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Exciting Announcement! Clergy & Staff Update!

Friends,

At our annual meeting in January, I shared our intention to call an Associate Rector in 2022, a goal the congregation identified several years ago. We had experimented with this position when Fr. Edward Lowe joined our staff while his wife was stationed at Fort Benning in 2020 and 2021. We learned then how helpful it is to have another priest on staff and where best to direct a second clergyperson’s time.

After several months of discernment and opportunity, I am delighted to announce that TWO clergy will soon be joining our staff at St. Thomas as part-time Associate Rectors.

The Rev. Roxane Gwyn will serve as Associate Rector for Pastoral Care. She will assist withcbf7cc32-1e7c-7974-6813-576c72766011 pastoral visits and work with the pastoral care committee to expand care for parishioners and the community. She will help organize and support a series of “excursions” for St. Thomas members to cultural and educational events in the region, an idea that developed through our Strategic Planning Process. We also asked her to develop and lead a contemplative worship option which we hope to offer once a month. Roxane is a wise and caring minister who was called to the priesthood after serving in education and non-profit leadership. She was ordained in 2011 by Bishop Michael Curry in the Diocese of North Carolina before he became Presiding Bishop. She has served in the Diocese of Atlanta for the last several years and lives in Hamilton. Roxane will begin on August 15.


The Rev. Darius Sudayi will also soon join St. Thomas staff as Associate Rector for Mission. A 6e771315-64b9-4886-e1ca-6712f4f12cc1 grant from the Diocese of Atlanta will help fund this position. He will support some of our current outreach initiatives and assist with administration. As part of his work in mission, some of his time will be available to support other churches in our region. Darius and his family have been part of St. Thomas for many years. He studied at Msalato Theological College in Dodoma, Tanzania and was ordained there in 2006. He and Anna are expecting their third child in September, and his position with us will begin at some point after that time.

Both of these clergy will assist with Sunday and Wednesday worship, but they will not be with St. Thomas every Sunday. As you know, there is a shortage of priests in many areas of The Episcopal Church, including the Chattahoochee Valley. Many smaller congregations – while offering vital witness in their communities – are not able to afford clergy leadership. Roxane and Darius will be with us on average two Sundays each month, leaving some Sundays free to be with other congregations in our Convocation. Both positions are for one year with the option to renew and adapt.

In addition, I am delighted to share that we are expanding Meg Olive-Allison’s role. Meg will now922bfe60-4586-9dc9-3fbd-8963139485b4 serve as Director of Parish and Community Engagement. She will continue to coordinate internal communication (website, newsletters, etc.) but will also develop content to share beyond the congregation to help St. Thomas’s voice be heard. She will also work with our Outreach Council to strengthen outreach partnerships and help parishioners get involved with ministries in our community. To give her time for this new work, we will soon launch an online program to help manage worship and volunteer schedules. Thanks also to Taylor Mack who has agreed to help answer phones one day a week in the office, allowing Meg and Patty time to focus on some of their projects.

I cannot overstate how amazed and grateful I am for all of these developments. We all want St. Thomas to continue to grow in faithfulness, fellowship, participation, and service. These talented people add tremendous gifts to an already strong team of staff and lay leaders. They are joining us and expanding their roles at just the right time as we resume and enhance many of our ministries.

I often say “God always takes care of St. Thomas,” and I truly believe this. God takes care of St. Thomas chiefly through all of you – through your faithfulness in prayer, service, giving, and care. Join me in welcoming new leaders to serve among us and pray for them as they begin their work.

Blessings,
Grace


Tags: News / Voices / A Beautiful Life: August 2022 / Worship / Prayer / Gather / Learn

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2100 Hilton Ave · Columbus, GA 31906
706.324.4264

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Service Times

Sundays in-person and online at 8:30am and 10:30am. Join us on YouTube, Facebook, or at St. Thomas Online.

Sunday Morning: 8:30 am A brief service from the Chapel led by clergy with no music.

Sunday Morning: 10:30 am A service from the Nave led by clergy and worship leaders that includes sacred music.

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St. Thomas Episcopal Church
2100 Hilton Ave
Columbus, GA 31906

Contact Us
706.324.4264

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We are a church of loving, committed and searching Christians who value diversity and cherish the gifts of young and old alike. We welcome ALL God’s children into our sacramental community, respecting the dignity of every person as we are called to a ministry of reconciliation and inclusion. You are welcome here as God’s own.

Like the apostle Thomas, we encounter the risen Christ in our lives together and find ourselves transformed.

We invite you to worship, learn, and serve with us!

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We know finding a church can be hard. We were all new to St. Thomas once, so let us tell you a little about ourselves.

We are named for the apostle Thomas, whose life was changed when he encountered the risen Christ. His confession of faith, “My Lord and my God,” is printed above our altar.

Like Thomas, we encounter the risen Christ in our life together and find our lives transformed. We invite you to worship, learn, and serve with us.

I'm New

St. Thomas was founded in 1958 and is a congregation of about 400-600 people. A few folks have been here for a long time, but a lot of us are newcomers! Some of us grew up as Episcopalians, some of us came from other Christian traditions, and some of us have no religious background at all!

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It is easy to join St. Thomas as a member. Just tell us you want to belong, and we'll enroll you as a baptized member of the congregation. If you've never been baptized, contact Rev. Grace to schedule a time for Holy Baptism. We look forward to being in touch with you.

Contact Patty in the church office at [email protected] with questions.

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Our Stewardship Committee decided to focus this year on sharing the “St. Thomas Story” with our wider community. “Love God. Love Every Person. Learn and Serve Together.” summarizes our mission.
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Everyone plays a part in creating our beautiful life of worship, learning, and service through St. Thomas.

What part will you play in the coming year?
Our Ministry Sign-up Form highlights ways to participate and serve in the life of St. Thomas over the next year. Please review prayerfully. Mark the things you are already doing and wish to continue along with the activities you would like to join for the next year.

Thank you for for the part you play in the beautiful tapestry that is St. Thomas as we worship, learn, serve and gather together.

Click here for the 2022-2023 Ministry Sign-Up Form.

We continue to invite gifts above your pledge to the Continuing Faithfulness Capital Fund so we are prepared to address major capital needs as they arise. There is still more to be done, and we are determined to meet these needs in stride with a reasoned and forward-looking approach.
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The pet memorial garden is a garden for the remembrance of our beloved pets. It provides a permanent resting place for the pets who live on in our memories and in our hearts. It is a place to give thanks to God for the companionship of beloved animals and to commit ourselves to care for all of God’s creatures. Engraved bricks are arranged in the garden around the cross. Engraved bricks are available for purchase as a permanent way to remember your pet. The fee covers, the brick, installation of the brick, maintenance of the garden, and a donation to PAWS Humane Society of Columbus, Georgia.

Learn More Brick Order Form