COMING UP THIS WEEK- APRIL 28

This is the 5th Sunday of Easter.  Church school will meet. This is the last Sunday of our collection for the Feinstein Foundation food count (see column to the left).  So far we have collected 213 items!
Last Sunday, St Thomas' participated in the 21st annual bowl-a-thon for the WARM center in Westerly.  Our team, The Tom Katz, did very well and included the high bowler of the day.  Check out some photos on our Facebook page via the link on the right (you don't have to be a member of Facebook to view them).
May 9 is Ascension Day.  We will have a service at 6pm followed by a potluck cookout.  Sign up at the church to bring a dish to share.
May 19 is the Feast of Pentecost and we will celebrate baptisms that day.  Speak to the vicar if you are interested.

COMING UP THIS WEEK- APRIL 21

This is the 4th Sunday of Easter.  Church school will meet.  There will be a Bishop's Committee meeting following the service.
This Sunday, April 21, is the annual WARM bowl-a-thon.  Our church team, the Tom Katz, will participate.  If you would like to make a donation to sponsor the team, go to http://www.firstgiving.com/warmshelter/warm-center-21st-annual-bowl-a-thon
Last Sunday Bishop Knisely and his wife made a visit to St. Thomas'.  There was good liturgy and warm fellowship.  To view some photos from this event, you can click on the Facebook link on the right of this page (you don't have to be a member of Facebook to view the pictures).
Next Sunday, April 28,  we will celebrate the sacrament of Baptism at the 9am service.  If you are interested in being baptized, contact the vicar.

COMING UP THIS WEEK- APRIL 14

This is the 3rd Sunday of Easter.  We will welcome the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely to St. Thomas' at our 9 am service.  This will be his first visit to Alton.  There will be a special coffee hour after the service for fellowship and dialogue.  There will be no church school this week.
The WARM meal will be prepared this Sunday.
St. Thomas' has a bowling team participating in the WARM bowl-a-thon on April 21.  If you would like to make a donation to sponsor the Tom Katz, you can do it online by following this link http://www.firstgiving.com/warmshelter/warm-center-21st-annual-bowl-a-thon

COMING UP THIS WEEK- APRIL 7

This is the 2nd Sunday of Easter.  Church school will meet.
We had a wonderful Holy Week and fabulous Easter Sunday service.  The church was packed, the choir was glorious and the children found all 120 eggs that were hidden. Thanks to all who cleaned the church and brought flowers for our Easter service There are photos posted on our Facebook page. You can view them by clicking the link on the right- you don't have to be a member of Facebook to view them.
April will be a busy month.  Bishop Knisely will visit us on April 14 at 9 am.  On April 21, our bowling team, the Tom Katz, will take part in the WARM Shelter Bowl-a-thon.  Sponsors are needed. The Bishop's Committee will also meet that day after church.
Our Episcopal Charities campaign is underway.  You can make a pledge or give a donation at church.
April is the 2nd month of the Feinstein Food Challenge (read the column on the left).  We hope to collect over 300 canned food items by the end of the month.

ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN

Easter service at 9 am followed by an Easter egg hunt

HOLY WEEK

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is Holy Week.  During this week we remember the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, shared a last meal with his friends, was crucified and then on Easter we celebrate the great feast of the Resurrection.  For more details about these services, click on the Holy Week tab at the top of this page.

The services at St. Thomas' this week are as follows:

MAUNDY THURSDAY- 7:00pm liturgy including foot washing.

GOOD FRIDAY- 7:00 pm liturgy

EASTER SUNDAY- 9am service with choir, followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the children. 

On  Saturday, we will have a church clean-up at 10am.  We will polish and dust and rake and get ready for our Easter celebration.  Please come- even in you have 1 hour to spare, it will be a big help.

COMING UP PALM SUNDAY- MAR. 24

This week is Palm Sunday.  We will begin our 9am liturgy outside with the blessing of the palms and a procession around the church.  There will be no church school.  The choir will meet at 8:15.
This year we are using palms purchased from Eco-Palms.  They were harvested from a place and in a way that is environmentally sustainable.  For more information, visit this website www.cinram.umn.edu/ecopalms.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week at St. Thomas' and at churches around the world.  For an explanation of the services during Holy Week, click on the tab at the top of this page. 
There will be services at St. Thomas' on Thursday and Friday evening this week.  We will not have an Easter Vigil this year on Easter Eve.  Our Holy Week schedule is listed below.

Palm Sunday- Blessing of the palms and Eucharist celebration at 9 am
Maundy Thursday- Liturgy at 7 pm (includes washing of the feet)
Good Friday- Liturgy at 7 pm 
Holy Saturday- Church clean-up at 10am.  Bring donations of Easter lilies and other plants 
Easter Sunday- Liturgy at 9 am.  The choir will sing and there will be an Easter Egg hunt for the children following the service.