St. Thomas. Reflections from our Rector: Rooted in the Liturgy that sustains us and inspires us to be Christ in our community and the world.

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1 St. Thomas Episcopal Church News Volume 5, Issue 11 November 2017 ALL ARE WELCOME! Reflections from our Rector: It was just last March that we were looking at my coming sabbatical time January through March 2018 and anticipating what St. Thomas would be doing while I am renewing my central spiritual practice (belly dance). And now January is just around the corner. Soon it will be time for the excitement to begin! Our Lilly Foundation grant for clergy renewal provides an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God's life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry. An integral part of that renewal is also strengthening [those pastors ] congregations through renewal and reflection that will deepen and enrich the lives of the members. (quote from the Lilly Foundation Grant Description) Here s a reminder of what we said this spring that St. Thomas would do. St. Thomas members will continue their work from Lent of this year, exploring their spirituality. Walt Seeley, an Episcopal priest from Kemmerer, will be leading the congregation in its work to be more intentional about spiritual life as the source of ministry and worship, continuing to ask the focus questions from Lent: What is spirituality to me? How can I integrate my spirituality into everything I do? How do I learn to be comfortable talking to others about my spirituality? How can I deepen my spiritual life individually and in community? St. Thomas will have weekly Conversations over the 12-week period, during which each of our local denominations (Lutheran, Catholic, Mormon, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Non-Denominational) will be invited to visit and share their spiritual practices with us. We will also learn how our Episcopal indigenous neighbors on the Wind River Reservation (Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone) consider and practice their spirituality. As congregation members also belong to secular organizations, all will be invited to inject the above questions into those structures Boys and Girls Club, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, as well as some groups formed for this purpose: poetry, Bible Study, hiking, etc. to explore how our secular work comes from our spiritual hearts. During the 12 weeks participants will record their responses for a Spiritual Practice Book that will be developed for that purpose. An easy-to-complete form will be prepared that allows participants to document their revelations: what they learn, internalize and have been awed by God Moments to be forever shared. After my return we will celebrate our reunion and share what we ve learned. We are blessed to have this opportunity to strengthen our faith and to see God working in our own lives and in the world. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Melinda+ Rooted in the Liturgy that sustains us and inspires us to be Christ in our community and the world. 1

2 2 St. Thomas Episcopal Church P.O. Box S. 1st ST Dubois, WY Phone: stthomas.wy@gmail.com The Rev. Melinda Bobo Rector Randy Lahr Senior Warden John McPhail Junior Warden Bicyclist/Hiker Ministry Coordinator Twila Blakeman Treasurer Sandy Lahr Clerk Carol Petera Vestry Member Mandy Rose Vestry Member Ram Packs Coordinator Julia Royall Vestry Member Farmers Market Chair Lary Treanor Vestry Member Connie Ticknor Office Manager Jake Isaly Community Garden Manager Sheryl Isaly Food Bank Manager Cindy Lewis Pianist Sue Bodar Choir Director Sunday: St. Thomas Services 10 am - Holy Eucharist, Sanctuary 2 pm - Holy Eucharist, Wednesday: 5:30 pm - Evening Prayer, Sanctuary Wednesday, November 1: 5:30 pm - All Saints Day Evening Prayer, Sanctuary Sunday, November 19: 10 am - Thanksgiving Sunday, Sanctuary followed by Thanksgiving Brunch in Community Room Thursday, November 23: 1 pm - Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by Christ for the Community ecumenical group at Mountain Grace Church Church Office Hours Tuesday - Friday 9 am - noon, 1:30 pm - 4 pm or by appointment Rector s Office Hours by appointment Please remember to keep your pledge up-todate so that St. Thomas can continue our work and worship. If you have not pledged but would like to, please contact Connie at or stop by the office for a pledge card.

