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Opportunities to worship, learn, give, and connect.
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Sunday, June 7, 2026
The Second Sunday after Pentecost
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FEATURED
Join our Parish Summer Reading Book Club!
Falling Upward: Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr
Participating is easy! Simply purchase the book online at your favorite retailer, read it between now and the end of August, then join us for some conversations about it in September.
In Falling Upward, Father Richard Rohr offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life’s mysteries: how our failings can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth. Drawing on the wisdom from time-honored myths, heroic poems, great thinkers, and sacred religious texts, the author explores the two halves of life to show that those who have fallen, failed, or “gone down” are the only ones who understand “up.” We grow spiritually more by doing it wrong than by doing it right.
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FEATURED
Parish Office Summer Hours Now in Effect
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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Sundays |
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8:00 a.m.
Holy Communion, Rite I [Parish Hall]
10:00 a.m.
Holy Communion with Choir, Rite II [Parish Hall]
Watch Online >
Read Bulletin >
5:00 p.m.
Last Chance Mass [OSB]
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Tuesdays |
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5:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer
[OSB]
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Wednesdays |
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12:00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist
[OSB]
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Thursdays |
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9:00 a.m.
Morning Prayer
[OSB]
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C: Church | OSB: Old School Building
*Click here to access the 10:00 a.m.
worship bulletin and the Weekly News & Notes
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Sunday Morning Services Are Being Temporarily Held in the Parish Hall
The construction phase of the Organ Renovation Project is Underway
The historic organ renovation project that was announced during January’s Focus Group meetings has officially begun. As of April 12, and for the duration of the project, Sunday services will be temporarily held in the Parish Hall. Though we don’t know the exact timeframe, we have been told to anticipate the project will last a few months.
For More Information: Click here to read the April 2nd letter from our Senior Warden, Sana Brooks.
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Join Us for the Consecration of the North Cemetery
Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, will preside
Saturday, June 20
10:00 a.m.
Parish Hall & North Cemetery
Please join us for this deeply meaningful moment for our St. Thomas’ community. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, will preside at the Consecration of St. Thomas’ North Cemetery, the African-American burial ground located just outside our churchyard wall. This historic service will include the reading of the names of those who rest in the North Cemetery, prayers, and music, followed by fellowship and light refreshments.
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Each Sunday’s 10:00 a.m. service is live-streamed and recorded. Click here to watch live or catch up on past sermons. Click here to access the 10:00 a.m. worship bulletin and the Weekly News & Notes.
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| Explore This Week’s Children's Activity Links |
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Click the buttons below to download the Sparkhouse Worship children's bulletins and activities each week for both readers and pre-readers!
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| This Summer: Kids Can Enjoy the Playground While Parents Enjoy the 10:00 a.m. Service |
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Summer Playground Time!
Sundays through August 30
9:50 - 11:00 a.m.
Playground
Kathy Capp will watch the Sunday School class during summer services and walk them back to the Parish Hall after the service is over. Ages 5-12 are welcome. Under 5 are welcome with an adult. If raining, the group will stay under the gazebo. Children should dress for play/dirt/occasionally paint.
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Young parishioners are invited to participate in the Acolyte Ministry at any 10:00 a.m. Sunday service (and we offer thanks to our youth who currently participate in this important ministry!). No experience required. You will be excellently trained!
To Sign Up: Email John Lang or Jane Farnan.
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| Be an Altar or Flower Guild Member |
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Each team works together on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. to set up for Sunday services. Set-up takes about an hour. No experience necessary and training will be provided!
To Sign Up: Email Kathy Capp for Altar Guild or Glen Cole for Flower Guild.
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Lay Ministries are a great way to deepen your worship experience, connect with others, and practice our guiding principle of being “grounded in faith, growing in service.” To Sign Up: Email Jane Farnan or call 410-363-1044.
