Parish Weekly- March 14, 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'

It is with deep gratitude that I give thanks to God for Jane Andrews' leadership as chair of the Community Engagement committee. She has brought her seasoned experience of professional leadership and served within the parish to renovate how St. Thomas' imagined outreach. Understanding words matter, we shifted from the ideas of outreach to a more relational and mission oriented focus of community engagement. Jane was a big part of making this transition smooth and thoughtful. Thank you, Jane. 

At the same time, I am excited to share that Linda Coleman has agreed to serve as our new chair of Community Engagement. Linda is a master at communicating, collaborating and organizing. She has served on the Community Engagement committee for several years. She has organized the Advent Outreach Night for our parish for many years, and she does so with precision and grace. We are in good hands! Thank you, Linda. 

Leadership is supposed to rotate so that we can have fresh perspective and passion for the mission and ministry. I hope you will join me in serving when called because when we take turns, no one gets burned out. We are better TOGETHER! 

Faithfully, 

Amma Leslie+

Easter Flower Sign-Up

When the light breaks through on Easter Sunday, our eyes will be met with a glorious array of lilies and flowering plants that will adorn our sanctuary through Easter week. Donations from parishioners and friends of St. Thomas’ make these plants possible each year.

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 contribute in memory of a loved one or as a special thanksgiving, please note it when you sign up so that we may add it to the list of contributors listed 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? Contact Vicky Rupley by phone at (585) 233-2546 or email at vrmail@rochester.rr.com.

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross are placed around the nave, and booklets are available on the first windowsill from the Highland door entrance. 

You can pray the stations anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you don’t have a door code, you can buzz in. 

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

The Path on Sunday

A reminder to for those who signed up that the Path continues this Sunday after the service in the Great Hall.

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 a.m. to noon in the Great Hall.

Brighton Food Cupboard March Requests

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

United Thank Offering

The United Thank Offering continues.

Here is one of the 2023 UTO Grant recipients:

Middle East, Diocese of Jerusalem

Improving the Wellbeing of the Vulnerable Prisoners in Palestine, $54,000

Providing training programs in hospitality and culinary skills for the prisoners and the newly released. This enhances their integration into their community upon release. Trainees receive a certificate from the Palestinian Ministry of Labor that will assist them in obtaining steady employment.

To donate or to learn more, look for coin boxes and brochures located at church entrances. Checks can be mailed to St. Thomas' 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

Children & Youth Ministry News

Youth Ministry

Youth Group meets this Sunday, March 17. 

We will work on our creation care banner to share with the congregation. Bring your creativity!

Financial Information

Weekly Financial Report 3/12/24

Budget Pledges Year to date: $71,050

Actual Pledge Payments Year to date: $65,311

Year to Date Financial Report to 3/12/24

Year to date Revenue: $ 92,758

Year to date Expenses: $133,804

**Net loss to date: $ (41,046)

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".