This Week at St. Thomas

Worship Services at 8:00 am and 10:15 am

The Good News of Lent:  Sermon Series 2023

Although pithy statements can be shallow and overly used, sometimes they can be helpful. The saying, “honesty is the best policy” really is the best policy. It is also true that sometimes the “truth hurts.” Moreover, if there ever was a statement that contained much pith, it is this: “a spoonfull of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Though pithy, I think these three statements do summarize Lent well. Lent asks us to be honest about our origins saying, “Remember that you are dust.” Lent focuses on the rather blunt truth of our sin, which can really sting. However, Lent is never experienced apart from the Good News of God’s grace, which is much like the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine of being humbled and convicted, easier to “swallow.” 

This Lenten season, we will take an honest look at our origins as God’s beloved, face the truth of our sins, discover God’s plan to redeem and restore us and learn more about the ways our savior can lead us into everlasting life. 

Join us each Sunday for The Good News of Lent Sermon Series and be sure to invite a friend!   View the entire series here.

Adult Education, Sundays at 9:15 am

The new Adult Education Lenten series: Foundations of Anglicanism will be led by Fr. Jay. It will be a look at what identifies us as a particular part of the Christian tradition. 

March 19, Week 4 Politics as Usual- Henry VIII and the Issue of Clerical Celibacy

March 26, Week 5 Anglican Doctrine- The Thirty Nine Articles of Religion and The Westminster Catechism

Fellowship Meeting, March 19, noon

Save the Date:  Fr. Jay’s Institution:  April 2, 9:30 am

The reception immediately following the worship service will be catered. We will have a Pittsburgh Homemade Cookie Table. There is a sign up sheet for cookies on the bulletin board in the parish hall. Please sign up when you know what kind of cookie you are going to make. We would also like to have at least 2 people willing to provide childcare from 9:15 to 1:15. If you know any qualified teenagers or have friends who would like to earn some extra money, please ask them to call or text Carol, 412-720-3129 for details.

Ladies' Bible Study,  April 13, 1:00 pm

The Ladies’ Bible Study will meet again on Thursday, April 13 at 1 pm. We will continue the discussion of the Book of Daniel. All are welcome to bring a friend!

Red Cross Blood Drive

Spring is upon us, and so is the next Red Cross Blood Drive for the Gibsonia Community!  Before your schedule fills up, please take time to make an appointment.  The drive will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Thursday, April 27, from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. To register on line, go to https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html, and type Trinity Gibsonia in the search box.  For more information or help with registration, call the Trinity church office at 724-443-8110.  Thank you!

Altar Flowers and Sanctuary Lamp

2023 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 2023 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.

In Our Prayers 

THE ACNA CYCLE OF PRAYER

Pray for the Diocese of the Rocky Mountains, Bishop Kenneth Ross and his wife, Sallie.

DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER 

Pray for Jonah’s Call, East End, The Rev. Canon Karen Stevenson (Mark). 

BCP Prayer 5  FOR THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER                           

O Almighty God, you pour out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAY FOR THOSE ON OUR PARISH PRAYER LIST

Norm and Ruby Hayden; Gloria Drambel; Norma Snyder; Judy Eves; Joe Kosarik; Marissa Sharkey; Jone Mader; Debbie Babcox; Joseph Babcox; Ben Babcox; Beth; Brian DeRoner; Earl Burke; Dave Lombardi; Ross and Theresa; Jan; Cathy Schantz; Shapur; Barbara and Tim Johnson; Michelle; Dan; Kara; Andrew; Andy; Nickolas; Les and Gladys Carlysle; Brittany and Adam; The Johnson Family; Mary Garrison; Edie and Bill Meyer; Richard Martin; Zane and Carter; Zane and Nikki; Joanna and Tommy; Nick and Jenny.

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; Caleb M.