The Steeple Bell

Information for the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Family, February 2019

From Pastor Shirley . . .

Dear Beloved Family of God at St. Thomas,

Well here we are, once again, at the beginning of a whole new year. Whatever was good, joyful, challenging or downright bad in this past year can only be remembered now and not ever recaptured to have again or do over.

In May of this year, I will have been your pastor here at St. Thomas for twelve years. As May grows closer and, God willing, I move into my 13th year here with you, I feel more encouraged re where we presently are as a congregation than ever before.

We are still within St. Thomas Church’ 175th celebratory year of witnessing to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and as a faith community in this city of Trenton and our surrounding communities. Perhaps, it is the length of the existence of St. Thomas Church that has sparked new life and, maybe, an overall awe at the thought of all the saints of God who have gone before us. I hope so!

It is a truth that we, current members of St. Thomas Church, are here today benefitting from the faith of the saints in ages past and their spirit of keeping on keeping on for Christ until He either returns or we go home to Him. These past saints of God were faithful and carried out, collectively, their calling and ministry as a church that God had for them as He has a calling and ministry for each one of us, individually.

What is God calling you to do for Him, His Church and the world He loves and gave His life for on the cross? I can’t answer what He may be calling any one of you to in the way of ministry. I can observe from conversations with you, or having known you over time where I think your gifts may lie. Or, if you aren’t sure what God might be calling you to in the way of a ministry and you want to know because you have a desire to serve, then I can pray for and with you. We can have a conversation about this and prayerfully discern together where God is leading you.

I absolutely 100% believe if you or I want to serve God that He will speak, or reveal in some way what He has in mind for me and you. After all, we know from Scripture that God said this to His disciples, “The harvest (of souls) is plentiful, but the laborers (to bring in the harvest of souls) are few (not enough); therefore ask the Lord of the harvest (Jesus) to send out laborers into His harvest (the world).”

God calls us as His Church to minister in the world to people re whatever need he or she has in the way of an ongoing concern, loss, or heartache in such a way that individuals and people see Jesus in us; in you and me! Most members of the Church have encountered Jesus in some way while attending a service, or most often out there in the world through a family member, a friend, or someone else sharing their own personal experience of, or pathway to Jesus.

In general, things are going well here at St. Thomas, but we know as the Church today that we are called to build, increase the Kingdom (family) of God. We need to grow in numbers here at St. Thomas! It will help, and we will be stronger as a faith community if all our members make it a priority, if physically able, to be at worship often and take up a ministry. Jesus’ expectation is that we be active as His disciples. It is also our sacred duty to preserve this church not as a dead monument but as a living icon of the Spirit of God present here in us and among us for future generations until Jesus returns. What must you or I do? Whatever it takes! Faithfully, Rev. Shirley +

Rev. Shirley’s Contact Information:

Cell:(734) 934-0748

Home: (734)-925-1736

E-mail: revshirleymcw@yahoo.com

The Steeple Bell

A monthly publication

of

St. Thomas Episcopal Church 2441 Nichols Drive

Trenton, MI 48183-2486 734-676-3122

Web Site: stthomastrenton.org E-mail: stthomastrenton@gmail.com

The head of the Church, Jesus Christ!

The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan

& Rector of St. Thomas Church

The Very Rev. Shirley McWhorter-Vicar

Ramona Moyski-Secretary

Carol Hoggard-Bookkeeper

Barbara Conroy-Music Director

Gerald Eory-Custodian

Bishop’s Committee

Term expires Jan-2020 Term expires Jan-2021

Mike Krupa (Warden) Cheryl Koerber

Gary Sonnenberg Sherry Fegreus

Kathy Zook Scott Abernathy

Secretary to the Bishop’s Committee:

Treasurer: Bishop’s Committee

Office Hours

Monday – 3:30am - 6:00pm

Tues- Thurs- 9:00am-1:00pm & 3:30pm-6:00pm

Friday 8:00am-4:00pm

Worship Services:

Sunday, 8:00am & 10:00am Holy Eucharist

Wednesday, 10:30am Holy Eucharist (Sept-May) and Seasonally as Announced

Christian Education

Children & Youth 10:00am Sundays

Adults-Wed 11:00am (Sept-May) and

Seasonally as Announced

Ways to Participate

Beyond Worship:

If you have an idea for a ministry or a group that

you would like the church to be involved in, please

speak to Rev. Shirley, and we’ll see what we can do

to make it happen.