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For June 7
8:00 a.m. | Lay Reader: Ridge Trimble ~ Lay Chalicist: Josie Worthington ~ Usher: Larry Gribble
10:00 a.m. | Lay Readers: Sana Brooks & Andrea Myles-Hunkin ~ Lay Chalicists: John Lang & Paul Corbin ~ Ushers: Larry Smart & Ted Waters ~ Vestry Rep: Brian Lyght
5:00 p.m. | Lay Reader: Tuck Washburne
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For June 14
8:00 a.m. | Lay Reader: Lanny Springs ~ Lay Chalicist: Kim Parks ~ Usher: Don Workman
10:00 a.m. | Lay Readers: Barritt Peterson & Lea Ward ~ Lay Chalicists: John Lang & Arinze Okpala ~ Ushers: Ray Zollinger & Denise McIntosh ~ Vestry Rep: Shyla Davis-Cadogan
5:00 p.m. | Lay Reader: Beaumont Heidmann
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- Those with long-term suffering: For the following people who are struggling with long-term illness, who are in pain, who are under stress, or who are lonely, join us in praying: Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. We especially pray for: Aaliyah, Al, Alex, Allanah, Amber, Andi, Andy, Barbara, Barbara L., Bert, Betsy, Blair, Bob W., Brandt, Caroline, Chips, Chris M., Curtis, Dan R., Daniel, Daniel M., David, Debra, Devon, Dixon, Donna, Elizabeth F., Ellen W., Emma, Eric, Esther, Frank, Henrietta, Jack, Jay, Jefferson, Jessica, Jim, Jim H., Jim M., Jim W., JoAnna, June F., Karen D., Kathleen, Kennedy, Laura, Leo, Lidia, Luke, Marian, Marianne, Michael A., Mike P., Morgan A., Morgan B., Nancy B., Nancy T., Nicholas, Pam, Rhonda, Robert, Sally R., Samuel, Shirley, Steve, Su, Sue, Taylor, and Vicki.
- Altar Flowers Memorials: We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled. We especially remember Amelie L. Carroll, Douglas G. Carroll, Jr., William C. Trimble, Nancy G. C. Trimble, Douglas G. Carroll, and Marguerite D. Carroll, in whose memory the altar flowers are given.
- Parish Ministries: In our Parish Ministry Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the members of Welcome Circle and the Afghan refugees they support. If you would like to learn more about this ministry, please contact Betsy Wilmerding and Louis Hogan.
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Forward Day by Day is a quarterly booklet of daily inspirational meditations reflecting on a specific Bible passage, chosen from the daily lectionary readings as listed in the Daily Office from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer.
How to Read: Printed booklets are available for free on the table in the Narthex or in the OSB. A digital version is available by clicking here.
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| Falling Upward: Living Whole, Discovering True Self Through Vulnerability & Faith |
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June 27
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Ctr.
Marriottsville, MD
Integrating faith, courage, and wholeness in the second half of life. Join Arianne Rice—Episcopal priest, facilitator, and leadership coach—for a reflective and interactive workshop inspired by Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward: Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life and enriched by the work of Dr. Brené Brown.
To Register: Click here or the button below. Early bird registration through May 27 is $65. Regular cost is $75.
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An Article by the Rev. Arianne Rice
Do you feel your age? I don’t either.
I’m in what people call the “sandwich generation” and I wish that meant I could eat more sandwiches. But sadly, carbs. What I mean, as you probably know, is that I’m betwixt and between generations, and I feel it.
I just returned from visiting my parents on Long Island, again. Every time I walk through their door, I’m surprised. They are the same, but always so different. Aging happens slow then fast—then fast then slow. We don’t talk as much about my life because there is too much going on in theirs. I’m coordinating home health aids, fielding questions about finances, organizing their stuff (there is so much stuff). I don’t feel old enough for our roles to be reversed yet. But that’s what’s happening.
And next week I’ll pick up my daughter from college after her junior year, which feels impossible. When I see her, I will again be surprised and wowed by the beautiful young woman she is becoming—first slow, now fast. She looks older every time. I don’t feel old enough to have a 21-year-old daughter. I mean my body still remembers that tilt of my hip where I balanced her with one arm in that perfect maternal nook.
Driving home from a recent Long Island visit, calling on my most spiritually patient self while sandwiched in between cars on the GW Bridge, it occurred to me that the hard part right now isn’t the logistics. It’s cooperating with reality. Will I choose to collaborate with what is instead of wishing things were different or thinking that my job is to find all the solutions, solve all the problems for all the generations.
My parents are the age they are. My daughter is becoming her own adult. There are things I can help with and things I can’t. There are limits to my time, energy, and control. And it’s not as if there is somewhere to get to, a destination where it will all be settled. It will just be the next change. Just like the traffic that opened up on the other side of the bridge, I’m not going to be sandwiched between cars, or between generations, forever. The truth is: life is transition. Change is the only constant.
This is one of the reasons Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward has meant so much to me over the years. The “second half of life” isn’t about age. It’s about becoming more awake to your life. More honest about the questions you’re carrying. More willing to loosen your grip a little. The second half of life is a framework. It is a growth mindset of choosing to cooperate with reality because when you accept what you can change, and what you can’t, reality tends to cooperate with you too.
