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Opportunities to worship, learn, give, and connect.
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Sunday, October 12, 2025
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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| FEATURED |
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| Volunteer with St. Thomas’ at First Fruits Farm This Week |
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Help the Hungry Get Fresh, Nutritious Food
Saturday, October 18
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Fresh Fruits Farm, Freeland, MD
Join St. Thomas’ Preschool & Kindergarten families at First Fruits Farm, a nonprofit, Christian ministry dedicated to providing fresh, nutritious food for the hungry through volunteer service and community partnerships. For more information about the Farm, visit firstfruitsfarm.org. To Sign Up: Click the button below or email Jane Farnan.
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Sundays |
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8:00 a.m.
Holy Communion, Rite I [C]
10:00 a.m.*
Holy Communion with Choir, Rite II [C]
Watch Online >
Read Bulletin >
5:00 p.m.
Last Chance Mass [OSB]
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Tuesdays |
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NEW! 5:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer
[OSB]
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Wednesdays |
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12:00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist
[OSB]
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Thursdays |
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9:00 a.m.
Morning Prayer
[OSB]
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C: Church | OSB: Old School Building
*Click here to access the 10:00 a.m.
worship bulletin and the Weekly News & Notes
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| Sunday: October 12 |
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| Special Guest Preacher |
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Join us next Sunday at either the 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., or 5:00 p.m. service and hear the Rev. Caroline Stewart preach.
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Join Our Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, November 23
7:00 p.m.
In the Church
For our first Interfaith Thanksgiving Service we are excited to welcome the following participating institutions: Chizuk Amuno Synagogue in Pikesville, Union Bethel A.M.E. Church in Randallstown, Reisterstown United Methodist Church, St. John’s Church Western Run, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Gyndon, and Awake Yoga Meditation Center in Baltimore.
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Each Sunday’s 10:00 a.m. service is live-streamed and recorded. Watch live or catch up on past sermons.
Click here to access the 10:00 a.m. worship bulletin and the Weekly News & Notes.
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Each week, our Music Minister, Jonathan K. Waller, shares a lyric poem from Sunday’s music selections and his reflection on how it resonates with the week’s scripture readings.
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| Attend Children's Sunday School |
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| For children ages 4-12. Children under 4 are welcome with an adult/guardian. |
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Sundays
9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Old School Building
Classroom
Parents/Guardians are asked to please escort their child/children to Sunday School. We will have registration forms to fill out.
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This Week’s Children's Activity Links
Click the buttons below to download the Sparkhouse Worship children's bulletins and activities each week for both readers and pre-readers!
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FOR YOUTH!
Sundays
11:15 - 11:45 a.m.
Old School Building
Children and youth between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to join the new Junior Choir, led by Rachel Ayers Waller. Rehearsals are weekly following the 10:00 a.m. service. Ms. Rachel will meet kids at the back of church so all can walk over together. A special snack will be provided. Rehearsals will culminate in a performance at a November/December service.
To Sign Up: Come to the OSB after the 10:00 a.m. service or email Rachel Ayers Waller.
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Young parishioners are invited to participate in the Acolyte Ministry at any 10:00 a.m. Sunday service (and we offer thanks to our youth who currently participate in this important ministry!). No experience required. You will be excellently trained! To Sign Up: Email John Lang or Jane Farnan.
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| Be an Altar or Flower Guild Member |
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Each team works together on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. to set up for Sunday services. Set-up takes about an hour. No experience necessary and training will be provided! To Sign Up: Email Kathy Capp for Altar Guild or Glen Cole for Flower Guild.