Invite someone to worship or Bible study with

you, and offer to pick them up.

If you haven’t seen someone in worship lately,

give them a call or send a card.

Invite a neighbor for coffee and offer to pray

with them.

Volunteer for a committee.

Help generate some content for our church’s

social media platforms:

Facebook: St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Website: stthomastrenton.org

For example, take a picture of something that

speaks to you of God and his love and share it on

your favorite social media site (be sure to tag our

church)

2

3

02 Patricia Hall 12 James Elgin

06 Andrea Vidusic 16 Brian Weston

08 Jacki Klein 27 Ginny Lickliter

10 Susan Weston 28 Beth Ann Mace

2018 Convention Delegates and Deanery (Downriver Area Council) Representatives

Convention Delegates are: Janet Pounds, Nancy Sutherland, and Laura Krupa.

Deanery (Downriver Area Council) Representatives are:

Janet Pounds, Kathy Zook We still need a third person, If you are interested in

serving. Contact Rev. Shirley.

Thanks to all for your willingness to serve!

(Rev) Shirley

“Lenten Pancake Kick-off”

The Lenten season will be just around the corner

and we will be replacing the traditional “Pancake

Supper” with a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday,

March 3rd at coffee hour. Please plan to enjoy

pancakes , sausage, coffee and juice.

Free will donations will be gladly accepted.

TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS

Sue’s Tai Chi classes will begin Mondays for eight weeks starting March 25 through May 13. She will have two classes, 10am and one at 11:30 am. The first class is an advanced beginner’s class. The requirement is that you have taken the beginner class within the last year and are comfortable with the movements. That class will begin at 10 am in the Guild Hall.

The second class is the beginner class and will begin at 11:30. Both classes are limited to ten participants. If anyone is interested they can contact Sue by email at sgeoryto@gmail.com or phone. 734-934-4446

See main hallway bulletin board for more

information regarding the Tai Chi.

Outreach

At the Outreach Committee meeting

on January 21st ,

we asked our selves,

"What would Jesus do to help those

who are working without pay during the

government shut-down?"

We decided to reach out to the families of the

Downriver Border Patrol and Coast Guard

personnel stationed in Gibraltar by providing

gift certificates to the St. Thomas Thrift Shop.

Intercessory Phone Prayer Circle

Beth Ann Mace is the new leader of the phone

Intercessory prayer circle. Thank you, Beth Ann!

Lea Donna Plaza will remain on the circle as a

prayer but has retired as the leader.

Thank you, Lea Donna Plaza for your service.

Sunday, March 24th will be a special day at our church as we wrap-up of the festivities celebrating the 175th anniversary of the found-ing of St. Thomas.

After the 10:00 service there will be a salad and dessert luncheon. (Look for a sign-up sheet in the church foyer.) Following the meal we will move to the chapel where we will learn about the six Martha-Mary chapels built by Henry Ford Foundation-including our own chapel.

Millie and Chuck Webster know a lot about the histories of the 6 chapels and have volunteered to share their insights with us.

It's fun to hear them talk about the chapels and how they have changed over the years. It should be a special day. Do plan to attend.

Millie and Chuck Webster are wondering if anyone has any knowledge about the Edison Institute School that was associated with our Martha-Mary chapel when it was in Macon, Michigan.

If you have information, please contact Fran Felty and she will pass on the information.

Martial Arts

"Come join us on Saturday mornings!

The martial arts classes are for people of all ages

and abilities. We have good time practicing with each other in warm, relaxed atmosphere. You don't need any prior experience or any particular level of strength or condition.

We adjust the each person's training to where they are and help them move forward from there.

Always had a secret dream to learn how to use a sword or a staff?

Come indulge yourself and learn. Don't worry about bad knees or other problems. We've got those already and are used to working around them.

Come join us for some training. It's great for working on balance and movement, and it beats watching television on a Saturday morning. We have a great time together and we'd love to have you join us!"

Peter Boylan

The Grosse Ile Chorale will present a concert of Spirituals and Gospel Music

Sunday, March 24, at 3 PM

Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, 9725 Horsemill, Grosse Ile, MI.

