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A Mission Church of Jesus Christ
Seek, Shape, Serve
Please pick up a copy in the church foyer or
for an electronic copy, visit our website:
www.sttomsherwoodpark.com or email the
office at [email protected] .
Regular Weekly Worship Times
Sunday 8:00 am
Holy Eucharist
Said service, no music
Sunday 9:00 am
Holy Eucharist
Contemporary Music
Sunday School after the
children’s talk
Sunday 11:00 am
Sung Holy Eucharist
Music blends contempo-
rary & traditional
St. Thomas’ Times
September, October, November
Thanksgiving, Fall/Autumn 2012
Parish Staff (780-467-5730)
Interim Priest-in-charge:
The Venerable Alan Perry
[email protected]
Assistant Curate:
The Rev. Chris Dowdeswell
[email protected]
Interim Priest:
The Rev. Maddie Urion
[email protected]
Interim Deacon:
The Rev. Susan Ormsbee
[email protected]
Honorary Assistant:
The Rev. Bruce Aylard
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant:
Kendra Hoffert
[email protected]
St. Thomas’ Vestry 2011-2012 Rector’s Warden:
Gordon Weighell (780-464-7905)
[email protected]
People’s Warden:
Ted Greenaway (780-995-1225)
[email protected] Assistant People’s Warden:
Alison de Haan (780-410-9848)
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Dale Purkis (780-467-5730)
[email protected]
Maintenance Chair:
William Jones (780-449-5129)
[email protected]
Stewardship Chair:
Gordon Voth (780-417-2703)
[email protected]
Fundraising Chair:
Betty Hopfner (780-449-2476)
[email protected]
Youth Chair:
Devon Goldie (780-461-0267)
[email protected]
Project 2015 Liaison:
Brian Jolly (780-467-9682)
[email protected]
Synod Delegates:
Ruth Heine (780-462-3538)
[email protected]
Jim Revill (780-416-3245)
[email protected]
Roland Teape (780-449-9409) [email protected]
Alternate:
Chad St. Jean (780-410-9494
[email protected]
St. Thomas’ Times
Lift up your eyes,
and look on the fields;
for they are white already
to harvest.
John 4: 35
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 30
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
4A Raven Drive,
Sherwood Park, T8A 0C3
Office Ph: 780-467-5730
Emergency Cell:
780-266-4595
Fax 780-467-3110
New Office Hours:
Tues: 9:00am-2:30pm
Wed: 9:00am-2:30pm
Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
New e-mail address:
[email protected]
Website:
www.sttomsherwoodpark.com
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Christian Life
For queries on Baptism, Confirma-
tion, Marriage, Funeral/ Memorial
Services, or Pastoral Visits
Church Office 780-467-5730 [email protected] Marriage Encounter Church Office 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Colchester Cemetery Church office 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Envelope Secretary
Judy Purkis 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Christian Education For information on Sorrento Centre Church Office 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Adult Studies
Church office 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Cursillo
Jean Aylard 780-417-6433 [email protected]
Lay Ministry/ Worship Support
Lay Readers, Admin./Leader Training
Church Office 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Fellowship 11am Greeters, ushers, coffee
780-467-5730
Book Club Linda Cutler 780-467-5254 [email protected]
Janet Lockau 780-467-4825 [email protected]
CLEOs - Diane Duke 780-464-0170
ROMEOs - Jim Brown 780-464-3257
Day Trippers
Linda Cutler780-467-5254 [email protected]
Family Events
Kim Wereley 780-464-5501 [email protected]
Hospitality Teams (9am) vacant
Ladies’ Potpourri
Michele Clapp 780-461-2177 [email protected]
Men’s Crib
Gene Miskiw 780-467-5400 [email protected]
Senior Ladies
Church office 780-467-5730
Social Convenor
agnes Pieracci 780-449-6970
St. Thomas’ Newsletter
Lesley Tarrant Belcourt 780-467-4023 [email protected]
Children & Youth
Children’s Ministry
Shannon Le Blanc 780-907-6590 [email protected]
Wacey Laderoute 780-570-4442 [email protected]
Junior Youth
Kim Wereley 780-464-5501 [email protected]
Senior Youth
Devon Goldie [email protected]
Worship
Choir Connie [email protected]
Tapestry
Ruth Heine 780-462-3538 [email protected]
Drama
Agnes Pieracci 780-449-6970
Liturgical Dance
Janet Kwantes 780-410-0365
[email protected]
Outreach
Church Office 780-467-5730 [email protected]
Blankets for Canada
Helen Cleveley 780-464-1528
Campbell’s Soup Labels
Dave Cleveley 780-464-1528
Foster Child
Helen Cleveley 780-464-1528
Knit 123
Sally Foss 780-467-6956
Primate’s World Relief
& Development Fund vacant
Refugee Committee
Marion Bulmer 780-464-6927 [email protected]
St. Vincent de Paul Society —donations of household items
& used furniture—
Loran Dietrich 780-464-0899
St. Thomas’ Anglican Church Page 2 St. Thomas’ Times
Our mission is to be a welcoming, worshipping community, loving God and others
Our purpose is to Worship & Glorify God; Foster relationships with God; Nurture a sense of belonging;
Reach out to others; Love and care for our world as stewards of God’s creation
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Children’s Ministry 14 Curate’s Message 6 Contact names 1 & 2 Family Fun Events 12 Finding Us 3 Fundraising 19 Holy Trinity, Tofield 10 Interim Priest’s Message 5 Keeping in Touch 20 Keeping in Touch Ministry 21 Mission Facilitator 9
Page 3 FINDING US
Music, Drama, Dance Ministry 13 Nurturing Well-Being 17, 18 Photos of new staff 21 Prayer & Education Ministries 11 Reaching Out To Others 16 Rector’s Message 4 Vestry 8 Wardens’ Word 7 Wit and Whit 22, 23 Worshipping and Glorifying God 10 Youth Ministry 15
St. Thomas’ Times
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. ~Matthew 37
St. Thomas’ This Summer
If you have enjoyed your walk to the front door of St. Thomas’ this summer you will have noticed the blooming flowers,
plants, neatly trimmed shrubs and lush lawn. Our beautiful pots, flower beds and shrubs are a result of Ed Hopper’s
weekly tender loving care, which is greatly appreciated and enjoyed.
Our sincere thanks go to Sian Dominski and her family for their weekly lawn cutting.
They even transported their own lawn tractor with them! As well, a sincere thanks to all
those who have “trimmed the grass” this summer. St. Thomas has been a beautiful pres-
ence on Raven Drive.
