Group Finder
"Rise & Shine" Running & Prayer Group
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Dept: Church - General
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship
21-Day Racial Equity Challenge Group
Leader: Maggie Detty (send e-mail)
Day: Sunday
Dept: Church - General
Type: Learn/Education
A Meal & More
Leader: Robert Ferris (send e-mail)
A soup kitchen based at Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Rochester at which St. Thomas' parishioners volunteer on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
Day: Wednesday
Time: Lunch
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Feed the hungry
Acolytes- Crucifers & Torch Bearers
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
This group is for all acolytes who serve at the 10am worship service.
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Area: Church
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Adopt School #8
Leader: Susan Pickhardt (send e-mail)
A volunteer literacy tutoring program that serves students in kindergarten through second grade at which St. Thomas' parishioners volunteer weekly from October through May.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Nurture the Children
Advent Conversations on Love & Hope
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
We will use themes from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's book, "Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times".
Day: Wednesday
Time: Evening
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Share Group
Altar Guild Ministry
Leader: Vicky Rupley (send e-mail)
Working behind the scenes, the Altar Guild assists the clergy and supports all services at St. Thomas' by caring for and preparing the vessels, linens, flowers, candles, and other items used in worship. Members also help tend and prepare the church and chapel areas for services and assist with weddings, funerals and other occasions.
Day: Varies
Time: Morning
Area: Church
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Bakers Ministry
Leader: Lois Giess (send e-mail)
Bake for Church fellowship receptions, coffee hour, funeral receptions or for an ill parishioner. Can work together with Make-A-Meal Team
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship
Brighton Food Cupboard
Leader: Lisa Hand (send e-mail)
New year, new needs! Plus economists are saying get ready for another 6% food cost increase. CURRENT NEEDS are: TP, condiments & canned vegetables. (Low salt is great) (Condiments like mayo, bbq sauce, ketchup, pesto, salad dressing, mustard) BFC needs us to continue to bring donations directly over to them Mon-Fri 9am-noon. There'll be a cart just outside their door at 220 Idlewood Rd. at the Brookside School in Brighton's Evans Farm neighborhood. Experiencing food insecurity? Call BFC at 585-736-4526 if you live in zip codes 14607, 14610, 14620 & 14618 AND GET READY for SOUPER SUNDAYS. Sundays Jan. 30, Feb 6, & Feb. 13 th bring soup & crackers to drop in our large barrel soup can. It'll be just inside. Also, a SATURDAY FOOD DRIVE Feb. 12th 10am to noon for soup & cracker donations.
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Feed the hungry
Campus Improvements Steering Team
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Dept: Church - General
Type: Lead
Children's Chapel Leaders
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Christian Faith and Action
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Community Engagement Ministry Team
Leader: Jane Andrews (send e-mail)
Empowers and supports St. Thomas' parishioners who volunteer at ministries within the parish and outside the parish. It also oversees fundraisers and allocates funds that support outreach ministries within the parish and outside of the parish.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
Conversation on Race
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Using themes from the book, Caste. Wednesdays in March (March 9, 16, 23, 30) 6:30-7:30PM Leaders Andrea and Leslie
Day: Wednesday
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Digital Media Communications Team
Leader: Kathleen Merritt (send e-mail)
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Area: South
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Office
Digital Shepherd
Leader: Stanley Jones (send e-mail)
Do you have knowledge and understanding about computers, technology and communication? If so, we have found a space in the church for you to serve! We are recruiting Digital Shepherds: a team of parish members to assist those in our community who need help connecting to our online services.
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Dress-A-Girl Ministry
Leader: Karen Savino (send e-mail)
Makes dresses for young girls in need around the world.
Area: Church
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Clothe
EFM-Education for Ministry
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Education for Ministry (a.k.a. EfM) is an Episcopal program developed by the University of the South, an Episcopal school. The curriculum includes study of scripture, spirituality, tradition and history with a heavy emphasis on group theological reflection. Each group is made up of 6-12 adults. For questions or comments, please contact Amma Leslie at leslie@stthomasrochester.org.
