ST. THOMAS’ LIFELINES VOLUME 23, NO. 8 AUGUST 2016

Ten weeks of discernment and exploration for nine youth at St. Thomas culminated on July 31, 2016 when Bishop Mark confirmed them in their faith. Lora and Gail want to thank the confirmands for their devotion and faith commitment.

The youth created their own creed based on the Nicene Creed, worked on the Back Pack Project for their mission and questioned and gained knowledge in many aspects of the Episcopal Church.

Thank you to the mentors, Joel Hagen, Bob Stone, Cindy Ptak, Gail Leist, Kathy Pollard, Lora Beeken, and Harvey Leist, for their guidance to the youth. We look forward to watching our confirmands grow in their faith. We also thank Betty Kennan for making the Confirmand stoles.

Confirmation Teachers Lora Beeken & Gail Leist

Confirmands: Cameron Graham, Matthew Sandridge, Akan Ndem, Ogechi

Okoronkwo, Mollie Straub, Rachel Earp, Chi Chi Okoronkwo, Uche Okoronkwo,

and Sara Stauffer.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our confirmands!

Pictured here with Bishop MarK.

Front Row: Mollie Straub, Sara Stauffer, Rachel Earp, Cameron Graham, Akan Ndem. Middle Row: Bishop Mark, Matthew Sandridge, Ogechi Okoronkwo, Chi Chi Okoronkwo, Cindy Bur-nette, Greg Moulse. Back Row: Farrell Doss, David Jones, and Uche Okoronkwo

S T . TH O M A S’ L IF E LIN E S AUGUST 2016 PAGE 2

Summer Backyard Suppers

Our last summer backyard supper will be hosted by Jeff and Emily Pasciak on Sunday, August 21st, at 4pm. Bring a dish to share and a chair or blanket to sit upon. Join in the fellowship, food, and fun!

Thank you Stauffer family for a great July backyard supper!

Backyard Bible Study

The backyard bible study group meets at 6pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of this month. Royal and Carol Cummings are our August hosts.

Backyard Bible Study begins with a potluck dinner and is followed by a bible study of chapters 5 and 6 of Ephesians. So, remember your dish to share, something to sit on, and learning heart!

GLEANING THE MARGINS The folks in Blacksburg have created a Gleaners Garden on the Turf Management Farm (Southgate Road) in Blacks-burg. Typically you get a big haul (50-100 lbs) in about 1/2 hour of work. You can contact Joel, Danielle, or Jon to get signed up. If you’d like to pick with someone, Jon Greene will be going at 6pm on the following dates: 8/24, 8/30, 9/14, and 9/26.

Remember to bring in your excess produce on Sundays. You can bring in your neighbor’s excess, too, or if you see something on sale, buy a couple extra and bring that in, too! We are making weekly deliveries to local food banks on Mondays!

Contact Danielle Bland, Mary Stuart Cosby, Joel Hagen, Mark Priest or Jon Greene if you’d like to get involved.

BackPack Program

Danielle Bland has worked hard to get our backpack ministry started. You’ll see a poster and a container, designed and decorated by the youth confirmation class, in the parish hall for depositing your donations of fruit cups and granola bars each Sunday.

Let’s ensure no child goes hungry in our community in the coming school year.

PARISH RETREAT

Our annual parish retreat will be Sunday, August 7th. We will again be enjoying a day of worship, fellowship, and fun at SELU.

The day begins with morning prayer followed by a potluck luncheon. The rest of the day is devoted to fellowship, exploring SELU, canoeing, and other fun activities.

This year we are going "green." We are requesting that each parishioner bring their own plate, utensils, and cups to eat from. This will help us reduce the amount of trash we accumulate in the landfills.

ZUCCHINI APPETIZERS

3 c. zucchini, thinly sliced 1 c. biscuit mix 1/2 c. parmesan cheese 1/2 c. onion, finely chopped 2 T. parsley 1/2 t. marjoram or oregano Dash of pepper 1/2 t. salt 1 garlic clove, minced 1/2 c. vegetable oil 4 eggs, beaten Preheat oven to 350. Grease rectangular 13c9 inch baking dish. Mix all ingredients; spread in pan. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cut into rectangles about 1 inch by 2. Refrigerate leftovers. Freezes well. Recipe from Betty Phillips. Check out this recipe and many others from St. Thomas’ cookbook, “The Cooks Behind the Red Doors”, found in the church library upstairs in the parish hall.

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound

learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP p. 824

S T . TH O M AS ’ L IF E L I N E S AUGUST 2016 PAGE 3

SERVERS FOR AUGUST 2016

AREA OF

SERVICE

AUGUST 7

PARISH RETREAT @

SELU

MORNING PRAYER

AUGUST 14 AUGUST 21 AUGUST 28

Acolyte N/A Chi Chi Okoronkwo Cameron Graham Katie Priest

Crucifer N/A Akan Ndem Casey Graham Dara Ndem

Torchbearers N/A N/A N/A N/A

Lay Reader Lois Caliri Ogechi Okoronkwo Bridget Miller Lisa Priest

Chalice Bearer N/A Mark Priest Jacquie Graham Jon Greene

Ushers Janet & Francis

Webster Scott Farmer Sarah Farmer

Greg & Bev Moulse Barbara Piersol Gwynn Polidoro

Altar Guild Kathy Pollard Lynn Straub

Lora Beeken Jacquie Graham

Lora Beeken Jacquie Graham

Gail Leist Bev Moulse

Coffee Hour Judy Nichols

Barbara Piersol The Okoronkwo’s The Stauffer’s Cindy Stone

Announcements Bob Stone Liz Swinfen Ann Alexandre Lora Beeken

Nursery N/A Katie Priest

Kelly Stalvey Mollie Straub Madi Greene

Uche Okoronkwo Natalie Miller

Cleaning Crews Lora Beeken

Danielle Bland Cindy Burnette

Farrell Doss David Jones Bill & Betty Kennan

Mark & Jennifer Miller

BIRTHDAYS 2 Bayne Sandridge

Kelly Stalvey

Liz Swinfen

6 Carol Cummings

8 Mollie Straub 14 Royal Cummings

17 Cynthia Berthold

19 Nikki D’Adamo-Damery

Janet Webster

24 Bridget Miller

28 Anais D’Adamo-Damery Taylor Webster

If you are in need of pastoral care, please contact Harvey Leist, Senior Warden, at

540-239-0580.

Sign up sheets for all areas of service are on the website. You can see the current schedules, choose your days to serve and where, or cancel when you can’t serve. If you have any questions about managing your volunteer opportunities, contact the church secretary at mystthomasoffice@yahoo.com.

Here’s where to sign up: http://stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/ http://stthomas.ivolunteer.com/#2

ANNIVERSARIES

8 Graham & Liz Swinfen

12 Harvey & Gail Leist

14 Roger & Gwynn Polidoro

The first Sunday of every month is designated as FOOD BANK SUNDAY. Thanks for your

donations in July! 51 items were collected for the MCEAP Food

Bank. The next collection date is Sunday, August 7th. Help us fill

the basket in the narthex with non-perishable food items!

S T . TH O M AS ’ L IF E L I N E S PAGE 4 AUGUST 2016

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St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church 103 East Main St.

Christiansburg, VA 24073 Phone: 540-382-4365

E-mail: mysthomasoffice@yahoo.com Check out our website! http://www.stthomaschristiansburg.dioswva.org/

AUGUST 2016 S T . TH O M AS ’ L IF E L I N E S PAGE 5