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• Rejoice in the Lamb/ Community Garden Fundraiser (click here)
• CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE (click here)

 

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Thank You, St. Thomas’!!

We recently received the following letter from Village Northwest Unlimited in
Sheldon:

Dear Pastor and Members of the Congregation,
Recently we had the privilege at Village Northwest Unlimited of processing the shoes that you donated to Soles4Souls. As a partner with Soles4Souls, we want to thank you for your donation to those who do not pave proper footwear. Your
donation also provides work opportunities for the 180 people with disabilities that are served at Village Northwest Unlimited who are involved in matching and
preparing the shoes for shipment. The processing of the shoes provides meaningful work, a paycheck and the dignity of being able to contribute to society.
Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, understood this when he said, “Historically, these individuals have been marginalized by society and treated as second class citizens. Our goal is to include them in our process and allow them to be part of our team. We couldn’t think of a better group of people to partner with in helping change the world.”
We encourage you to continue to donate your shoes to Soles4Souls and to ship them to the processing center at Village Northwest Unlimited. Please invite your friends and family to also participate in changing the lives of those who are served by Village Northwest Unlimited and Soles4Souls. Thanks again for your generous contribution.

Sincerely yours,
Barry W. Whitsell
President/CEO

This was the response to our brief, but successful, efforts to collect gently used footwear to help meet the needs in Haiti. Including a symbolic opportunity to give the shoes from our feet as we came barefoot to the altar rail to receive the
Eucharist, we were able to send 184 pairs of shoes to people who otherwise would not have any.
The real meaning of stewardship can be found in this simple effective program, and this was a win-win scenario.
A win for the people of Haiti and elsewhere who need shoes to safely go about their daily challenges.
A win for the people of Village Northwest Unlimited who get “meaningful work, a paycheck and the dignity of being able to contribute to society.”
And a win for us, the people of St. Thomas, who were able to give.

Giving begets Grace begets Gratitude begets Giving begets . . .

April 17
Painting and cleanup
9:00 a.m.
Rectory
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April 20
55 Plus
1:30 p.m.
Parish House
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April 20
Rose Hill Neighborhood Coalition
7:00 p.m.
Parish House
~~
April 24
Spring Cleanup
9:00 a.m.
Church
~~
April 26
Property Meeting
5:30 p.m.
Parish House
~~
May 2
Reading about God
12:30 p.m.
Parish House
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May 2
Special Thank You Coffee Hour for the Lightcap’s
9-10 a.m.
Rooke Hall
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May 4
Finance Meeting
5:45 p.m.
Parish House
~~
May 8
Rummage Sale
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May 11
Vestry Meeting
6:00 p.m.
Parish House

A Jubilee Ministry Center is a congregation, an ecumenical cluster with an Episcopal presence, or an agency with connections to the Episcopal Church, already engaged in mission and ministry among and with poor and oppressed people. Each program comes out of the history of its community.


Jubilee Centers in Iowa
•Agape Cafe at Episcopal Chaplaincy, University of Iowa, Iowa City
•Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Rapids
•Latham Clinic at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Fort Dodge
•Medical Lending Closet at Grace Church, Cedar Rapids
•Social Services in the Community at Trinity Church, Muscatine
•Cedar Valley Friends of the Family at St. Andrew's Church, Waverly
•St. Paul's Indian Mission, Sioux City
•St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Sioux City

Thomas Times