Day: Wednesday
Time: Afternoon
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Encompass (SummerLEAP) Steering Committee
Leader: Susan Pickhardt (send e-mail)
Type: Nurture the Children
Endowment Fund Commission
Leader: Richard Yates (send e-mail)
Members oversee restricted and unrestricted funds that support the parish, provides education to the parish, and advises the Rector, Wardens and Vestry on best use of endowment funds.
Day: Quarterly on Thursdays
Time: Afternoon
Area: Church
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
Episcopal 101
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Episcopal 101 is a series as a preparation for Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation class. This will be lead up to our Bishop's visit on Easter Sunday. The class will meet on Sunday mornings, 9:00am to 9:45am in the Lounge on March 5, 12, 19, 26. Please Reservation is required
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Eucharistic Ministers
Leader: Kathleen Merritt (send e-mail)
Parishioners trained and licensed by the Bishop to assist the clergy in distributing Holy Communion to the congregation during worship services.
Day: Varies
Dept: Church - General
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Everybody Welcome Ministry
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Welcomes newcomers to St. Thomas' and facilitates their integration into the life of our community.
Day: Saturday
Time: Morning
Area: Church
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Lead
Faith Book Club
Leader: Jane Smith (send e-mail)
This group has selected Allister McGrath\'s If I Had Lunch with C S. Lewis as their first book for discussion. Other titles considered which may be studied later include God\'s Will, Finding Guidance for Every Day Decision" and The Illustrated Life of Paul. Leadership of the discussions will rotate throughout the group. Each meeting will include an opening prayer, discussion of the assigned reading, a brief Bible reading and sharing of Prayer Concerns. It is expected that we will continue to meet throughout the year, with breaks around the holidays.
Day: Tuesday
Time: Morning
Area: Church
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Families with Young Children
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
This group is for families with children who are infants through 5th grade. We get together for monthly lunches at church!
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship
Family Promise (RAIHN)
Leader: Andrea Stridiron (send e-mail)
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Feed the hungry
Fellowship Ministry Team
Leader: Lois Giess (send e-mail)
The Fellowship Ministry organizes the weekly coffee hours, the Fall Parish picnic, Clean-up lunches in the Fall and Spring, the Advent Roast Beef Dinner, the Christmas Eve Dinner, the Annual Meeting coffee hour, the Maundy Thursday Agape supper, as well as receptions that come up throughout the year.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship
Fiber Arts Ministry
Leader: Jan Gates (send e-mail)
A knitting, crocheting, quilting and sewing ministry that, for instance, knits prayer shawls for an elderly shut-in or someone with a serious illness, baby blankets for newly baptized members of the parish, "Spirit Hats" for students in a local third grade class, and makes dresses for the Dress A Girl Around the World organization. Meetings occur October-June with Daytime meetings the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. and Evening meetings the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the church Lounge unless otherwise specified.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Clothe
Finance Commission
Leader: Nick Tamburrini (send e-mail)
Monitors the financial activity of the parish, analyzes parish finances, develops annual parish budget, reports findings and makes recommendations to the Vestry.
Day: Second Tuesday of the Month
Area: Church
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
Flower City Habitat for Humanity
Leader: Lisa Hand (send e-mail)
Your unwanted clothes can help fund our next home. Cleaning out your clothes closet? Bring home textiles and clothes in tightly closed plastic bags to our St. Pauly donation shed at Grace Church at 805 Blossom Rd, Rochester,NY The Brighton Churches Coalition in Support of Flower City Habitat for Humanity's mission is to bring people together to build houses, communities, and hope. Since 1984 Flower City Habitat for Humanity has built or renovated over 200 homes in Rochester, helping families achieve their dreams of home ownership and strengthening local neighborhoods.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Greeter/Usher
Leader: Kathleen Merritt (send e-mail)
Day: Sunday
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Hospitality Hosts
Leader: Lois Giess (send e-mail)
Working in teams of two, hospitality hosts set up for Sunday morning Coffee Hour, monitor supplies, and clean up afterwards. This normally consists of setting out food previously prepared and stored in our freezer, making coffee, and setting juice and cups. If you can set a table, learn to operate a coffee pot, and be a good host or hostess, this ministry is a simple and important way to serve on our worship team.