Linda Cutler
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MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW RECTOR Page 4 St. Thomas’ Times
Greetings friends in Sherwood Park and Tofield,
My name is Stephen London, and as many of you know by now, on December 1st, I will be
coming to be a part of your communities. I know that it was a bit of a surprise for you, and it
was for me as well, but I am very excited. I am so looking forward to coming and getting to
know you and to hear the history of your churches (I am a huge history buff!) and to listen to
where you see God calling us in this next chapter together.
I am guessing that you might want to know a little bit about me, so I thought that I would
write this letter just to introduce myself. (I usually don’t talk about myself a lot, but I
found in a letter like this I had to. So please excuse all of the I’s!)
I am a priest in this Diocese and have been the rector of St. Michael and All Angels in Edmonton for the last eight and a
half years. My wife, Stephanie, is also a priest though she has taken a bit of time off to be with our children. We have
three of them, and they are wonderful kids. Claire is 6 (almost 7) and going into grade two and Brownies; Sarah is four
and is going into Kindergarten and Sparks; and Alex is only eight months old and is going nowhere at the moment.
And, I have to confess… I am not native to Alberta or even Canada for that matter! I am a Texan by birth, though by the
time my wife found me, I had been living in New England for quite some time. We both ended up at the same seminary
together in New Haven, Connecticut, fell in love and got married. Although I was ordained as a Deacon in the Diocese
of Connecticut, there were no jobs, so my bishop graciously let me go, and Bishop Matthews invited me West. It has
been wonderful; I am even a Canadian now.
I absolutely love being a priest, and I love ministry. For me, the Gospel truly is good news, and I try to do what I can to
show people that it is indeed good news in their lives and in our communities at large. I have a personal passion for
preaching, liturgy, leadership and administration and teaching. My goal is to always strive to make the truths of the faith
real, personal and transformative. You will find that I am a very enthusiastic person. I also love the Anglican Church
deeply. I have a lot invested in the Anglican spiritual and theological project because I find it to be a beautiful and mov-
ing way to follow Jesus, and I very much want to see it thrive.
My own ‘churchmanship’ would veer more to the liturgical and sacramental side, but if yours is not, fear not; I can wor-
ship God gladly in just about all settings. For those of you who follow theological trends and want to categorize me,
some of my influences in the 20th century have been Thomas Merton, N.T. Wright, Stanley Hauerwas, C.S. Lewis,
Michael Ramsey, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Barth, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Kenneth Leech
among others.
When not “priesting” I mostly hang out with my family and friends. But I also have lots of interests that I follow. I love
to read, especially history and theology. I also follow politics quite closely. I am a runner and would be a better golfer if
I had more time. I love to go to Edmonton Eskimos games, though I lost my football buddy to the Northwest Territories.
When I have money I collect historical coins. My family also loves to travel. I enjoy finding the history of the places I
visit and walking in the important parts of the area. There are other things, but that might be enough about me.
I am excited about coming to Sherwood Park and Tofield. I always try to be very accessible; if you want to talk to me
before I come, feel free to call me on my cell phone: 780-243-2212.
I look forward to meeting you: God bless you all,
Steve
Reverend Stephen London
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Page 5 MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERIM PRIEST St. Thomas’ Times
Welcome!
This fall we have an opportunity to welcome people to our church. At the end of September
we observe Back to Church Sunday, when we will make a special effort to be at our best as
we prepare for newcomers and visitors to join us. Back to Church Sunday is more than just a
special event, though. It is also an opportunity for us to practise the skills of inviting people to
come to church and welcoming when they do. These skills are useful more than just once per
year.
It's also an opportunity for us to do a bit of a welcoming audit. What kind of impression do
people have when they walk in our doors the first time? What kind of experience do they
have? Does it match with what we hope they will experience? Do we intentionally welcome
people the way we would want to be welcomed is we were the newcomers? Are there any
ways in which we send the unintended message that newcomers are unwelcome or unimpor-
tant? These are not questions that are relevant only to St Thomas'. Every parish can benefit
from exploring them. No matter how much we work at being a welcoming parish, there is al-
ways some room for improvement.
Jesus said, “whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the
one who sent me.” And the same goes for our welcome of the visitor or the newcomer. If we
understand each person who walks in our doors as someone whom God has sent to us, when
we welcome them we welcome God.
In December we will also welcome a new Rector. The Rev Steve London and his wife Stepha-
nie (who is also a priest) and their children will, I am sure, receive a warm welcome when
they arrive.
In the meantime we can prepare the way by practising welcoming everyone who comes to us,
as though we were welcoming Jesus himself.
Welcome!
The Venerable
Alan Perry
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Page 6 MESSAGE FROM OUR ASSISTANT CURATE St. Thomas’ Times
Rev. Chris Dowdeswell
Greetings St Thomas!
It is so good to be together with you. It was also so good to “Come Together” with you at our
family festival only a few short weeks ago. I know for me it was a needed pick-me-up after
learning that Fr. Christian wouldn’t be returning to us after his leave. That was some difficult
news, and we continue to pray for Christian and Lisa. But thank God the church is more than
its clergy! Each of us have an important role to play in our life together. We are a community
of faith that loves and supports one another, and reaches out together to the world around us
with the love of Christ.
Special thanks go out to Ruth Heine who spearheaded the Coming Together week, Herb and
Lesley Belcourt who connected us with all of our featured guests, the volunteers who led crea-
tive stations (Lori, Gerry, Chantel, Audrey and Krista), and the many other volunteers who
helped out in a dozen different ways behind the scenes each day. We had the opportunity over
the course of the week to connect with over sixty adults and children who are not regular Sun-
day-morning worshippers. And most of these people were young families who live in the areas
immediately surrounding our church. I can’t think of many outreach opportunities we have that
reach out so directly to this neighbourhood. It also provided a great opportunity for the parish-
ioners who came throughout the week to spend some quality time with one another. All in all,
it was a fantastic success in terms of relationships built with people both inside and outside the
church!
Now here is September. What do the next few months hold? We look toward the arrival of Fr.
Steve in December. But until then we have a lot of things in the works. We reluctantly bid
farewell to Richelle, our Administrative Assistant, this summer, and released her to go exercise
her gifts at the Cathedral. This left us with a job to fill in the office, for which we’ve recently
hired. Kendra Hoffert is our new Administrative Assistant. I hope you will join me in extend-
ing a heartfelt welcome to her and stop by the office during our new office hours (see front
page) to say hi! The Administrative Assistant is such a key part of our ministries here at St
Thomas, I hope for Kendra to feel as valuable as she truly is to our community. I know you’ll
have the same warm welcome for her you had for me last year when I arrived, so I’m not too
worried.
