The Saint Thomas Book Club continues on Tuesday, February 5 at 10 am in the South Room with Dr. Perry’s book, The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, discovering how trauma affects the child’s mind and how traumatized children can recover. Our next discussion is on Chapter 11: Healing Communities. Relationships are the agents of change for traumatized children, and the most powerful therapy is human love. How do we build such a community in a modern world?
Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C, January 27, 2019 Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 St Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Leo Loyola Last Sunday was clearly a huge milestone for Saint Thomas. We were, our Senior Warden Nancy LeGros puts it in her letter to Saint Thomas in our recent Doubter, “privileged to witness a long-standing wrong being made right”. The observance of same-sex marriages in this space has been long overdue. Four years long overdue, since the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples had the constitutional right to marry in this country. Seven years long overdue, since the Episcopal Church passed a resolution approving an official liturgy for blessing same-sex unions. Thirteen years long overdue, since General Convention adopted a resolution stating that “gay and lesbian persons are by Baptism full members of the Body of Christ”. Or as Bishop Gene put…
The historical impact of Sunday’s same-sex marriage celebration stretched far beyond the sacred walls of Saint Thomas. Positive words of encouragement poured in from Facebook posts and articles written up about Saint Thomas. In short, a whole lot of people were cheering us on Sunday beyond the people in the pews. Listen to Bishop Gene Robinson’s message via audio rebroadcast > Click the links to read articles: Dallas Voice – Same-sex marriage begins in 3 Dallas Episcopal churches Episcopal News – ‘Today feels like a miracle’ for same-sex couples in two Dallas parishes
Beyond the Pew Our next event will be our Annual Chili Cookoff. It will take place on February 16. Stay tuned for further details. The Gathering Join us in helping bring Christ’s love by serving food to Dallas’s homeless community. If interested, we will meet at the Parish Hall around noon. The service is at Thanks-Giving Square at 1 pm on Sunday, April 7 and again on Sunday, June 16.
We’d like to introduce our new parish leaders, recently commissioned by Mother Joy during our recent annual meeting: Vestry Nancy LeGros (Senior Warden) Steven Lee (Junior Warden) Dianna Rooney Jean Edwards Charles Mullins Dale Lee Jack McCrosky Todd Frary Kenneth Goodwin Mike Gsell (Treasurer) Endowment Committee Members Joe DeuPree Jerry Knight Matt Rooney Denise Glass (Chancellor) Rusty Rippamonti (Assistant Chancellor) Delegates to Diocesan Convention Fred Ellis Jean Edwards A special “thank you for your service” goes to our outgoing leaders: Ginger Reeder (Sr. Warden) David Hess (Jr. Warden) Rett Evans A Letter from Our New Senior Warden What a joyous week it has been for St. Thomas! It is not often that we are privileged to witness a long-standing wrong being made right, but that is exactly what occurred at the Marriage Celebration this last Sunday. In the sanctuary, in front of the altar, we celebrated the sacramental grace of…
The vestry of Saint Thomas was honored and overjoyed to meet Bishop Wayne Smith, Saturday, January 12. Bishop Smith stated that his role as bishop is to provide for our parish’s pastoral and spiritual care. Bishop George Sumner will continue to oversee the business and financial affairs of Saint Thomas. We expect our first official Bishop’s visit to take place on May 26, Memorial Day weekend. In the meantime, here are a couple articles to help you get to know our new Bishop: Bishop Wayne’s Bio: https://www.diocesemo.org/about/diocese/bishop-wayne-smith Bishop Wayne Will Assist in the Diocese of Dallas: https://www.diocesemo.org/news/2018/11/14/bishop-wayne-will-assist-diocese-dallas
Over the past several years many couples at St Thomas have expressed their desire to get married here in their home parish but this has not been possible due to the policy our Diocese. Not knowing if this would change, many of you have been married in other places, sometimes even in other Episcopal churches outside of our Diocese. As you know by now, this situation was changed by the passing of B012 at General Convention 2018. In the week following that decision I made a statement at the July Vestry Meeting informing the Vestry of my intention to proceed with performing same sex marriages at St Thomas. Beginning Advent I of this year, this involves following the new guidelines provided by the Church. The Vestry voted unanimously to support my decision and I provided both my and the Vestry’s statement to Bishop Sumner on July 18, 2018. Realizing how…
First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord, Year C, January 13, 2019 Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29 Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 St Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Leo Loyola I can make a claim that most of you can’t. I was baptized twice in my life. The first time happened when I was barely three months. I obviously don’t remember anything about it. But I do remember the second time quite well. It was a Saturday afternoon at a beach in Waikiki. My church friends huddled around me, as we prayed and sang. My college roommate Cord who had been discipling me for months led me through the crystal-blue waves. He stopped, and asked me again, “Are you sure you want to do this?” I said “Yes, let’s do this!” I pinched my nose and contorted my face, as my roommate dunked me back-first into the cool…
On Sunday, January 6, a dedicated few from Saint Thomas helped with our friends from The Gathering, a street ministry to, with and for Dallas’s local homeless community. Come join us in our efforts to be a “church without walls” at Thanks-Giving Square on April 7 and June 16.
Want to enjoy a small group setting of 5-7 folks in which you share a meal and get to know each other? Consider joining a Foyer group. Foyer groups are a chance to visit and socialize outside of church with people from across the parish. There are no “rules,” and there surely is nothing that says you have to host a sit down dinner in your home. Each dinner group rotates having a meal at each group member’s home. The host usually provides the main course. The other group members each bring an appetizer, a salad, a dessert, or beverages. In some cases, the host of each month does the entire meal, with the guests bringing beverages. You decide as a group how that will work. You are invited to sign up for the January – June 2019 cycle of Foyers. Newcomers are especially invited to join. Please use the…
© 2025 Episcopal Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Dallas. All Rights Reserved.