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship
Lectors
Leader: Robert Ferris (send e-mail)
Parishioners trained to read the lessons of the day from the Old and New Testaments and the Prayers of the People during worship services.
Day: Varies
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Live-Stream Committee
Leader: Michael McQuinn (send e-mail)
Dept: Church - General
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Music - Joyful Noise
Leader: Robert Ferris (send e-mail)
Dept: Children & Youth
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Music: Choir - Adult
Leader: Robert Ferris (send e-mail)
All singers are welcome (high school through adult) to sing at Sunday morning services as well as at special music programs throughout the church year. Rehearsals are once a week, September-June.
Day: Wednesday
Time: Evening
Area: Church
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Music: Choir - Handbell Intergenerational
Leader: Robert Ferris (send e-mail)
A group of middle-school students who practice and perform musical pieces with handbells during special services throughout the church year.
Dept: Church - General
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Offering Stewards
Leader: Mollie McCormick (send e-mail)
A team of parishioners who make an accurate count of the money put in the offering plate during church services and deposit the funds into the bank
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Office Assistants Team
Leader: Kathleen Merritt (send e-mail)
Parishioners who volunteer to work in the church office providing assistance with answering phones, stuffing bulletins and performing other office duties as needed.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Office
Property Commission
Leader: Brian Eshenaur (send e-mail)
Oversees and makes recommendations and decisions about the church building and grounds and their maintenance.
Day: First Tuesday of Every Month
Time: Evening
Area: Church
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
Property: Gardening Ministry
Leader: Kathy Walczak (send e-mail)
A group of parishioners who maintain thirteen gardens on the grounds of St. Thomas'.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Area: Church
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Property
Saturday Morning Food, Fun & Fellowship Group
Leader: Mike Cougler (send e-mail)
The Breakfast Group, open to all, meets for breakfast on the second Saturday of the month for conversation. Bring an appetite, a sense of humor, and (optional) a dish to pass.
Day: Second Saturday of the Month
Time: Breakfast
Area: Church
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship
Staff-Parish Relations Commission
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
This special vestry commission provides counsel and advice to the rector, other clergy, staff, and the parish regarding policies, procedures, and issues related to employment. Through an ongoing process of mutual biblical and theological reflection, the commission supports the roles and work of the clergy, staff and congregation as they carry out their responsibilities in mutual ministry.
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
STAR (Support to At-Risk Rochester Children)
Leader: Christine Long (send e-mail)
St. Thomas' parishioners volunteer in this Volunteers of America Children's Center and read to nursery-schoolers, donate books, as well as provide clothing, bedding, toys, a birthday party, personal hygiene items to families in the homeless shelter.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Nurture the Children
Stewardship Commission
Leader: Diane Fulkerson (send e-mail)
A vestry commission which seeks to foster and promote the Church's understanding of stewardship as a way of life, which is not optional but rather central to our baptismal calling. The commission has two committees which collaborate as needed, the Financial Stewardship and Time & Talent Stewardship committees.
Area: Church
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
Sunday Bonhoeffer Book Study
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Thurifers
Leader: Kathleen Merritt (send e-mail)
Trained assistants (5th grade through adult) who assist clergy during the eucharist and other rites of the church (carrying the processional cross, holding torch candles, holding the Gospel book, helping clergy to set and clear the communion table, and serving as thurifer for services when incense is used).
