
Anne Prescott has agreed to become the new outreach liaison to the Brazos Church Pantry, as Pat Koppa is assuming a larger responsibility at the Pantry. Many thanks to Pat who has done an outstanding job for the past several years, and many thanks to Anne for her upcoming volunteerism. Anne will deliver food to the Pantry, as well as attend the monthly meetings.

Awakening the Dreamer: Changing the Dream
On August 15, St. Thomas hosted the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium. John Adams, son of Marvin and Jenny Adams, facilitated the 4-hour symposium. John has devoted the last two years of his life to studying spirituality and promoting social justice and environmental sustainability. The Awakening the Dreamer Symposium was developed by the Pachamama Alliance. Symposia are taking place all over the world. The purpose of the Pachamama Alliance is to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Plant Earth. To find out more about Awakening the Dreamer and the Pachamama Alliance, visit their web site.

Youth Mission Trip — June 21-26. The Youth of St. Thomas spent a week of their summer vacations in Houston taking on several different service projects, and having some fun exploring Houston. Staying at Christ Church Cathedral, they had opportunities to perform clean up projects and prepare medical supplies & food.    … [ photos… ]

Vacation Bible Camp Rocked!
Great food, puppets & stories galore, fun crafts; and great fellowship. About 150 children, youth & adults pitched in to make this year's VBC another great success. A big thank you to everyone for making our VBC a wonderful family affair. What a wonderful group of volunteers! … [ photos… ]

Palm Sunday & Youth Sunday Celebrations
On April 5, St. Thomas again celebrated Palm Sunday with the tradition of palms & the musical procession around the church … [ photos… ]
A month later, on May 3, we celebrated Youth Sunday, honoring graduating high school seniors, with the youth group leading our 10:30AM service. … [ photos & video … ]

St. Thomas Prayer List Practices
Intercessory prayer, which is the name given to praying for others, is an important part of being a faith community. For intercessory prayer to be meaningful, the praying community must know for whom it is praying and why. When we stop to think about it, we have to admit that prayer is not a matter of talking God into doing something. God does not love and care about someone more because he or she is on our prayer list; God cares about and loves equally all God's children, including those who have no one to pray for them. So prayer is not about changing God's relationship to us; it is about changing our relationship to God. … [ continued… ]

Flower Power
Each week we can brighten someone's life with the simple kindness of delivering Sunday's flowers after the 10:30 service, and we need your help. The names of those to whom we deliver flowers are on the Flower Power list in the sacristy (behind the main church). After church on Sunday, check to see if someone on the list lives close to your home. Then check off their name and record your name and the date you delivered the flowers. Liz Lindner has been doing this on her own and would love to share the joy she receives.

Farewell tribute to Fr. Bill & Deborah Fowler
Over the next month we will be looking back and celebrating Fr. Bill's four-year ministry at St. Thomas. Under Fr. Bill's visionary leadership, our church has welcomed many new families, seen its first priest ordained, and prepared itself for the future with the addition of the Lancaster property to the campus. On May 3, following the 10:30 service, we gathered to rejoice in these and other accomplishments with Fr. Bill and wish him the best as he moves on to Galveston.  ... [ photos… ]

Earth Day Sermon by The Rev. Lisa Hines (April 26, 2009)
This past Wednesday was Earth Day. Earth Day doesn't appear on the church calendar, but if the secular world can appropriate Christmas, All Hallow's Eve and Easter for its own merchandizing purposes, then surely we can appropriate this secular feast day for our use. After all, its urgent call for people to awaken to the dangers to the earth of poverty, war and environmental stress should be familiar to us. Through the centuries this cry has been the refrain of our saints and poets. … [ continued… ]

Archived News & Stories

EYC Garage Sale (February 7, 2009)
Children's Christmas Pageant (December 24, 2008)
Fall Festival (November, 2008)
Anniversary Celebration: 70 Years of Ministry / 50 Years as a Parish (September, 2008)
History of St. Thomas Church
My Summer Vacation: Images of Wonderment and Beauty (Summer, 2008)
St. Thomas Vacation Bible Camp: Caring for Creation (June, 2008)
St. Thomas Green gathers at Brison Park to observe the bird life (May, 2008)
Earth Day Sermon (April, 2008)
St. Thomas Green participates in the 2008 Trash-Off (April, 2008)
Lenten Studies Series, 2008 (February, 2008)
Lisa Stolley Hines: The Ordination of a Priest (January, 2008)