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

ST. THOMAS’ LIFELINES AUGUST 2017 PAGE 2

Macaroni & Cheese

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.

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

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.

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@mugglemail.net or 540-818-5705. You can also reach me at the church office, mystthomasoffice@yahoo.com or 540-382-4365.

Thanks to all who contribute to the ministry and maintenance of St. Thomas!

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 Cos-by (381-0374) or Kathy Pol-lard (381-0941).

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!

ST. THOMAS’ LIFELINES AUGUST 2017 PAGE 3

AREA OF SERVICE

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

Liz Swinfen

Coffee Hour Liz Swinfen 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

SERVERS FOR AUGUST 2017

BIRTHDAYS 2 Bayne Sandridge

Kelly Stalvey

Liz Swinfen

6 Carol Cummings

8 Mollie Straub 14 Royal Cummings

17 Cynthia Berthold

19 Janet Webster

24 Bridget Miller

28 Taylor Webster

ANNIVERSARIES

8 Graham & Liz Swinfen

12 Gail & Harvey Leist

14 Gwynn & Roger Polidoro

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!

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: http://stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/

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!

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:14

ST. THOMAS’ LIFELINES PAGE 4 AUGUST 2017

Sun

M

on Tu

e W

ed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Rev. M

ark ‘s O

ffic

e H

ours are

Thursdays 4:30

—6:30

1

5 pm

H

oly

Eucharis

t

H

ealin

g Servic

e

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

.

2

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

. (PH

)

3

1:30 pm

W

aterco

lor C

lass

4

7-8:30 pm

N

.A

.

5

6 T

he T

ransfig

uratio

n o

f O

ur Lo

rd

Ho

spitalit

y and Fo

od Bank Sunday

10 am

M

ornin

g Prayer

11:15 am

Fello

wship

&

R

efreshm

ents

7

8

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

.

9

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

H

ealin

g Servic

e

6 pm

Backyard Bib

le Study

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

. (PH

)

10

10:15 am

D

aughters o

f the K

ing

1 pm

W

aterco

lor C

lass

11

7-8:30 pm

N

.A

.

12

13 T

he 10th Sunday after Penteco

st

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

11:15 am

C

offee H

our

14

15

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

.

16

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

H

ealin

g Servic

e

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

. (PH

)

17

1:30 pm

W

aterco

lor C

lass

18

7-8:30 pm

N

.A

.

19

20 T

he 11th Sunday after Penteco

st

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

Lo

ose pla

te o

fferin

g fo

r D

iscretio

nary Fund

11:15 am

C

offee H

our

12 pm

V

estry

5 pm

Sum

mer Supper at the Straub’s

21

22

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

.

23

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

H

ealin

g Servic

e

6 pm

Backyard Bib

le Study

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

. (PH

)

24

1:30 pm

W

aterco

lor C

lass

25

7-8:30 pm

N

.A

.

26

27 T

he 12th Sunday after Penteco

st

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

11:15 am

C

offee H

our

28

29

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

.

30

10 am

H

oly

Eucharis

t

H

ealin

g Servic

e

8-9:30 pm

N

.A

. (PH

)

31

1:30 pm

W

aterco

lor C

lass

Au

gu

st 2017

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church 103 East Main St.

Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-382-4365

mysthomasoffice@yahoo.com http://www.stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/