Back in May I returned from parental leave early to cover while Fr. Christian went on his leave,
and now from Oct 6-Nov 16 I’ll have the opportunity to take the rest of my leave. During Oc-
tober and November we will have two clergy coming to St Thomas to fill in and help Fr. Alan,
each at approximately half time: Rev. Susan Ormsby (deacon) and Rev. Maddie Urion (priest).
Susan was recently ordained a deacon, and Maddie is a priest and the spouse of Rev. Quinn
Strikwerda, rector of St. Augustine’s Parkland in Spruce Grove. Maddie comes to us after
completing maternity leave coverage in Devon. Susan and Maddie are both very talented
clergy women, and we are privileged to have them share their gifts with us for awhile this fall.
Continued thanks go out to Alan who will remain with us until Steve’s arrival.
We are truly blessed in many ways. Let us pass these blessings on to others by inviting a friend
to church for our potluck the evening of Saturday, September 29th, and maybe after meeting
our wonderful community they’ll come to Back to Church Sunday, the next morning.
Blessings,
+Chris
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WARDENS’ WORD
Alison de Haan
Deputy People’s Warden
Page 7 St. Thomas’ Times
Gordon Weighell
Rector’s Warden
Ted Greenaway People’s Warden
Ahhh – September. When we look outside, we see the unmistakable signs of the waning days of what was a beautiful
spring and summer. It was a welcome addition to have non-stop, professionally led music this year. Music has proven to
be a much cherished part of our worship experience and summer need not be an exception. A special thanks goes out to all
of the sessional musicians and vocalists. And now, despite the flora beginning to take on a look of hibernation, St. Thomas
is ready to launch another year full of worship and wonder.
It was with much sadness that we learned Christian will not be returning to St. Thomas as originally anticipated. We con-
tinue to keep him and Lisa in our prayers and wish for nothing but the best in what lies ahead for them. During these past
several months, we must thank God for the gifts of Chris and Alan. Of course, you know Chris shortened his parental
leave (isn’t Lukas a cutie!) to return early and Alan’s diocesan responsibilities have not been reduced any, even though he
has taken on a leadership role with us. We owe these two gentlemen, and their families, a tremendous and heartfelt thanks
– one that I hope you all take the time to proffer in person.
Recognizing St. Thomas’ has conducted two rector searches in recent years, your Corporation and Vestry unanimously
agreed to accept a direct appointment of Rector in Charge. As such, we very much look forward to the arrival of the
Reverend Steve London in time for Advent I (December 1, 2012). Some of you already know Steve, his wife Stephanie,
and their three children, Claire, Sarah, and Alexander. While our gain is a tremendous loss for St. Michaels and All An-
gels, this reality doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the gifts Steve will bring to us.
Those of you who attended the congregational meetings this year will be familiar with the challenges we’ve faced in devel-
oping a budget for 2012. It is clear that maintaining fiscal discipline is important to you and, to this end, your Corporation
and Vestry have worked diligently to strike the correct balance. For example, in an effort to reduce expenditures without
detracting from the ministry of St. Thomas, this spring the custodial contract was terminated. You are acutely aware that
this has required us to all weigh-in by occasionally pushing a broom or swinging a mop. Additionally, the administrative
position has been restructured from 80% to 50%. We’ve done our best to keep you apprised of our current fiscal health
and would be remiss in not expressing our extreme gratitude for your efforts at maintaining your pledges over the summer.
As we develop the strategic plan and accompanying budget for 2013, your input into where St. Thomas is called to shep-
herd its financial resources will be critical.
Finally, I want to share with you the date of Back to Church Sunday. Please mark September 30, 2012 in your calendars
for this diocesan-wide event, with which we will launch another exciting year. Stay tuned for further details as to how you
can be specifically involved.
Blessings to all,
Gordon Weighell
Rector’s Warden
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ST. THOMAS’ VESTRY
Roland Teape Synod delegate
The following parishioners were elected as members of vestry at the AGM on February 26th, 2012.Vestry meetings are held
at 7pm, 3rd Tuesday of the month Parishioners are welcome to observe. We invite your concerns, suggestions and ideas.
St. Thomas’ Times Page 8
Dale Purkis
Treasurer
William Jones Maintenance Chair
Gordon Voth Stewardship Chair
Jim Revill Synod delegate
Ruth Heine Synod delegate Chad St. Jean
Alternate
Devon Goldie
Youth Chair
Brian Jolly 2015 Representative
Betty Hopfner Fundraising Chair
2015/Building Code Compliance Report
During the month of July all the families that had contributed to the 2015 Fund we're asked if they would redirect their funds
towards the cost of bringing St. Thomas's Church into compliance with the current building code. The response was very posi-
tive and this will allow us approximately $58,000. to be used for this very important project. Thank you to all that have agreed
to make this critical project possible.
A meeting was arranged to meet with the County Health and Safety Officers together with the County Fire Chief to discuss
our Engineering Report and a compliance inspection.
It was a good engaging meeting between the parties with a cooperative approach by the County understanding that our facility
is over 50 years old and that we did indeed comply with codes under the original and additional construction work that had
been performed over the years.
During the inspection they basically agreed with our proposed approach to prioritize fire protection ( alarm system, fire doors
and frames, fire stops @ wall penetrations, fire extinguishers, fire dampers in ductwork, and emergency lighting ). Other items
in addition to the above were discussed and agreed too but the aforementioned were critical. We were issued an inspection
report and we have indicated that we will develop a program with a schedule and action plan and then meet again to ensure
that we agree on our path forward.
The good side of all of this is that we requested the meeting and this created a good working environment as opposed to the
County just calling and inspecting the premises. When we reach agreement with the County the next step is to have the bless-
ing from the Building Committee of the Diocese. Once this is given we can proceed with the actual field work.
In closing I would like to give special thanks to Volunteers in the pie making group that really helped our inspection by giving
a thorough clean up of the basement and likewise to William and Ted in helping prepare the mechanical rooms.
Respectfully Submitted
Brian Jolly
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MISSION FACILITATOR Page 9 St. Thomas’ Times
You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day
for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the
more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.
