Parish Email for Friday, 24 March 2023

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This Sunday, we continue the Adult Forum series “The Way of Love.”  Led by Deacon John and promoted by Bishop Curry, this program ties the Easter Vigil readings to the seven practices of the Way of Love.  Each week lessons will be introduced, via video provided in the newsletter, and explored.  Weekly videos can also be viewed on the Adult Forum page of the website.

The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, communities are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption.

Session Five / REST: The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

The Way of Love will be on hiatus from  2 April through 5 May.  Join us for the last 2 sessions of this program resuming on 14 May.


Mark your calendars for an evening of peaceful Evensong on Saturday, 25 March, at 5:30 PM.  This special service, features beautiful choral music by Rowan students and moments of quiet reflection.


Stations of the Cross, convened by Sara J. will take place every Friday in Lent at 7pm.


Diocese notified of successful canonical consent process for next bishop.  Read the announcement here.


The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop (JNCPB) is continuing its work to prepare The Episcopal Church for the election of the 28th Presiding Bishop at General Convention in 2024. To that end they are releasing three essays this month to help inform the church about the ministry of the Presiding Bishop.  Read the first of these essays here and the second  about the Roles, Functions, and Responsibilities of a Presiding Bishop here.


St. Thomas’ has a history of holding a “Garden Watch” on Maundy Thursday. This is when we sit quietly in the presence of the sacrament remaining from our last Eucharist before the Easter Vigil, as the disciples sat with Jesus after the Last Supper. Would you like to participate? If so, please email office@stthomasglassboro.org (or leave a voicemail on the church line: 856.881.9144) stating what times you would like to watch. See what slots are already filled on the St. Thomas’ rota: https://www.stthomasglassboro.org/rota/ . Please note: if the schedule doesn’t fill out all the way through morning, your requested times may be shifted back to connect with the person before you.


There will be no Sunday School for Passion Sunday (2 April) or Easter (9 April).


St. Thomas’ has overflowed two tables for the Bishop’s Farewell gala featuring Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as our keynote speaker! If you’re interested in attending this special event on Sunday, 21 May, at 5pm, please let Donna F. know within the next week so we can see whether we need to reserve an entire third table!


Come support St. Thomas’ own talented Bobby K. in Stockton University’s rendition of And Then There Were None located at the Stockton Performing Arts Center (101 Vera King Farris Drive, Suite K-144 Galloway, NJ 08205).


Are you a Glassboro resident? Rowan University wants to give back to you! This year volunteer students will be assigned to visit local houses on the afternoon of 23 April to do outdoor chores: raking leaves, pulling weeds, painting, or anything else you need help with. If you live in Glassboro and would be interested in students working outdoors at your home, please contact volunteer@rowan.edu or 856-256-4597 before 17 March.


Bulletins are an important part of each worship service.  They help us stay on track and give us important information on the goings-on of the church.  Do you have some time each week (or when your schedule allows) to help compose bulletins?  Word processing experience preferred but training is available!  Want to help?  Contact Father Todd to see how you can assist in this ministry!

Interested in joining a new ministry but don’t know where to start?  Every week, a different group will be highlighted at the end of the newsletter.  Information about meetings, what they do in the church or community, contact info and more!  If you have content you want to share about your ministry, send it to announcements@stthomasglassboro.org to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

 

The CDC COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM. This means masks are not required but still not a bad idea! COVID exposures (being around someone who has COVID but doesn’t realize it yet) are still happening, including at church.

 


Lectionary readings for this week:  Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45, Psalm 130

Lectionary readings for next week:  Passion/Palm Sunday – Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66, Psalm 31:9-16

Please continue in your daily prayers for:  Dennis, Marge, Joann, Lou, Jennifer, Cameron, Jane, Richard, Bea, Sue, Lenore, John, Becky, Bill, Terryon, Daniel, Annette, Ginny, Bob, Andrea, Gilberto, Mary Esther, Braelynn, Jeffrey, Priscilla, Sam, Brian, Bill, Heather, Stacey


Announcements for the parish email are due via email by noon on Wednesday of each week. You can email them to announcements@stthomasglassboro.org

The church calendar can be seen at https://www.stthomasglassboro.org/calendar/ for a list of upcoming events. Please help us keep it current (and avoid hurt feelings) by sending updates to the church office (office@stthomasglassboro.org).

Are you serving in liturgy? Check the rota!

Prayer requests can be sent to prayer@stthomasglassboro.org

Watch our livestream here Saturdays at 5:30pm and Sundays at 8am & 10:30am!

Full-text of the liturgy is available at  https://www.sharedprayers.net

 

Spring at St. Thomas’

  • Holy Eucharist (Nave – now with music!): Saturdays, 5:30pm
  • Holy Eucharist in the Nave – Rite I (Nave):  Sundays, 8am
  • Adult Formation (Parish Hall):  Sundays, 9am
  • Children’s Sunday School (Parish Hall):  Sundays, 9am
  • Coffee Hour (Parish Hall): Sundays, 10am
  • Holy Eucharist (Parish Hall): Sundays, 10:30am
  • Centering Prayer (Nave): Mondays at 4pm (also on Zoom)
  • Holy Eucharist at Lych Gate (most times):  Wednesdays, 5:30pm

 

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