News from St. Thomas' Parish Episcopal Church, Washington, DC. http://www.stthomasdc.org Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:25:38 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.stthomasdc.org/images/M_images/St-T-Logo-round.png http://www.stthomasdc.org News from St. Thomas' Parish Episcopal Church, Washington, DC. http://www.stthomasdc.org/general/love-free-or-die-gene-robinson-documentary.html Love Free or Die A Reel Progress Screening February 13, 2012, 7:00pm - 9:30pm Admission is free. Introduction: Jeff Krehely, Director of LGBT Research and Communications Project, Center for American Progress Distinguished panelists: Bishop Gene Robinson, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Macky Alston, Director, Love Free Or Die Moderator: Alyssa Rosenberg, Culture Blogger, ThinkProgress Love Free or Die is about a man whose two defining passions are in direct conflict: his love for God and for his partner Mark. Gene Robinson is the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the historic traditions of Christendom. His consecration in 2003, to which he wore a bullet-proof vest, caused an international stir, and he has lived with death threats every day since. The film follows Robinson from small town churches in the New Hampshire North Country to Washington's Lincoln Memorial to London's Lambeth Palace, as he calls for all to stand for equality-inspiring bishops, priests, and ordinary folk to come out from the shadows and change history. The Center for American Progress, with special thanks to AFI SilverDocs, GLAAD, Groundswell, Integrity USA, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Institute for Welcoming Resources, and St. Thomas Parish, presents a special screening of Love Free or Die, followed by a panel discussion and Q A session featuring Bishop Gene Robinson, director Macky Alston, and ThinkProgress culture blogger Alyssa Rosenberg. February 13, 2012, 7:00pm - 9:30pm Space is extremely limited. RSVP required. REGISTER HERE (http://www.americanprogress.org/events/2012/02/lovefreeordie.html/rsvp). Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed. Landmark E Street Cinema E Street between 10th and 11th Streets, NW Washington, DC 20004 Nearest Metro: Blue, Orange, or Red Line to Metro Center For more information, call 202-682-1611. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:42:56 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/education-formation/spring-confirmation-may-12.html Interested in Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation? The next diocesan service for confirmation/reception/reaffirmation will be May 12. Preparation classes will begin at the start of March and continue through the middle of May. If you are interested in confirmation or in reception into the Episcopal Church or in publicly reaffirming your commitment to Christ in the Episcopal Church or if you simply have questions, please speak to Nancy Lee. A good, downloadable description of how the Episcopal Church views Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation can be found here (http://stbenedicts.episcopalatlanta.org/images/customer-files/St_Benedict_s_Episcopal_Church/confirmationfaq.pdf) . More details to follow soon. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:38:28 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/outreach/souper-bowl-of-caring-feb.-5.html Souper Bowl Sunday - Feb 5 Football Food . . . and Madonna! Join us on Sun, Feb. 5, after Taizé (~6PM), for the heavenliest Super Bowl party around. Of course there's football on the big screen in the Guild Room. Also, in coordination with Souper Bowl of Caring, we are asking people to bring money and/or canned goods/non-perishable food items which will then be donated to Martha's Table. Bring food and drinks to share. Bring money or food to donate. And most importantly bring yourself + partner or spouse or friend/other to enjoy the game and help fight hunger. (Btw, Madonna's doing the halftime show.) Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:36:31 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/general/calendar-of-2011-holiday-services.html The Rev. Dr. Nancy Lee Jose, Preacher and Celebrant (staff-profiles.html) Christmas Day: Sunday, December 25 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with The Rev. Dr. Nancy Lee Jose, Rector, as Preacher and Celebrant (staff-profiles.html) New Years Day: Sunday, January 1 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with The Rev. Olivia Hilton, Preacher and Celebrant Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:17:51 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/parish-life/society-of-st.-thomas-christmas-party-potluck.html Society of St. Thomas Christmas Party Potluck Saturday, December 10th from 7 to 10 Home of Louie Stewart and John Carter 2349 South Queen Street, Arlington, Va. 22202 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: Louie or John, 703-892-0034 or jsclms@verizon.net Come and enjoy the Christmas season with your friends from St. Thomas'. Bring a dish, a beverage or a Christmas treat. Please let us know if you are able to attend by December 3rd. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:05:16 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/education-formation/bible-study-on-mark-during-advent.html With 2012 around the corner, there has been media attention about the end of the world. Before that, you've probably seen at least one movie about the end of it all -- whether its due to cosmic divine intervention or a more ordinary stray asteroid. The Advent and Christmas seasons that we will immerse ourselves in during the next several weeks are about the expectation and arrival of Jesus the first time. Yet many of the biblical readings we hear especially in the Season of Advent also are about the return of Jesus in the future, if not the end of time. The Gospel according to Mark is thought to be the oldest of the four Gospel accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. But Mark doesn't talk about the birth of Jesus at all, like the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Instead he raises for us some provocative questions about the return of Jesus in the future. • So what did the earliest followers of Jesus believe about the return of Jesus? • And how does Mark treat the topic in his gospel? • Does this apply to our lives and spirituality, anyway, as Christians living in the 21st century? Please join St. Thomas's seminarian Becky Zartman from Virginia Theological Seminary and her lay committee from our parish in a four-part Advent adult education series, to be held after the 11:00 service on November 27th and December 4th, 11th, and 18th. The discussion will be about an hour, and light refreshments will be served. Please join us in learning and discussion as we wait and prepare during the season of Advent. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:22:19 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/general/dec.