Coming Together...see page 12
http://youtu.be/QuEKAk2ZgNE
Mission Facilitator Report
After receiving a certificate in Mission Shaped Ministry in March, I was pleased to also be part of presenting the
same to Judy Purkis and Laureta Blondin at services in June. Thank you to The Rev. Alan Perry for his prayers
of blessing and commissioning. This course is offered through Fresh Expressions Canada and Wycliffe College
Toronto. Another session will be offered this fall locally. It is open to all interested and is well worth taking to
learn more and discuss how we as Christians need to look more outward than we have been and learn how to be
church in a fast paced and ever changing world.
Please contact me soon if you would like to enroll and take part.
It wasn't only Together in Sherwood Park but the whole of the county who had a very, very, wet and
cold experience trying to put on a Festival on Canada Day! Many thanks to all the volunteers from St.
Thomas', Good News, and Fusion for all the preparation ahead of time as well as on the day. You were
all amazing even through the storm ! Many damp memories were made while building community !
Wednesday evening Wonder wrapped up mid June with some moving and inspirational sharing from parishioner Betty Screpnek,
followed by the usual discussion and fellowship. Thanks to all those who were a part of Wonder over the year. It was a truly won-
derful and faith enriching experience for myself as well as all who came from the parish and the community.
In June I attended a Fusion retreat which was a follow-up to their annual meeting in April. I continue to be blessed by this organiza-
tion and their call to bless others with leadership and resources to work with church and community to build the kingdom.
The Coming Together week was five mornings that did indeed come together beyond my expectations.
Even though there were some changes in parish leadership and last minute preparation to accommodate
various things, it was a time of fantastic community building and outreach. There are not adequate
words to thank Rev. Chris, Fusion, Together in Sherwood Park, and ALL the volunteers for the end-
less hours of service and sacrifice put in that made the week what it was. Thanks be to God for the fun,
fellowship, food and faith that was shared by all who came !
Let this only be the beginning of Coming Together and being a visible and accessible church !
Ruth Heine
The Messenger (Oct. 2012)
Richelle Malarsky
& Joan Sturdy
Page 10
WORSHIPPING and GLORIFYING GOD Page 10 St. Thomas’ Times
Welcome to
DREW and SERENITY
baptised on Pentecost Sunday
LUKAS (right)
baptised on Trinity Sunday
PEYTON and MIA
baptised on 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Rest In Peace:
ARCHIE FISHER, JUNE ASH,
SANDRA SYDORUK, JIM ARMSTRONG
Jack and I travelled to
Churchill, MB during this
past summer and while we
were there we visited the
Anglican Church. The fol-
lowing historical informa-
tion was of interest for us:
St. Paul’s Anglican Church, the first
prefabricated building in North America
and a designated heritage site by the Province of Manitoba, is the
oldest church in the North still in use. It originated as a kit of pre-
fab components made in England, was assembled on the west
bank of the Churchill River, then was moved in winter by sledge
to the other side of the river followed by a final relocation to
another street. St. Paul’s also has ties to the exploration era –
Lady Franklin donated a stained-glass window in memory of her
husband Sir John Franklin, the famous Arctic explorer. It can
still be seen today (top right).
Pearl Newman
Ecumenical Mission.
St. Thomas’ is hosting on
Monday, Oct 1 at 7:30.
“Surely the Lord is in this place.” Genesis 28:18
The Parish of Holy Trinity, Tofield proudly celebrated its
long and varied history on June 10, 2012.
Diocese of Edmonton Bishop Jane Alexander presided over
the eucharist in the oldest original church building still in use in
Tofield. The original sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Pink-
ham on July 18, 1912.
Also present for the centennial service was Bishop Sixbert
Macumi, who brought greetings from our companion diocese
of Buyé in Burundi, Africa. In a special moment of peace and
warmth, he gave the final blessing in his own Kirundi language.
Assisting Bishop Jane were the Ven. Alan Perry, Diocese of
Edmonton Executive Archdeacon and the Rev. Chris Dowdes-
well, Assistant Curate of St. Thomas, Sherwood Park, Holy
Trinity’s partner parish.
Thanks were extended to Elizabeth Crispin as event coor-
dinator, committee members Rob Hubbard and Lillian An-
dresen, Marjorie Dafoe for the cake, Ellen Prast for the beau-
tiful condition of the flowerbeds, Gordon Kyle for his handi-
work and repairs, Nola Herrick and members of the altar guild
for the church preparations, Kathy Scheu for the welcoming
banner, slide show and photography, Liz Hubbard for the two
centennial banners, Sandi Lusk for the luncheon, the St. Tho-
mas staff for printing the bulletin, Bob and Margaret
Adamson for the music, and everyone present for sharing the
celebration and memories with us.
The Anglican community in Tofield began as a mission of
the Church of St. James the Apostle, Logan, established in 1896
on the shores of Beaverhill Lake. The current congregation con-
tinues a 100-year history of serving the spiritual needs of its
members and the community of Tofield and beyond.
(Abridged and re-printed courtesy of Liz Hubbard, Holy
Trinity for the Messenger, Sept 2012)
PS. A delegation from St Thomas concluded the festivities in
Tofield with a round of golf on the Tofield course and supper in
town. What else can we tack a round of golf onto?
Holy Trinity Tofield Celebrates 100 years
We will be partnering with Mount Olivet
Lutheran Church for "God on Tap" this fall.
We will gather for worship, discussion and
drinks at an area pub.
Details to follow...
Page 11
PRAYER and EDUCATION MINISTRY St. Thomas’ Times Page 11
THE BIBLE
This book reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation,
the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true,
and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practise it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrims staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s
charter. Here, too, heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a
mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.
It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgement, and be remembered forever.
It involves highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and condemn all who trifle with its sa-
cred contents.
OWNED, IT IS RICHES; STUDIED, IT IS WISDOM; TRUSTED, IT IS SALVATION;
LOVED IT IS CHARACTER, AND OBEYED, IT IS POWER.
Submitted by Jean Aylard
(This excerpt is taken from the front of a ‘Gideon-placed bible.’ I accented the last paragraph.)
A grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things. ~Plato
If the only prayer you ever say in your
entire life is thank you, it will be
enough. ~Meister Eckhardt
In all things, give thanks.
~1Thessalonians 5:18
BOOK — ‘THE WAY WE LOVE: TRIPPING INTO PURPOSE IN SOUTH AMERICA’
Written by Andrea Aylard
“It was the language, the tango, and the steak that drove Andrea Aylard’s decision to participate in
an exchange semester in Argentina. Mostly, though, she knew next-to-nothing about the country,
including that her travels there would affect the rest of her life.”
