Parish Weekly- April 11, 2024

Mission: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is a welcoming spiritual community dedicated to following the teachings of Christ Jesus. We grow through learning, celebrate joyful worship, and serve our neighbors.

Vision: We open hearts and minds to create community in Christ.

A Note from the Rector

Dear St. Thomas’,

Happy Second Week of Easter! I hope you can get outside and enjoy some sunshine.

Our Easter book read, “Listening for the Heartbeat of God” by Philip Newell, is off and running. If you are still interested in reading the book, please click here to register and order a book. Your book will be in the “Pickup" mailbox outside the Parish Office. One book per household, please.

Please note we will be gathering for class in the Great Hall for the remainder of the classes.

The reading and class schedule is as follows:

April 14 – Chapters 3-4
April 28 – Chapters 5- 6
May 5 – Celtic Spirituality Practice of Listening

As part of the program, there will be a special “Listening for the Heartbeat of God” workshop with the Rev. Mary Earle on Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Great Hall. Refreshments will be served.

Faithfully,

Amma Leslie+

Click here for all upcoming events listed in the Parish Calendar

Worship Ministry

Altar Flowers

If you enjoy the beauty of altar flowers, have an occasion to give thanks for, want to celebrate an event, or remember a loved one, you can sponsor flowers for our weekly worship. We have many openings for the coming months that offer you the opportunity to donate. Signing up is easy and fast!

Click here or you may call the parish office at (585) 442-3544. Questions? Please contact Vicky Rupley at vrmail@rochester.rr.com or by calling 585-233-2546.

Fellowship Ministry

Women of St. Thomas’ April Meeting

The Women of St. Thomas’ will meet in the Lounge on Thursday, April 18, at 11:30 a.m. Laura Arney, a parish member, will present the Challenges and Interesting Aspects of Hearing Loss. Whether through personal experience or having family or friends dealing with hearing loss, this is a subject close to all.

All women of the parish are invited to attend. Each person should bring a sandwich,

salad, or soup of choice. Beverages, chips, pickles, and a dessert will be provided.

Fiber Ministry Meeting and Baby Layette Donations

The St. Thomas Fiber Ministry will meet on Tuesday, April 30, at 1:30 p.m. in the Lounge.

We are accepting donations for the Spring Baby Layette Project for the Refugee Resettlement Program at the end of April. The final Sunday drop-off is April 28. Donations can be brought to the upcoming meeting on April 30. There will be a blessing of the donations at the worship service on Sunday, May 5. Many thanks to those who have knit baby blankets, apparel, and accessories.

Our next meeting will be in June to plan projects for the fall. For more information, contact Jan Gates at ladygates47@gmail.com or Carol Oldenburg at oldenburg.carol@gmail.com.

Children and Youth Ministry

Sunday School

Your wonderful Sunday School team will be presenting a puppet show of the Easter story this Sunday, followed by the children creating color wheels that tell the story of our Lord’s resurrection. Ask your children to tell you the Easter story using their wheels. Join us!

Youth Group

The Youth Group will meet again on April 21 to complete our presentation materials for Creation Care hospitality hour.

In May we will begin planting a pollination garden along the side of the church. Come join us and share the joy!

Community Engagement News

Fundraiser at Benucci's

Benucci’s Italian Restaurant in Pittsford Plaza is hosting a fundraiser benefitting Family Promise of Greater Rochester (formerly RAIHN) on Thursday, April 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Reservations for dine-in are recommended. Take-out is also available.

Benucci’s will donate 20% of the entire day’s proceeds to support families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Call (585) 264-1300 to make reservations.

Donation Drive for Refugee Families

More refugee families are coming to Rochester each year, and supplies like diapers, wipes, pacifiers, diaper rash, and skin protectant ointments, such as Desitin and Aquaphor, are not included in SNAP benefits. These costs can add up!

Make a difference by donating these items. Please leave them in the marked bin at the Highland entrance. Donations will be blessed along with the baby layette items on Sunday, May 5. Case managers at Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services will distribute them.

Brighton Food Cupboard April Requests

This month, the Brighton Food Cupboard needs toilet paper, peanut butter, and canned fruit.