-11-stirrup-sunday-with-gene-robinson.html SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 - BISHOP GENE ROBINSON, CELEBRANT AND PREACHER. The Third Sunday of Advent in the Episcopal Church goes by the slightly tongue-in-cheek moniker of Stirrup Sunday, probably first doodled on the back of some anonymous Sunday bulletin by someone not listening to the sermon but rather reading again the words of the Collect of the day that begins, Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us ... ! So we're going to stir things up a bit on December 11th by hosting the Bishop of New Hampshire, The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who will be joining us at worship as Celebrant and Preacher and then for Coffee Hour and Conversation after the 11:00 a.m. service. +Gene is a long-time friend of St. Thomas' Parish; he and and our rector, Nancy Lee Jose, have known one another for longer than he has been famous in Episcopal and Anglican circles, having met at a conference they both were attending at The College of Preachers at Washington National Cathedral more than a decade ago. He has been with us as Bishop Robinson ; to kick off our Capital Campaign to raise the money for our new sanctuary; as Gene to eat and laugh and pray and play with us. We are proud to welcome him into our midst again during this holy season of Advent -- and his deliciously wicked wit, soul-deep spirituality, and clear-eyed vision of what God's Reign looks like when it breaks through into the midst of ordinary people on their journey of faith together as the church. Put December 11th on your Calendar, and be there. It's sure to stir up some more memorable moments! Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:49:29 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/worship/advent-christmas-the-furniture-is-moving.html The First Sunday of Advent, begins the Christian Calendar's New Year. To mark this, we are doing several things to call our attention to the spiritual themes of the season. As our Worship Committee reminds us: Advent is a time of waiting, of watching, of hoping for the coming of Christ. ... We are marking this season of reflection and preparation by re-orienting our worship space with two sections of seats facing each other and a central table, upon which the Advent candles will be lit. As we approach Christmas, this table will come to life with the foliage of the season. And through scripture, prayers, music, and quiet contemplation we will invite God's Word to speak to us all. 1. The Advent and Christmas Seasons both focus our attention on the core belief of Christianity -- that in Jesus of Nazareth, God's eternal Word took flesh and came to dwell among us as one of us. The Gospel of John says it eloquently: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory .... (John 1:1, 14) So for a while the Altar is brought closer into our midst, as God drew nearer to humanity in the child in the manger. And the lectern draws nearer, as we gather around the Word. 2. The First Sunday of Advent also comes right on the heels of Christ the King Sunday. The symbolism is intentional -- the King of Glory, whose arrival we await with expectation in Advent, will come in an entirely unanticipated way at Christmas, not as royalty, but as a fragile child born to a working class family. St. Paul later described this dramatic reversal: Christ Jesus, ... though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, ... being born in human likeness. (Phil. 2:6-7) So we are seated facing one another, with everyone on the same level. This is so we don't focus on seeing things as we do on hearing them -- we focus no on the leaders of our worship experience in the Seasons of Advent and Christmas, but rather on the miracle that God came in the midst of people just like those all around us, whose faces we see more directly. You might want to change the side where you sit, just to notice different things. Symbolizing the Word being emptied into the world, at the distribution the altar party and bread and wine come down into the middle of the congregation. We celebrate our common humanity by serving, and being served by, one another. Those not wishing to receive Bread or Wine simply remain seated -- still part of us -- as we all are blessed by Christ passing among us, really present in our midst. We hope these changes will help us all look at ourselves, and one another, and the miracles of the season, in fresh ways. Advent turns our attention inward in anticipation, as our chairs have been turned inward. Then Christmas will turn our attention across to each other as Christ-bearers, as extensions of the incarnation, carrying the miracle of Christmas to others. In the meantime, be hospitality incarnate to our guests, who may not realize that you're temporarily as disoriented as they are! Be gentle. Be generous. Let Christ into the middle of your unfamiliarity, as Jesus came into the world of creation, a vulnerable child with much to learn, but even more to give. Rector, St. Thomas' Parish Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:16:45 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/worship/7-p.m.-thursday-advent-evening-prayer.html ADVENT EVENING PRAYER - THURSDAYS 7 P.M. NOVEMBER 27, DECEMBER 4, 11, 18 Advent is traditionally a time of waiting, silence, and reflection on the miracle of the incarnation of God as flesh. This season, experience it with a Beginner's wonder. Commit yourself to four weeks of Evening Prayer, sanctifying the close of day with light from the Advent wreath, prayer, and silence. For those who wish, we also offer a time of silent prayer or meditation starting at 6:30. Members of our healing ministry are also available then for healing prayers. As part of the service, there will be a ten minute focus and reflection on Benedictine spirituality by Joan Chittister each of the four weeks. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:42:38 +0100 http://www.stthomasdc.org/parish-life/christ-the-king.html CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY FESTIVE PARISH COFFEE HOUR / POTLUCK Sunday, Nov. 20, Noon The Parish Life Cluster invites the entire parish to an internationally themed coffee hour on Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday before Advent. We'll be making crowns, hosting games for the young at heart, and enjoying each other's favorite food and drink from around the world in honor of the theme. We're also asking everyone to Think Globally - Act Locally by bringing a donation of canned goods/non perishable food items so that we might corporately express a bit of Christ's love right in our own back yard. Please email Jeremy Ayers (jeremyayers2@hotmail.com) about your own beloved dish or beverage - this will help us plan a Parish Potluck to savor! We'll also let you know about some upcoming opportunities to slow down in Advent and prepare for the season ahead. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:46:55 +0100