Welcome Message

St. Thomas Church is a small, vibrant congregation whose mission is to be a caring and compassionate place. Our parish family is a diverse mix of families and individuals from all walks of life. We welcome everyone to join us for services and events.

Our Basic Beliefs

We are a congregation of the Episcopal Church, the US branch of the Anglican Communion, often described a a "middle way" between Catholic and Protestant. An ancient statement of faith, the Nicene Creed, summarizes our beliefs:

• in God the Father, who created heaven and earth
• in Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, who suffered, died, is risen, and will come again in glory
• in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life
• in one, holy, catholic (that is, universal), and apostolic Church
• in one baptism for the remission of sins
• in the resurrection of the dead, and of the life of the world to come

How We Worship

Our worship has a formal structure, and follows a yearly cycle of seasons that explore the Christian mystery. Our chief act of worship is the celebration of the Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper, in which all baptized people are welcome to receive bread and wine. Every Sunday we follow a basic stucture:

• Proclamation of the Word of God
• a hymn, prayer, and song of praise
• extensive readings from Scripture
• profession of faith, intercessory prayer, and confession of sin
• Celebration of Holy Communion
• offering of our gifts of bread, wine, and money
• Eucharistic Prayer, also called the Great Thanksgiving, in which we acknowledge God's working among us throughout history and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice
• receiving the elements of bread and wine
• closing prayer, blessing, hymn, and dismissal

After worship, we have a coffee and refreshment time in the parish hall. Some people "dress up" but most dress informally.

How We Serve Our Community and Each Other

Hospitality characterizes our outreach. We provide food for those who need it by giving from our frozen food supply, through our food bank that serves monthly, and by working with Family Promise, to feed homeless families with children at Fountain City Methodist Church. In 2009, we planted a garden to have fresh produce to share, a project that reaped many rewards for us and for our neighbors.

In addition to food ministries, we host two AA groups and and the Wild Thyme Theater Group. We also have an active music ministry, women's and men's groups, and youth group. In fact, volunteerism is a major hallmark of our parish community.

If you are looking for a church home, please come and be with us.