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- Those with long-term suffering: For the following people who are struggling with long-term illness, who are in pain, who are under stress, or who are lonely, join us in praying: Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. We especially pray for: Alex, Amber, Andi, Andy, Bert, Betsy, Blair, Bob W., Brandt, Caroline, Curtis, Dan R., David, Dixon, Elizabeth F., Ellen W., Emma, Eric, Frank, Henrietta, Jim, Jim H., Jim W., JoAnna, June F., Karen A., Kathleen, Kennedy, Laura, Leo, Leroy, Mike P., Morgan A., Morgan B., Nadine, Nancy B., Nancy T., Nicholas, Robert, Sally R., Samuel, Sara, Steve, Su, and Tai.
- Altar Flowers Memorials: We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled. We especially remember Gary Black and Catharine J. Allan, in whose memory the altar flowers are given.
- Parish Ministries: In our Parish Ministry Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Sunday School Teachers. If you would like to learn more about this ministry and are interested in becoming involved, please contact Michelle Schmidt.
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Forward Day by Day is a quarterly booklet of daily inspirational meditations reflecting on a specific Bible passage, chosen from the daily lectionary readings as listed in the Daily Office from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer. It's available for free on the table in the Narthex, in the Old School Building, or at prayer.forwardmovement.org/daily-readings.
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A Baltimore memoir with a St. Thomas’ Connection
Saturday, November 8
2:00 p.m.
Parish Hall
Join author Mark Gornick as he discusses his book, Sharing the Crust: A Communion of Saints in a Baltimore Neighborhood. In the book, Mark tells the story of an unbreakable love through the life and witness of Allan Tibbels and a communion of saints in the Sandtown neighborhood of Baltimore.
Sharing the Crust is about the power of small changes, “the little way,” and the hard work of peacemaking in a divided world. It is about the meaning of companionship in this life and the life to come, of who we are to one another. A refreshingly complex story of ministry, church life, and community development, Sharing the Crust is a witness to faith, hope, and love for our times.
Bio: Mark R. Gornik is an American theologian, missiologist, author, pastor, and director of City Seminary of New York. He has researched and written about urban ministry, community development, theological education, and the study of global Christianity, particularly African Christianity in New York City.
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St. Thomas’ Connection
Mark will be joined by residents of Sandtown, and St. Thomas’ parishioners will be invited to share their memories of working on Habitat for Humanity projects in the neighborhood.
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| Join us to study Paul’s letters to the Colossians and the Thessalonians |
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Mondays
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Zoom
These books offer important insights into faith, love and hope, and practical guidance into Christian living, helping us navigate life’s challenges. Join us for a heartfelt discussion and fellowship. Newcomers are most welcome!
To Sign Up:Email
Jane Farnan.
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| Calling all 8th-graders and up! |
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Starts Saturday, October 18
Volunteering at Fresh Fruits Farm
Registration Required (Details Below)
Those who were baptized at an early age are invited to join in this sacramental rite which leads a candidate to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, recommit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism, and receive laying on of hands by a bishop—plus have a lot of fun along the way!
To Sign Up: Email the Rev. Amelia Bello.
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| St. Thomas' Annual Greens Sale |
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Orders Due October 31
Fall may have just arrived, but it is time to start thinking about the holidays! Order beautiful Christmas greens and support St. Thomas’ at the same time. Funds raised through the annual Greens Sale support our church directly. Please share with family and friends! Thank you for your support of this wonderful annual tradition!
Items arrive around Thanksgiving and are guaranteed no later than 2 weeks after Thanksgiving Day.
For Questions or More Info: Email Erik & Kristin Nightwine or call the Parish Office at 410-363-1044.
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Order with an Online Form (by Oct 31)
- Browse our greens selections on Sherwood Forest St. Thomas' site by clicking here.
- There is a link to our Tithely site to pay with your credit card (make sure to select the "Greens Sale 2025" option in the drop-down menu).
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Order with a Paper Form (by Oct 31)
- Download order forms by clicking here or picking them up in the Narthex or Parish Hall. (Green Forms are for local pickup items and Red Forms are for direct delivery items to be delivered from our supplier to any recipient(s).)
