| About Us:
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Worship Services with Holy Eucharist:
Sundays at 8:00am and 10:30am;
Wednesdays at 5:30pm
2100 Hilton Ave.
Columbus, GA 31906
706-324-4264 |
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Greetings!
Please enjoy this edition of Spiritual Adventures, our weekly e-newsletter. Please check your e-mail each week to learn about the news and events in our common life. To read more information, you can now find us on Facebook! Thank you. |
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From Joy to Sorrow to Joy
Reflections from Fr. Doug Hahn
 
We all know Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. We will begin with joyful procession and end with joyful resurrection. In between will come great sorrow, which you may, understandably, be tempted to avoid. Who wants sorrow?!
Last Monday was the Feast of the Annunciation (9 months before Christmas, pictured above left), the remembrance of the day Mary said "Yes" to God, and became the first person to take Jesus into her life. She was there all along the way until they cut him down from cross where they lynched him (pictured above right).
Those of you who are parents - actually all of you who are human - will know much about her journey from joy to sorrow and back again. That's the path of life. By receiving Jesus in both joy and in sorrow, Mary is our first and best model of discipleship.
This Holy Week, I invite you into both joy and sorrow. Palm Sunday will be exciting; Easter will be filled with life. But you will miss something profound if you do not walk with the community of Jesus through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday - the last night and day of his life as the world knew him. Join us. Do not be afraid. Emmanuel - God will be with Us - as God always is - in joy and in sorrow.
Service Times:
Palm Sunday - 8 and 10:30 am
Maundy Thursday - 7:00 pm
(includes washing of feet, optional participation)
Good Friday - Noon
Easter Day - 8 and 10:30 am
Special Events:
Maundy Thursday - Agape Meal at 6:00 pm in Parish Hall
Easter Day - Children's Egg Hunt at 9:30 am |
Easter Donations to St. Thomas
The Flower Fund and the Music Fund are seeking monetary donations for Easter. Dedications may be made in honor, in memory, or in thanksgiving for an honoree whom you name. The minimum donation to the Flower Fund is $25 per every four honorees named. There is no minimum nor maximum for donations to the Music Fund. You may make your check payable to St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Please include a note with your check to describe your dedication, and to indicate which fund you are supporting. Please submit all Easter donations to the office by April 4. Thank you! |
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Integrity Meeting and Auditions for "Next Fall"
The next Integrity meeting will be tomorrow, Friday, March 30, at 6:30 pm in the Library. The meeting will be followed by a bite to eat.
AUDITIONS FOR "NEXT FALL"
Integrity will be holding auditions for its production of "Next Fall" on Monday, April 9, and Tuesday, April 10, at 7:00 pm in All Saints' Hall at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. This production will be directed by Dr. Larry Dooley, Chair of the Department of Theatre at Columbus State University. Integrity is seeking to fill the roles of six characters, both male and female, ranging in age from 20s to 50s. Please prepare a monologue or bring a reading that demonstrates your expressiveness. Be prepared to provide your schedule and/or conflicts during the rehearsal period.
The two performances of "Next Fall" will be presented to audiences on June 1-2.
Submitted by David Kirkland, Co-Convener of the Chattahoochee Valley Chapter of Integrity. |
Images from Stations of the Cross for Homelessness
On Sunday, March 25, we concluded our Adult Sunday School series on homelessness by journeying through Stations of the Cross for Homelessness. We visited three sites that are associated with the homeless, including Muscogee County Jail, the Emergency Department at The Medical Center, and Potter's Field at East Porterdale Cemetery.
Pictured above are the St. Thomas Sunday School group at the Jail with host Neil Richardson, and the group at the Medical Center with hostesses Babs McKnight and Ginger Smith.
Photos submitted by Rick McKnight.
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Adult Forum This Sunday to Spotlight CVEM
This week's Adult Forum (Sunday at 9:30 am in the Library) will spotlight the Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry (CVEM), including a discussion of its strengths, challenges, dreams, and aspirations as a ministry.
CVEM is our major local outreach ministry. We have been deeply connected for over 30 years. It is currently engaged in a strategic plan for the future and needs your input. If you have had any involvement in CVEM - direct assistance, TAP, Infusion, Board Service - or in our wider outreach, or if you want to learn more about this ministry, we want you to join us for this time of brain storming.
Submitted by Fr. Doug Hahn. |
Lenten Outreach Giving Opportunities
Our goal is to raise $1000 for each of the ministries described below. Please make out your check to the parish, marked Lenten Giving. You may designate to either of these ministries. All undesignated Lenten outreach gifts will be split between them. You may give through the parish office, or give through the link on our website (at the bottom of the main page).
+ The Church of the Common Ground is a ministry for the homeless of Atlanta. It provides care for the poorest of the poor, and a forum in which people of our Diocese can engage, serve, and worship with homeless persons. Click here for more information.
+ Infusion (pictured above) is a ministry of the Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry that brings high school students into year-long engagement with important issues of faith and society. Click here for more information.
Submitted by Fr. Doug Hahn. |
Choir Fundraiser "Bluegrass & BBQ" on April 15
BLUEGRASS & BBQ
with Debbie Anderson and the Pritchett Family
Sunday, April 15, 5:00 pm, in All Saints' Hall
Ticket includes BBQ dinner, show, and silent auction to benefit St. Thomas Choir Tour Fund to St. John the Divine (NYC) in May. You may purchase tickets at $25 each from any choir member. Only 200 will be sold!!!
Please note that this is an adults-only event. Adult beverages will be served. Nursery care will NOT be offered.
Submitted by Rick McKnight, Organist and Choirmaster. |
Mark Your Calendar for Children's Events: Children's Choir and Vacation Bible School
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!
Children's Choir Dates
+ Sun. April 1st (Palm Sunday) - Shout Hosanna! *Special furry friend will make an appearance!
+ Sun. April 29th - Get On Board, Little Children with the Adult Choir.
Vacation Bible School
"Wade In the Water"
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
June 18-22 from 8:45 am - 11:45 pm
"Wade In the Water", this year's theme for Vacation Bible School, will include stories of Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Big Fish, Walking on Water, Woman at the Well, and Lydia. Our children will also "dive" into the sacrament of BAPTISM! Wade in the Water will immerse our kids in scripture through faith-filled games, science activities, crafts, music, and more! This summer, share stories that spark faith! We need teachers, volunteers, and lots of CHILDREN!! For more information or to volunteer, contact Erin Redden at episcokids@stthomascolumbus.org.
Submitted by Erin Redden, Director of Children's Christian Education and Children's Choir. |
Friends of Finley to Create Honorarium
A group calling itself "Friends of Finley" has been formed to create an honorarium for Finley Williamson's innumerable contributions to St. Thomas. This group has approached the church, and received the blessings of the Property Committee and the Vestry. The honorarium will be a mission-style oak server (pictured), designed and built by artisan Rick Garner. Mr. Garner is asking a discounted price of $5000. To contribute to this project, please make your check payable to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, with the memo "Friends of Finley" written in the memo line of your check. Our goal is to have the project completed by Finley's birthday on June 10. Please note that this is not a gift TO Finley. Rather, it is a gift TO St. Thomas Episcopal Church IN HONOR OF Finley. It will be enjoyed by all parishioners for many years to come. Thank you.
Submitted by Friends of Finley. |
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Office of the Rector
St. Thomas Episcopal Church |
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