You might not know this but the numbers of people who say they attend church at least monthly has declined to below 50% nationwide. This is unprecedented in the history of our nation and it has many ramifications. One effect is that people do not have the same starting place or context for civil discourse.…
From the Rector
The blog of the Rev’d David O. Browder, Rector of St. Thomas’. Law and gospel, grace, pop culture, links to interesting articles and videos.
From the Rector
STE STRONG Matching Gift Challenge
It is with great excitement and gratitude that we embark on the final phase of the Fulfilling the Promise capital campaign: the STE STRONG Matching Gift Challenge. You have heard about the generous gift donated by Judith and Roy Shaw to kick off this epic campaign for STE. Over the next four weeks, you will hear…
From the Rector
The Passion
by David Browder “Passion” is a word that has definite associations in 21st Century America. “What is your passion?” “Follow your passion.” This is the advice we often hear at our graduation ceremonies and these are the ideas that make us wistful during movies. “Passion” in this context is deeply and intensely held commitment and…
From the Rector
Childlike Trust
by David Browder When I was little, my father was larger than life to me. He was bigger and stronger than anyone I could conceive of. He was smarter than anyone I knew. Every day, he would disappear in his car to “work” which was a mysterious place where he would do incomprehensible, grown up…
From the Rector
A Look Ahead to Worship in the Renovated Church
By David Browder It will not be long until we are able to worship in our new space! I know you are just as excited as I am about having a brand new, renovated church. As you may know, the layout of the church is largely unchanged but there are a few new architectural elements…
From the Rector
You Are Not Alone in the Storm
by David Browder In Bible Study this morning (Wednesday, 3/3), we are going to be studying Ephesians 3:1-13. In it, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus (a very wealthy city on the western coast of present-day Turkey) about the extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles. It is a glorious announcement…
From the Rector
Cold Weather Update 2/17
Due to our record cold weather, continuing power outages and unsafe conditions, our Ash Wednesday service on campus has been cancelled. Please join our Rector, David Browder, at 5 PM on Facebook Live for Evening Prayer. Our Sunday service will be held in person and online as usual. Wednesday’s Epistle email newsletter will go out…
From the Rector
Church Restoration Update February 2021
Saint Thomas’ Rector, David Browder, walks us through the progress on church construction and restoration. We expect completion in the next few weeks — we’ve experienced a number of COVID related delays!
From the Rector, Outreach
STE Family Plans Mission to Africa
In the summer of 2019, Michelle and David Graves spent a month on a mission trip with the Rafiki Foundation helping at a Christian Classical School and Teachers College in Nairobi, Kenya. Now God has called them to long term service at Rafiki’s village near Kampala, Uganda. They are working to be ready to leave…
From the Rector
On the Wearing of Masks
I would first like to thank all of you for your cooperation during this time of pandemic. Masks and social distancing have been requirements for our meeting in person and you as a church have been really terrific to work with. I say this knowing that many of you are reticent about wearing masks —…