* Copies of Andrea’s book are for sale at her parents’ house: Jean and Tom Aylard; phone
780-417-6433. $15.00 each … (and the autograph is free). : ) OR, go to Amazon.ca, and
search ‘Aylard’.
Andrea says “Thank you to all who have supported me, and purchased my book! Happy reading.”
Page 12
St. Thomas’ Times Page 12 FAMILY FUN EVENTS
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Coming Together
August 20th —24th St. Thomas brought the com-
munity together by holding fun-filled intergenera-
tional activities in a tent set up on the back lawn.
Starting the morning off with coffee, fruit and
muffins everyone was invited to enjoy the fun and
laughter of community coming together through
music, games, stories, art and snacks. Over sixty
adults and children who were not regular parish-
ioners attended at least one day of our festival
during the week.
Each day focused on a different characteristic of
Jesus’ identity – Brother, King, Guide, Saviour
and God- with featured guests - Mayor Linda
Osinchuk, Herb Belcourt CM, Kate Haginico-
lakis, Deputy Fire Chief Vern Elliot, and RCMP
Constable Wally Henry. (more pages 13-16)
WELCOMING...
ART...
REFRESHMENTS...
PHOTOGRAPHY...
SHARING...
MUSIC...
LISTENING...
GOOD COMPANY...
CONVERSATIONS...
BEING...
More —see pages 13-16
KNITTING...
MAKING NEW FRIENDS...
UPBEAT LEADERSHIP
http://youtu.be/QuEKAk2ZgNE
NEXT BIG FAMILY EVENT
—TRICK OR TREATING—
OCTOBER 31ST
Must come dressed up
NO Costume, NO Treats!!!
Hot chocolate provided
Page 13
MUSIC, DRAMA and DANCE MINISTRIES St. Thomas’ Times Page 13
Janet Kwantes (Liturgical Dance
facilitator) and Derrick Kwantes
lead the processional dance with
their “flaming” banners in celebra-
tion of Pentecost on May 27th.
Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least
we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. ~Gautama Siddharta
FREE TO A GOOD HOME
Alma McConnell parishioner of St. John, the Evangelist and sometimes
attendee of St. Thomas’ Day Trips is looking for a good home for her
Gulbransen President electronic organ. It has 2 keyboards, full pedal
board, and includes pure piano and church organ tones. It has recently
been tuned. FREE to a good home.
If you know any individual, group or organisation who would like this
generous gift, please contact Alma: 780-434-6502
Give Thanks
Give thanks
With a grateful heart
Give thanks
To the Holy One
Give thanks
For he has given
Jesus Christ His Son
And now let the weak say
I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has
done for us.
Henry Smith/Don Moen
Coming Together through music,
games, stories and drama.
August 20th-24th
WITH THANKS AND LOVE
FROM PHILADELPHIA
Greetings from The City of Brotherly Love!
After a summer that felt much too short, university
has resumed and the first week has already come and
gone. In this past week I have been introduced to all
the classes I am taking at Temple University and have
had my placement audition to determine my placing
in ensembles. I definitely felt God helping me
through the preparation, the anticipation and the audi-
tion itself. I have yet to hear the results.
My classes this semester are looking quite interest-
ing! I am taking Music History and Music Theory
classes as well as a few general education classes
such as an environmental course and a mosaics/
classical literature seminar. I am excited for this up-
coming semester and know I will learn a lot, both
about myself and about music! I am also excited to
continue to study under two great oboists, namely Mr.
Jonathon Blumenfeld and Mr. Stevens Hewitt.
Thank you to all of you who came to my August con-
cert at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral and to those
who were unable to come but were supporting me in
spirit and in prayers. I am happy about how the con-
cert went and how I played, but most importantly, I
was able to enjoy playing the pieces and have fun. I
still have much to learn and am looking forward to
the continuation of my musical endeavors.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers for
me. I will see you in December!
Katrina Kwantes
Temple University, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Page 14
Page 14 St. Thomas’ Times CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. ~William Blake
The children Coming Together —designing musical in-
struments, making bubbles, creating paintings, getting
faces painted, playing with hula hoops and balloons, ex-
ploring the fire truck and the RCMP car and just hanging
out with friends of all ages.
Page 15
St. Thomas’ Times Page 15 YOUTH MINISTRY
The Youth raised enough money at their Bake Sale and Talent
Show on Sunday June 3 to pay for some YC tickets and also do-
nate to charity. Thank you to all our youth for doing an excellent
job and thanks to all who supported them...
Singing...
Performing skits... Telling scary
stories...
Playing piano...
Dancing...
Working the sound system...
COMING TOGETHER
September 12 ® Youth Group Kick Off
Welcome back! Burgers, chips and pop provided!
Bring a picture (or a couple if you’d like) of something you did this summer
September 19 ® Video Game Night
Bring your favorite video games, gaming systems and your friends!
(No M rated please) Snacks provided
September 26 ® The Great Youth Group Cook-Off
Bring $5 and your chef hat!
Please let Devon or Kim know ahead of time of any food allergies
October 3 ® Movie Madness
Bring your videophones or cameras!
Snacks provided
October 5-8 ® BCYAYM Fall Conference; Merritt, BC
*More details below
October 10 ® Grammy Night
Dress in your finest for our very own movie screening and awards night!
Snacks provided
October 17 ® Games Night
Bring your favorite board game and a snack to share
October 24 ® Zombie Night
Dress warmly! We’ll be playing a giant game of Zombies in
Centennial Park! Hot chocolate provided
October 31 ® Family Event: Trick or Treating
Must come dressed up … No costume, no treats
Hot chocolate provided. ALL AGES—children, youth, adults!!!
THANK YOU
We’d like to extend a warm thank you to everyone
who donated pennies, came to our Bake Sale and
Talent Show and to those who donated our new
TV, new sports equipment and hockey tickets.
Devon Goldie
for more information, please contact Devon at 780.686.3384 or [email protected]
*The British Columbia and Yukon Anglican Youth Movement (BCYAYM) has invited the Diocese of Edmonton and Calgary to
attend 'Into The Wild', their fall conference. This year Fall Conference is being held in Merritt, BC at St. Michael’s Anglican Church
from Friday, October 5th – Monday, October 8th, 2012. The weekend is open to all youth in grade 8 to 25 years of age. Early bird
registration (before September 14th) is $130 and $150 afterwards. Transportation will be provided .