REACH March Newsletter

REACH Advocacy is a community-minded organization seeking safe, supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness in Rochester. Click here to read REACH's April newsletter.

Employment Opportunities at St. Thomas'

St. Thomas' has two new opportunities to serve in ministry:

Office Manager: This is a full-time position, Monday through Friday. Click here to view the job description.
Children's Minister: This position is part-time, with up to 15 hours per week. Click here to see the full job description.

St. Thomas' is a vibrant and growing parish. Parish members, please share these two wonderful opportunities with people you know who are passionate about serving.

For questions, contact The Very Rev. Leslie Burkardt at leslie@stthomasrochester.org.

Appreciation and Gratitude

Joel Wilbur Update

During the 2023-2024 program year, St. Thomas’ has had the opportunity to have Joel Wilbur, a seminarian in our diocese, join us for worship and other parish gatherings. We give thanks for our time together and for the opportunity to be part of his formation experience.

Unfortunately, Joel had some unforeseen health challenges this winter to which he needed to tend. Due to Joel’s need for additional rest and catching up on

schoolwork, we decided that it was best for him to be done with his seminarian duties at St. Thomas’. I know you will join me in praying for him as he continues his journey.

The discernment process is hard, and one can never have too much prayer. Please read a note of gratitude from Joel to the right.

Faithfully,

Amma Leslie+

Office Support

Thank you to Jane Smith and Laura Thomas, who covered for Kathleen in the office last Thursday and Friday while she was on vacation.

Your help was much appreciated!

National Church News

Slate for Next Presiding Bishop

The Episcopal Church nominating committee has announced the slate for the next Presiding Bishop. The nominees are Nebraska Bishop J. Scott Barker, Pennsylvania Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez, Northwestern Pennsylvania Bishop Sean Rowe, and Atlanta Bishop Robert Wright.

The election will take place in June. Click the link for more details: Slate for 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Financial Information

Weekly Financial Report 4/10/24

Budget Pledges Year to date: $99,511

Actual Pledge Payments Year to date: $80,939

Year to Date Financial Report to 4/10/24

Year to date Revenue: $175,184

Year to date Expenses: $207,154

**Net loss to date: $ (31,970)

Get Ready for Sunday

Read the Revised Common Lectionary for The Third Sunday of Easter: Click here

Parish Weekly Deadline

The deadline for submitting articles for the Parish Weekly is Monday at 2:00 p.m. Please send articles to Patty Corvaia at pattyc@stthomasrochester.org.

At Home Resources

Sunday Live Stream Service at 10:00 a.m. is available on our YouTube channel - St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Rochester, NY. This can be viewed any time after 10 a.m. throughout the week.
Daily Devotional (Forward Day by Day): click here for link.
For prayer requests click here or on the gray box at the right of this page.

The Monroe County Department of Health recommends the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Practice physical distancing and stay home when sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your face.
Cover your cough or sneeze using a tissue or your sleeve.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched services.

Emergency Contacts

New York State Mental Health provider hotline: (844) 863-9314.
Rochester AA support: (585) 232-6720.
Rochester Domestic Violence hotline: (585)222-SAFE.
National Child Abuse hotline: (800) 342-3720.
National Suicide Prevention: 988.
The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ youth (13-14): 1-(866) 488-7386.
Interpersonal Violence Hotline: (585) 275-HEAL
Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov
Monroe County Department of Health: monroecounty.gov/health-coronavirus
Episcopal Relief & Development, faith-based response to epidemics: bit.ly/2VMcNuu
NYS Office of Addiction Services: https://oasas.ny.gov/

The Pandemic of Racism

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church of Rochester, New York stands behind the “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” declaration by the Greater Rochester NY Black Agenda Group. As a community of faith and followers of Jesus Christ we believe that every person is continually made in the image of God beautifully and wonderfully. We are committed to do the hard work of love. We are dedicated to the practice of growing and learning how to know and love our neighbors as we seek to create community. We hold the hope that love does win through forgiveness, kindness, and transformation. We desire to be a people who work for the equity of all. We work to acknowledge our complicity and part in racism, and we are committed to work together to tackle injustice in our life, in our church, in our community and in the world. We are proud to stand with the Greater Rochester Black Agenda Group and its declaration that “Racism is a Public Health Crisis".