COMING UP SUNDAY- JAN. 4

This is the 2nd Sunday after Christmas.  Church school will not meet this week.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Christmas service.  There are photos posted on the church Facebook page.  Click the link on the right of this post.
Next Sunday, Jan. 11, is the Feast of Jesus' Baptism and baptisms will be celebrated at the 9am service.  Contact the vicar if you are interested in being baptized.
The annual parish meeting will be on Feb. 1.  There are lots of activities coming up in early 2015.  Check out the tab at the top titled, "In the Coming Weeks."

COMING UP SUNDAY- DEC. 21

This is the 4th Sunday of Advent and it is also the Feast of St. Thomas.  At the Sunday liturgy this week, there will be a combined celebration of these two.   Church school will meet.  The sermon will address the life of St. Thomas.   Coffee hour will include traditional foods historically eaten on this day.  And there will be a sharing of customs surrounding the feast-such as why you might be a  Thomas Donkey.  Unmarried, young women can find out how to find a husband on this day.  Come join us for sacraments, fellowship and fun!

COMING UP SUNDAY- DEC. 14

This is the 3rd Sunday of Advent (also known as Rose Sunday- come to church and find out why it is called this!!!).  Church school will meet.  There will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.  The WARM meal will be prepared after church as well.
The parishioners at St. Thomas' are collecting new, warm socks for the residents of the WARM Center.  If you would like to make a contribution, put the socks in the big Christmas stocking located at the church.
On Tuesday, Dec. 16, there will be a discussion group at the church to talk about a selection of works from the poet Rainer Rilke.  The group will meet from 7-8pm.  All are welcome.
On Sunday, Dec. 21, St. Thomas' will celebrate the feast day of St. Thomas' the Apostle.  There will be special foods and sharing of some fun facts about this saint.   All are welcome!!

COMING UP SUNDAY- DEC. 7

This is the 2nd Sunday of Advent.  Church school will meet and the Confirmation class will meet after church.   There will be a parish luncheon at the Brick Oven Restaurant on Monday, Dec, 15 at 12 noon.  Everyone is welcome (each person pays for his/her own lunch).
On Tuesday, Dec. 16, there will be a discussion group at the church to talk about the collection of poems by Rainer Rilke entitled, Love Poems to God.  The discussion will last from 7-8pm.  All are welcome.

COMING UP SUNDAY- NOV. 30

This is the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new church year.  The lectionary cycle switches to Year B which focuses primarily on readings from the Gospel according to Mark.
This Sunday church school will meet and there will be Advent materials available including candles, wreath making materials and Advent calendars.
Church school will meet this Sunday.

COMING UP SUNDAY- NOV. 23

This is the Last Sunday after Pentecost- also known as Christ the King Sunday.  The Scripture readings and hymns will reflect this theme on this last Sunday of the church year.  Next week, Nov. 30, is the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new church year.
Church school will meet this week and the confirmation class will gather after church.  Anyone interested in being confirmed or being received into the Episcopal Church is welcome to join in. 
Do you know that St. Thomas' has partnered with the Smile program at Amazon.com?  Amazon will make a small contribution to St. Thomas' with every purchase you make.  Read the column on the right for more information. 
During Advent, parishioners are invited to read selections from  the Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke.  He published a series of poems entitled,  Love Poems to God.  Copies of these poems are available at the church.  To learn about Rilke and his works, you can follow this link and read excerpts of his poems as translated by Joanna Macy.

COMING UP SUNDAY- NOV. 16

This is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28).  Church school will meet and there will be a liturgy committee meeting after church.  The WARM meal will be prepared this week.
Last Sunday we had a celebratory gathering at coffee hour to honor our veterans.  There were 12 veterans present.  The Providence Journal took lots of pictures and published a wonderful tribute on Veterans' Day. You can read the article by clicking here.   Many thanks to that newspaper for taking the time to honor our veterans.
Confirmation class will meet next Sunday, Nov. 23 after church.  Anyone wishing to be received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church is welcome to attend.
During Advent, our book study will be selections from the Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke,  He published a series of poems entitled,  Love Poems to God.  More information to come next week.  To learn about Rilke and his works, you can follow this link and read excerpts of his poems as translated by Joanna Macy.

