ST. THOMAS LIFELINES VOLUME 24, NO. 6 JUNE 2017 Dear St. Thomas Family, It seems like when I write these articles for Lifelines I am always commenting on the significance of whatever time of year it is. But this particular time seems to be really auspicious. Today is Pentecost (yes, I am the reason this issue of the newsletter is coming out after the first of the month) and a day to celebrate our parish and the church on the traditional day of its founding. Today we remembered that the mission of the church is to serve the community, and we gathered in our United Thank Offering boxes and Food Bank donations. Attendance was strong and the sea of red amongst the congregation was a spectacle to behold! This time of year is also the conclusion of the school year and the church program year. Unlike the conclusion of a calendar year, when one year ends and another begins the next day, there is the pause of summer. For those of you who are finishing an educational program it is a time to celebrate your accomplishment and it is a time of transition to the next chapter in your life. As a community, we congratulate and honor those among us who are celebrating such milestones in their lives. This is also a time when the earth in this part of the world is especially alive. The church gardens and the gardens that we may be tending at our homes have sprung to life and are ready to bear fruit. We hopefully have a bit of extra time during summer to tend to those gardens. In doing so, we commune with nature as we work God s earth to produce some of the food we eat that sustains us. One of the things that drew me to St. Thomas was your understanding of the connection between community and the tending to our garden/earth. Our parish is truly a family and our family is dependent on the earth that God has created and its fruits. I hope to participate this summer in seeing that the both of these gardens, our community of people and the land with its plants and other creatures are well tended to. I hope you will join me in this endeavor. The plants in a garden or the trees in a forest form an interrelationship that is central to the function of life in an ecosystem. One of my favorite examples of this is the redwood forests of the Pacific coast. These trees are well over a thousand years old and they are subject to great storms and winds. Their roots, though, only extend a few feet deep, but they extend out laterally fifty feet or more. Instead of digging in deep and rooting only themselves in, they reach out and intertwine their roots with their neighboring trees. More, the roots of these trees encourage the development of complex communities of organisms that enrich the soil of the forest. The canopies of the trees provide habitat for birds, mammals, insects, and other plants, making the trees themselves keystone organisms in the ecosystem. My hope for this congregation this summer and moving further into the year is that we grow to be like the redwoods and develop in our interdependence with each other and the community around us. I pray we pay attention to the needs and concerns of those among us and those whom we encounter, to lend assistance where it is needed and to further God s Kingdom here in this season. Have a blessed summer! Mark
ST. THOMAS LIFELINES J UNE 2017 Rachel Caroline Earp has graduated with the Class of 2017 from Christiansburg High School. She will return to CHS next year as a post grad and continue her work with the Community Based Instruction program. This program allows her to participate in job training experiences within the school and out in the community. Her dad and mom, Jim and Laura, and her brother, Andrew, are very proud of her! Kelly Graduated from Radford University on May 6, 2017. She Graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance. Kelly plans to continue to teach dance at Holli s Academy of Dance in Christiansburg and looks forward to what the future holds. PAGE 2 Chichi Okoronkwo is a 2017 graduate of Christiansburg High School. She has excelled academically and has taken 6 Dual Enrollment classes in conjunction with New River Community College. Chichi plays track and field and volleyball. She was the All State 4x400 relay. She lettered in volleyball three years and lettered in Track and Field one year. Chichi was involved in the mentor program, was a member of Help the Next Girl Door, Demons for Sheltered Animals, HOSA and Journalism Club. Chichi plans to attend University of Mary Washington and major in Psychology. Chris Hagen graduated (M.D.) from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University on May 13. Together with his wife, Tricia, he will be moving to Klamath Falls, Oregon where he will begin a residency in family medicine. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:7-11 Artist in Residence All are welcome to come to view the artwork of Irma Guy Pillsbury shown at the Christiansburg library throughout the month of June. Looking for a fun way to exercise? Try the summer adult tap class taught by Kelly Stalvey at Holli's Academy of Dance. The class is held every Wednesday night through June, July, and August (starting June 14th). The cost is $25/week or $75/ month. All levels, from beginner to old hat, are welcome! For more information, contact Kelly Stalvey (kstalvey@radford.edu) or Holli Mayberry (holli@hollidance.com). Family Night a Great Success! On Friday evening June 2nd about 30 St. Thomas parishioners of all ages gathered together for fellowship, food, and fun! We enjoyed dressing up in crazy costumes and taking photos, playing games and learning more about our church. This is definitely an event that will be repeated, and thanks to everyone who participated to make it a success!