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Ushers
Leader: Tim Mabb (send e-mail)
Ushers greet and welcome newcomers and parishioners at the doors of the church at Sunday morning services. Parents and children, couples, individuals are all invited to volunteer to hand out bulletins, offer assistance, bring communion elements forward during the service, collect the offering and help direct those who receive communion.
Dept: Worship Ministry
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
Vestry
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
The nine elected members of the vestry serve in mutual ministry with the wardens and the Rector as the spiritual leadership and governing board of the parish. Vestry meetings are chaired by the Rector. The Treasurer and Secretary/Clerk serve as ex officio non-voting members of the vestry.
Day: Second Tuesday of the Month
Time: Evening
Area: Church
Dept: Church Leadership
Type: Lead
Watch Care: Make-a-Meal Team
Leader: Deb Cougler (send e-mail)
Make a meal for individuals or families who are dealing with an illness, surgery or loss.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Watchcare Ministry Team
Leader: Deb Cougler (send e-mail)
A ministry within the parish that provides care and support to parishioners. Under the Watchcare umbrella: prayer ministry; meals for individual and families in time of crisis; cards and letters to homebound parishioners or those who have an illness or have had surgery; funeral ministry for the family and receptions afterward; and providing transportation for those who need it.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Lead
Watchcare: Card and Note Writers
Leader: Deb Cougler (send e-mail)
Parishioners who send cards and notes to those who need encouragement or who have an illness or who've had surgery.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Watchcare: Eucharistic Visitors
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Licensed and trained eucharistic ministers who take holy communion to parishioners who are unable to be present for worship services.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Watchcare: Flower Delivery
Leader: Deb Cougler (send e-mail)
Deliver weekend altar flowers to people who are ill or in need of some cheer.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Watchcare: Funeral Hospitality Ministry
Leader: Lois Giess (send e-mail)
Parishioners who help coordinate the care of families before the funeral of a loved one and who organize receptions afterward.
Day: Varies
Time: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Watchcare: Lay Pastoral Visitor Ministry
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Admin. Care
Watchcare: Prayer Ministry
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
St. Thomas' Prayer Ministry provides daily, confidential prayer support for the needs, concerns and joys of our parishioners and their families and friends. Members of this Ministry who are able, meet in the North Porch after the 10:00 on the last Sunday of each month to pray in community. Anyone in need of prayer support is welcome.
Day: Last Sunday of the Month
Time: Morning
Area: Church
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Watchcare: Transportation & Delivery Team
Leader: Sue Scanlon (send e-mail)
A group of parishioners willing to transport those in need to church services or other St. Thomas' events.
Day: Varies
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Way of Love - Sunday Book Discussion
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Day: Sunday
Time: Morning
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Way of Love - Wednesday Book Discussion
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Day: Wednesday
Time: Afternoon
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Way of Love Grief Group
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Watchcare/Adult & Family Needs
Welcome Hosts
Leader: Dawn Schweitzer (send e-mail)
A team of parishioners who, in addition to the ushers, greet all who come to church at the 10:00 service on Sunday mornings and who pay special attention to visitors and people who might like to make St. Thomas their church home.
Dept: Ministry Team
Type: Celebrate:Worship/Music
When the Heart Waits
Leader: Leslie Burkardt (send e-mail)
You are invited to join us for a thematic conversation on Sue Monk Kidd's book, "When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for LIfe's Sacred Questions". Paula Gitlin and Diane Fulkerson will join Amma Leslie in facilitating a thoughtful conversation on the themes of listening and waiting as a people who are becoming. Please register by clicking this link: . A Zoom link will be shared via the STC group. We will meet Wednesdays - July 29, August 5, 12, 26 from 3-4pm.
Day: Wednesday
Time: Afternoon
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Learn/Education
Women of St. Thomas'
Leader: Lisa Overacker (send e-mail)
A group open to all women who meet for lunch, fellowship and outreach projects.
Day: Friday
Time: Lunch
Dept: Adult Ministries
Type: Celebrate/Fellowship