Parish Weekly- March 21, 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.

Briefly Noted

**Next week’s Parish Weekly will be a two-week newsletter. For those who submit articles, there will not be a PW published the week after Easter.

A Note from the Rector

Dear St. Thomas',

Palm Sunday is March 24. Due to the inclement weather forecast, we will begin inside the church with a simple blessing of the palms and sing our favorite Palm Sunday hymn "All Glory Laud and Honor" for our opening hymn. The youth will distribute the palms after the blessing and during the opening hymn. As we approach Holy Week, let us give thanks for our staff and liturgical ministries as this season calls on additional duties and responsibilities. 

For the first time since COVID, we will be holding the washing of feet during the Maundy Thursday liturgy and Holy Eucharist. This service is dramatic in that it offers a special practice of servanthood, the nourishment of communion and concludes with the stripping of the altar. This sacred stripping of the altar takes us right into Good Friday. 

Saturday evening we have what the Book of Common Prayer calls The Great Easter Vigil. To let you in on a secret, it's my favorite liturgy! We get to light the fire that represents the first kindling of the paschal light. It is a dynamic movement from death to life that reminds us that death never has the final word. 

There's some really good stuff in the journey through Holy Week. I hope you can join me on the journey. 

Giving thanks for each one of you, 

Leslie+

Last Chance for Easter Flower Sign-Up

Easter plants are made possible each year by donations from parishioners and friends of St. Thomas’. You may donate towards Easter Flowers in one of two ways:

• You can click here to donate online.

• Individual sign-up sheets are available in the narthex

If you would like to make your contribution in memory of a loved one or as a special thanksgiving, please note it when you sign up so that we may add it tothe list of contributors printed in the Easter bulletin. Contributions in all amounts are welcome. Checks should be made payable to St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church (with the notation ‘Easter Flowers’ on the memo line) and submitted to the church office. The deadline for names to be listed in the Easter service bulletins is noon on Monday, March 25.

Questions? Vicky Rupley, 233-2546 or email, vrmail@rochester.rr.com.

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross are available on the first windowsill from the Highland door entrance. You can pray the stations anytime between 8:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., and if you don’t have a door code, you can buzz in.

The Nave temperature is bumped up for your comfort. If you need to come during off hours, please contact the parish office for a door code.

Listening for the Heartbeat of God

This book study will take place in person on April 7, 14, 28 and May 5 after the service in the Lounge.

Click here to register and order a book. After you register, your book will be available in the "Pickup" mailbox outside the Parish Office with your name on it. One book per household, please.

Listening for the Heartbeat of God Workshop with the Rev. Mary Earle will be held on May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Great Hall.

Hospitality Hour

This Sunday’s Hospitality Hour is hosted by Community Engagement. Join us to learn about A Meal and More ministry.

United Thank Offering

The United Thank Offering continues. Here is information about another 2023 UTO Grant recipients: St. Leonard’s Ministries & St. Andrew’s Church in Chicago received $100,000 for renovations of Saint Andrew’s Church which will create a community space for returning ex-offenders. It will host residents, alumni, community partners, and faith leaders to share how to welcome returning citizens back into the community with needed support, dignity, acceptance, and kindness.

Ways to Support UTO

Coin boxes and brochures are located at church entrances, or send a check to the church with UTO in the memo section. The Ingathering of contributions will be on April 7. Please join in giving thanks this Lent with the UTO.         

 -Wendy Petry, UTO Chairwoman

Brighton Food Cupboard March Requests

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

Financial Information

Weekly Financial Report 3/19/24

Budget Pledges Year to date: $78,165

Actual Pledge Payments Year to date: $66,748

Year to Date Financial Report to 3/19/24

Year to date Revenue:    $156,524 

Year to date Expenses:   $171,204

**Net loss to date:       $ (14,680)

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".