COMING UP SUNDAY- NOV. 9

This is the 22 Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 27).  Church school will meet.  There will be a special coffee hour reception after church to celebrate Veterans' Day.  All veterans and their family and friends are welcome to join us.  There will be patriotic music and great food.  Join us for worship at 9am and the reception at 10am.
The plans to upgrade the kitchen cabinets and furnace are progressing well.  Parishioners and friends have already pledged about $17,000 to pay for these projects. This extreme generosity is wonderful!!!!  Estimates are coming in and we should be able to start soon.

COMING UP SUNDAY- NOVEMBER 2

This is All Saints' Sunday. All Saints' Day is November 1 and this is the one feast day in the church calendar that can be celebrated on the Sunday after the holiday.The will be no church school this week.  Children (and adults!) are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes to church that day. Did you know that Halloween and All Saints' Day are connected?  Click on the tab at the top of this page to learn more about it.
Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, there will be a special Veterans' Day Celebration.  We welcome all veterans and their families to join us that day.
The Diocese will hold its annual convention on Saturday, Nov. 8 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth.  St. Thomas' will send 2 delegates- the vicar and a lay delegate.  For more information, visit the diocesan website.

COMING UP SUNDAY- OCT. 26

This is the 20th Sunday after Pentecost- Proper 25.  Church school will meet.
Looking ahead, next Sunday, Nov. 2 is All Saints' Sunday. There will be no church school that day and children (and adults!) are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes to church that day. Did you know that Halloween and All Saints' Day are connected?  Click on the tab at the top of this page to learn more about it.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, there will be a special Veterans' Day Celebration.  We welcome all veterans and their families to join us that day.
The Diocese will hold its annual convention on Saturday, Nov. 8 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth.  St. Thomas' will send 2 delegates- the vicar and a lay delegate.  For more information, visit the diocesan website.

COMING UP SUNDAY- OCT. 19

This is the 19th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24),  Church school will meet.  The WARM meal will be prepared this Sunday and there will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.  This Saturday, Oct. 18, there will be an Oktoberfest and Hymn Sing at St. Elizabeth's in Hope Valley from 5-7pm.  All are welcome.
Our annual Veterans' Day celebration will take place on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 9 am followed by a reception at 10am.  All veterans and their families and friends are welcome.

COMING UP SUNDAY- OCT. 12

This is the 18th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23).  There will be no church school this week due to the Columbus Day Holiday.
Last Sunday we celebrated St;. Francis with a Blessing of the Animals service.  There were 5 animal creatures and 11 human creatures who came together to honor St. Francis.  The photos can be viewed by going to the Facebook link for the church-on the right of this page.
In the coming weeks there will be an Oktoberfest and Hymn Sing at St. Elizabeth's in Hope Valley from 5-7pm.  All are welcome.
Baptisms will be celebrated on All Saints' Sunday- November 2.  Contact the vicar if you are interested.
Our annual Veterans' Day celebration will take place on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 9am followed by a reception at 10am.  All veterans and their families and friends are welcome.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS- CHANGED TO OCTOBER 5 AT 5PM

The forecast looks unsettled for Saturday, so the Blessing of the Animals will take place on the church lawn on Sunday at 5pm

COMING UP SUNDAY- OCT. 5

This is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22).  Church school will meet.
The Blessing of the Animals will be held this Saturday at 4pm- the raindate is Sunday at 4pm.  Read more about this in the left column.
TuesdayTutoring is underway!  For more information or to sign up, click on the tab at the top of this page.
The annual Oktoberfest and Hymn Sing will be held at St. Elizabeth's Church in Hope Valley on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 5-7pm.
Baptisms will be held at St. Thomas' on All Saints' Sunday which is November 2.  Contact the vicar for more information.

COMING UP SUNDAY- SEPT. 28

This is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21).  Church school will meet this week.
Tuesday Tutoring will begin on Sept. 30.  Any student interested must turn a signed permission slip into the guidance office at the middle school or high school.  Click on the Tuesday Tutoring tab at the top of this page for more information.
St. Thomas' will hold a Blessing of Animals service on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 4pm on the front lawn of the church.  Animals and pets of all denominations are welcome!  The raindate is Oct. 5.