Page 16
REACHING OUT TO OTHERS Page 16 St. Thomas’ Times
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. ~Cicero
Herb Belcourt, one of ten
siblings, was guest speaker
for “Jesus as Brother.”
Mayor Linda Osinchuk
spoke about her servant lead-
ership role in the community
on the day assigned for
“Jesus as King.”
Local voice instructor Kate Hagini-
colakis who is legally blind shared
her experience of being guided by
others for “Jesus as Guide.”
Thanks to all who reached out to others by sharing their skills at Coming Together. A few of the many:
Gerry Parlby & Chantel Cameron— Photography ; Lori Anne Youngman— Painting; Audrey Aylard —Knitting
Deputy Fire Chief Vern Elliot
(right) and RCMP Constable
Wally Henry talked about
responding to people in crisis
for “Jesus as Saviour.”
COMING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY
REFUGEES
We will have a second interview for Abshir and
Abdullahi and his family sometime in the fall. We made
a personal appeal to the head of the Nairobi Visa office
saying we felt their decision was based on a misunder-
standing. Nasara had provided me with information which turned out to be untrue. We are attempt-
ing to clarify those errors. After attending meetings with other sponsorship agreement holders I was encouraged to write such a letter.
For me this conference was a time of immense learning and encouragement.
Our fundraiser on June 23 raised $1912.00. Thanks to those who helped out and thanks to MEIDD and in particular to our own
Elizabeth Jolly who brought these singers to us and offered to do this fund raiser. We appreciate all of you who attended and donated
money.
The Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land in Manitoba has filed a case against the federal gov-
ernment for taking away many of the Interim Federal Health Benefits which refugees in Can-
ada received. The sponsorship community was particularly concerned about refugees in their
first year, which is when most of the refugees received this benefit. The first year is a time of
welfare rate incomes and of great adjustment for refugees. Most Canadians on social assis-
tance receive such benefits. Plus for those of us sponsoring it will mean additional costs.
There will be no drug and very little dental coverage. Winnipeg recently had a family arrive
where the government did not advise them the refugee had been recently diagnosed with MS
and would need expensive, extensive drug coverage. The sponsors would need to cover that,
or allow her health to further deteriorate.
Marion Bulmer
Page 17
Please send your news to
**[email protected]
or place in maibox #19
**Note email address change!
NURTURING... Page 17 St. Thomas’ Times
DO YOU HAVE NEWS
TO SHARE?
On May 25th, the Day Trippers headed to the Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum and Tea House where Agnes Pier-
acci's father Peter Bakker, our knowledgeable Tour Guide (above right) gave the group an interesting and fascinating glimpse of
Parkland County’s history. Peter also entertained during lunch, reading some amusing poems, including The Lion and Albert by
Marriott Edgar (1932). A great day out.
Anyone who is free for a few hours during the day ( and some evenings) is invited to join the Day Trippers on these excursions.
They are a wonderful way to discover local history and get to know each other better, too. Always lots of fun and laughter. Call
Linda Cutler for more information and watch for the sign up lists in the foyer.
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charm-
ing gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust
Have You Read?
Out of the Darkness by Steve Taylor
—fascinating real life stories of people who have found a transcendent, spiri-
tual state of being after extreme suffering. All have in common the sense of
being one with all things, with no separation from the whole of life.
The Therapist’s Cat by Stephanie Sorrell
—explores the psychology of human relationships, spirituality, animal sen-
tience and evolution, and psychosocial issues. Uncompromising about our
treatment of animals and our own emotional health in relationship to the natu-
ral world.
WANTED
Hospitality Teams Coordinator.
(Sincere thanks to David Holehouse
who has served faithfully in this role for
the past three years!)
The coordinator makes the schedule for
the 9am hospitality teams and the 11am
roster, and invites new members to the
hospitality teams when needed.
Chris
Page 18
...WELL-BEING Page 18 St. Thomas’ Times
A sunny July 12th brought the Day Trippers out to the George Pegg Homestead and Botanic Garden north of the Hamlet of
Glenevis. Self-taught, George Pegg made some of the first provincial identifications of many plants, including the great-spurred
violet, the white angelica, mountain bladder ferns, and several bog plant species, and notably the identification of the bur-reed
(sparganium glomeratum), a plant previously found in only four other North American locations.
http://www.ruralrendezvoustour.com/our-members/george-pegg-botanic-garden.html 789-785-2957
Afterwards, the Day Trippers travelled to Val Quentin (below) for a light lunch at the Belcourts’ cottage on Lac St. Anne.
Elizabeth Jolly took the opportunity to practice her kayaking in preparation for the 2012 National Masters in Dartmouth and
World Masters in Turin, Italy in August 2013 .
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from an-
other person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of
those who have lighted the flame within us. ~Albert Schweitzer
Page 19
FUND RAISING Page 19 St. Thomas’ Times
Food Bank
is the first Sunday
of the month
Turkey Pie Bee
Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never,
ever have enough. ~Oprah Winfrey
~Fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry.
It is a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission...
~As a form a ministry, fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, entering a time of prayer, visiting the sick, or feed-
ing the hungry...
~To raise funds is to offer people the chance to invest what they have in the work of God. Whether they have much or
little is not as important as the possibility of making their money available to God. . . . God's Kingdom is a place of
abundance where every generous act overflows its original bounds and becomes part of the unbounded grace of God at
work in the world...
From The Spirituality of Fund-Raising by Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) a Roman Catholic priest who wrote many
books an spirituality.
FRUIT PIES 2012
As many of you know, we are done with the picking and cleaning of the fruit and prepar-
ing the fillings. We have made and sold the rhubarb/strawberry and the rhubarb/blueberry
pies.
What was very noticeable this year was Archie missing. He was always there to help set
up and to be the gopher in every area of the pie making. If he had been there on Saturday, he would have noticed that the styro-
foam pie plate was missing on top of the pies. I thought it fitting to share some of the pictures of him and other workers from
2011.
Also missing-- but will return-- were Florence and Gene. Florence is doing
well and said she needed time to grow her hair. Kinda cute, Florence. When
we have our coffee break people share about the food we’ve eaten, Helen’s
muffins being one of them.
Roy and Kay picked, pitted and bagged the cherries from their tree. Roy said that he had seen enough
cherries for awhile and probably will have the group help next year. We could send Bud over to pick, as
he has the set- up for picking berries. We may have to call on Linda to make us some of these bags.
