This Week at St. Thomas
Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service 7:00 pm
Christmas Day Service 10:15 am
Hanging of the Greens, Saturday, December 4
Please plan to stay following the late service on December 4 to help decorate the church for Christmas. There are many opportunities for everyone to help! We will have a light lunch and Christmas cookies to snack on. Please see Bonnie Colaianne or Mary Pat Martin if you would like to help with the food. Have some fun and wear your ugly Christmas sweater!
Offertory Envelopes Available Now
Offertory envelopes for 2023 are available on the table at the back of the church. Please be sure to place your name on the sheet next to the box number you take. It is important that you do not use the new 2023 envelopes until January 1. The first time you use your envelopes please write your name on the envelope if you do not enclose a check. Ladies' Bible Study, December 8
Karen DeSanto will continue to lead the Ladies’ Bible Study on Thursday, December 8 at 1pm. The study will be on the Book of Daniel. If you haven’t come to one of our Bible Studies, now is a perfect time to join us as we journey through this exciting book together!
Advent Prayer Partners
Deliberately focus on the spiritual side of Advent and participate in the Advent Secret Prayer Partners program this year. Try it! This is the perfect way to take time away from the hustle and bustle and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Forms are available at the back of the church. If you have not taken a name from the Prayer Partner Box, please take a name immediately so everyone will have a partner.
Can You Help?
The Lighthouse Toy Drive
The Lighthouse Annual Christmas Toy Drive continues through December 11. Teens are often forgotten and the Lighthouse would appreciate the purchase of $25 gift cards (suggestions: Target, American Eagle, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.). New unwrapped toys must be placed in the sled that is at the back of the church. Please place gift cards in the offertory plate for safe keeping. Donations must be made by December 11.Cheer Baskets and Caroling
This Christmas we will be taking baskets to members of St. Thomas to extend our well wishes and love. There is a list of items on the NEW bulletin board in the parish hall. All donations must be made no later than Dec. 11th. Donations can be placed in the marked tote near the office steps. See Carol with questions. We will be caroling when we deliver baskets. Please sign up on the bulletin board so we know how many people will join in on the fun!Fr. Ron and Sue Baillie Christmas Hope Fund
The Poormans aWe are again accepting donations to the Fr. Ron and Sue Baillie Hope Fund. This year we will make our first donations from this fund! More details about these donations will be published soon. Please make your check payable to “St. Thomas” and write “Hope Fund” in the memo line. You may also donate to the fund through My Well.
The Poormans are Adopting!
Roger and Stephanie Poorman are adopting! They are holding a Puzzle Fundraiser. Each puzzle piece represents a $25 contribution to their adoption fund. As donations come in, they will put the puzzle together and post pictures of the progress on Facebook. When it is done, Stephanie’s cousin will make a hand-lettered list of the names of everyone who contributed. The list and the completed puzzle will hang side-by-side in the nursery so Baby will always know how loved he or she already is by so many. Click on the link: https://tinyurl.com/adoptionupdate to read the latest update or visit Stephanie’s Facebook page. Christmas Flower Orders Due December 4
Christmas Flower orders are due on Sunday, December 4th. The cost of each plant is $9.00 and the flowers may be given in memory of a loved one, or in thanksgiving for somebody. Christmas flowers may be taken home after the service on Christmas Eve. Please complete the form in your bulletin and place it, with your payment, in the “flowers” envelope found in your boxed envelopes.
Cookie Exchange, December 4
On Sunday, Dec. 4, please bring your cookies to church before 9:15 am so the Cookie Exchange can take place between the services in the classroom hallway. Be sure to write your name and the cookie name on your container/box/bag so people know its origin! This year please make a half dozen (6) cookies for 11 people. The extra half dozen will be used for church decorating day snacking. If you want to make some extras to share with the Friday night AA group, that would be wonderful--please mark them for AAFinding True Hope in the Holidays
Wednesday evenings during Advent : November 30 and December 7, 14, 21 at 7:00pm
For many, the holidays bring painful memories of suffering and loss. Depression can be an unwelcome guest. Finding hope in the midst of the holidays seems near impossible for many.Learn how people who have shared in that suffering have found hope in the midst of it all. Four different individuals will share their experiences of finding hope in the midst of pain. Issues discussed will deal with mental illness, suffering, anger, denial, and death. There will be a time for discussion along with a time of healing.