COMING UP SUNDAY- SEPT. 21

This is the 15 th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20).  Church school will meet and there will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.
This Saturday, September 20, there will be a Small Church Summit held at St. Andrew and St. Peter's Church in Providence.  Did you know that in our Episcopal diocese there are 51 congregations and of those, around 20 are considered "small."  Small congregations have joys and challenges that are uniquely theirs.  Sign up for the Summit and come learn about small churches.  Follow this link to register.
Tuesday Tutoring begins on September 30.  Click on the tab above to learn more.
The Blessing of the Animals will be held on Saturday, Oct.4 at 4pm on the church lawn (raindate is Oct. 5).  Pets and animals of all denominations are welcome!

COMING UP SUNDAY- SEPT. 14

This is the 14th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19).  It is WELCOME BACK SUNDAY at St. Thomas'!  Have you been gone for a while?  Are you ready to start the new school year with vigor and commitment?  Then join us at St. Thomas' this week at 9 am.  Church School will begin and parishioners will have the opportunity to sign up for various ministries in the church.  We are always looking for readers, acolytes and committee members.  You can sign up to do coffee hour or bring flowers or help with the yard work.  Come join us and bring a friend!
The WARM meal will be prepared this week.
Confirmation classes will begin soon.  If you would like to be confirmed and become an "official member" of the Episcopal Church, speak to the vicar.  To learn more about this, read the post on the right column.

COMING UP SUNDAY- SEPT. 7

This is the 13th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18).  There will be a meeting for church school teacher's after church.  There will also be a liturgy committee meeting after church this week
Sunday school begins next week with "Welcome Back Sunday."
Confirmation classes will be starting soon.  If would like to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, contact the Vicar. Read more about this subject in the right column.
Save the date- On October 4 at 4pm, there will be a service of "Blessing of the Animals."  More information will be available soon.

COMING UP SUNDAY- AUGUST 31

This the 12th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper17).  We are happy to announce that we gave away about 70 filled backpacks this month to local students.  Thanks to all who donated!  We are also happy to announce that we have sold over $1000 worth of goods for 1000 Jobs Haiti this summer at the Charlestown Farmer's Market.  This is the last Friday for the market, so you still have one more opportunity to visit and make some great purchases.
Church school will begin on September 14 on Welcome Back Sunday.
Last Sunday we announced our official fundraising campaign for to raise money for our kitchen and furnace renovations. Pledge forms were distributed and they will be collected on September 14.
Save the Date!  We will have a Blessing of the Animals service at St. Thomas' on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 4pm.

COMING UP SUNDAY- AUGUST 24

This is the 11th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16).  Last Sunday we gave away 50 backpacks filled with school supplies!  Next Sunday we will give away a few more.  You can view some photos by looking at the Facebook link on the right of this page.  Thanks to all who donated, shopped, stuffed and distributed the backpacks.
This Saturday, August 26, the WARM Center is sponsoring the Seagull Plunge.  The event will be held at the Andrea Hotel at Misquamicut beginning at 5pm and the cost is $15.  Visit the WARM website for more information. 
Church School will start on September 14- Welcome Back Sunday.  We will have one church school class for students in grades preK-6.  This year we will also have a confirmation class.  Anyone  who is at least 15 years old and sign up for this class.  If you have been confirmed in another denomination and would like to be received into the Episcopal Church, you can also participate in these classes.  Speak to the vicar if you are interested. 
Save the Date!!  On Saturday, Oct. 4 at 4pm  we will have a special service - Blessing of the Animals. This celebration will be in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.  St. Francis was known to have a love of the natural world and of creation; countless legends are told about him that attest to his special relationship with animals.  More details will follow next month.  The raindate is Oct. 5.

COMING UP SUNDAY- AUGUST 17

This is the 10th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14).  After Church this week, there will be a distribution of filled backpacks.  Any student living in our region is welcome to get a backpack and school supplies.  The distribution begins at 10am.
Next Tuesday is the last week for the summer SPLASH food distribution program.
The Charlestown Farmer's Market continues for 2 more weeks.  Join us on Friday from 9:30-12 as we sell hand-made items for 1000 Jobs Haiti.
Vacation Bible School at St.Elizabeth's begins on Monday, August 18 from 9-12.  For more information, call them at 539-7346.

