ST. THOMAS LIFELINES. Dear St. Thomas Family,

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1 ST. THOMAS LIFELINES VOLUME 24, NO. 8 AUGUST 2017 Dear St. Thomas Family, I hope you are all having a good summer, and finding ways to relax and recreate. I have had some travel time and some down time, and I have had some time to think about our common life as a parish. I hope that you have found our time together over these last eight months to be enjoyable and beneficial as I have. My arrival as rector, and part-time at that, is different for you as it is for me. I think it is going pretty well, and I hope you think so, too. I am always willing to find time to talk about any concerns, needs or suggestions. When I arrived at St. Thomas back at the end of November, it was the first Sunday of Advent, and I did my best to adjust to the traditions of the parish while at the same time finishing up a semester with my weekday job at the Governor s school. The rest of the season was pretty busy as well, moving through the Christmas season, Epiphany, and on to the season of Lent. I was amazed during Lent how well the wonderful traditions of St. Thomas were expressed, beginning with Ash Wednesday, which brought me back around to my first experience with you, exactly (at least liturgically) a year earlier. Lent was amazing, I enjoyed our extra time together, considering our Christian faith, through the lens of the Five Marks of Love/Mission. Then on to Holy Week and Easter, and the next thing we know, it s summer. Many of us have been traveling, or hosting visitors, or at least taking it easy this summer. As August comes, so comes the beginning of a new school year, which somehow corresponds roughly to a new program year for the church. This means it is time to start planning such things as Christian Formation, Worship, Outreach, and Stewardship for the coming year. In the near future, you will be invited to help plan and to participate in these programs. Enjoy the rest of your summer, but also take a bit of time to consider how you might serve St. Thomas after summer is through. I think we have a great future ahead of us. Your Vestry and I look forward to advancing the ministry and mission of our parish to new heights and to the Glory of God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Yours in Christ, Mark PS. As many of you know, I recently started a new job as Assistant Professor at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. As a result, my weekly schedule is changing a bit. Starting August 9th, I am going to move the weekday Eucharist back to 10:00 AM on Wednesdays (in agreement with the sign in front of the church). I will continue to come in on Thursdays (4:30-6:30) as well. O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~Prayers, BCP page 825

2 ST. THOMAS LIFELINES A UGUST 2017 PAGE 2 How Does Our Garden Grow? GLEANING COMMITTEE COMMUNITY GARDEN The Community Garden set up by the Gleaning committee is doing very well. The green beans are climbing, the tomatoes are growing, and there have been several squash harvested already! To learn more about the community garden, talk Joel Hagen or any of the Gleaning committee members. The summer backyard bible study continues this month on the 9th and 23rd at the home of Charlie & Lynn Straub, 1917 Mud Pike Rd, Christiansburg. Bring a dish to share and then join in the lively bible study following the potluck! The August summer supper will also be hosted by Charlie & Lynn Straub. It will be Sunday, August 23rd. Bring a dish to share and enjoy the summer evening with the St. Thomas family! Macaroni & Cheese From the Pledge Custodian Jenny Stalvey Pledge contributions are at 94% through June 30th! Thank you to every one of you for keeping up with your pledge contributions. It helps us keep the church running without any gaps. Mid-year pledge statements were sent out at the end of July. If you have any questions or concerns about your statement, please feel free to contact me at jenny@muggl .net or You can also reach me at the church office, mystthomasoffice@yahoo.com or Thanks to all who contribute to the ministry and maintenance of St. Thomas! A Thank You Mary Stuart and her family wish to thank everyone for their prayers and presence, hugs, cards, food, and love during this month. Surely our Church Family knows the power of God s love, expressed through us all, to all of us. Mary Stuart St. Thomas' Chapter of the Daughters of the King will meet on Thursday, August 10th, at 10:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. We welcome new members! For more details call Mary Stuart Cosby ( ) or Kathy Pollard ( ). 1 (8oz.) pkg. macaroni, cooked, drained 1 (12oz.) can evaporated milk 1-1/2 c. milk 1 t. salt 1 c. medium cheddar cheese, grated 2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated 2 eggs, beaten Pepper to taste Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced (optional) Coat slow cooker liner with non stick spray. Combine all ingredients, stirring well. Pour into cooker. Place think slices of cheese on top, if desired. Set cooker on low and cook for 3-1/2 hours, without stirring. Makes 6 servings. Submitted to the St. Thomas cookbook, The Cooks Behind the Red Doors, by Nancy Miller. Check out the cookbook in the library upstairs in the parish hall. There will be no Open Heart Yoga practices during the month of August. Practices will resume Thursday, September 7th. If you would like to learn more about Open Heart Yoga, contact Jennifer Miller our Open Heart Yoga leader.

3 AUGUST 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 3 AREA OF SERVICE SERVERS FOR AUGUST 2017 AUGUST 6 AUGUST 13 AUGUST 20 AUGUST 27 Acolyte Uche Okoronkwo Cameron Graham Akan Ndem Crucifer Amara Okoronkwo Casey Graham Dara Ndem Altar Guild Gail Leist Bev Moulse Judy Koland Altar Guild Member Judy Koland Altar Guild Member Kathy Pollard Lynn Straub Announcements Ann Alexander Lora Beeken Farrell Doss Scott Farmer Chalice Bearer Carol Cummings Bill Kennan Jacquie Graham Mark Priest Cleaning Crews Betty & Bill Kennan Lora Beeken Danielle Bland Cindy Burnette Jennifer & Mark Miller Carol & Royal Cummings Gail Leist Coffee Hour Lora Beeken Judy Nichols Cynthia Berthold Barbara Piersol Lay Reader Joel Hagen Bridget Miller Mark Priest Ogechi Okoronkwo Nursery Sarah Farmer Marie Painter Natalie Miller Ogechi Okoronkwo Macaela Richmeier Kelly Stalvey Amara Okoronkwo Uche Okoronkwo Ushers Bev & Greg Moulse Mark Miller Judy Nichols Seth Richmeier Jeff Pasciak Gwynn Polidoro Sarah Farmer Scott Farmer BIRTHDAYS 2 Bayne Sandridge Kelly Stalvey 6 Carol Cummings 8 Mollie Straub 14 Royal Cummings 17 Cynthia Berthold 19 Janet Webster 24 Bridget Miller 28 Taylor Webster ANNIVERSARIES 8 Graham & 12 Gail & Harvey Leist 14 Gwynn & Roger Polidoro And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14 September signup sheets are currently available for signups. The last day to sign up to serve in September is Tuesday, August 22nd. Here s where to sign up: The first Sunday of every month is designated as FOOD BANK SUNDAY. The next collection date is Sunday, August 6th. Help us fill the basket in the narthex with non-perishable food items! Remember to bring in fruit cups and granola bars for the Backpack Program! EMPTIES 4 CASH Remember to bring in your used inkjet cartridges and put them in the box in the parish hall. A great way to get rid of used cartridges and raise a couple dollars for St. Thomas!

4 AUGUST 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 4 August 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Rev. Mark s Office Hours are Thursdays 4:30 6: pm Holy Eucharist The Transfiguration of Our Lord Hospitality and Food Bank Sunday 10 am Morning Prayer 11:15 am Fellowship & Refreshments pm Backyard Bible Study 10 10:15 am Daughters of the King 1 pm Watercolor Class The 10th Sunday after Pentecost The 11th Sunday after Pentecost Loose plate offering for Discretionary Fund 12 pm Vestry pm Backyard Bible Study pm Summer Supper at the Straub s 27 The 12th Sunday after Pentecost

5 St. Thomas Episcopal Church 103 East Main St. Christiansburg, VA