I know people in their 30s who live this way and people in their 70s who are still struggling to accept the reality of their lives—and vice versa. This growth mindset, a desire for spiritual and emotional maturity requires comfort with our own vulnerability. I cry when I leave my parents, every time. Because who knows? I cry when I drop my daughter off at college, every time, too. Same reason. There are limits to my knowing and that is scary. But being real, allowing myself and my feelings to be seen with the people I love is true connection. There is nothing childish about it.
So how about a different question—not about age—but about your quandaries these days. What questions about your life are you holding? What are you betwixt and between? Living into the questions, as Rilke beautifully reminded us, is where the answers unfold. Not always as definitive choices but as liberating truths that enable us to be comfortable with exactly who and how we are, right now.
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| This Week in The Campaign for St. Thomas’ |
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Quick Stats
As of May 31, 2026 (based on 241 active St. Thomas’ families):
- 80% of St. Thomas’ families have been assigned to volunteers
- 64% of St. Thomas’ families have been contacted
- 45% of Campaign visits have been scheduled
- 33% of St. Thomas’ families have pledged or made gifts, totaling $3,969,349 to date
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Testimonial from Mary and Louis Hogan
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We have been parishioners at St. Thomas’ Church since we were married there in 1984. We have consistently received a warm embrace by the leadership and other members of the Parish. We have actively participated in the care and maintenance of the campus, and enjoyed the giving opportunities offered by the many outreach opportunities.
Many members of the community are now our friends, creating another layer of our sense of belonging.
At St. Thomas’, people do not spend a lot of time talking about their faith and love of God. Rather than talk, when they find a need, they gather up their tools and talents and spend the time to work with other parishioners to meet that need. We have never known such a giving, caring community of people.
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Our goal is to contact 100% of the St. Thomas’ parish families and seek 100% participation.
Every gift regardless of size represents a commitment to the future of St. Thomas’. If you have been called, and/or visited and would like to join the others with a pledge, please contact the volunteer who called you. If you have not yet had a campaign conversation, we encourage you to call the church office to schedule one.
These informal 30-minute visits are enjoyable, comfortable, and informative, providing an opportunity to learn more about the campaign and how it will strengthen our parish for generations to come.
To Schedule Your Visit and Learn More: Please contact Andy Brooks or Bob Brennen.
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About the Campaign
For 284 years, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church has been a place of worship, welcome, and service. This capital campaign is a shared commitment to preserve that legacy while preparing faithfully for the future.
Addressing these needs now protects our sacred spaces. This campaign also strengthens our commitment to outreach and the formation of future generations.
Grounded in faithful stewardship, this effort reflects three priorities:
- Caring for what we have
- Planning responsibly for what lies ahead
- Extending Christ’s love beyond our walls
Through this campaign, we Treasure our past, Embrace the present, and Transform the future of St. Thomas’.
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“I am excited about what is possible if we answer the call. All the projects listed here—repairing the organ and redesigning the choir loft, properly memorializing the North Cemetery, providing additional resources for Children’s Youth Ministry, Outreach, and more—all of it is worthy of our support. Each of these efforts will help us praise God and serve God’s people for many years to come.”
—The Rev. Thomas M. Murphy
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Capital Campaign Prayer
Loving God, for nearly three centuries you have blessed St. Thomas’ Church with abundant gifts: faithful and generous people; a tradition of wholehearted worship, hospitality, and service; and a campus rich in natural beauty and history. Mindful of our many blessings, we ask you to guide our capital campaign. Inspire us to follow in the steps of our spiritual ancestors and do our part to preserve the past and build the future. Trusting that you will bring to completion all good work begun in faith and hope, we offer this prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Join the Campaign
We would love to share the exciting information about our campaign with you. If you have not been contacted yet by a member of our steering committee or one of our campaign volunteers, please consider contact Andy Brooks or Bob Brennen so we can get something on the calendar.
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| Identifying Names of the Rosewood Residents Buried in Our Cemetery |
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An Update from Chris Runice
Founded in 1888, the Rosewood State Hospital operated until its closure in 2009. Throughout its history, the facility comprised several buildings and accommodated more than 3,000 individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as those experiencing emotional disturbances. After closing, Stevenson University assumed ownership of much of the property on September 25, 2020. Very little is remaining of the facility after fires destroyed vacant buildings in 2006 and 2009.
The Rev. Dr. Philip Jensen, who served as Rector of St. Thomas’ from 1923 to 1956 took a special interest in the well-being of the Rosewood patients. He served as chaplain for many years. He also made part of the St. Thomas’ Cemetery available for the burial of patients who died at Rosewood. Over the years, almost 350 former Rosewood residents were buried in a small, quiet northwest corner of St Thomas’ property. It is a sacred responsibility for us to care for the graves of these people who suffered so much in life.