3 Vestry Doings The stone rebuilding project in the back of the Stewart House has been completed. It should protect the building for years to come. Also completed is the flooring replacement for the Food Bank Area of the Stewart House and for the Coffee Room kitchen. All areas of the building used for the Food Bank or food storage now have a moppable surface, which is a requirement of Wyoming Department of Agriculture, the state agency that inspects food banks. New shelves and new appliances have also been installed in the Food Bank area, securing a bright future for our Food Bank. The vestry looked at a different way of surveying congregation members this year. They approved a Mad Lib to be sent out with the pledge cards this year, and they think it will be a fun, novel way to get some feedback about what our members are grateful for, and suggestions on how to use the resources of people and money that we are blessed with. The stewardship committee is contacting members now, and then it will be time to start work on the 2018 budget. The vestry also approved the Opportunity Shop fall grants totaling $13, to the Boys & Girls Club, D.A.R.T., Dubois Chamber of Commerce, Headwaters Arts & Conference Center, High Country Senior Center, Kiwanis, Needs of Dubois (NOD), Town of Dubois, and Warm Valley Lodge. Congratulations to those organizations! Christmas Ministries It s time once again to support St. Thomas ministries that strive to honor Jesus at the anniversary of his birth. St. Thomas Community Food Bank will be filling the Christmas Food Boxes Friday, December 22. Volunteers will begin organizing the donated food in the Community Room at 3 pm and pack it in boxes to be picked up Saturday, December 23 from 10 am to 1 pm. It is also Chrismoose Toy Time, which Jennet Ballinger is coordinating this year. Each year parents are invited to submit a form through the Food Bank with their child s age and gender and a Christmas Wish List. These become ornaments on small trees at The Perch Coffee House and Coyote Blue Coffee House. Ornaments with children s suggestions are signed out to a willing shopper. Shopper and child remain anonymous. Shoppers purchase the items on the child s list and bring the unwrapped gifts to St. Thomas by Tuesday, December 19. Parents are called to come and pick up the items chosen from their child s list. Any ornament not taken is shopped for from St. Thomas Outreach funds in the last week. Last year 62 children were served, and every ornament was taken. Well done, Dubois! Please volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army this Christmas. Last year the bell ringers for the Salvation Army gathered over $3,000 in donations. These are funds that will stay in Dubois to meet the needs that arise here. Please call Mary Ellen Honsaker at if you are able to give even an hour of your time to help! 3

4 November 2017 Events, Services, Meetings Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 All Saints Sunday 10a Holy Eucharist 2p Holy Eucharist at 12 9:30a Choir practice 10a Holy Eucharist 2p Holy Eucharist at 19 9:30a Choir practice 10a Holy Eucharist followed by Thanksgiving Brunch 2p Holy Eucharist at 26 10a Holy Eucharist 2p Holy Eucharist at 6 7 6:45a Kiwanis 9:30a Bible Talk at :30a Bible Talk at 9:30a Food Bank Truck delivery 4:15 Kiwanis Board Mtg :45a Kiwanis 9:30a Bible Talk at :30a Bible Talk at 1 All Saints Day 5:30p All Saints Day Evening Prayer 8 4:30p Choir practice 5:30p Evening Prayer 15 4:30p Choir practice 5:30p Evening Prayer 22 5:30p Evening Prayer 29 4:30p Choir practice 5:30p Evening Prayer 2 10a Ram Packs 4:30-5:30p Farmers Market 9 10a Ram Packs 16 10a Ram Packs 4:30-5:30p Farmers Market 23 Thanksgiving 1p-Christ for the Community Thanksgiving dinner at Mountain Grace Church 30 4p Vestry Meeting p Packing of the Thanksgiving Food Boxes 10a-noon Food Bank in Stewart House 10a-noon Food Bank in Stewart House 18 10a-noon Food Bank in Stewart House 10a-1p Pick up Thanksgiving Food Boxes a-noon Food Bank in Stewart House 4

5 November 2017 Worship Ministries November 5 All Saints Sunday Lector Twila Blakeman Eucharistic Minister Dick Hodge Acolyte Sheryl Isaly Fellowship Julia Royall Altar Flowers Carol Petera Celebrant / Preacher Melinda Bobo November Pentecost Lector Jake Isaly Eucharistic Minister Sylvia Crouter Acolyte Mary Ellen Honsaker Fellowship Twila Blakeman Altar Flowers Cindy Lewis Celebrant / Preacher Melinda Bobo/ Mary Ellen Honsaker November Pentecost Lector Carol Petera Eucharistic Minister Sheryl Isaly Acolyte Sheryl Isaly Fellowship Thanksgiving Brunch Altar Flowers Worship Committee Celebrant / Preacher Melinda Bobo November 26 Christ the King Sunday/ Last Sunday after Pentecost Lector Lois Wingerson Eucharistic Minister Dick Hodge Acolyte Dalton Finley Fellowship St. Thomas Freezer Altar Flowers St. Thomas Plants Celebrant / Preacher Melinda Bobo 5

