Greetings from St. Thomas

During last Sunday's sermon, Terri+ invited the congregation to participate in the Lead With Love Challenge over the next nine months. This challenge invites us, the St. Thomas Community, to commit to concrete actions over the next nine months to help us grow in faith, deepen our relationships with God and each other and to become a community that Leads With Love. We invite you to listen to the sermon and invitation and prayerfully discern how you will commit to grow in faith and deepen your relationship to God, each other and St. Thomas in the coming year. The link to the sermon is below. The invitation begins at 8 minutes 43 seconds.

Listen To Sermon & Invitation

Download Commitment Card

Kathi Atkins has a sign up sheet for those interested in being a member of an on-going group who wants to learn more about Conscious Eldering and the book Conscious Living Conscious Aging by Ron Pevny. You can see her at the end of the service in the church or in the Great Hall or contact her a by email at kajatkins97@gmail.com. The initial meeting in October to talk about how the group will be organized. All are welcome!

Spaghetti Dinner

There are many ways to help with the Spaghetti Dinner on October 14th!

10/01-14/2023

St. Thomas, 2201 Dexter St, Denver, CO 80207

Distribute Invitations

Help pass out invitations to neighborhood! Invite our community to join us!

Noodle Chef

Par boil noodles for easy cooking on the day of the event

At Home Sauce Chef

Make a batch of sauce at home at your convenience, store, and bring to St. Thomas. Recipe and ingredients will be provided!

10/14/2023

Saturday

St. Thomas, 2201 Dexter St, Denver, CO 80207

Meat Masters

Help cook italian sausage for a delicious meat sauce!

Set-Up Team

Help decorate tables and prepare space for dinner!

Welcome Table

Greet guests, collect suggested donations, direct to tables and food

Bartender

Staff the wine and beer table and accept cash donations.

Pasta Chef

Plate pasta, sauce, and garlic bread for guests

Table Helper

Ensure tables have what they need. Refill water jugs and utensils. Ensure guests with movement restrictions are served.

Salad Chef

Prep pre-made salads and keep an eye on salad table to ensure tidy and well supplied.

Wine Donations

Help us by donating a bottle or two of your favorite vintage!

Welcome Table

Greet guests, collect suggested donations, direct to tables and food

2201 Dexter St, Denver, CO 80207

Bartender

Staff the wine and beer table and accept cash donations.

St. Thomas, 2201 Dexter St, Denver, CO 80207

Dessert Divas

Scoop ice cream and cookies. Don't skimp on the chocolate sauce!

Clean Up Crew

Many hands make light work! Help tidy up after the event and provide to-go meals..

Sign-Up to Volunteer

FALL PROGRAMS

We are excited about the 2023-24 program year and are looking forward to welcoming everyone back after a busy summer. Our programs this year will focus on incorporating our children and youth into our worship services, growing in faith and deepening our relationship with God and each other. See below for a full description of our Fall Offerings for Children and Adults.

Fall Offerings

PARISH WIDE BOOK STUDY

RADICAL OPTIMISM: Practical Spirituality in an Uncertain World

by Beatrice Bruteau

Beatrice Bruteau was a philosopher whose vision of life was an inspiration to some of the most influential thinkers of our time. In Radical Optimism she shines new light on the deepest truth we can know about ourselves: each of us is one with God, here and now. She helps us to understand what this really means, to know the happiness it brings, and to cultivate a contemplative consciousness. This book is both enlightening and immensely practical. In a world grown dark and desperate, Dr. Bruteau shows us how to embrace the spirit of optimism through authentic spirituality. Bringing her knowledge of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and science to her exploration, she is both a brilliant synthesizer and an original thinker. Radical Optimism shows us who we really are, and with this understanding we can find the way beyond evil and suffering.

Parishioners will have two opportunities to participate in this book study. Beginning September 19th we will discuss a chapter each week in the Experiments in Prayer and Mediation Group. All are invited to join either in person or over ZOOM. Next week we will discuss the introduction and Chapter 1. We will also use this book for our community book study during the formation hour at our Community Nights.Our first Community Night Book Study will be September 20th at 6:30. We will be discussing the introduction and first chapter. Parishioners are invited to attend either discussion regardless of whether they have read the book or not.

Experiments In Prayer & Meditation

The Experiments in Prayer and Meditation Groups meets on Tuesday Evenings at 6:00. You can join us in the library or over ZOOM. We engage in spiritual conversations explore various spiritual practices, and support one another in prayer and meditation. Over the next six weeks we will be reading and discussing Radical Optimism by Beatrice Bruteau, All are welcome to join.

