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Weekly Activities

Boy Scouts Mon 7PM
Book Club 2nd Mon 5PM
Julian Prayer Group 3rd Mon 5PM

Ahoskie Rotary Club Tues @ noon
Vestry 3rd Tues 6PM

Evening Prayer Wed 6PM
Choir Wed 6:30PM

Soup Kitchen 5PM - last 2 Thurs each month!



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Check out the photos from our Medical Mission on Facebook!



Give a net - Save a life!


  Sunday Worship 8 & 10:30AM
  Adult Sunday School 9:15AM
  Youth Sunday School 1st & 3rd Sundays 9:15AM



Recognizing Jesus


The gospels are filled with stories of the disciples not recognizing after he has risen. In John, Mary thinks Jesus is the gardener and begs him to reveal where he has hidden her Lord's body. In the same gospel, the disciples in the upper room do not recognize the Lord when he appears to the Easter evening. In Luke, two disciples spend an entire afternoon with Jesus on the road to Emmaus and do not recognize him. Even as the disciples rejoice together when the Emmaus experience is shared with them, they are frightened by Jesus' direct appearance to them. Later in John, Jesus appears to the disciples who have returned to Galilee to fish. He calls to them but Peter only recognizes him when they cast their nets and catch so many fish the nets cannot hold them.

So how is it that we are to recognize Jesus? Will we recognize him in the miracles that we witness? Yes, but miracles tend to be rare. Will we recognize Jesus when he speaks to us? Maybe. Most people that claim to have a direct conversation with Jesus we tend to cynically or lock up because they are delusional. Will we recognize Jesus as St. Thomas did, only when he reveals the wounds in his hands and side? Doubtful. Few if any of us will see Jesus face to face and fewer will have visions of his wounds. We tend to recognize the triumphant more than wounded. So how will it be that we will recognize the risen Lord in our daily lives?

If it is this difficult to recognize the risen Lord, then how will we be known as his disciples? If we cannot see Jesus, how can we follow him? Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Be imitators of me as I am of Christ. (1st Cor 11:1)" So the path is clear that we are to be imitators of Christ to be known as his followers. And so, like Paul, when others curse us, we must bless; when slandered, we speak kindly; when persecuted we endure. We do everything for the building up of our community to the glory of God. We can imitate Jesus by being healers, not only of the body but of the spirit as well. We can be feeders of those without their daily bread and share our coats with those who have none.

Someone once said that you cannot read the gospels carefully and not get hungry with all the feasting going on. We should feast not only with our brothers, sisters, neighbors and friends, but also invite those who need our generosity, to feast with us, just as Jesus did. Jesus ate with outcasts as an example for us. All were welcome at Jesus' table and the same should be said of ours.

These are not easy things to do, but they are the only things that we distinguish us as followers of Jesus. And if we do these things, what is our reward? Henri Nouwen once wrote: "Eternal life is not some great surprise that comes at once at the end of our existence in time; it is rather, the full revelation of what we have been and have lived all along. The evangelist John expresses this succinctly when he says: 'My dear people, what we are to be in the future has not yet been recorded; all we know is that, when it is recorded, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is' (1 John 3:2-3)."

We will see the Christ and recognize him best, when we see him in our words, our deeds, and ourselves.

Glory to God.

Jeff+




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© Jan 2013 by The Rev. Jeff Douglas


St. Thomas is a vibrant, welcoming, Christian community cultivating mind, body & spirit through worship, fellowship, and service, loving our neighbors as ourselves

The Rev. Jeff Douglas, Rector

Our Staff:
       Musician:
       Jonathan Johnston
       Secretary:
       Lisa Forbes

Our Vestry:
       Bubba Peele,Sr. Warden
       Jack Tayloe, Jr. Warden
       Brenda Hewitt, Clerk
       Ernie Carter,Treasurer
       Vicki Blanchard
       Jim Shotwell
       Barbara Outland
       Jamie Johnson
       Lindsay Vaughan
       Gretchen Simons

Parish Committees:
       Parish Hall:
       Bubba Peele
       Events:
       Barbara Outland
       Kitchen:
       Ernie Carter,
       Mary C. Pierce
       Garden Committee:
       Charles & Lois Sawyer
       Bazemore Garden
       Planning Committee:

       Martie Tayloe,
       Colin & Patsy Jones,
       Gretchen Simons,
       Dicky & Becky Hoggard
       Lobster Feast:
       Jim & Linda Shotwell

WORSHIP
       Altar Guild:
       Mary C. Pierce        Acolytes:
       Charles Sawyer
       Flower Guild:
       Ernie Carter,
       Martie Tayloe,
       Patsy Jones EDUCATION:
       Adult Sunday School:
       Carolyn Peele
       Children's Sunday
       School:

       Gretchen Simons
       & Beth Douglas

PASTORAL CARE:
Becky Hoggard,
Vicki Blandchard
& Jerrie Taylor

If you would like to volunteer or have ideas about how St. Thomas' can have a more effective ministry in these areas, contact the appropriate person and make St. Thomas' ministry even better.