St. Thomas Episcopal Berea Parish Notices and Prayer of the Day

Notices & Upcoming Events

A St. Thomas Prayer

Please say this prayer at 8:00 each morning throughout the year. We will all be lifting our hearts to God to fulfill our mission to bring the love of Christ into the world.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we ask that you be with us as we enter this season of Lent. Please give us the courage to acknowledge and humbly repent our sins. We pray that through our daily prayer and fasting we can understand more fully the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Amen.

by Gale Mette

If you are passionate about prayer, click here.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Weekly Schedule

St. Thomas Exchange Corner (If you have something to sell or exchange, you can do it through the Exchange Corner and please donate 10% of your sale to assist St. Thomas with its many charitable programs.)

Gifting Back, the St. Thomas Gift Card Program

PRAYING WITH THE LENTEN SCRIPTURES

Week 3: Luke 13:1-3

“At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.’”

Reflection:
It was common wisdom in Jesus’ day that people suffered for their sins or the sins of their parents. Jesus said no to this, that God is not the immediate cause of every event. This allowed for human freedom. But Jesus did not want his followers to take anything for granted. Jesus called on his followers to repent and be ready to stand before God. Jesus wanted them to live lives that would leave them unafraid of God’s judgment.

Prayer Suggestions:
Each day, take some time to read this passage and be silent.

Reflect on tragedy. Who do you blame when something bad happens in your life or in the world? What role does God play in tragedy? What role do people play? Choose a tragic situation in the world today and hold the people involved in your prayer.
Imagine yourself standing before God and making an accounting of your life. What are you proud to offer God? Of what are you ashamed? What does God suggest to you about repentance in your life? How will you respond?

Notices (last updated on February 26, 2010)

Lent at St. Thomas 2010 (updated 02/19/10)
DAUGHTERS OF THE KING PRAYER BREAKFAST - St. Thomas Daughters of the King will host a prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 13. Special guest will be Sr. Juanita Shealey of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Here's an opportunity to spend a couple of hours in prayer and reflection during this Lenten season. Everyone is invited to attend. There is no cost. A light breakfast will be served.
LENTEN STUDY SERIES – Our Lenten study series is titled The Practice of Peacemaking. For three weeks on Sunday night we will explore roadblocks to peace, leaders who have overcome those roadblocks, and what we can do personally to promote peace in our lives and in our world. The programs will be led by Gayle and Ruth Ihde. Make this a part of your Lenten discipline. Potluck supper & discussion at 6 pm – Sunday 28 and March 14.
GOSPEL STORYTELLING – Come hear the Gospel come alive as storyteller and Lutheran pastor Jim Kulma explores the Gospel of Mark’s passion narratives as story. Potluck and discussion follows the 5:30 service on Saturday, March 6. You don’t want to miss this!!
STATIONS OF THE CROSS – Each Friday during lent at 12:00 pm. A sign-up sheet is posted if you would like to take part in Stations of the Cross as a cross bearer, reader or leader.
VESTRY RETREAT – Our vestry will be on retreat this weekend. Please keep them in your prayers as they plan for the coming year.
DEVONSHIRE TEA - Thank you to everyone who helped to make this year’s tea a tremendous success! The ECW outdoes itself each year!!
CONFIRMATION CLASS – Sunday 28 at 1:00 – “What is an Episcopalian?”
STAR CONCERT & LUNCHEON – Wednesday, March 3 at 12:15 pm. String musicians from the BW Conservatory, followed by beef stew, mashed potatoes, biscuits and desserts!!
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING – Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00 pm.
RECYCLE YOUR OLD OR UNNEEDED CDS AND DVDS - During Lent, you can bring any old or unneeded CD or DVD (all types of discs, including plastic cases and paper inserts) to St. Thomas and it will be sent away for recycling. Look for a box labeled "Recycle CDs Here". For questions, contact Laura D'Amato.
CALLING ALL KNITTERS – Rosemarie Brokenshire is starting a knitting fellowship group: Knit, Purl & Praise, at her home in Avon. All skill levels are welcome! If interested, contact Rosemarie. The first meeting will be Tuesday, March 9 at 10:00 am.
SOUPER FEBRUARY – February is soup month at St Thomas! Please bring cans of soup each Sunday in February for a super, SOUPER MONTH!!
CLAY POTS This is the third year for the Clay Pots program. During Lent, we will have clay pots available for you to put all your loose change in every week. The clay pots signify that we are the clay and God is the potter who shapes us just as a potter shapes clay. (See Isaiah 64:8). The money from the clay pots will be put toward one of our ministries here at St. Thomas, traditionally Outreach or In-reach and perhaps global outreach.
PENNIES FOR MALAWI - DOK continues to seek donations for "Pennies for Malawi." Although in the past, donations went strictly to Malawi, the global missions organization to which we donate is now doing work throughout the nations of Africa. If you'd like to donate your spare pennies, you may do so by placing it in the large "Pennies for Malawi" jar in the vestibule of the church, right beneath the icon of Julian of Norwich.
PS CORNER - This is your last PS Test and last chance to help St Thomas improve its PS survey results. Next week you will be asked to take the actual NCD Survey. If you have scored lower than St Thomas needs to realize a positive change, have you looked for ways to improve your scores? We need your support! Remember, it is your actions and responses that ultimately determine our weaknesses and strengths. Here is this week’s test: Can you answer “to a very great extent” or “to a great extent” to these next three questions? If you need any support, St Thomas is here for you.

Times of prayer are an inspiring experience for me.
I enjoy reading the Bible on my own.
There is a lot of joy and laughter in our church.

If you are interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, please contact The Reverend Gayle Catinella.

[Top of page]