Our parish’s work to provide a welcoming space to migrants transiting through DC and the organizations helping them figure out their next steps continues – with a new partner! We are now sharing Saturday hosting duties with New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in downtown DC, so our schedule has changed a bit and for now we are hosting every other week. Our volunteers prepare and serve food, distribute donated clothing, direct people around the building, run errands to pick up supplies, and create a friendly environment for people living through extreme stress. How can you help?

Volunteer!
Sign up for a slot on one of our upcoming hosting days: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4ea8ae22a02-welcome

Donate supplies or money!
We especially need new underwear, both men’s and women’s (sizes small and medium) and new or gently used casual shoes (sturdy, good for walking in). If you would like to contribute funds, you can do so online (in Realm, mark your contribution Refugee Support) or via check (with a note in the memo line).

We have created an Amazon Wish List that makes it easy to donate critical supplies for our migrant ministry and have them delivered directly to St. Thomas’ Parish.
https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2LEQWIR88WN7M

Feed people!
Do you like grocery shopping or cooking for a crowd? Get in touch with Carol Coonrod (cscoonrod@gmail.com) and Elizabeth Terry (elizterry@gmail.com) if you’d like to be part of the team planning and preparing meals.

Be a tour guide!
This is a new initiative – As many of our guests won’t leave DC until the evening or perhaps even a day or longer later, we’d like to offer them some opportunities to get a glimpse of the nation’s capital before they move on. If you have a car and would enjoy taking a few of our guests on a brief sightseeing trip on a Saturday afternoon, get in touch with Carol and Elizabeth (see above for email addresses).

Worship with us!
At around 11;30 am on the dates we host, we offer a brief bilingual service where we can give thanks for our guests’ presence with us and pray for their safety on the road ahead. Drop in and join in this blessing – and whether or not you are able to be with us in person, please continue to keep our guests and all migrants and refugees around the world in your prayers.

Join us for a special multigenerational “Blessing of the Backpacks” and worship service on Sunday, August 29 at 10:30am. Children and youth are encouraged to wear their school backpacks to church, so that we can include them in the Backpack Blessing. The service will offer children, youth, and adults of all ages the opportunity to have their backpacks, briefcases, laptops, etc. blessed during our regular Sunday service.

If you are able, please bring a backpack and school supplies to donate. See the DCPS school supply list for ideas.https://dcps.dc.gov/page/k-12-school-supply-list We are also taking donations to help defray the cost of school meals. A donation of $66 will cover lunch for one child for one month. A donation of any amount is welcome. Click on the image below to donate.

Click here to donate school meals.
Checks may be made payable to St. Thomas’ and may be placed in the collection plate or mailed to church address.

Lent at St. Thomas’ Parish

The season of Lent is a contemplative time inviting us to turn toward Christ. We do this through examination, study, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines that draw us nearer to God. As we approach this holy season, we are invited to consider taking on a new practice or participating in a study or activity to draw nearer to Christ. Here are some options here at our parish:

The Stations of the Cross:

Our set of the Stations of the Cross will be placed in our office windows facing Church St. alongside prayer and meditations. You are invited to walk the stations of the cross during the season of Lent.

The Way of Love in Lent:

Our Sunday morning study February 21 – March 14 will focus on the Episcopal Church’s curriculum which offers seven practices for a Jesus Centered Life. Our scripture for the Sunday services will include one designated lesson for each practice From Ash Wednesday through Easter. John Trumbo has written our Prayers of the People to include these practices for the Way of Love. 

Lenten Madness:

Forward Movement offers a fun and educational activity each Lent called Lenten Madness. Lenten Madness uses a bracket system like March Madness (basketball) to showcase different saints of the Church.

“The format is straightforward: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the round of the Saintly Sixteen, eight make it to the round of the Elite Eight, four make it to the Faithful Four, two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo. The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.” Get your bracket and learn more at: www.lentmadness.org

Worship with us!

Sunday mornings at 10:30 am on Zoom or Facebook.

  • Are you you intrigued by Jesus, but find yourself confused by theological discussions?
  • Do you have a church background but wish you had a better understanding of basic Christian beliefs?
  • Do you wish you had a good way to respond to claims made by Fundamentalists and biblical literalists?
  • Do you feel pressured to choose between science and logic on the one hand and Christian faith on the other?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you are encouraged to participate in the new small group at St. Thomas’ called “Christianity 101”! Led by Bob Moluf and Murray Scheel, this group will meet after coffee hour (sessions start at about noon) for 7 Sundays, beginning in September and ending in November (there will be no sessions in October).

This small group will have a somewhat different focus than that of a pre-confirmation class in the Episcopal Church, and the group is open to anyone who wishes to participate, regardless of church (or non-church) background.

Each of the 7 sessions will be 90 minutes long, and they will be held at St. Thomas’ Parish, starting at about noon, on the following Sundays:

  • Sep. 8 – Overview: Topics, Sources, Methods
  • Sep. 15 – God & the Hebrew/Jewish Tradition
  • Sep. 22 – Who Was Jesus?
  • Sep. 29 – The Holy Spirit & the Christian Community
  • [No sessions in October]
  • Nov. 10 – Baptism
  • Nov. 17 – Eucharist
  • Nov. 24 – Ministry

If you would like to participate in this St. Thomas’ small group, or if you have questions about it, please email Bob Moluf (bob.moluf@gmail.com).

Bob Moluf and Murray Scheel
Bob Moluf and Murray Scheel