- Please fill out all of the information in the forms and send back to the Parish Office, along with cash or check (made payable to St. Thomas' Church), or pay online through Tithely by clicking here (and make sure to select the "Greens Sale 2025" option in the drop-down menu).
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Make a Donation to the Cemetery Wreaths!
Please consider making a donation, no matter the amount, to help us purchase 22" wreaths that we will distribute around the Old Cemetery for Christmas. You do not need to order greens to make a donation.
How to Donate: You can donate by check or online through Tithely with a credit card by clicking here (please select the Cemetery Wreath Fund in the drop-down menu). You can also add this amount to your order total.
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Our 2026 stewardship campaign is underway! Personalized stewardship packets have been mailed to you.
Throughout the campaign, look for weekly reflections from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and “A Story of Stewardship” offered by some of our own St. Thomas’ parishioners.
Over the coming weeks, we hope you will be renewed and inspired to give your time, talent and treasure.
To Pledge: Click the button below or fill out the Pledge Card in your stewardship packet and return it by putting it in the offertory plate, by mail, or by dropping it off in the Parish office.
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| Inspiring Weekly Stories on the Impact of the Spiritual Life |
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| Singing Gratitude |
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by The Reverend Lester V. Mackenzie
Music is breath. It is heartbeat. It is the voice that rises from within, unfiltered, raw, and real. Sometimes joyful. Sometimes aching. Always true.
The Xhosa melody Ndisondela Kuwe walks with me. It is more than a song—it is a doorway, an invitation into sacred spaces. The words mean I draw near to You. A hymn, yes, but more than that. A prayer. A surrender. A call not to seek answers, but to seek God. To move toward the divine, not from a place of strength, but from exhaustion, from the longing that lives in every human soul. Read more >
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By K. N. H.
A Grateful Reflection on the St. Thomas Church Community
Before everything, I would like to begin with the words of the Persian poet Saadi Shirazi, who wrote centuries ago:
“If you do not wish your heart to be troubled,
Then free the hearts of the troubled from their chains.
Follow the path of noble and free-spirited men,
And if you are standing tall, extend your hand to those who have fallen.”
These timeless verses remind us of the beauty of compassion and the duty of helping others. I find them especially meaningful when I reflect on the kindness my family and I have experienced since arriving in the United States.
When we first came here, St. Thomas Church in Owings Mills, Baltimore, welcomed us with generosity and love. This community has been a source of hope and inspiration, offering guidance to refugees as they navigate their new lives. The church volunteers do not only help with practical needs—such as housing, jobs, and integration into society—but they also provide encouragement, dignity, and a true sense of belonging.
One of the most remarkable experiences was the six-week summer camp where my daughters participated. It was absolutely outstanding, filled with learning, joy, and the warmth of the St. Thomas team. During that time, I saw every day how this community stood with us not only as helpers, but as teammates and friends.
Even now, five months later, my family and I remain in close contact with the St. Thomas community, and their support continues. We are confident that, with time, we will set everything up and become fully self-sufficient. Yet we will never forget the generosity, love, and guidance we have received.
The truth is, St. Thomas has given us more than support—they have given us a sense of home. Their dedication to serving everyone equally, with kindness and compassion, is a living example of Saadi’s wisdom: those who stand tall should always extend their hand to those in need.
For all of this, I express my deepest gratitude to the St. Thomas Church and its remarkable community, who have walked beside us since March 2025 and have shown us what it means to truly belong. May God bless the St. Thomas family for all the good they do, and may their kindness continue to touch many more lives.
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Because of Your Stewardship
Past reflections about the different ministries at St. Thomas’ that benefit from the generosity of our stewardship are available to read.
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| Care Bag Donations Needed! |
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Help us reach our goal of collecting 75+ of each priority item each month
The Community Crisis Center has noted an increase of household items needed to meet the requests of their clients. Every week donations are distributed at the center to support the Reisterstown community. The St. Thomas’ congregation has been asked to lend their support by collecting items for the Care Bag.
