In-Person Worship Guidelines and Instructions

The Nursery and Sunday School rooms remain closed. However, as always, children and infants are welcome to be with their family in church.

ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES (All Streamed Live on the St. Thomas Facebook Page)

 * Sunday 10 a.m. - Worship Service
 * Tuesdays 10 a.m. - Morning Prayer with Reflection
 * Wednesdays Noon - Live Noonday Service with Healing Prayer
 * Fridays 9 p.m. - Compline

Each service is streamed live, and you can watch at any time.

Pray 

Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families, found on page 136-140 of the Book of Common Prayer, are easily accessible liturgies as an alternative to the full Daily Office. 

Listen to Forward Movement’s A Morning at the Office audio recording of the Daily Morning Office. There are also lots of prayer apps including Pray as You Go, Day by Day from Forward Movement, Mission St. Clare, etc.

There is a free course through ChurchNext on Prayer and Worship in our Homes.

Learn

Time to catch up on your podcasts! The Episcopal Cafe or the Way of Love from the Episcopal Church are a great place to start.

Join an the Episcopal Online Book Club.

Bless

How can we continue to be the church for each other at this time?

There are lots of ways to do this, and we will continue to think creatively. Here are some ideas:

Send handwritten notes to each other.

Create a phone tree and call each other to check in.

Deliver meals or food as needed.

Establish prayer partners and pray for each other over the phone. Commit to keep praying.

Younger, lower risk people can provide childcare for essential workers

Ask everyone you interact with from a distance how you can pray for them.

How do we continue to be the church for our community even when we have to be physically distant from others?

Here are some frequently asked questions about community programs:

What about funerals and weddings? Funerals and weddings should be suspended, unless there are circumstances that lend urgency. If so, these services should be small, private, and should maintain physical distancing and appropriate hygiene.

What about AA and other recovery group meetings? Online options available for those who are vulnerable or at risk. Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church has resources posted for virtual recovery meetings.

What about Coffee Hour, Choir, Student Ministry, and Sunday School? The Oasis Student Ministry is finding fun ways to connect. Email Julie Carter, Director of Family and Student Ministries to learn more. The Parish Hall, Nursery, and Sunday School Rooms will remain closed until further notice. There will be no Choir, Fellowship events, or food or drinks until further notice. 

Can clergy continue to provide spiritual care for hospice patients who are actively dying? This is a tender subject and hospitals and hospice centers will have their own policies in place that we must observe. 

Go

Go online. Go inward. Go deeper in your faith. 

Rest

Take this sabbath time seriously. Stay home. Put down the busyness of life and live into new habits. Let this be a time of being present to each other in love, if not in physical proximity. We may be apart, but we are not alone!