COMING UP SUNDAY-AUGUST 10

This is the 9th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14).  There will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church this week.
The second part of the sermon series, "Where should I go to church when I am on vacation and there is no Episcopal church around?"  will be held this Sunday.   For more information, read the column to the left.
Backpacks filled with school supplies will be distributed on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 10am.  If you know of a student in need, you are welcome to participate in this event.
 The summer continues to be busy with the weekly free food distribution on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30. sponsored by the Jonnycake Center.   Every Friday there is a member of St. Thomas' staffing the table at the Charlestown Farmer's Market and selling hand made items from 1000 Jobs Haiti.
Our neighboring Episcopal Church, St. Elizabeth's in Hope Valley, will hold a Vacation Bible School the week of August 18-22 from 9am-12noon.  For more information, give them a call at 539-7346

COMING UP SUNDAY- AUGUST 3

This is the 8th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13).  This week and next, there will be a mini-sermon series focused on where Episcopalians can go to church when they are on vacation and there is not Episcopal church nearby (see the column on the left).
The summer continues with the  Charlestown Farmer's Market where St. Thomas' parishioners sell hand made items from 1000 Jobs Haiti.
On August 17, we will distribute filled backpacks to any Chariho students who need one.  The distribution begins at 10am.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JULY 27

This is the 7th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12).  The summer continues to be busy with the weekly free food distribution on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30. sponsored by the Jonnycake Center.   Every Friday there is a member of St. Thomas' staffing the table at the Charlestown Farmer's Market and selling hand made items from 1000 Jobs Haiti.
Once again St. Thomas' will distribute filled backpacks to local students on Sunday, August 17.  Backpacks and school supplies are needed for this project.

The Parish Picnic will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9.  Sign up on the sheet in the parish hall. 
Our neighboring Episcopal Church, St. Elizabeth's in Hope Valley, will hold a Vacation Bible School the week of August 18-22 from 9am-12noon.  For more information, give the a call at 539-7346

COMING UP SUNDAY- JULY 20

This is the 6th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 11).  The monthly meal for WARM will be prepared this week. The summer continues to be busy with the weekly free food distribution on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30. sponsored by the Jonnycake Center.   Every Friday there is a member of St. Thomas' staffing the table at the Charlestown Farmer's Market and selling hand made items from 1000 Jobs Haiti.
Once again St. Thomas' will distribute filled backpacks to local students on Sunday, August 17.  Backpacks and school supplies are needed for this project.
Our neighboring Episcopal Church, St. Elizabeth's in Hope Valley, will hold a Vacation Bible School the week of August 18-22 from 9am-12noon.  For more information, give the a call at 539-7346

COMING UP SUNDAY- JULY 13

This is the 5th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10).  There will be an Audit Committee meeting after the worship service.
Parish luncheon will be held on Monday, July 14, 12 noon at The Pavilion Restaurant in Ashaway.  Everyone is invited and each person pays for his/her own lunch.
Every Friday you can find a member of St. Thomas' selling goods for 1000 Jobs Haiti at the Charlestown Farmer's Market from 9:30-12:30.  This week at the farmer's market, there is an opportunity to recycle used electronic devices (computers, printers,etc) for FREE.  Click here for more information
Every Tuesday, families with school age children can pick up a bag of free groceries at the church.  Sign up by calling the Jonnycake Center.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be held at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Hope Valley the week of Aug. 18-22 from 9am to noon.  For more information, call St. Elizabeth's at 539-7364.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JULY 6

This is the 4th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9).   Summer continues with our weekly free food distribution every Tuesday from 9:30-10:30.  To register for free groceries through this SPLASH program,  contact the Jonnycake Center at 377-8069.
Something new at St. Thomas'- we are starting a Prayer Companion program.  You promise to pray for one person every day and someone else will pray for you every day.  Put your name in the basket at the church to participate.
There will be a parish luncheon at the Pavilion Restaurant in Ashaway on Monday, July 14 at 12 noon. Everyone is welcome to come (each person pays for his/her own lunch).