How you can help:
Purchase specific priority items:
- Toothbrushes (multipacks)
- Toothpaste
- Dental Floss (or floss picks)
- Dishwashing Liquid (large or small size)
Drop them off at the Parish Office during office hours, or in the baskets located in the Narthex and Parish Hall. Please no shampoo, body wash, mouth wash, or Lysol. We are still accepting donations of diapers and feminine hygiene products.
Questions? Please contact Margaret Green.
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| Help Fund Care Bag Items |
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You can make a donation online through Tithely which will be used to purchase priority items. When making your gift, please be sure to scroll down to “Outreach - Community Crisis Center” in the pull-down menu. St. Thomas’ will also be supplementing each Care Bag with laundry detergent. This will be purchased using donated funds.
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| Hear About St. Thomas’ Outreach from Our Partners |
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Sunday, October 26
8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Services
We will feature speakers from some of our fantastic Outreach partners who are doing vital and powerful work in our community. Learn about opportunities to become a volunteer and how you can help participate in important community ministries.
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| Send Care Packages to College Students |
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We are sending out care packages to our college students as they prepare for final exams. We will mail them a little bit of “home” from St. Thomas’!
To Send a Package: Send your student’s name and school address to Jane Farnan by November 14th.
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| Help Offer Financial Aid to St. Thomas’ Preschool and Kindergarten Families in Need |
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| The Liddell/Hogan Scholarship Fund |
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The Liddell/Hogan Scholarship Fund is a fund in honor of Lucy Liddell and Louis Hogan, and helps families of employees, parishioners, and those in financial need at St. Thomas’ Preschool and Kindergarten. To learn more about our magical preschool, please visit stthomaspreschool.info.
To Donate: Designate to this fund on Tithely, via check, or by contacting Jane Farnan.
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| Make Sandwiches for Residents of Southwest Baltimore |
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| The St. Thomas’ Country Cooks partnership with Paul’s Place |
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Every Other Wednesday
8:30 a.m.
Parish Hall
Join the St. Thomas’ Country Cooks making sandwiches for Paul’s Place—located in Pigtown, a historic neighborhood west of downtown Baltimore. Paul’s Place serves neighborhoods where an average of 39% of children live in poverty. Questions? Email Kathy Capp.
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We are looking for teams of three volunteers to host fellowship in the Parish Hall after the 10:00 a.m. Sunday services each week. Volunteers bring food (either homemade or store-bought) to share. To Sign Up: Email Jesse VanGeison.
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Join for fun, pizza, and prizes
Sunday, October 19
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Following the 5:00 p.m. service
Parish Hall
Join us for a casual pizza dinner with salad, desserts, and beverages—plus bingo games and prizes for adults and children. Lots of fun for all ages! Parishioners are welcome to bring guests.
To Donate a Prize, Gift Card, Dessert: Email Michelle Schmidt. If you are donating a dessert, please drop your store-bought cupcakes, brownies or cookies (by the dozen) in the Parish Hall kitchen by 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 19th.
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| Join “We Gather Together,” Our Grief Support Group |
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Thursdays
October 16 - November 20*
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Old School Building
*Availability to attend all sessions is strongly encouraged
It was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who wisely observed: “There is no grief like the grief that does not speak.” St. Thomas’ will offer a 6-part program for those who have or are experiencing loss of any kind… a death, a relationship, a pet, a job, a miscarriage, infertility issues, etc. Each of these—and other situations—hold the potential for grieving, a ‘normal’ yet hard emotion to experience. To walk this journey with others is a way to navigate some of the challenges.
Dr. Earl Grollman observed: “Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”
The Rev. Caroline Stewart will join the Rev. Amelia Bello to co-facilitate this offering. Caroline is a long-time member of St. Thomas’ before her call to ministry over 20 years ago. She holds a Masters in Counseling from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Pastoral and Spiritual Care from Loyola University and a Post Graduate Degree in Anglican Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary. She has served a variety of parishes in Maryland, been the Interim Episcopal Chaplain at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, served on the faculty at The Center for Spiritual Support Training at GBMC, and is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
To Sign Up or Ask Questions: Email the Rev. Caroline Stewart.