We have had many new faces this year in the making of the pies. We could not have done the job without them. Dale and Jack
have been coming and helping, giving us a laugh or two with their jokes. Of course, we have the regular group of ladies that are
always there and they are so organized that we are breaking records for making the pies.
A group of the ladies taught Fiona, who had never made a pie, how to roll and make the shell. We recruited a
group of ladies that could crimp the pies. I thought I knew how to crimp, but let me tell you, it was suggested I do
other jobs. I must admit that after I had seen the crimped pies, they were so right. There is an art to this part of the
finishing of the pies. Linda has the cooking of four batches of filling on the two stove down
to an art.
The next two weeks we will be making the cherry pies. We will make some apple pies but to
date not sure how many we’ll have because of the hail damage.
Please watch the board for the sign- up sheets.
Page 20
KEEPING IN TOUCH... Page 20 St. Thomas’ Times
Lillian Grace and Kim
Bob and Margaret Adamson at the wedding of
their son David to Tina at St. Mark and St.
Phillip Anglican church in Calgary on June 30.
Brian McClatchie was busy grow-
ing delicious, juicy, very large
vegetables again this summer...
Jim and Marcia’s grand-
daughter Brittany Tyerman
(left) is featured on the front
cover of WE Summer/Fall
Magazine, along with a full
article. At 16, Brittany in
Grade 11 works part-time, is
active in multiple extracur-
ricular activities, does vol-
unteer work, and is a mem-
ber of the Edmonton Police
Service Cadet program. A
great role model, Brittany.
On May 28 Herb Belcourt was
presented with the Queen’s Dia-
mond Jubilee Medal at Govern-
ment House by Lieutenant Gov-
ernor of Alberta, the Honourable
Donald S. Ethell.
If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in
every situation, you will discover that your life will
suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nur-
tures the soul. ~Rabbi Harold Kushner
Reverend Stephen London
dropped by with his family to
introduce himself at our Coming
Together celebrations on August
21st . Stephanie and youngest
daughter Alex pictured.
Tom and Jean’s daughter
Andrea Aylard (left) has
written a book called The
Way We Love: Tripping
into Purpose in South
America. Great accom-
plishment, Andrea. (see
page 11) Desmond, Kelly and Cheri
nature's nostrils
—Henry Victor PhD—
did the poplars beat paper calendars
in announcing an imminent autumn
aren’t they nature’s nostrils to smell
air from far mountains, or that farther
coast carrying the frost to soon churn
them into soft snow to scatter in a sombre
mood melting human arrogance to move
faster and fly higher than the tallest hills
soon windows and doors will be shut
air-tight not to let grief of the deciduous
to enter hearts of men, women, and children
creating new music behind barred doors For those who remember Henry as our associate
priest, you may like to look at his blogs:
http://isaachenryvictor.blogspot.com/
Renzo and
I in Italy in
May—
Renzo with
the Lam-
borghini
Superleg-
gere that he drove, me with the Ferrari
I drove.
The two of us, white water rafting in
Canmore with friends in July (below).
agnes Pieracci
See pictures of Pearl and Jack Newman’s visit to St.
Paul’s Anglican church in Churchill, MB on page 9
Page 21
KEEPING IN TOUCH MINISTRY Page 21 St. Thomas’ Times
KEEPING IN TOUCH MINISTRY
This fall, Keeping in Touch will no longer be just a section of our church newsletter!
The Keeping in Touch (KIT) ministry has been developing
over the past four months under the leadership of Rev. Chris, Judy Purkis, Gerry Parlby, and Ruth Heine. In June, a training
day was held with a number of interested lay people, and a small team of lay visitors has been raised up to help us “Keep in
Touch”. Households from our parish list will be assigned to members of the KIT team, with the goal of each household
having the opportunity for a visit once a year.
If you receive a call from one of the KIT ministers, please take them up on the invitation for a visit. The only goal of the visit is for you and the visitor(s) to get to know one another. You
may even get some free prayer out of the deal!
Page 22
First Nations Prayer
Great Spirit of Love, we give thanks for animals, flowers and birds, for the great open spaces, for the sky and the run-
ning water and the roaring sea; for the quiet wonder of the stars and the moon, for the warmth of the sun, for the truth
and loyalty of friends, for the food that sustains our bodies and the sweet essences of the spirit which sustains our souls.
...SUMMER STYLE Page 22 St. Thomas’ Times
MY SUMMER VACATION
Can you guess who I am?
When I was asked if I was going anywhere this summer, I said, YES, I am going to Drumheller, no matter what. I am go-
ing to Drumheller because I want to see the dinosaur exhibits at the Tyrrell Museum.
I have been in Alberta for twelve years and never gone anywhere in Alberta for a vacation. Yup, twelve years. Vacation
or not I haven’t really been anywhere in Alberta so it was time to start.
I cannot say that now, thanks to three “very special friends”. These “very special friends” decided I should not go by my-
self, that perhaps they would come to Drumheller too. Not only Drumheller, but the Hoodoos, the eleven bridges to
Wayne (actually 9) and two after the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne. Best burgers they ever had. I am fascinated with the
terrain in this area and had no idea this is what I would experience.
We left the Drumheller area – next stop Calgary - and stopped at a little park to investigate a swing bridge and the view.
No, I thought – someone had to stay with the van. Well, truth be known, I like my feet on the solid ground. There was a
cute little white Church just outside Drumheller and a view point on down the road with breathtaking views. A person
should always learn a little history and this we accomplished by attending Heritage Park in Calgary. Never knew it existed
but I do now, as one of my “very special friends” suggested she would like to go there too while we were touring. Why
not? We were right in the neighbourhood. This was an entire day as there is so much to see, do and experience and my
other two “very special friends” hadn’t been for a long time and wanted to do this too. I told you I have three “very special
friends”. Can you imagine – they are doing this with me!
The Calgary Zoo (phenomenal). If you have not been, treat yourself to an amazing all day trip to many parts of the world
through their native animals. I did not last long in the snake section and opted to get some fresh air instead. I hear the ice
cream is pretty good, as we needed a break and used ice cream as an excuse. There is a casino in Calgary I saw the inside
of for a night or two. Yes, I must still work.
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb – oh sorry, back to my vacation as we continue on to the next stop -
Ellis’s Bluebird Farm near Lacombe. We took the back roads to get to this location; different landscape again with many
crops blowing in the breeze, puffy clouds, oil derricks and so much sunshine and blue sky. Such a peaceful place you
could easily spend a day there too. Daytrippers, you will not be disappointed. Even the birds did not create a problem for
one of my “very special friends”.