COMING UP SUNDAY- JUNE 29

This is the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8).  There will be an altar guild committee meeting after church.  All are welcome!
Every Friday, a member of St. Thomas' is at the Charlestown Farmers' Market selling hand made items for 1000 Jobs Haiti.  It is a wonderful farmers' market with fresh produce and meats, flowers, arts and crafts and happy people.  Come join us.
The summer food program, SPLASH, begins next week.  The Jonnycake Center is providing bags of food for families to be picked up at St. Thomas' (there are also other locations from which to choose),  Contact the Jonnycake Center to register- 377-8069

COMING UP SUNDAY- JUNE 22

This is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost.  It is now officially the Green Season of the church year you can read about this on the left side of the page).
This is VISITORS/NEWCOMERS Sunday.  Visitors are especially welcome to attend and parishioners are encouraged to Bring a Friend.
This Friday, June 20, is the first Friday of the summer when the Charlestown Farmers' Market will be open and St. Thomas' will be selling items for 1000 Jobs Haiti.  There are beautiful and practical handmade items from Haiti.  Check out the church's Facebook link on the right to view some of the items for sale.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JUNE 15 TRINITY SUNDAY

This is Trinity Sunday.  This feast, which always falls on the Sunday after Pentecost, celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity - the 3 persons of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is one of the seven principal feasts in the Episcopal Church calendar. In some parishes, it is customary to recite The Creed of Saint Athanasius on this day (it is found on page 864 in the Book of Common Prayer.)
St. Thomas' will welcome a guest preacher this week.  The Rev.Buck Close will speak about his work with 1000 Jobs Haiti.  Buck is a deacon in the Episcopal Church and currently serves at St. John the Evangelist in Newport.  He is also founder of 1000 Jobs Haiti.
Next Sunday, June 22, is Visitor's Sunday.  All newcomers and visitors are especially welcome to join us for worship that day at 9am.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JUNE 8 THE FEAST OF PENTECOST

This is the Feast of Pentecost.  The Book of Acts (2:1-31) states that on the 50th day after the first Easter, the disciples were in Jerusalem and the city was crowded since it was the Jewish festival of Shavuot. The Scripture says that on that day the Holy Spirit rushed in and landed on the disciples like tongues of fire.  That is why red is the color of the day and people often wear red to church on Pentecost.
There will be 2 baptisms at St. Thomas' this week.
The Bishop's Committee will meet after church.
Last Sunday we congratulated 8 graduates in our parish and we were joined by some of our newest babies that day.  Photos can be seen on the Facebook link to the right.
Next Sunday, June 15, the Rev. Buck Close will be our guest preacher.  He will talk about his work with 1000 Jobs Haiti.  Beginning on Friday, June 22, St. Thomas' will be selling handmade goods from 1000 Jobs Haiti at the Charlestown Farmer's Market from 10-12 each Friday in the summer.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JUNE 1

This is the 7th Sunday of Easter.  Following the service, there will be a special coffee hour reception to honor our college and  high school graduates- there are 8 of them!
We shared  a wonderful Ascension Day service with members of St. Elizabeth's and Church of the Holy Spirit.  The service was followed by a hotdog, potluck dinner.There are photos posted on the Facebook link on the right column of this page.
Baptisms will be held on the Feast of Pentecost- June 8.  Contact the vicar if you are interested.
On Sunday, June 15, The Rev. Buck Close will be the guest preacher and he will talk about his work with 1000 Jobs Haiti.
A special Visitor's Sunday will be held on Sunday, June 22.  If you are looking for a parish, or if you have ever just wanted to see the inside of St. Thomas', this is a great day to come.  Worship begins at 9am.

ASCENSION DAY SERVICE

On Thursday, May 29, there will be an Ascension Day service at 6pm.  After the service we will release red balloons into the air.  There will be a hot dog, potluck dinner to follow.  Parishioners from Church of the Holy Spirit and St. Elizabeth's will join us.  All are welcome! Plenty of parking on the street.

