ST. THOMAS LIFELINES VOLUME 24, NO. 11 NOVEMBER 2017

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1 ST. THOMAS LIFELINES VOLUME 24, NO. 11 NOVEMBER 2017 Dear St. Thomas Family, Oh my, how can it possibly be November already? I guess it is starting to feel like that time of the year, now that the mornings are almost cold and the leaves are well on the way to leaving the trees bare. This time of the year, most of us are well into the routine of the regular (i.e. non-summer) part of the year, and not quite into the frenzy of the holiday season but that time is coming near. As you read through this newsletter, you will see that there are quite a few special events happening in the life of our parish. Sunday, November 5 is All Saint s Sunday, when we remember the lives of those who have gone before us in the Christian faith, and those who create for us a great cloud of witnesses. Some of these saints are shared with all Christians through the ages, and some are known only to us and maybe a few loved ones, but they are all saints! All Saints Sunday will also mark the start of our fall stewardship campaign and pledge cards will be distributed. Don t worry, if you aren t with us, we will mail yours to you J! I hope you will take this opportunity to support the ongoing ministry of our parish and her members. A bit later in the month November 19 we will gather the offerings we have made in gratitude for the United Thank Offering. If you haven t started dropping coins into your blue box (or maybe white box), it is not too late! These offerings go to fund local ministry projects throughout the Episcopal Church. And then there is Thanksgiving Day, which we probably observe mainly with family and friends, but of course is a truly holy day and national holiday, set apart to give thanks for the bounty of the earth and of our nation. Among holidays, it is unique in that it does not correspond specifically to the birthday of a famous person or the anniversary of a specific event. It is more about an attitude and an important habit of the heart. Of course we should be thankful always and everywhere, but it is good to be really intentional about it at least once a year. I realize now that the vestry of St. Thomas blessed me by conspiring to make my start date as rector during Thanksgiving Day weekend. Indeed, I am most grateful to be your rector. I have been blessed, and each member of my family has been blessed, to be among you and to become part of this parish family. As we look forward to a new year together, may we with thankful and joyful hearts strive to discern and follow the path that our Lord intends for us to travel along! In Christ, Mark A collect for Thanksgiving Day Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of our great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. ~BCP p. 246

2 NOVEMBER 2017 S T. T H O MA S LIFEL IN E S PAGE 2 Gleaning News Thanks for your generous support of MCEAP!! Food Bank Sunday, October 1 collection totaled 95 items. Backpack collection for the month of October: 10 Fruit Packs, 14 Granola Bars. The first Sunday of the month is designated for food bank collection, but feel free to donate granola bars and fruit cups to the Backpack container located in parish hall anytime. The Gleaning Committee will organize and deliver Thanksgiving dinner boxes to Christiansburg Primary/ Elementary schools again this year. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make your check out to St. Thomas, and stipulate that it is for Thanksgiving Backpack Program. The UTO Ingathering is Sunday, Nov. 19th Count the blessings in your little blue box and send in a check for the amount to go to UTO. Make your checks out to St. Thomas and mark UTO on the memo line. Bishop Mark Bourlakas will be visiting us on February 18th next year. If you would like to be confirmed or received into the church, please contact Fr. Mark. Christmas Store Collection We'll be collecting fruit, peanut butter, and personal care item (shampoo, shaving cream, & hand cream) during the next several weeks for the Montgomery County Christmas Store. The store will be open December 5-9. There is a particular need for canned fruit this year. Please give generously to help those less fortunate. Fall Youth Event (FYE17) This year s FYE is November 17th-19th at Camp Bethel in Fincastle. All students from 8th grade to seniors are welcome to attend! Registration costs $90. Join the Youth Mission Team (YMT) as they facilitate this event. Created by the youth for the youth! SEE YOU THERE! Register online here: If I could turn back time! Well, you can! Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 5th. Remember to set your clocks back one hour! Safeguarding God s Children Safeguarding God's Children, required training for volunteers and staff working with children and youth in church settings will be offered on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 from 11:30-2:30 at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1 Mountain Ave., SW, Roanoke, VA. This session is open to anyone needing the training and to parents interested in learning how the Episcopal Church works to prevent Child Sexual Abuse. There is no cost but bring a sandwich or snack. To register, contact Meredith Harper at St. John's at mharper@stjohnsroanoke.org or call The education committee will meet Sunday, Nov. 5th, following fellowship time. Anyone interested in serving in this ministry is welcome to attend. Advent Quiet Day Save the Date! The Annual Advent Quiet Day, sponsored by the Daughters of the King, will be held this year on Saturday, December 9th. Look for more information in the announcements and December Lifelines. Marilyn s Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole 1/2 c. cream or milk 1/2 t. cinnamon 2 eggs 1/2 t. ginger 1/4 c. butter, melted 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 t. salt 1 can sweet potatoes Put all ingredients into blender except sweet potatoes. Put on cover and turn on high. Remove cover on hole in lid, and gradually add drained sweet potatoes. Blend until smooth. Pour into buttered 1 quart casserole. Bake a t325 for 45 minutes. Makes 4 to 5 servings. Submitted to the St. Thomas cookbook, The Cooks Behind the Red Doors, by Lora Beeken.