Hungry? No problem, as there is a cute little café with a chef on staff. How cool is that in the middle of nowhere. We had
many laughs over seatbelts, a van door at the back that would not open, changing shoes, the right make-up for the outfit.
And if all this was not enough we stopped at a huge mall, Cross Iron, and once again I was spoiled by “my very special
friends”.
I never had one of these before but my “very special friends” decided to refer to my vacation as my “bucket list”. Not a
bad bucket list, wouldn’t you say, and my “very special friends” certainly made sure I had a wonderful vacation and I
hope they did too. I know you guessed who I am so please come and ask me about my vacation. A huge thank you to my
“very special friends.”
Submitted by Anonymous
Page 23
WIT and... Page 23 St. Thomas’ Times
Ten reasons why men should not be ordained for ministry
10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from
the responsibility of being a parent.
8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as
chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be
“unnatural” for them to do ministerial tasks.
7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they
represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football
and basketball games demonstrates this.
5. Some men are handsome which may distract women worshippers.
4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional
male role. Throughout history, women have been recognized as not only
more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it.
This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants to settle
disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role
models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack
of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position
that all men should take.
1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being or-
dained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof, and perhaps
even lead the song service on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to
such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of
the church.
~Submitted by Jean Revill
Shampoo Warning
I don't know why I didn't figure this out
sooner! When I wash my hair in the shower,
the shampoo runs down my whole body.
Printed very clearly on the shampoo label is
this warning, "FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND
BODY" No wonder I have been gaining
weight! Well, I got rid of that shampoo and I
am going to shower with dishwashing liquid
because its label reads "DISSOLVES FAT
THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO
REMOVE."
******
How do you make God laugh?
Tell Him your plans.
Reasons Not To Mess With Children
A little girl was watching her mother do dishes
at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed her
mother had several strands of white hair stick-
ing out on her brunette head and asked, “Why
are some of your hairs white, Mum?”
Her mother replied, “Every time you do some-
thing wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one
of my hairs turns white.”
The little girl thought about this for a while and
then said, “Mummy, how come ALL of
grandma's hairs are white?”
~Submitted by Roland Teape
The children had been photographed and
the teacher was encouraging them to buy
a copy of the group picture.
“Just think how nice it will be to look at
it when you are all grown up and say,
'There's Jennifer. She's a lawyer. That's
Michael. He's a doctor.’” A small voice
at the back of the room rang out. “And
there's the teacher. She's dead.”
Submitted by Roland Teape
Be thankful we’re not getting all
the government we’re paying for.
~Will Rogers
I've learned that even when I have pains,
I don't have to be one. ~Maya Angelou
Whatever comes today is the harvest of our own sowing. Therefore we
accept this harvest with humility and thankfulness, knowing it comes to
teach and to help us become humble, so that through humility and simplic-
ity we may know the Creator.
~Prayer, Mindfulness and Inner Change
I am thankful for laughter, except
when milk comes out my nose.
~Woody Allen
Page 24
...WHIT Page 24 St. Thomas’ Times
A leaf dances in the wind and does not mind
what happens. If little tiresome things want to
go wrong, let them have a good time. The best
thing then is to laugh, cultivate a sense of hu-
mour. Let them go. It is you who is out of har-
mony, not the things which appear to go
wrong...
Thankfulness
~The art of true religion is to be thankful.
~Thankfulness is a Blessing. It is a form of Prayer.
~ God created the world, the heavens and all things. And God gave
thanks.
~Put your heart into the continual outpouring of thanksgiving for every-
thing: for life, for food, for the joy of living, even for those experiences
which may appear to be bitter.
~Let us give thanks for all we have received, yet let us also give thanks
for all we have been able to give.
~ We give thanks for the beauty we find in the hearts of men and women.
~We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.~ St. Francis of Assisi
Being thankful is not telling God you appreciate the fact that your life is not in shambles. If that is the basis of your gratitude, you are on slippery ground. Every day of your life you face the possibility that a blessing in your life may be taken away. But bless-ings are only signs of God's love. The real blessing, of course, is the love itself. Whenever we get too attached to the sign, we lose our grasp on the God who gave it to us. We are not ultimately grateful that we are still holding our blessings. We are grateful that we are held by God even when the blessings are slipping through our fingers. ~Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes
One Winter a man saw a snowdrop. He wondered
that a fragile flower could break through the frozen
soil and said, “Snowdrop, tell me about yourself.”
The flower replied, “I am no longer myself. I am now
yourself, for as you see and love me, so I become
your flower, blooming within your own heart. I am
now the flower of God thrusting through the frosted
soil which imprisons the heart. I am the promise of
God within your heart. From me learn to endure, for I
have braved all things to become yours.” ~From
“The Man Who Talked To Flowers” by Ivan Cooke
~As we have received, let us give.
The King’s Highway
Once upon a time, a king had a great highway built for the people who
lived in his kingdom. After it was completed, but before it was opened
to the public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many of
his subjects as desired to participate. The challenge was to see who
could travel the highway the best, and the winner was to receive a box of
gold.
On the day of the contest, all the people came. Some of them had fine
chariots, some had fine clothing and fancy food to make the trip a luxuri-
ous journey. Some wore their sturdiest shoes and ran along the highway
on their feet to show their skill. All day they traveled the highway, and
each one, when he arrived at the end, complained to the king about a
large pile of rocks and debris that had been left almost blocking the road
at one point, and that got in their way and hindered their travel.
At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line warily and
walked over to the king. He was tired and dirty, but he addressed the
king with great respect and handed him a small chest of gold. He said, “I
stopped along the way to clear a pile of rocks and debris that was block-
ing the road. This chest of gold was under it all. Please have it returned
to its rightful owner.”
The king replied, “You are the rightful owner.”
“Oh no,” said the traveler, “This is not mine. I’ve never known such
money.”
“Oh yes,” said the king. “You’ve earned this gold, for you won my con-
test.
He who travels the road best is he who makes the road better for those
who follow.
Submitted by Jean Aylard You are never too old to set another goal or to
dream a new dream.” ~C S Lewis
To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has
given us — and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a
gift of His love, every moment of existence is grace, for it brings with
us immense graces from Him.… Gratitude is therefore the heart of the
Christian life.
~Thomas Merton
~DISAPPOINTMENTS are God’s
APPOINTMENTS
Please make a note of our
new office hours and email
address on the front page!