COMING UP SUNDAY- MAY 25

This is the 6th Sunday of Easter.  Church school is finished for this school year.
In honor of Memorial Day weekend, on Sunday, there will be a special remembrance of all veterans who have died.  If you wish to have a name added to the list, contact the vicar.
Thursday, May 29 is Ascension Day.  There will be a service at 6pm during which red (environmentally friendly) balloons will be released.  After the service there will be a hotdog dinner.  Members of St. Elizabeth's in Hope Valley will join us.
The Feast of Pentecost is Sunday, June 8.  Baptisms will be celebrated at the 9am service.  Contact the vicar is you are interested.
There are many other events scheduled for June and July.  Refer to the tab at the top of the website for more information about events in the coming weeks.

COMING UP SUNDAY- MAY 18

This is the 5th Sunday of Easter. It is the last week of church school for this school year.
The guest preacher this week will be Ms. Deborah Negrelli who is the executive director of RICAN (Rhode Island Center Assisting Those in Need).  This agency, located in Charlestown on the corner of routes 91 and 112, supplies a vast area of social services to those in the community.  St. Thomas' contributes its weekly food donations to RICAN.  This agency is supported by Episcopal Charities- the outreach arm of the Diocese of Rhode Island.
Ascension Day is Thursday, May 29.  There will be a service at 6pm followed by a hotdog dinner.  Parishioners from St. Elizabeth's will share in this feast day with us.
BAPTISMS will be held on June 8, the Feast of Pentecost, at 9am.  Contact the vicar if you are interested.

COMING UP SUNDAY- MAY 11

This is the 4th Sunday of Easter.  It is also Mother's Day!  Best wishes to all mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, aunts and every mother-like woman!!!
There is no church school this week.  Next Sunday will be the last Sunday of church school.
On Sunday, May 18, Ms. Deborah Nigrelli from RICAN will be the guest preacher.  Her agency is sponsored, in part, by Episcopal Charities.
The total food count is in for the Feinstein Challenge- St. Thomas' collected $397 worth of food and donations during the months of March and April!!  Thanks to all who contributed!
Save the date- Ascension Day service is Thurs, May 29 at 6pm.  Followed by hotdogs!

COMING UP SUNDAY-MAY 4

This is the 3rd Sunday of Easter.  Church school will meet and there will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.
There were 16 people who attended the parish luncheon last Monday at the Wood River Golf Course. A few pictures are posted on the Facebook page on the right of this column. Mr. Fred Stanley, chief of the Hope Valley Fire Department, was the special guest. He spoke to the three WWII veterans about the Honor Flight program.  This program, sponsored by the fire chiefs in Rhode Island, takes WWII vets to Washington DC for a day to view the WWII Memorial.
Donations for Episcopal Charities will be accepted for a couple of more weeks.  The Feinstein Food Challenge has ended.  Stay tuned for a posting about the grand totals collected at St. Thomas'.

COMING UP SUNDAY- APRIL 27

This is the 2nd Sunday of Easter.  Church School will meet.  There will be a liturgy committee meeting after church.
St. Thomas' had a wonderful Holy Week and Easter Celebration.  The church was packed on Easter morning and the flowers were amazing.  Thanks to everyone who cleaned, set up, brought food and flowers during the week. There are lots of photos posted on the Facebook page- You can view them by clicking on the link on the right side of this page.
The Bishop's Committee will meet on May 4.

THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM- THE GREAT THREE DAYS

Worship services will be held at St. Thomas' on Maundy Thursday at 7pm, Good Friday at 7pm and Easter morning at 9am followed by an Easter Egg hunt.  For more complete information about the Holy Week services, click the tab at the top of this page.
Check out the pictures on our Facebook link to the right to view some photos from our great Palm Sunday service.
The WARM meal will be prepared this Sunday and served on Monday.  Mite boxes will be collected this week.  This is also the time to make your pledge or donation to Episcopal Charities.
Parish luncheon will be on Monday, Apr. 28 at Wood River Golf Course at 12 noon.

