Fellowship & Adult Formation
Men's Retreat
FEBRUARY 20-22, 2026
This year’s retreat invites the men of our parish to explore the spiritual practice of being with — with God, with ourselves, with one another, and with the world. We will be discussing David Brooks book, How to Know a Person, which explores how deep attention, empathy, and curiosity can transform our relationships and our communities.
The dates for the retreat are February 20, 2026 - February 22, 2026. We will start at 3 p.m. on Friday, the 20th and end at noon on Sunday, the 22nd. We will be meeting at Huston Camp and Conference Center in Gold Bar.
If you have questions, contact Gregg Soelter at (425) 894-9384 or Claude Rogers at (425) 681-3501.
We hope you can join us!
Women of the Bible
in Stained Glass Forum
The people of St. Thomas have noticed something important: women from the Bible were underrepresented in the stained glass windows of our nave. At the same time, we had eight empty window spaces—waiting to be filled. With the vestry’s support and Mother Jane Maynard’s blessing, a group of parishioners gathered to discern which women’s stories should be honored. Thanks to the dedication of a small lay committee and staff, the creativity of stained glass designer William Frank, and the craftsmanship of artisan Blake LaRue, the vision is now taking shape.
Lenten Series: Praying with the Poetry of Ann Weems
UPCOMING
Join us for a four-week Lenten series centered on the poetry of Ann Weems, drawn from her collection Kneeling in Jerusalem. Each week we will read one poem together and reflect on it as a form of prayer.
Sessions will be facilitated by parishioners and held in the library at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays (February 22, March 1, March 8, and March 15).
February 22, March 1, March 8, and March 15 at 9am in the Library
A Series on Christianity with Dr. Phil Ballinger
UPCOMING
February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 31 after the 10am service in the Library
Philip Ballinger, Ph.D., S.T.D., is an Emeritus Associate Vice Provost at the University of Washington. He came to the UW in 2003 from Gonzaga University, where he was a faculty member and long-serving Dean of Admissions. Philip was born in France, raised in Alaska, and educated in Washington, Kentucky, and Belgium. He holds a doctoral degree in theology and religious studies from Louvain (Belgium) and was an affiliate faculty member of the Comparative Religion department at the UW and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California. His primary teaching focus is early Christianity. Philip is also the author of a book on the theology and aesthetics of the Victorian Poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins.
All are invited to join Dr. Philip Ballinger for a short course in Christianity. Sessions will meet once per month after the 10:00 a.m. service in the library. The course will take an academic approach, offering thoughtful engagement with Christian history, theology, and practice.
February 22, 2026
Session 1: The 'Rise of Christianity
Starting as a small group of Aramaic-speaking believers in the backwaters of the Roman Empire, by the year 350 Christians probably numbered around 30,000,000 and comprised over 50% of the empire's population. How did this happen — especially within the context of state and public opposition? Using long-time University of Washington Professor Rodney Stark's book 'The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History' as a touchstone, and referring to primary sources for examples, we will learn how practical consequences of Christian faith and practice fueled this astounding growth, and why the same dynamics apply today.
March 22, 2026
Session 2: The Spoken Word, the Written Word, and the Rise of the New Testament
The 'scripture' of most Christians in the 1st century was some version of the 'Old Testament' (a term first used in the mid-to-late 2nd century). Considering that the literacy rate in the Roman empire around the year 100 was probably less than 10%, why and how were written texts used by early Christians? What texts were used by early Christians? In short, why and how did the New Testament we use today arise?
April 19, 2026
Session 3: A User's Guide to the 'bible' within the Bible: The Psalms
The Book of Psalms is sometimes referred to as 'the second Torah' in Judaism and, for Christians, is arguably the mostly widely used and beloved book of the Bible. We will look at the centrality of the Psalms in the prayer and worship of the Church from its earliest days. We will focus on how early Christians understood the Psalms, and how their approach can be helpful to us today as we use them. We will look at different types of Psalms together in light of what early Christians — especially Augustine — can teach us.
May 31, 2026
Session 4: Is Poetic Language the Best God Language?
Our use of language is a human highlight...with a significant dark side. Words can convey us to the heights of human experiences of love and joy, but also to the depths of human evil and darkness. Therefore, shouldn't we be full of trepidation in using words to speak of God? It's a quandary that we will look at in this session. We are going to get a bit theological but end up being a bit artistic. Perhaps the language of poetry is the best God language. The theological aesthetics and poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins will be the highlight of this session.
Wonderful Wednesday
UPCOMING
To be announced
Join us on select Wednesdays for prayer in the Taizé tradition, dinner, and transformative adult formation opportunities. The typical schedule looks like:
6pm: Taizé Prayer (Church)
6:15pm: Dinner (Great Hall)
7pm: Formation (Library or Great Hall)
Suggested donation for dinner is $10/adult, $5/children 11 and under, $20/family. You can pay with cash or check payable to St. Thomas Church.
Coffee Hour
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
January 25: To celebrate the Installation and Blessing of the Stained Glass Windows with Bishop Melissa Skelton
February 8: Valentine's Day
Each Sunday after both the 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Eucharists, our community gathers for Coffee Hour—a relaxed time to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, meet new people, and catch up with friends. It’s one of the simplest and most cherished ways we practice fellowship each week.
From time to time, Coffee Hour becomes a special celebration, with potlucks or festive treats for occasions like Halloween, weddings, baptisms, or New Member Welcome Sundays. However you join in, Coffee Hour is an easy and welcoming way to connect and belong.
Breaking Bread
Small Groups
Looking to meet people at St. Thomas beyond a Sunday morning “hello”? Breaking Bread Together groups gather in friendly settings for food, conversation, and connection. Whether you're brand new or have been around for years, this is your invitation to join a circle of 6–8 others for shared meals and meaningful moments.
Men's Breakfast
The men of St. Thomas are invited to breakfast on the first Saturday of each month for fellowship and to discuss upcoming service opportunities. Meet in the Library.
UPCOMING: FEBRUARY 7 @ 9AM