Helping Others

We are a parish deeply devoted to serving others and reaching out to God's people.  In our fifty year history we have completed 14 medical missions to Honduras, joined with other local churches to build 17 Habitat homes, and hosted--for decades--the annual Special Children’s Christmas Party for mentally and physically challenged kids in our community. 

Our parishioners use their time and talents to help many local groups such as the Aquarius Club (lunches for mental health patients), CASA Temps (winterizing homes for the elderly and homebound), First Stop (aid to the homeless in Huntsville), and Meals on Wheels.  We also reach beyond Huntsville in many ways, taking several work party trips to help Katrina victims for example.  St. Thomas members also began Special Session, a camp for the mentally and physically challenged at Camp McDowell.

The Honduran medical mission is our largest global effort.  Annually, our parishioners, doctors, veterinarians, and dentists, carry aid to the rural areas of Delicias del Norte.  In 2007 the Diocese of Alabama asked St. Thomas to lead a project to develop a mission in Haiti. Our experience and determination have helped us achieve excellence in both responding to immediate needs as well as establishing long term missions.

And then there is Lobsterfest—a weekend fundraising event held at St. Thomas every fall since 1994 to raise funds for Habitat and Honduras. We prepare live lobsters flown in from Maine, along with traditional southern barbeque, and our buildings are filled with craft sales, a bake sale, and kids’ games that spill out onto the grounds. In addition to raising money, Lobsterfest opens our doors to the local community, allows the community at large the chance to see what we are like, and gives our parishioners a chance to work together on an event that requires months of planning and effort.  Each year Lobsterfest raises about $20,000 for outreach.

We know that serving others includes caring for those within our midst.  Our Pastoral Care Team is a group of St. Thomas volunteers who take upon themselves to care for the sick and hurting people in our own parish.  Whether it is sitting with families of patients in surgery, preparing meals for the sick, sending cards of encouragement, or praying for those who are hurting, our St. Thomas angels are amongst us and we are grateful for their presence and their endless blessings.

For more information, contact the church, Dick Branick (local outreach), Jeannie Randall (world outreach), or Marjorie Ashcraft (pastoral care).