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“There are three needs of the griever: To find the words for the loss, to say the words aloud, and to know that the words have been heard.”
—Victoria Alexander
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| You’re Invited to our Newcomers’ Reception |
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Saturday, November 1
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Open House
The Rectory
124 St. Thomas Ln.
Welcome all of you who are new to St. Thomas’—we are so glad you’re here! Join us for our Newcomers’ Reception so we can get to know each other. To RSVP: Contact Jane Farnan or call (410) 363-1044.
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| A Fun Night Out at the Lanes |
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Friday, November 14
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Bowlero Pikesville
Join us for bowling and fellowship. To RSVP: To RSVP: Email the Rev. Amelia Bello.
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| Field Trip to The National Museum of African American History and Culture |
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Saturday, November 15
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Washington D.C.
Join St. Thomas’ parishioners on a trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.—a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped us shape this nation.
The museum offers powerful and educational exhibits detailing the beginnings of slavery in America, the experiences of those captured from Africa, and the impact slavery had on America’s evolution. In addition, visitors can see artifacts like Harriet Tubman’s hymnal; Nat Turner’s bible; A plantation cabin from South Carolina; Guard tower from Angola Prison; Chuck Berry’s red Cadillac convertible; and works by prolific artists such as Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Henry O. Tanner. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc.si.edu.
We encourage you to visit the Sweet Home Café for lunch as it is conveniently located in the museum. The Café showcases the rich culture and history of the African American people with traditional, authentic offerings as well as present-day food traditions. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch as well. For more information about the café, visit nmaahc.si.edu/visit/sweet-home-cafe.
To Sign Up: Click here or the button below or contact Jane Farnan or (410) 363-1044.
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Transportation
Transportation will be provided, please let us know if you would like to take the bus or if you plan to drive there yourself. For those taking the bus, we will depart from St. Thomas’ at 8:00 a.m. Donations to cover the cost of the bus are appreciated. We are limited to fifty group tickets, so be sure to sign up before our spots are all filled.
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| Join us at the St. Thomas’ Craft Sale |
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Sunday, November 16
Following the 8:00 a.m.
and 10:00 a.m. Services
Parish Hall
The St. Thomas’ Craft Sale is a great place for you (or the crafter in your life) to set up a table and share. To Participate: Call Roz Corasaniti at (410) 812-5552 or email Jane Farnan.
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| Join The Thursday Morning Handicrafters Group |
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Thursdays
9:30 a.m.
Parish Hall
Join us for friendship, laughter, and sharing stories, as well as ideas for many different kinds of projects. Come join the fun!
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| Add/Update Your Current Contact Information to/for Our New Directory |
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The St. Thomas’ Parish Directory is in need of updating! We want to make sure your contact information is up-to-date.
Please email the following information to Jane Farnan in the Parish Office:
- Last Name(s), First Name(s)
- Children’s Name(s)
- Home Address, City, State, and Zip
- Home Phone Number
- Cell Phone Number(s)
- Email Address(es)
- Birthday month/year for each family member*
- A high-resolution family photo listing names left to right**
*For our parish records only. Not listed in the directory.
**Photos of parishioners make connections easier when looking through the Parish Directory.
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| Join Us at Fall Fest & Trunk-or-Treat |
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Sunday, October 26
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
St. Thomas’ Preschool and Kindergarten invites you to come for the fun! Everyone is invited! More details to follow.
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| Not too late to enroll for 2025-26! |
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To Schedule a Tour: Contact Nicole Norris, STPS Director.
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Moments from our Blessing of the Animals service on October 5th.
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Moments from our first Junior Choir rehearsal on October 5th.
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