St. Thomas’ proudly celebrates Campus Pride Month alongside Rowan University all April long! Join us as we celebrate diversity, inclusion, and unity throughout the month with engaging formation hours, notable LGBTQ+ spotlights, The Shop supply drive and more!
April’s formation hour will focus on LGBTQ+ families and challenge us to find more ways to ensure our sacred space is welcoming to everyone. All in God’s Family is a program created by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and promoted by the Institute for Welcoming Resources. Each week, we will be exploring this program in a variety of ways – join us!
Week 1 (7 April): Introductions / Scripture Study & Engagement
Week 2 (14 April): View a documentary and discuss.
Week 3 (21 April): Scripture Study & Engagement
Week 4 (28 April): Collaborative Workshop
There will be no Centering Prayer or Evening Prayer this Monday, 8 April.
We will begin again on 15 April.
There will be no liturgy training on Saturday, 6 April.
Sylvia Rivera
Throughout her life, Sylvia Rivera tirelessly advocated for the rights of marginalized communities, particularly transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. As a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance, she played a crucial role in the Stonewall uprising of 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ rights. Her activism extended beyond Stonewall, as she continued to fight for the inclusion and recognition of transgender people within the broader LGBTQ movement. Rivera’s Christian background deeply influenced her activism and advocacy work. Despite facing rejection and discrimination from some religious institutions, she remained steadfast in her faith and saw her identity as both a transgender woman and a Christian as integral parts of her identity. Her belief in the fundamental principles of love, compassion, and social justice guided her activism and inspired countless others to join the fight for equality. Throughout her life, Rivera faced numerous challenges, including homelessness, poverty, and discrimination. Despite these obstacles, she remained dedicated to her activism until her passing in 2002. Today, Sylvia Rivera’s legacy lives on as a beacon of hope and resilience for the LGBTQ community and beyond. Her unwavering commitment to justice and equality continues to inspire individuals and movements worldwide, reminding us all of the power of courage, perseverance, and faith in the pursuit of a more just and inclusive world.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_RiveraSylvia Rivera – Wikipedia
Come to church this weekend for birthday and anniversary blessings!
April Birthdays
3 Holly D
5 Bob Shaw
7 Rachael O
16 Aviva F
17 Jeffrey G
18 Freda P
19 Dominic K
24 Sarah A-W
25 Alan A
28 Ian D
April Anniversaries
29 Jim G & Zenaida C
Lectionary readings for this week: Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-31, Psalm 133
Lectionary readings for next week: Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48, Psalm 4
Please continue in your daily prayers for: Lou, Bob, Sandy, Joe, Jackie, Chrissy, Harry, Cheryll, Cecilia, Donna, Bud, Andrea
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.
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
