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Spiritual Adventures at
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
News and Events
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Dear St. Thomas friends,
Please enjoy this issue of our E-NEWSLETTER! Please check your e-mail each week to read our news and events. To read more information, you can now find us on Facebook! We wish you a joyous and blessed Easter Season! |
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Memorial Day
Dear Friends in Christ,
This, like every, Memorial Day we remember the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. Recently we were made aware of an unexpected and tragic sacrifice. According to an article in Forbes Magazine by Rick Unger, veterans of our wars, especially over the last ten years, are much more likely to die by their own hand than by wounds suffered in combat. This speaks volumes about the stresses that our soldiers and their families go through every day.
Even more sadly, the sacrifice of this time of war has been borne disproportionately by our soldier families. In many parts of the nation, few people know a soldier or a soldier family; in political dialogue we resist raising taxes for war or support of our wounded soldiers, nor for retooling them for employment in the secular world.
In Columbus, we are blessed and honored to be around soldiers and families. Let's keep their sacrifices in our hearts and prayers. Let's pledge to do some small act of gratitude for them. Let's think of ways we may share their sacrifice. Let us be mindful of the costs of war and let us be committed proponents of peace.
Doug+
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 823)
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Breaking News!
Last Sunday, Fr. Doug Hahn announced that he is one of five candidates for bishop in the Diocese of Lexington (Ky.) The election is Aug. 18 in Lexington. You may read a copy of his letter to the parish here. And read more about the Diocese of Lexington here.
Our prayers and congratulations go out to Fr. Doug, and Kaye! |
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 Sunday is Pentecost
The Collect: Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. or this O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Remember to wear red this Sunday.
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 Angels heraldedLast Sunday, Guardian Angels and their Angels were revealed in the parish hall. For the past several weeks, adult guardian angels sent anonymous notes and gifts to the children in the parish. In this photo, Ceil Bone shares a hug with her angel. Many thanks to Children's Director Erin Redden for making this program so successful!
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Choir storms the Big Apple
"And we're off?" No, this isn't the Kentucky Derby I'm speaking of, we have another horse in that race, but our choir's trip to New York to sing at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, arguably the largest Gothic space in the world. Our choir members will be making their way to New York this week, where they will enjoy the sights and sounds and opportunities of the Big Apple. On Sunday morning they will be in rehearsal by 8 o'clock, in preparation for singing a Eucharist at 9, followed by a brief rehearsal--and then all the pomp of Pentecost at 11 a.m. at this venerable church with the $8 million organ! The choir will have lunch together, followed by a tour of the Cathedral and then a 3 o'clock rehearsal for a 4 o'clock Evensong. Whew!
Thanks to the parish and our many community friends who helped to make this trip a reality. If you bought poinsettias, came to BBQ and Bluegrass, made a donation or simply prayed for us - we thank you! I thank all the choir members -whether they are on this trip or not - for their commitment and hard work. Keep up with us on the church Facebook site. It is our intention to record our work via CD and video.
Read more about St. John by clicking here.
--Rick McKnight |
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Day School hosts summer camps
St. Thomas Day School has two camps: June 25-29 for an "Under the Sea" camp, and July 9-13 for a "Time for Travel" camp. If you are interested in either camp, call 706-324-1268 for more information, including cost. |
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Week tour ends for candidates
Six candidates for the 10th bishop of Atlanta traveled nearly 600 miles by bus last week to introduce themselves to more than 1,000 people during five walkabout gatherings and separate meetings with bishops, priests and deacons.
The discernment process continues through election day June 2 at the Cathedral of St. Philip when priests and lay delegates cast their ballots.
Video recordings of the candidates' May 15 presentations at St. Luke's, Atlanta, are posted now on the Bishop Search and Transition website. Each 25-minute session appears on the candidates' separate web pages. Click here.
The recordings were made available courtesy of the staff at St. Luke's; Hala Hess White is director of communication.
-- The Diocese of Atlanta Office of Communication |
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Vacation Bible School 2012
Registration forms are now available for Vacation Bible School 2012, to be held 8:45 a.m.-noon June 18-22. The theme this year is "Wade in the Water", in which children will "dive into" our Faith and Scripture! This week-long theme will include Bible stories such as Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Jesus Walks on Water, the Woman at the Well, and will also include teachings about Baptism. Click here to register online today!
And, we are still looking for adult volunteers to help with VBS this year. These adults will help shepherd children around to the different areas throughout the morning. We also are looking for people to volunteer to bring supplies, adult volunteer snacks and drinks and make monetary donations to help pay for water inflatables on the last of VBS.
Also please feel free to post VBS info on Facebook and publicize to friends and family. Help us get out the word that St. Thomas Episcopal loves their Episcokids and would love to add to the bunch! You can get additional brochures at the church of encourage people to sign up on the Episcokids Website.
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Kids 4 Peace Recruiting Campers
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Wednesday Suppers
Wednesday evening suppers will continue through the summer. Please join us! Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Submitted by the Parish Life Committee.
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St. Thomas Readers Book Discussion Group
The St. Thomas Readers Book Group will not meet in May. We will resume meeting in the Fall. However, I am compiling a list of books for Summer reading. Please send any suggestions that you may have to me at janjulau@aol.com. You are welcome to include suggestions for children and young people, as well as for adults. Look for the compiled list in Spiritual Adventures in June.
Submitted by Sonya Boyd. |
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New editor
Allison Kennedy Owen, a member of the parish, is the new editor for Spiritual Adventures, as well as the parish Web site. From 1998-2011, she was the religion reporter for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. She is currently a Chaplain Resident at St. Francis Hospital. Allison is married to Michael Owen. They are the parents of two cats, Bisquick and Smoky. |
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St. Thomas Episcopal Church 2100 Hilton Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31906
Office of the Rector,
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
706-324-4264 office@stthomascolumbus.org
Weekly Services:
Sundays at
8:00 and 10:30
Wednesdays at
5:30 p.m. |
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