In This Issue...

Ministry of the Month

Annual Giving Thank You

This Sunday

Adult Education

Playhouse Season

Taize

Giving Tree

Pageant Sign-Up

Mitten Tree

Blue Christmas

Prayer List

Ministry of the Month - Christmas Giving

Annual Giving Thank You

Thank you to everyone who has made a financial pledge to support St. Thomas in 2023! It is through your generosity that St. Thomas is able to fulfill its mission as a village church.

As is our custom, the Stewardship Committee will be making follow-up calls to parishioners who have not yet pledged.

Adult Education - Sundays at 11:00 a.m.

In the Adult Education session on Sunday we will continue our discussion of the Advent message as seen through the lens of the Gospel of Mark. In Mark there is no cozy birth narrative, but a call for us to follow Jesus to bring God’s kingdom into the world through the hard work of cultural disruption. We will discuss the theme of “Peace on Earth”. Not the sentimental feel-good Christmas story, but the hard work of creating real “Peace on Earth”. Please join us.

The Taize Services mid-winter, a tradition at St. Thomas since 1994, will begin again soon. The first will be held Tuesday December 6th and will continue through 14th of February with a two-week break over the holidays.

Taize is a quiet, meditative, candle-lit service that includes chant, spoken prayer, and silent meditation. When one enters, they are given a program and a lighted votive candle that can be placed on the steps

leading to the altar either before the service begins, or at its conclusion. The service lasts about thirty minutes and is led by clergy and laypersons alike.

St. Thomas Playhouse 2023 Season Announced

GIVING TREE @ ST. THOMAS

The season of gracious giving is upon us.

St. Thomas will have 6 families' Christmas wishes to shop for this holiday season.

Wishes are available through an online sign-up!

How It Works:

1) Sign up online for gift(s)

2) Shop for gift(s)

3) Wrap and label gift(s)

4) Return to the Christmas Tree in the Narthex by Thursday, Dec. 15

If you don't wrap the gift, no sweat. Youth will be wrapping some gifts along with sorting and bagging on

December 18 during Sunday morning Youth Group!

2022 Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant!

Many traditions as St. Thomas are special, but the magic of Christmas is ever present in the children's faces and youth voices that share the Christmas Nativity Story.

Nativity Rehearsals & Costume Fittings:

Thursday, December 22, 2:00-3:30 pm for the 2:00 Service ~ Meet in the Parish Hall

Thursday, December 22, 4:00-5:30 pm for the 4:00 Service ~ Meet in the Parish Hall

Christmas Eve Nativity ~ December 24:

Children and Youth arrive one hour before the service. Bonus, you get a good parking spot and the best seats in church. 

Saturday, December 24, 2:00 pm Service (Report to the Parish Hall at 1:00 pm)

Saturday, December 24, 4:00 pm Service (Report to the Parish Hall at 3:00 pm)

Questions: Contact Sara Gorby, sgorby@sstthomassv.org or (208) 726-5349 ext. 16

Warm Hands, Warm Hearts:

Help us Decorate our Advent Mitten Tree!

This year, in addition to supporting families in need through our traditional online Giving Tree, we will also be collecting mittens! Bring a new pair of mittens in any size (kids and grown-up sizes) and hang them on the beautiful tree in the narthex, beginning December 11^th and going through Christmas morning. They will be distributed after Christmas to warm hands and hearts.

Questions: Rev. Kathleen Bean, kbean@stthomassv.org

Blue Christmas Service

Wednesday, December 21, 5:30 p.m.

The holiday season is a time of great joy for many people, but for some it can be a time of sorrow, loneliness, pain, or disappointment. A Blue Christmas Service acknowledges that reality and creates a sacred space of welcome. This gentle service of music, prayers, and ritual, including the lighting of candles, offers people an experience of peace and understanding, and reminds us that God meets us not only in our joy, but in our pain.

Please help us spread the word about this special service and invite someone to join you on the longest night of the year for an experience of the divine light shining in the darkness.

Prayer List



Amanda, Loring, Betty, Tara, Bob, Tyler, Patrick, Laurie, Dick, Patty, Lindy, Terry, Eric, Aly, Annie, Joan, Lisa, Marcia, Susan, Evelyn, Lexi, CeCe, Mike, Stephen, Tayt, Marilyn, Peter, Sandra, Midge, Cindy, Anita, Nancy, Judy, Alison, Sarah, Sam, Luella, Janet, Kevin, Sue, Marilyn, Holden, Elsa, Abbot, Dani, Priscilla, Kris, Lois, Nick, Molly, Blake, Myrna, Finn, Frances, Margery, Heather, Mary, Nils, Penny, Sally, Robert, Tricia, Jasper, Sandie, Mike, Dawn, Brendan, Janice, the Hamilton family, and Carolyn.