6 End-of-Year Cyclist/Hiker Report 460 cyclists and hikers found a welcoming respite at our church in The monthly count was: April/May - 20; June - 119; July - 149; August - 158; September/ October These numbers do not reflect the number of nights when a visitor opted to stay an extra night to rest, wait for mail, etc. This number is up substantially from 284 guests in 2016, and 53 in Visitors represented 36 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin (where are you, Wyoming?!); and Washington D.C. International visitors represented 18 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. The donations for 2017 totaled $1,683.56, of which $ has been transferred to the General Fund. Donations in 2016 were $587.28, and in 2015 they totaled $ Thanks to John McPhail, all the other volunteers, congregation members and community members for making our guests feel welcome and like they had a little bit of home away from home. It truly was a labor of love! Thanks also to the Duke Divinity School, which did a wonderful article on St. Thomas because of our hosting one of their faculty as he bicycled through Dubois last year. Some Notes from our Guests: Thank you for all of the hospitality. This place is the most welcoming place I have visited. It will also be my most memorable visit. I hope to return one day to the same community. Keep on! Jesse Dare (Arkansas cyclist) Why not? (Hike across the country... again.) Little lonely, little scary, VERY beautiful. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. It is appreciated. Beans (Meg Davis) from New Brunswick, N.J. Thank you very much for a lovely peaceful place to rest my weary head. Marc from United Kingdom A long and hungry stretch in the Winds. Now on to this lovely place. Thank you! China Rock Thank you for opening your doors to these smelly, weary travelers. We are incredibly thankful for the hospitality you have shown us. The last seven days have been some of our favorite all trail - glorious views and wildlife everywhere! Arende & Glimmer I don t know what I m looking for I m not sure where I m going The future s uncertain Nothing else matters 6 But I know it s worth looking for But I m not staying still But it s still gonna happen But the top of the hill Drew from Kentucky

7 Christ for the Community The churches of Dubois have formed a new ecumenical group, Christ for the Community. Its purpose is to bring all of the members of the Body of Christ together to do the work we have been given, to love and serve one another. We have already held a joint Pumpkin Party for Halloween and a Family Fun Night, both of which were well attended by families from the churches and the community as a whole. Our next event will be a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on November 23 at Mountain Grace Church at 1 pm. Please come and give thanks for everything God has given us, including the blessing of living in our wonderful town. And look for future Christ for the Community events. Did you know? You can support the Episcopal Suicide Prevention Connection when you shop on Amazon!.5% of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases will be donated to the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, all of which then goes to the Episcopal Suicide Prevention Connection. Just sign up with AmazonSmile! Visit for more information about how to get started. Click on Resources then choose AmazonSmile from the drop down menu. Information about the Episcopal Suicide Prevention Connection can also be found at Pilgrimage: Wyoming Clergy The Diocese of Wyoming offers pilgrimages (journeys for spiritual formation) on a three-year cycle: for Iona students and people in formation, for youth and lay people, and for clergy. This year Bishop Smylie is leading a clergy pilgrimage to Israel from November 27th through December 8th. I (Melinda) and 20 other Wyoming clergy will be walking in the footsteps of Jesus as pilgrims, journeying to a place to experience God s grace and light as we draw nearer to our Lord who is our source of great joy in The Holy Land. We will be visiting Bethlehem, Jesus birthplace; Nazareth, Jesus home town; Capernaum, where Jesus healed Peter s mother-in-law and the man lowered through the roof; Cana (the location of Jesus first miracle), Jacob s Well, where Jesus met the woman drawing water; Jericho, where Jesus healed the blind beggar; the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water; and Jerusalem, where Jesus died. We will renew our baptismal vows at the probable site of Jesus own baptism. And we will visit places that embody Jesus work: a Christian-run orphanage for abandoned children on the West Bank, St. Luke s Hospital in Nablus, and the International Center of Bethlehem, a Lutheran-based ecumenical institution serving the Palestinian community. Please pray for us as we travel and seek Christ in the places he lived and died. BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES NOVEMBER We remember St. Thomas member Deb Hitchcock and Dubois residents Bob Ransom, Bill Francis, Ron Johnson, and Eileen Nishwitz. May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Boyd Livingston November 2 Please call the church office at to add your name to our Birthday and Anniversary list! 7

8 St. Thomas Episcopal Church P.O. Box 735 Dubois, WY Hello Parishioners, Diocesan Convention Thank You Words elude me right now. I have received many compliments and much praise for a wonderful convention. I just smile and say, The people of the different committees and churches made the convention great. I cannot take credit. Without everyone s help and support, the convention could not have been successful as it was. When I saw all of the doings at the convention, i.e. serving food, passing out cookies, clearing the tables, and registering people, members of the churches were doing their jobs and doing them well. I will never forget this convention nor the support of each congregation. Thank you all for making me look so good, but truly, the convention and successes were all yours. Blessings to all of you, Marcy Tepper Convention Chair Wind River Deanery, Trinity Episcopal Church, Lander, WY 8