PALM SUNDAY- APRIL 13

This is Palm Sunday.  There will be no church school.  The service will begin outside with the procession of the palms.  The liturgy this week includes the reading of the Passion Gospel according to Matthew.  The Holy Week schedule is listed on the tab at the top of this page.
Visitors and newcomers are welcome to join us for this most holy week of worship.
A few other notes:  Last Sunday was very busy at St. Thomas'!!!  We celebrated the 80th birthday of two parishioner, had a Bishop's Committee meeting and then participated in the WARM Center bowl-a-thon.  St. Thomas' raised $495 for WARM!!!!  Then on Monday, we packaged and shipped out 5 boxes to a friend who is serving in the military in Afghanistan.  These were "Easter basket" gifts for his unit.  There are a lot of photos of all these events posted on our Facebook page.  Click on the link on the right side of this page.

COMING UP ON SUNDAY- APRIL 6

This is the 5th Sunday in Lent.  Church school will meet.  There will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.  There will also be a special 80th birthday party during coffee hour to celebrate two of our parishioners who will turn 80 in April.
Last Sunday there was a fun filled baby shower during coffee hour in honor of the 3 new babies that will join our St. Thomas' family.  One has already arrived!  Take a look at the Facebook pictures posted on the right column of this page.
Sunday, April 6 at 1 pm is the  WARM Bowl-a-thon to be held at Alley Katz lanes in Westerly.  There are 8 parishioners who are bowling on our Tom Katz team. You can support the team by donating at firstgiving.com

COMING UP SUNDAY- MARCH 30

This is the 4th Sunday in Lent.  Church school will meet. This is also known as mid-Lent Sunday or Mothering Sunday. Read the column on the left to learn about this.
This Sunday there will be a baby shower coffee hour to celebrate the arrival and soon to be arrival of 3 new babies in our parish.  A great way to celebrate Mothering Sunday!
Next Sunday there will be an 80th birthday party coffee hour.  That is also the day of the WARM bowl-a-thon.  St. Thomas'  has 2 teams taking party in this fundraiser.  Visit the link to make a contribution.

COMING UP SUNDAY- MARCH 23

This is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. (To learn about Lent, go to the tab at the top of this page) Church School will meet.  After worship, there will be a discussion of the book Grace Sticks-The Bumper Sticker Gospel that several people have been reading during Lent.  There are several of the sample bumper sticker slogans posted around the parish hall.  Come join the discussion even if you haven't read the book.
March and April are the months of the Feinstein Food Challenge (see the column on the left).  The food pile in the narthex is growing!
Next Sunday (March 30) there will be a baby shower coffee hour to celebrate the 3 new babies joining the St. Thomas' family this spring.
There are 2 teams of the St. Thomas' Tom Katz bowling in the WARM bowl-a-thon on April 6.  If you would like to sponsor the team, you can do it online at this website- FirstGiving.com
There are lots of events happening in March and April at St. Thomas'. Click on the tab at the top of the page to learn more.

COMING UP SUNDAY- MARCH 16

This is the 2nd Sunday in Lent.  Church school will meet.  The WARM meal will be prepared.  Since it will be served on March 17, the church is preparing a special St. Patrick's Day meal.
The Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of RI will meet at St. Thomas' on March 20 at 6pm.
There are now enough people for 2 teams from our parish to participate in the WARM bowl-a-thon on April 6 at Alley Katz lanes in Westerly.
St Thomas' will be sending an Easter care package to a young man serving his fifth tour of duty in Afghanistan. Toiletries and snack foods will be collected until April 6.

COMING UP SUNDAY- MARCH 9

This is the 1st Sunday in Lent.  Church school will meet and there will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.  During March and April we will participate in the Feinstein Food Challenge (read the column on the left).
There are several Lenten meditation books and posters at the church to help families keep a Lenten discipline.  If you want to learn more about Lent, click on the tab at the top of this page.
There several many parish activities coming up in the next few months.  They are listed under the tab, "In the Coming Weeks."

COMING UP SUNDAY- MARCH 2

This is the Last Sunday after Epiphany.  Church school will meet and there will be a liturgy committee meeting after church to pick hymns for the Lenten season.  Everyone is welcome to join in that meeting. There will be some special vocalists during our service this week.  At the end of the liturgy, we will put the "Alleluias" in the church away and they won't come out again until Easter.
Ash Wednesday is March 5.  Refer to the column on the left to learn about service times.
Last Monday parishioners took a field trip to RICAN in Charlestown.  Some pictures of this trip are posted on the Facebook page.  Click on the link on the right side of this page.
March will be a very busy month at St. Thomas'.  All of the events are listed under the tab "In the Coming Weeks" found at the top of this page.