JUNE 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 4 A letter from Jon Greene to my brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Thomas About a year and a half ago, I began the process of discernment to become a deacon in the Church. After a series of interviews, filling out countless forms, and being tested, poked and prodded, I was accepted as a postulant for the diaconate and started Deacon School last July. Deacon School is NOT seminary, but it is a rigorous, challenging and amazing opportunity for me. We spend one weekend a quarter together and in between we have a lot of reading and writing assignments. To date, we have completed four weekends: an orientation, a Bible weekend (in addition to other reading, we had to read and journal on the entire Bible prior to that), a theology weekend and, most recently, a homiletics (preaching) weekend. We have five more ahead of us covering Church history, human awareness and understanding, pastoral care and ethics, liturgy and finally the presentation of our capstone projects in July of next year. One of the things that I didn t really understand when I started was what exactly a deacon is supposed to do. I was aware of the deacon s liturgical role: reading the gospel, preaching sometimes, leading the prayers of the people, setting the table and dismissing the congregation. What I didn t know was that the deacon s role is primarily outward facing, bringing the concerns and needs of the world to the Church and empowering and encouraging (not necessarily leading) the Church into ministry that addresses those concerns and needs. On reflection I believe that this is EXACTLY what the Church needs to be doing today and very much what I have been doing in my professional life and it now makes more sense why I have been called to this ministry. My journey to where I am today started far longer than a year and a half ago and I want to express my profound gratitude for your role in it. The Vestry, and many of you personally, have provided very much appreciated financial support (it s far more expensive than I had assumed!), but, even more importantly, you have prayed for me along the path and showed me what it means to be Christ in community. I have learned so much from you and hope to continue to learn more. You may have noticed that I haven t been around that much lately, between Deacon School and required parish visits and the occasional weekend trip, I ve been gone a lot. We have also been advised to begin backing out of our involvement in our home parish. This is because in July, we start our internship. My assignment isn t finalized yet, but it will be another parish within about an hour s drive. This is a yearlong effort in which we are required to attend services on Sunday, preach a few times, do a parish assessment, a few other small tasks and then do a capstone project on starting or growing an outreach ministry. We present our capstone project in July 2018 at our last Deacon School meeting. The three of us going through the process in DioSWVA are very much guinea pigs and there has been very little certainty in any of this, but the plan TODAY is that the three of us would return to our home parish two Sundays a month and then spend a couple of weekends a month missionally serving those parishes without a priest. So, hopefully, that means in July of 2018 I will return to St. Thomas and then, God willing, my classmates and I would look to be ordained sometime in the fall of 2018. All that being said, after ordination I will serve at the discretion of the Bishop and could end up doing any number of things. Thank you again, for all you have done to support me so far. While I will not be around, St. Thomas will never be far from my heart and will remain in my prayers in the coming month, please keep me in yours. BACKPACK PROGRAM We will continue to collect fruit cups and granola bars throughout the summer to benefit children in the area who are in need. Look for the donation box in the parish hall. 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! Check out our sign! It has been repaired and repainted and looks great. Many thanks to Charlie Straub for heading up this endeavor!