The Cemetery Committee has been identifying names and as many details as available of those buried at Rosewood, as was done in the North Cemetery. Work has included mapping the location of each grave, photographing the headstones, retrieving the death certificates, and in a few cases (when possible) finding pictures and other biographical information about those buried there. All that information has been carefully placed in a software system that St Thomas’ uses for our own cemetery for future reference.
How You Can Help: Send any names or details of Rosewood residents to Jane Farnan or call 410-363-1044.
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| Help Provide Food and Life Essentials to Owings Mills Households in Need! |
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The Community Crisis Center has been addressing hunger and hardship in the Owings Mills area by providing our neighbors in need with supplemental food and essentials for over 40 years, rebuilding hope and self-reliance. They recently lost a major donor and face rising food costs and funding cuts—all while serving more and more families every month (they served 175 monthly in 2019 and now serve over 1,000 monthly).
How You Can Help the Most Right Now:
- Purchasing specific priority items listed to the below and dropping them off at the Parish Office. Note: CCC Priorities have changed to now include bar soap and shampoo. Our goal is 75+ for each item, each month.
- Giving financially to support food purchases (see why below). To Donate, click here and select “Outreach - Community Crisis Center” in the menu.
Questions? Please contact Margaret Green.
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| Your Financial Gift Doubles the Amount of Food You Can Give |
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When the Community Crisis Center spends a dollar through the Maryland Food Bank, it can buy roughly twice as much food as that same dollar can buy at a local grocery store. St. Thomas’ asks you to consider donating financially so we can multiply our impact and feed more Owings Mills households in need. To Donate: Click here and select “Outreach - Community Crisis Center.”
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| Help Offer Financial Aid to St. Thomas’ Preschool and Kindergarten Families in Need |
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| The Liddell/Hogan Scholarship Fund |
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The Liddell/Hogan Scholarship Fund is a fund in honor of Lucy Liddell and Louis Hogan, and helps families of employees, parishioners, and those in financial need at St. Thomas’ Preschool and Kindergarten. To learn more about our magical preschool, please visit stthomaspreschool.info.
To Donate: Designate to this fund on Tithely, via check, or by contacting Jane Farnan.
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Offering envelopes still available!
Thank you to those who have already submitted your pledge! If you have not returned your completed pledge card to the Parish Office, please do so as soon as possible.
For Questions: Email Christopher Reynolds in the Parish Office.
For Planned Giving: Email Andy Brooks.
To Order Offering Envelopes: If you did not request envelopes and want to order some contact Christopher Reynolds in the Parish Office.
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| Make Sandwiches for Residents of Southwest Baltimore |
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| The St. Thomas’ Country Cooks partnership with Paul’s Place |
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Every Other Wednesday
8:30 a.m.
Parish Hall
Join the St. Thomas’ Country Cooks making sandwiches for Paul’s Place—located in Pigtown, a historic neighborhood west of downtown Baltimore. Paul’s Place serves neighborhoods where an average of 39% of children live in poverty. Questions? Email Kathy Capp.
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We are looking for teams of three volunteers to host fellowship in the Parish Hall after the 10:00 a.m. Sunday services each week. Volunteers bring food (either homemade or store-bought) to share. To Sign Up: Email Jesse VanGeison.
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| We’re Searching for a Children’s and Youth Ministries Coordinator |
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Are you (or do you know) someone who’d like to join the St. Thomas’ team to lead the planning and implementation of spiritual education, Christian fellowship events, and programs for children and youth grades K-12? Compensation is from $25/hour.
Key responsibilities:
- Develop, refine, and implement Sunday School curriculum and train and support volunteer teachers
- Collaborate with Confirmation teachers, ensuring they have access to comprehensive lesson plans
- Develop programs and plan events for parish youth
To Inquire: Email the Rev. Thomas Murphy.
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| Now Enrolling for the 2026/27 School Year! |
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Come experience the “magic” of St. Thomas’ Preschool and Kindergarten
Learn about our nature and play-based programs. Join us for tours of the indoor classrooms and outdoor play spaces. Meet our amazing teachers. Explore our child-driven curriculum.
To Schedule a Tour: Visit stthomaspreschool.info, or contact Nicole Norris at (410) 363-1874.
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1 | We celebrated Rev. Amelia’s first anniversary as our Assistant Rector by (finally!) adding her name to our church signs. What a blessing she has been to our community!
2 | We’re grateful for those who placed flags on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day. Here’s a photo of Betsy Baetjer hard at work (and in the pouring rain!).
3-5 | Before and afters of recent cemetery renovations.
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