Feast Day is 6 December for Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326.  Nicholas was a native of the western part of what is now Asiatic Turkey. He became Bishop of Myra in the fourth century, and there are many stories of his love for God and for his neighbor.

The best-known story involves a man with three unmarried daughters, and not enough money to provide them with suitable dowries. This meant that they could not marry, and were likely to end up as prostitutes. Nicholas walked by the man's house on three successive nights, and each time threw a bag of gold in through a window (or, when the story came to be told in colder climates, down the chimney). Thus, the daughters were saved from a life of shame, and all got married and lived happily ever after.

Pictures of Nicholas often show three bags of gold next to him, and often these bags have become simply three disks or balls. Nicholas became the patron of an Italian city (I think Bari, which is where his body is now buried) that was a center of the pawnbroking business, and hence a pawnbroking shop traditionally advertises by displaying three gold balls over its front. It is thought that some persons looking at pictures of Nicholas confused the three round objects with human heads. Hence there is a story of a wicked innkeeper who murdered three boys and salted their bodies to serve to his guests, to save on the butcher's bill. Nicholas visited the inn and confronted the innkeeper, who confessed his crime, whereupon Nicholas prayed over the brine-tub and the three boys leaped out unharmed. Other stories have him saving the lives of three innocent men who had been condemned to death. Still other stories have him coming to the rescue of drowning sailors (could this be related to the brine-tub incident?). Nicholas has always been popular with children, mariners, pawnbrokers, the Dutch, the Russians, and recently, the department-store owners.

In many countries, Nicholas visits children on his feast day, 6 December, and brings them gifts then. In these countries, there is usually no exchange of Christmas presents, but there may be gifts again on January 6, the feast of the coming of the Wise Men, who brought gifts to the Holy Child of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We are told, but it is uncertain, that Nicholas was imprisoned for his faith before the accession of Constantine, and that he was present at the Council of Nicea in 325. We may note in passing that the picture of him as roly-poly is a late development. Early stories indicate that he was generous to others, but not given to self-indulgence. Indeed, even as an unweaned infant, he fasted regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays....

http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/etc/ktf/m12/h06.html

It's Angel Tree time again! This year we at St. Thomas are assisting children at two groups!  Hillsides is the LA Episcopal Diocese foster care and treatment center for kids who are at-risk. http://www.hillsides.org/  IRIS is the non-denominational response to the needs of refugees settling in LA area.  IRIS help familes and children from Iraq, Somalia, Congo,  and other countries in serious difficultiesIt's also a ministry of our diocese and strongly supported by our Bishops. http://ministries.ladiocese.org/iris.html 

In total we're assisting 40 kids from these organizations. For most of these children, this will be the only present they receive.  

We urge you to explore the ministries and work of these two very worthy organizations.

The Angel Tree will be available starting this Sunday, November 28nd, and the (unwrapped) gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 12th.

The IRIS familes also desperately need food for their tables, so, if you are able, we are also collecting grocery gift cards. There will be a sign-up sheet under the tree.
 
Thank you for your generosity!

Sponsorships for the Advent Wreath are now available.  The Wreath iteself is available for $100 for the season and sponsorship of each candle (4 total) is just $25.  Please contact the office if you are interested.

St. Nicholas Sunday (December 5), and Greg Jamrock will provide music for the children during Sunday School on that day and Bronwyn Jamrock will head up preparing gift bags to be distributed to the children at the end of Mass by "St. Nicholas." Please bring your (and your friends) children. It should be fun and a lovely beginning to Advent!

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Former Associate Rector Mark D. Stuart has published a book!  We congratulatte Fr. Stuart The book is available on Amazon.

Grief Transformed: A Miraculous Story of the Healing Power of Love Between This Life and the Next.

Description of the Book:
Mark and Bob had been together nearly twelve years as committed inseparable best friends, companions, and life partners when they embarked upon a much anticipated pilgrimage to the Holy Land, "the trip of a life time," they said. Little could they have known... Shortly after arriving in Israel, Bob suffered a tragic accident and died. Mark confronted the first pangs of his grief and loss in the most sacred places of his faith. Upon returning home to California heartbroken and devastated, he struggled with how he would be able to face life without his Bob. Soon mysterious and wonderful things began to happen which showed him that it was not a life without Bob at all - only different, as Bob began giving messages that he was still very much alive, now in spirit. In "Grief Transformed: A Miraculous Story of the Healing Power of Love Between This Life and the Next" Stuart relates the touching and miraculous account of the death of his beloved partner and how his grief was overcome and brought to healing through Bob's mediation. In a fascinating blend of Christian spirituality and paranormal after death contact and communication, Stuart conveys how love is eternal and can pierce the veil between this world and the next.