COMPLINE AND COCOA

Join us Wednesdays in Advent at 7pm for an online worship service of Compline followed by a fellowship time- bring your own cocoa.  Compline (from the Latin word meaning completion) is descended from the night prayers offered before bed at the end of the round of daily prayers said by monastic. Compline is a simple office which may include a confession of sins, psalms, a short reading from Scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord's Prayer, collects which ask for God's protection during the night to come, and the canticle Nunc dimittis. A hymn for the evening may follow the short reading from scripture. The collects may be followed by a time of silence, along with free intercessions and thanksgivings.  The service is found in the Book of Common Prayer on page 127. The Zoom link is here and the link for the order of service is here

COMING UP SUNDAY-NOV. 29

This is the 1st Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new church year (this will be Year B for those who follow the liturgical calendar).  To learn more about Advent, find the tab at the top of this page.  There will be a live Zoom service at 9am (see left column for details).  The church has many Advent resources available for families and individuals.  They can be picked up at the church at 9:45 on a Sunday morning.  Or they can be delivered to you.  Send a message to the church email address listed in the contact information tab.  

THANKSGIVING DAY

There is no service at St. Thomas' on Thanksgiving Day.  But Bishop Knisely will lead a virtual morning prayer service at 9am.  The link is here  

COMING UP SUNDAY-NOV. 22

This is the Last Sunday after Pentecost- also called Christ the King Sunday. It is the last Sunday of the church year and it is the day to celebrate Jesus as the Christ and King.   Advent will begin on Nov.29 and with that comes the start of a new church year.  
This week there will be an online service.  In person worship is on hold as the COVID numbers in Rhode Island are high.  The link for the Zoom service and the service bulletin are in the left column.

There was a car load of food delivered to the WARM Center this week from the parishioners at St. Thomas. Check out some photos on the Facebook page (lower right column).

IN PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES CANCELED FOR THE TIME BEING

 Due to spikes in COVID cases in our state, Bishop Knisely has asked Episcopal churches in this Diocese to have only online worship services.  All are welcome to join in.  See the left column for the link to the Zoom service and the handout for the day. 

COMING UP SUNDAY- NOV.15

This is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28).  There will be an in-person Eucharist service inside the church this week.  It is a small, safe service- everyone wears masks and social distancing is observed.  The service is also available on Zoom (see left column for link).  If you want details, send a message to the address in the Contact Information tab listed above.  This is the Sunday that we collect and deliver items for the WARM Center-they need juice boxes, water bottles, individually packaged cookies and crackers.  The church is also collecting items to send to two deployed military members.  Those things can be brought to the church or picked up if you prefer (no homemade baked goods, please).  Include a signed Christmas card! 

Unfortunately, there will not be an Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service this year.  Normally, churches from Alton and Hope Valley gather to worship together and give thanks.  But our hearts are still grateful and we look forward to being together in 2021.  

COMING UP SUNDAY-NOV. 8

This is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 27).  Due to the recent increase in COVID cases in RI, our service this week will be totally virtual.  Look to the left column to get the Zoom link and access to the handout.  This is the week to celebrate all of the veterans and active duty military members.  Normally we acknowledge them with a great party and recognition.  This Sunday, we will read aloud of all their names in our service and we will express our thanks to them virtually.

There are a couple of collections going on at St. Thomas'.  For the November WARM Center meal, we are collecting, juice boxes, water bottles and individually packaged cookies and crackers.  We are also going to send two boxes to our active duty military friends who are serving over seas.  Some of the items needed for them include: granola bars, protein powder, Christmas treats (no homemade foods), games, books.  For more information, send a message to the email address listed in the Contact Information tab above.