This issue of Spiritual Adventures highlights our three-week Welcome Back Kick-Off, a series of events focusing on prayer, and including worship, fellowship, food, and fun for all ages! The three-week Welcome Back Kick-Off extends from Sunday, August 14, through Sunday, August 28. Read below to find out what's in store! 

 

The Chattahoochee Valley Chapter of Integrity - the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church - will host a "Dinner and a Movie" Night at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Friday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. in All Saints' Hall. The feature presentation will be "Hate Crime". Pizza and beverages will be provided. After the movie, please stay for a discussion of the film. This is an open event to anyone interested in attending. Please RSVP to David Kirkland and Todd Griffin at 706-464-1621. 
 

Let's send our students and teachers off to school with our blessings! On Sunday, August 21, we'd like all students to bring their backpacks, satchels, or whatever they will be using this school year to carry books and supplies back and forth to school. During the service, we will bless the backpacks (and the students!), and invite everyone to come and be a part of this event.

 

We will also commission our Sunday School teachers, Children's Chapel worship leaders, and Children's Choir Director.

 

If you have questions, please contact Erin Redden, Children's Christian Education Director, at episcokids@stthomascolumbus.org.

This Sunday, August 21, visit the All Saints' Hall foyer from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the Cathedral Bookstore Sale. Items for sale will include special editions of Prayer Books, Episcopal Church decals, and more! Ten percent of the proceeds will go to benefit St. Thomas Episcokids!
 

The Children's Choir at St. Thomas is for children four years old through elementary school age. The choir rehearses weekly throughout the school year on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and provides special music for Sunday worship and other events in the life of St. Thomas' parish. In addition to preparing special anthems, the children learn about the music of the church through the singing of hymns and liturgy. As they learn musical concepts through the music they prepare, they are also taught the Biblical concepts behind the music. Through singing, playing instruments, and movement, the children learn to give their best to God through their music.

 

If you have questions, please contact Erin Redden, Children's Choir Director, at episcokids@stthomascolumbus.org.

Calling all adults 30 and up! There will be a meeting of the organization formally known as RYAG at 6:30 on Wednesday evening, August 24, in All Saints' Hall. Come help us plan the upcoming Low Country Boil (to be held on Sunday, August 28!) and other exciting events. Please contact Julia Slater at jfs@knology.net or 706-442-9063 with any questions or comments. Thank you!

On Sunday, August 21, at 6:00 p.m. Central Time, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Opelika (pictured) will celebrate the Holy Eucharist with special intention for individuals who are in recovery for addiction, and their supporters. The prayers, scriptures, and sermon in this service will focus on the Twelve Steps to recovery and the role faith plays in recovery. This liturgy is open to any and all who wish to attend.

We are pleased to announce that our sexton, James Mills, will return to work at St. Thomas on Monday, August 22, after a four-month absence due to a broken kneecap. To help his transition and to test the completeness of his recovery, James will begin with light work only, before resuming his former workload in full.

We have appreciated the patience and cooperation of St. Thomas parishioners during these past four months. We thank you for your continued support during James's transition back to work.

 

 

Congratulations to Scott and Conchita Harris, two relatively new members at St. Thomas. Many of you may have met Conchita as a volunteer at VBS. She was delivered of a healthy baby boy on Sunday, August 14, whom they named Gabriel Matthias Harris. He is the Harrises' first child. Congrats!

 

The St. Thomas Readers Book Group will begin its seventh season on Thursday, September 8, at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Thomas Parlor. We will be discussing Dancing in Cadillac Light and Part of Me, both by Kimberly Willis Holt. Considered an outstanding author of books for children and young adults, her works are often found on school reading lists. Both of these books celebrate the joys of family, reading, faith, and the triumph of the human spirit. They are not available at the Columbus Public Library, but they may be purchased online and in local book stores. The convener of the group also has several copies that she purchased from Amazon.com. Anyone wishing to purchase one of these copies may contact Sonya Boyd at 706-563-6161 or janjulau@aol.com. The funds will be donated to the St. Thomas Youth.

 

There will be no meeting of the Readers Group in October so that everyone may participate in the Columbus Public Library's The Big Read, celebrating the works of Edgar Allen Poe. A variety of activities are planned for the month and we hope that all will support The Big Read. Contact the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library for further information on The Big Read.

 

Announcements about the November meeting of the St. Thomas Readers will be forthcoming. 

 

On Sunday, September 11, 2011, St. Thomas will co-sponsor at event at Temple Israel at 7:00 p.m. More information is forthcoming. Please continue to read our e-newsletter and other announcements each week.