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Volume 5 Issue 5

May, 2020

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Washington National Cathedral https://cathedral.org/ St. Thomas’ Web page https://stthomassanford.dionc.org/ St. Thomas’ Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stthomas1896/ Forward Day by Day https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/ https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/podcast.php Audio Daily Morning Prayer https://amato.podbean.com/ Presiding Bishop Curry's Way of Love podcasts https://wayoflove.episcopalchurch.org/ Lectionary Lessons http://www.lectionarypage.net/ The Episcopal Church https://episcopalchurch.org/ The Diocese of North Carolina https://www.episdionc.org/

May Worship Resources

The St. Thomas’ Prayer List

For those who are ill: The Rev. Talmage Bandy; Carol Bradford; Ruth Cameron; Jean Cooke; Charlotte Hohenstein; Doris Jeannette; Ed Knipple; Mary Louise Matthews; Steven Drue Michael; Jane Miller; Christina Weber. Those who are ill from Covid-19. For strength and guidance: All world leaders, world caregivers, and essential personnel who are at risk. The Vestry and Staff

For all military deployed and at home:

Thanksgiving: For the continuing growth of St. Thomas’

New Cookbook ...We Need Recipes!

Take time during our “quarantine” to include your best culinary delights into the new cookbook file. Here’s how:

1. Enter the Website typensave.com.

2. Find Log In.

3. Enter User Name: woc27330.

4. Enter Contributor Password: juice219.

5. Follow the instructions to enter your recipes.

Thank you for preserving these recipes for our church community.

V OLU ME 5 ISS UE 5 Page 3

Despite everyone being stuck at home and unable to meet in person, during Holy Week, Samantha Michael, Director of Children and Teen’s Ministries, wasn’t going to let anything stop her from teaching the teens of the church about the five precious days before Christ was crucified.

Every evening at 7:30, the teens would meet online via Zoom for lessons about the individual, important days of our precious Savior’s last week. We also had questions answered, such as why we use palm leaves on Palm Sunday, or what Jesus’ disciples did for Him regarding His arrest, or even how an innocent man was led to such a gruesome death. Here are some of the things the teens wished to share: “To think there was so much information on the Lord’s last days that I never knew is insane. I mean it's right there in the Bible, just sitting there, and I'm so honestly thankful I got the chance to better understand what Holy Week really is!” “I thought it was very smooth and interesting. I had a lot of fun doing it, and I have to say, my understanding of the Lord has also infinitely increased.” “I learned a lot that I didn't know and had an enjoyable experience. Now that it's all said and done, I can confidently say my understanding of my religion is greatly increased.” What was only going to be a one week event is now turning into something more, as the group is now interested in learning about other topics in the Bible and growing together in Christ. We are so thankful that even during a pandemic, we are still able to learn about God and the incredible sacrifices He has made for us.

—Sydney Michael

Holy Week ...from the Students

A blessing that has come from our “sheltering in place” was a week-long Bible study of Holy Week with the St. Thomas’ Teens. As circumstances permitted us to meet each evening, we were able to do some very in-depth examining of the last few days of our Lord’s life. We all (myself included) were captivated by the exhaustive details that were so carefully orchestrated in order to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah! The teens were very engaged in the study and offered some astute insight of their own.

As wonderful as this news is, the group has decided to continue our study of scripture together! The teens will take turns choosing topics, and we are hoping to meet twice a month on Zoom. The Book of Job has been chosen as our next study – wow, they just want to really dive into the deep end, huh?

I could not be prouder of our young men and ladies – I was not shocked by their response to my invitation for the Holy Week study, but I was delightfully surprised. I am completely overjoyed that they have chosen to continue to grow in the Lord together. We have some remarkable young people in our congregation, and I am truly blessed to be a part of their spiritual growth!

—Samantha Michael

St. Thomas’ Teens Holy Week Study

Page 4 T HE CR OSS TI ES V OLU ME 5 ISS UE 5

The Parish Staff

The Rev. Bruce Heyvaert, Rector

Dr. Jo Ann Bowman,

Director of Music

June Burbage, Organist

Beth Wood,

Parish Administrator

Katie Yuskevich, Nursery Caretaker

Tasha Barrett,

Assistant Nursery Caretaker

We’re on the Web!

http://stthomassanford.dionc.org/

Facebook: St. Thomas Episcopal Church—Sanford

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church “The Church with the Red Doors on Steele Street”

312 N. Steele Street

Sanford, NC 27330

Phone: (919) 774-8644

Email:

stthomasnc@icloud.com

Due to coronavirus pan-demic, services are can-

celled until further notice.

The Vestry

Karen Huey, Sr. Warden

Randy Seymore, Jr. Warden Karen Huey, Acting Clerk

Serving through 2020

Kelly Burke

Barbara Duffy Joann Thaxton

Serving through 2021

Joan Griswold

Karen Huey Randy Seymore

Serving through 2022

Sue Bullwinkel

David Patterson James Jessup

We extend a warm welcome from our church community.

We at St. Thomas’ believe that:

Whatever your religious background

Whatever your history

However you have come to be drawn to the Lord

You are welcome to walk your journey of life with us at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church.

Our Mission:

“To grow in the knowledge and love of God through our worship of Him, our service to Him, and our study of His Word; and to bring others to know Jesus Christ as Savior within the fellowship of the Church”