The Diocese of Washington is planning another mission trip to Honduras for this summer. The tentative dates are July 27 - August 3, 2008. These dates may move up or back by one to two days depending upon the airfare the diocese is able to get. It would be great to have some St. Thomas' parishioners on the trip. So far, Melissa Barrett is planning to go to visit the village of El Cerrón, where St. Thomas' has sponsored a basic grains project, and the Copan ruins. If you decide to go, please note that the deadline for sending in your check for the airfare is fast approaching -- March 24th.

A users' guide for Episcopalians

Today marks the halfway point (more or less) of the season of Lent. The length of this season—40 days—is a symbolic reflection of a number of Biblical stories, including the 40 days Noah spent on the ark, the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt, and the 40 days Christ spent fasting and praying in the desert before beginning his public ministry. All of those stories revolve around a time of waiting and preparation, and so does the season of Lent as we wait and prepare for Easter.

I have been a practicing Episcopalian for more than a quarter of a century and an active member of St. Thomas for roughly two years, a parish I strongly feel to be my spiritual home. At St. Thomas I have served on the Stewardship Committee, Flower Guild and as a Eucharistic Minister.

Originally from western Pennsylvania, Tim Elig has lived in the D.C. area for a quarter of a century. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. in psychology from Gannon University. He has taught numerous psychology courses and is published in a variety of journals.

I'm both honored and humbled to have been asked to be a candidate for the vestry at St. Thomas'. St. Thomas' is the first church I have belonged to in more than twenty years, and by the third week I was here it felt like home. I began attending in July 2006, and by Labor Day I knew that I would become a member.

I have been a regular attendee at St. Thomas' for about two or three years, although I discovered St. Thomas’ almost ten years ago. I currently serve on the Altar Guild and the Building and Grounds Committee, and I also serve as a reader and Eucharistic minister. Last fall, I was asked to serve out Strother Murray's term on the Vestry.