Guest composer and conductor, Stacey V. Gibbs, will be in residence that weekend to rehearse selected works with the singers. In addition to the Chorale, the Presbyterian Adult Choir, Parker Chorale, and Grosse Ile Children's Choir will also perform.

The event will last just over an hour followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Baskets will be available for a free-will offering to offset expenses for this event. St. Thomas Episcopal Church participants include Barbara Conroy, Laura Krupa, and Ron Puchalski.

4

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Bishop’s Committee Meeting Minutes

January 10, 2019

*Opening Prayer/Meditation: The Very Rev. Shirley McWhorter

*Attendance: Rev. Shirley McWhorter, Carol Hoggard, Cheryl Koerber, Sherry Fegreus, Kathy Zook, Scott Abernathy, Gary Sonnenberg. *Absent: Mike Krupa

*Financial Update: Carol Hoggard, bookkeep-er gave report. We are projected to be in the positive this year. Scott made a motion to accept the 2019 budget.

Sherry seconded, all in favor. Motion to accept the December financial report set forth by Kathy, seconded by Scott, all in favor. *Minutes of last meeting: Corrections: Under new business it states the monies for the boilers to come from the MUST fund. It should be stated that money to replace boilers will come from donations as well. Motion to accept the minutes from the December meeting made by Scott and seconded by Gary, all in favor. *Ministry: Way of Love Covenant, will be ta-bled for now. *Communications: Scott received a thank you card from Rev. Shirley and Carol Hoggard for Christmas gifts. Rev. Shirley received a sketch of the main church from Mr. Lauer. Rev. Shirley sent a thank you note to Mr. Lauer. *Acknowledgments: Thank you to Carol Hoggard for her hard work on the 2019 budget. Thank you to the altar guild for all their work on a beautiful Christmas Eve service. Thank you to the choir and choir master Barbara. Thank you to Nicolas Abernathy for Christmas Eve child care. Thank you to Kim Abernathy for her work on scrip. Thank you to the church staff for their dedication and hard work.

Thank you to the coffee hour volunteers.

5

*New Business: Scott has been on the phone collecting information on the furnace problem at the rectory. Scott recommends getting other estimates from Superior H & C and Expert H & C. Scott made a motion to have up to $10,000.00 from the MUST fund available to pay for repairs or replacement of the furnace at the rectory. This will be at wardens’ (Scott & Mike) discretion to move forward. Second by Kathy, all in favor.

Annual meeting will be held on January 27, 2019. There will be only one service at 10 AM. Afterward, refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall. Attendees are asked to bring finger foods to share.

Scott will work on getting more bids on replacing the church boilers. We are pursuing funding from the diocese for church boiler replacement. Fund raising for the church boiler replacement will move forward.

*Old Business: Fran Felty is handling the arrangements for the presentation by the docents from Henry Ford. The outreach committee will be handling the luncheon. Scott and Mike have volunteered to take care of the time capsule. Congregation participation and suggestions for the time capsule placement and contents would be appreciated. *Warden’s Corner: The wardens have a lot to do this year. Scott and Mike appreciate everyone’s support. Let’s look forward to a great year!

*Reverend Shirley Comments: Celebrating that we are in the black and working well as a team, focusing on the good that has been accomplished. We look forward for this positive team trend to continue. Rev. Shirley thanks the entire congregation for their contributions and support. Thank you also to the Bishop Committee.

*Lord’s Prayer: All

*Sending Forth: Rev. Shirley

*Adjourned

Next meeting: February 14, 2019 at 6:30 PM (Guild Hall)

Respectfully Submitted by: Cheryl Koerber

The Steeple Bell St. Thomas Episcopal Church

2441 Nichols, Drive at Andover

Trenton, Michigan 48183-2486

[734] 676-3122

TO:

Coming Up This Month:

Every Wednesday: Holy Eucharist begin 10:30am; Bible Study 11am;

Sunday, 2/03 8 am & 10 am H.E. services

Sunday, 2/10 8 am & 10 am Morning Prayers

Thursday, 2/14 6:30 pm Bishop’s Committee Meeting; Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sunday, 2/17 8 am & 10 am H.E. services

Monday, 2/18 Office Closed Presidents’ Day

Steeple Bell Deadline

Sunday, 2/24 8 am & 10 am H.E. services