Worship Service with Guest Speakers Include:
~ John Bryant , Trinity School for Ministry graduate and Church Army Officer~ The Rev. Larry Knotts, Retired Priest in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh ~ Melissa McKinney, Trinity School for Ministry student~ Susan Perna , Member of the Gospel Tabernacle in Aliquippa, (she is Fr. Greg and Lori’s daughter)6:00 pm Simple Soup Salad Dinner
Sign up on the parish hall bulletin board to bring a portion of dinnerAltar Flowers and Sanctuary Lamp
2022 Price for flowers: $23.50
The calendar to sign up for the Altar Flowers and the Sanctuary Lamp is posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall. In order to be sure the flowers are ordered, please do all of the following at least 3 weeks before your scheduled week. If it is less than 3 weeks in advance, please call Carol because bulletins are often done 2-3 weeks early.
• Sign up on the 2022 Flower and Lamp calendar found on the bulletin board or online through the weekly email
• Complete the order form-found next to the calendar on the bulletin board or in the email and return it with your payment.
• Pay for the flowers using the envelope in your offertory envelopes or a blank envelope with “flowers” written on the outside or on your check
The cost of the flowers is $23.50 and the lamp is $5. If you donate both, the cost is $26.50. If you need assistance with signing up, please call Carol on her cell phone, 412-720-3129.
Prayer Requests
If you have a specific need or concern for which you would like to have someone pray, please email: PrayerRequests@SaintThomasAnglican.org We will be happy to share your confidential request with our Prayer Warrior Team .
In Our Prayers
PRAYER FOR OUR NEW RECTOR
We thank you, Lord, that in your divine will and wisdom you have brought us together as your church with its new leader. Mold and shape us together into the people you would have us be. Smooth the transition. Give us patience with one another as we strive to love one another as you have loved us. And most of all, lead this congregation to the future you have prepared for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen
THE ACNA CYCLE OF PRAYER
Pray for the Diocese of Christ our Hope, Bishop Steven Breedlove, his wife, Sally, Bishop Quigg Lawrence, and his wife, Annette and Bishop Alan Hawkins, and his wife, Angela.
DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER
Pray for Christ the Redeemer, Canonsburg, PA The Rev. Eric Rodes (Beth), Deacon Nancy Cain McCombe (David). A young, growing church that loves to tell the old, old story of Jesus. Please pray for deeper relationships with local neighbors and for conversations about ministry partnership. Commission on Ministry. The COM shepherds people through the ordination process
BCP PRAYER #80
For Trustfulness in Times of Worry and Anxiety
Most loving Father, you will us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on the One who cares for us. Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested unto us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAY FOR THOSE ON OUR PARISH PRAYER LIST
Norm and Ruby Hayden; Pat Ruberto; Gloria Drambel; Judy Eves; Joe Kosarik; Marissa Sharkey; Jone Mader; Jessica; Tracey; Debbie Babcox; Joseph Babcox; Ben Babcox; Delaney Price; Ron and Valerie; John Colaianne; Betty Alchier; Leah; Mariah; Kayla; Mike; Michelle; Norma Snyder; Ben Babcox; Ann Paton.
PRAY FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Chad D.; Mike B.; Mat B,; Ty W.; Stephen M.; Scott M.; Jesse W.; Chris R.; Heidi Jean; Richard; Omar; Todd; Brian; Sonja; Corey A.; Bene K.; Clifford M.; Jordan B.; Tristan Z.; Logan; Jackson S.; and Matthew D.; Tristin; Dakota.
Pastoral Needs
Home Visits or Communion
For those hospitalized or unable to attend church, home visits or Communion can be arranged easily by contacting the church office at: 724-443-1963 or emailing: Admin@SaintThomasAnglican.org. Communion typically is taken to nursing homes and the homebound on the first Sunday of each month.
Pastoral Counseling
Pastoral/Spiritual counseling is available upon request. You may leave a message on the church voicemail, 724-443-1963 or call Carol, 412-720-3129, and arrangements will be made for you.
Pastoral Services
Please contact Melissa Schmitzer if you or somebody you know in the congregation is in need of Pastoral Services such as meals or rides.
Altar Guild Cleaning Day, November 5
Everyone is invited to help to prepare the church for Advent and Christmas. Yes, Advent is only a month or so away! On Saturday, November 5 at 9 am the Altar Guild will meet for a cleaning day. There are plenty of small tasks that anyone can do. There will be no pressure to join the Altar Guild! Please consider spending an hour helping the Altar Guild with some of these tasks.