JUNE 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 3 AREA OF SERVICE JUNE 4 PENTECOST SERVERS FOR JUNE 2017 JUNE 11 JUNE 18 JUNE 25 MORNING PRAYER Acolyte Casey Graham Natalie Miller Ogechi Okoronkwo Crucifer Anna Frazier Bridget Miller Amara Okoronkwo Sara Stauffer Altar Guild Gail Leist Bev Moulse Gail Leist Bev Moulse Judy Koland Altar Guild Member Judy Koland Altar Guild Member Announcements Bob Stone Ann Alexander Lora Beeken Farrell Doss Chalice Bearer Joel Hagen Mark Priest Carol Cummings Cleaning Crews Farrell Doss David Jones Betty & Bill Kennan Lora Beeken Danielle Bland Cindy Burnette Jennifer & Mark Miller Coffee Hour Danielle Bland Carol & Royal Cummings Jane Carper Cindy Stone Lay Reader Bridget Miller Jennifer Miller Amy Frazier Joel Hagen Nursery Natalie Miller Sara Stauffer Marie Painter Sara Stauffer Chichi Okoronkwo Dara Ndem Jenny Stalvey Kelly Stalvey Ushers Mark Priest Natalie Teel Mark Miller Judy Nichols Seth Richmeier Francis & Janet Webster Jeff Pasciak Gwynn Polidoro BIRTHDAYS 2 David Jones Mark Priest 6 Evelyn Frazier 9 Tristan McCarthy 10 Emily Pasciak 11 Matthew Pollard 15 Dara Ndem Bob Stone 16 Harvey Leist 22 Jon Greene Amy Williams 24 Katie Priest 25 David Oliver 26 Thomas Bland 30 Sam Okoronkwo Barbara Piersol ANNIVERSARIES 12 Ann & Michael Alexander 24 Charlie & Lynn Straub Father Mark will be on vacation from June 21st through July 10th. He can be contacted by email at frazimw9@gmail.com or by phone 276-791-3175. The first Sunday of every month is designated as FOOD BANK SUNDAY. We collected 48 items in April! The next collection date is Sunday, June 4th. Help us fill the basket in the narthex with non-perishable food items! July, August, and September signup sheets are currently available for signups. The last day to sign up to serve in July is Tuesday, June 20th. Here s where to sign up: http://stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/ OR http://stthomas.ivolunteer.com/#2 Nursery Volunteers Needed We have a great group of kids who join us every Sunday in the nursery. But we need your help! We are still looking for nursery workers ages 18 and over to help out with this bunch of cuties on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in serving in this fun and important ministry, please contact Kelly Stalvey (kstalvey@email.radford.edu) or contact the parish secretary.
JUNE 2017 S T. T H O M A S L I F EL I N E S PAGE 4 JUNE 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Rev. Mark s Office Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30 6:30 1 1 pm Watercolor Class 6:30 pm Open Heart Yoga 2 5:30 8:30 pm Family Fun Night 3 4 The Day of Pentecost Hospitality and Food Bank Sunday 10 am Holy Eucharist 11:15 am Fellowship & Refreshments Bring in your UTO boxes! 5 6 5 pm Holy Eucharist Healing Service 7 (PH) 8 10:15 am Daughters of the King 1 pm Watercolor Class 6:30 pm Open Heart Yoga 9 10 11 The 1st Sunday after Pentecost Trinity Sunday 12 13 14 (PH) 15 1:30 pm Watercolor Class 16 17 10 am Holy Eucharist 11:15 am Coffee Hour 18 The 2nd Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Holy Eucharist Loose plate offering for Discretionary Fund 11:15 am Coffee Hour 19 20 5 pm Holy Eucharist Healing Service 21 (PH) 22 1:30 pm Watercolor Class 23 24 25 The 3rd Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Morning Prayer 11:15 am Coffee Hour 26 27 5 pm Holy Eucharist Healing Service 28 (PH) 29 1:30 pm Watercolor Class 6:30 pm Open Heart Yoga 30
Fruit Dip 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1 (8 oz.) pkg. yogurt, any flavor Mix cream cheese and yogurt with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Refrigerate. Serve with assorted fresh fruits. Note: For extra zing, add a little lemon or lime juice. UNITED THANK OFFERING Spring Ingathering Thank you everyone who turned in a blue box for the Spring In-gathering! Look for an update on the collection in next month s issue of Lifelines! -Lynn Ross Straub, The Cooks Behind the Red Doors St. Thomas Episcopal Church 103 East Main St. Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-382-4365 mysthomasoffice@yahoo.com http://www.stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/