St. Thomas' Parish will hold a service of Celebration & Blessing of Couples Living in Commuitted Relationships on Sunday June 8th at 6:30 pm. The service is one of many events that St. Thomas' is planning as part of DCPride 2008. Other events include a cook-out prior to marching in the Pride parade and a booth at the Pride festical.

On June 10, 2007, couples gathered in our outdoor park to have their relationships blessed and celebrated as part of Capitol Pride Weekend. See a YouTube presentation of the event, created by parishioner Louie Stewart, below.

A users' guide for Episcopalians

A suffragan bishop is an assisting bishop who does not automatically succeed a diocesan bishop. A suffragan bishop may be elected bishop or bishop coadjutor. A diocese may elect a suffragan bishop, but no diocese may have more than two suffragan bishops except with the special consent of a General Convention.

A users' guide for Episcopalians

Diocesan bishops may be succeeded by bishops-coadjutor upon resignation of diocesan jurisdiction A bishop coadjutor is an assistant bishop with the right of succession upon the resignation of the diocesan bishop. Before a bishop coadjutor is elected, the diocesan bishop must consent to such an election and state the duties which will be assigned to the bishop coadjutor when duly ordained and consecrated.

There have been several members of our parish who have asked me about the use of incense. I thought a summary from Marion J. Hatchett’s book, Commentary on the American Prayer Book, would be insightful for many of us. “This is the first edition of the Prayer Book (1979 BCP) to mention the use of incense…In the ancient Jewish temple an incense offering was burned by the priest every morning and evening at the altar of incense located in front of the veil shielding the holy of holies. Incense, thought to have purificatory powers…was a worthy expensive gift, thought to be pleasing to God and efficacious for the atonement of sins. Incense signified the ascent of prayers of the people to God. The smoke of incense is also seen in both the Old and New Testaments as the manifestation of God’s glory. Even Zechariah’s vision comes at the offering of incense.”

A users' guide for Episcopalians 

One of the three orders of ordained ministers in the church, bishops are charged with the apostolic work of leading, supervising, and uniting the church. Bishops stand in the apostolic succession, maintaining continuity in the present with the ministry of the Apostles. Diocesan bishops hold jurisdiction in their dioceses, with particular responsibility for the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the church.