3 NOVEMBER 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 3 AREA OF SERVICE Servers for November NOVEMBER 5 NOVEMBER 12 NOVEMBER 19 NOVEBMER 26 Acolyte Akan Ndem Cameron Graham Crucifer Amara Okoronkwo Sara Stauffer Casey Graham Anna Frazier Altar Guild Lora Beeken Jacquie Graham Lora Beeken Jacquie Graham Gail Leist Bev Moulse Gail Leist Bev Moulse Announcements Ann Alexander Farrell Doss Jeff Pasciak Scott Farmer Chalice Bearer Judy Koland Mark Priest Carol Cummings Jacquie Graham Cleaning Crews Scott Farmer Mark Priest Farrell Doss David Jones Jennifer & Mark Miller Betty & Bill Kennan Coffee Hour Danielle Bland Lynn Straub Barbara Piersol Cynthia Berthold Lay Reader Joel Hagen Bill Kennan Ogechi Okoronkwo Amy Frazier Nursery Ogechi Okoronkwo Dara Ndem Marie Painter Macaela Richmeier Uche Okoronkwo Anna Frazier Kelly Stalvey Sarah Farmer Ushers Mark Priest Bev & Greg Moulse Scott Farmer Jeff Pasciak Francis & Janet Webster The first Sunday of every month is designated as FOOD BANK SUNDAY. Help us fill the basket in the narthex with nonperishable food items! 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 few dollars for St. Thomas! Signup sheets for the remainder of 2017 are posted on the website. The last day to sign up to serve in December is Wednesday, Nov. 22nd. Here s where to sign up: stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/ Birthdays 5 Jane Carper 15 Shirley Hallock 17 Jacquie Graham 21 Margaret Craft Donna Crick 23 Elise Greene 25 Bev Moulse Anniversaries 9 Jenny & Paul Stalvey 10 Emily & Jeff Pasciak VT Concession Stand Our fall fundraiser running the concession stand at Virginia Tech home football games through the fall is almost over! The remaining home game is Nov. 18, but the game time has not yet been published. We need volunteers to fill two shifts of eight people. You can sign up on our website or on the signup sheets on the parish hall doors. More information is on our website or you can contact Cindy Ptak or Jenny, the parish secretary. Did You Know You can find minutes from recent vestry meetings and a copy of the parish handbook on our website? Just click on Vestry under Parish Officers and Staff. Copies are also posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

4 NOVEMBER 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 4 November 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Rev. Mark s Office Hours are Thursdays 4:30 6: The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Hospitality & Food Bank Sunday 11:15 am Fellowship & Refreshments 11:45 am Education Committee Meeting :15 am Daughters of the King Fall back! Daylight Saving Time Ends. 12 The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost VT Concession Stand; Time TBA 19 The 24th Sunday after Pentecost Loose plate offering for Discretionary Fund UTO Ingathering 12 pm Vestry 26 The Last Sunday after Pentecost

5 Scenes from our Parish Retreat! A beautiful fall day on October 15th! St. Thomas Episcopal Church 103 East Main St. Christiansburg, VA mysthomasoffice@yahoo.com