COMING UP SUNDAY- FEBRUARY 23

This is the 7th Sunday after Pentecost.  Church school will meet.  After the service,  there will be a conversation during coffee hour to discuss funeral preparations.  This is often a difficult topic for family members to discuss.  During coffee hour we will have forms and resources available and we will talk about some of the things to consider when planning your own funeral.  Come join us!
On Monday, Feb. 24, we will take a field trip to RICAN.  This is the social service agency that accepts our weekly food donation.  They are located at the corner of routes 91 and 112 in Charlestown.  We will meet there at 1:30.  All are welcome to join us.

COMING UP SUNDAY- FEBRUARY 16

This is the 6th Sunday after Epiphany.  Church school will not meet due to President's Day weekend.  The WARM meal will be prepared after church.
Following the service, we will have a special coffee hour reception/baby shower to celebrate the pending arrival of a new parishioner!
February and March will be busy at St. Thomas'.  Click on the tab at the top of this page to see what is happening In the Coming Weeks.
Next Sunday, February 23, we will have a session after church to talk about making your funeral arrangements.  This is often a difficult conversation, but one that every family should have.  Come join us and bring a friend!

COMING UP SUNDAY- FEBRUARY 9

This is the 5th Sunday after Epiphany.  Church school will meet.  There will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church this week.
Last Sunday we celebrated Boy Scout Sunday and Souper Bowl Sunday.  There were 55 people in church, including 17 cub scouts, boy scouts and leaders.  They shared in worship and enjoyed a bountiful feast at coffee  hour!  We collected $75 in our Souper Bowl collection pot which was sent to RICAN in Charlestown.
During Lent, we will be reading the book, Grace Sticks by Kristina Robb-Dover.  If you would like the church to order you a book, the cost is $10.  Sign up at church.  It is also available in a Kindle version.  We will meet after church on Mar. 23 and Apr. 6 to talk about it.
Check out the tab at the top of this page titled, In the Coming Weeks, to learn about all of the events happening at St. Thomas'.

COMING UP SUNDAY- FEBRUARY 2

This is the 4th Sunday after Epiphany, but it is also February 2- The Feast of the Presentation- also known as Candlemas and Groundhog Day.  To see how all of these things are related,  see the column on the right of this post.  It is also Boy Scout Sunday and Souper Bowl Sunday.  Read about these event on the left column.  Last Sunday was our Annual Parish meeting.  We elected officers and Bishop's Committee members and we determined our parish goals for 2014 (they are listed at the top of this page).

TUESDAY TUTORING is cancelled today, Jan. 21, due to the weather

COMING UP SUNDAY- JANUARY 19

This is the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.  Church school will meet.  There will be a liturgy committee meeting after church to pick hymns for the coming Sundays.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be on Jan. 26 following the service.  The 2014 budget will be presented as well as parish goals for 2014.
Boy Scout Sunday will be on February 2.  That day is also Souper Bowl Sunday.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JANUARY 12

This is the 1st Sunday after Epiphany- The Baptism of Jesus.  Church school will  meet and there will be a Bishop's Committee meeting after church.
Last Sunday we celebrated the 90th birthday of one of our parishioners.  We now have 4 nonagenarians in our parish!!!  Some photos are pasted on the Facebook link on the right.
The annual parish meeting will be on January 26.  There will be a potluck meal to go along with the meeting.
February 2 is Boy Scout Sunday.  All cub scouts and boy scouts are encouraged to attend and there will be a special coffee hour reception.  That day is  also Souper Bowl Sunday.  More details will follow.

COMING UP SUNDAY- JANUARY 5

This is the 2nd Sunday after Christmas.  There will be no church school this week.
There was a wonderful wedding at St. Thomas' last Sunday afternoon.   Some photos of the occasion can be viewed at our Facebook link on the right column of this page.
Starting in January, the weekly food collection will be donated to RICAN-(Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need), located in Charlestown.  This organization had had shortages of food due to high demand in our region, so the additional donations from St. Thomas' will be useful.