Learn More About Conscious Eldering:

The Center For Conscious Eldering Website

Conscious Living, Conscious Aging: Embrace & Savor Your Next Chapter

by Ron Pevny

TEDxHickory: What Do Elders Know And Why Is It Still Important?

TEDxWhitehorse: Choosing Conscious

If you would like to learn more about conscious Eldering or participate in a Conscious Eldering Group please email Kathi Atkins at kajatkins97@gmail.com

St. Thomas Directory

Are you interested in having some or all of your contact information listed in the Church Directory? Please take a moment to fill out your information, especially if it has changed in the last year or so. You can use our online form and email it to the church office, fill out a physical form in church and drop it in the offering plate, or stop by the Directory Table after the service to update us. If you have already provided your information and need help accessing or downloading the directory, Miriam Stark will be available after church this Sunday to help you.

Please note that to have access to the Directory, you need to be in the Directory.

Download Fillable PDF of Directory Information Form

Donations for St Francis Center

Remember to bring donations for St Francis Center by the last week of each month for donation pick-ups.

Urgent In-Kind Needs:

Men’s Underwear (boxer/boxer briefs) Sm, Med., Large

Men’s jeans (30 to 36 waist)

Cologne/After Shave

Q-tips

Vaseline

Bar Soap

Deodorant

Body Powder and Foot Powder

Hand &Body Lotion

Shampoo

Conditioner

Mouthwash

Wash Cloths

Towels (all kinds)

You can leave your donations at the main door before service begins or in the basket located outside of the main office doors. Find an usher if assistance is needed to bring in your donations.

Supporting The House 1000

PRAYER

All faith communities and people of faith throughout Denver are asked to pray for our unhoused neighbors and the success of this initiative each day and during worship services until our goal to reduce homelessness has been achieved.

COMMON PRAYER FOR THE

END OF HOMELESSNESS IN DENVER

Keep our unhoused neighbors close in our hearts. May they receive compassion, mercy and justice. For those leading and supporting the initiative to address our homeless crisis, we ask for wisdom, courage, strength, humbleness, creativity and perseverance. Let our city come together in unity and open our hearts and minds to address this urgent human rights crisis. Provide us with the resources we need to create sufficient housing units for all. Give us eyes to see new opportunities and resources and to boldly invite each other into sharing them together. Fill us with love and compassion for our unhoused siblings. Let us dare to believe that the power of love can unite us across faith traditions and diverse demographics to provide much needed, long-term, viable solutions to our homeless crisis. Compel our hearts to lament. Posture our love and leadership to invite the wisdom of our unhoused neighbors to inform our efforts. May these efforts reconcile us and unite us in peace, common love, and shared hope.

How To Get Involved

Pray and invite others to pray.
Be A Prophet
Remind others that homelessness is a human rights issue not a property rights issue.
Proclaim Hope and Belief that together we can do this; we can do big things.
Call people to focus on solutions rather than barriers, successes rather than mis-steps.
Advocate for this initiative at town halls.
The City has released a list of proposed sites for micro-communities. Write your council member in support of these efforts and attend you local townhall meetings to voice your support of this initiative.The list of scheduled townhalls with the Mayor and Council Members can be found here.
Help identify potential housing sites.
Contact The Rev. Terri Hobart to be connected with the Faith Leader’s Working Group that is identifying potential sites for SOS, Micro Communities and potential hotels, apartments and office buildings that could be purchased or leased.
Check denvergov.org/house1000 weekly for other opportunities.
DONATE

This fall, 500 individuals experiencing homelessness will be moving into micro-communities as part of the citywide effort to address Denver’s homelessness crisis. In support of this ambitious effort, Park Hill Churches have set a goal of contributing 500 new blankets, towels and hygiene kits by the end of September. If you would like to help with this effort, this link will take you to Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church’s giving page where you can make a tax-deductible donation to underwrite a twin blanket and towel set for $25 each. New hygiene items needed are:

Soap (individually wrapped)
Shampoo and Conditioner (approx. 12oz size)
Menstrual products (including pads and tampons)
Lotion (approx. 12oz size)
Chapstick
Toothbrush (solid colors)
Toothpaste (4 to 7oz size)

These items can be dropped off at New Hope Baptist Church, 3701 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80205, 303-322-5200 during business hours.

Office Hours

Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00 - 3:00