St. Thomas Tidings: December 18, 2025
St. Thomas Tidings: December 18, 2025
December 21, 2025, our Priest celebrant will be The Rev. Holly Cardone
December 21, 2025, The Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 am Liturgy 10:15 am Liturgy
Ushers: Patrick Riley Usher: Andrea Utzman
Lectors: Pam Pezone Lector: Joanne Jovanovic, Jeremy Richmond
Altar Server/LEM John Cordi Altar Server/Lem: Allen Stout
Closer: Bishops Committee Closer: Bishops Committee
Men’s Breakfast: Second Saturday of each Month. Next Men’s Breakfast January 10, 2025. Meet at Denny’s at South and Bellflower at 8:00 am for food and fellowship
Women’s Brunch – January 2026, at Hofs Hut, 2147 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90815 at 10:00am.
St. Martha’s Guild – Wednesdays 9:30-11:30am in Larkin Hall
Bishop’s Committee - Next Meeting is Sunday December 28, 2025.
Just a reminder that we will not be having Evening Prayer next week or the following because of the Christmas and New Years holiday
Bible/Book study on Mondays. There will be no Bible Study this coming Monday December 2, 2025 and the following Monday December 29, 2025
Christmas Floral Donation Envelopes: Please consider donating to the St. Thomas Christmas Floral Fund given in Memory Of, In thanksgiving for or in Honor of a loved one. A list of these intentions will be listed in the Christmas Service Bulletin.
Christmas Eve Service Eucharist December 24, 2025, 7:00 pm
Christmas Day Service: Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ December 25, 2025, 9:00 am
Bishops’ Committee December 28, 2025
Collect from the Third Sunday of Advent: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen
From the Diocese
Bishop Search Committee offers updated timeline
The Bishop Search Committee has released an updated version of the Bishop Search timeline. The estimated dates for milestones in the Bishop Search are below:
May 2026: The bishop-elect Antonio Gallardo begins work in the diocese.
July 11, 2026: Consecration and ordination of the new bishop, Antonio Gallardo.
July-September 2026: Bishop Taylor remains as a consultant, providing support during the transition.
October 2026: Bishop Taylor retires.
St. Thomas Postscripts
December Canterbury Tales: We are in need of articles for the St. Thomas Canterbury Tales publication. Please send all article information to Shelley Arnold at shelleyarnold1@aol.com or Rick Fridrick at stlb47@verizon.net, or call the Church office. Due December 28, 2025.
St. Thomas Tiding: If you have any article/announcement for the tiding please send to Rick Fridrick at stlb47@verizon.net or call the Church office.
Service Reminder: All our services stay on our Facebook page so you can view them whenever it’s convenient for you. It’s always better to view a service later in the day than not at all! The link to the page for all our services is here: https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Thomas-of-Canterbury-Episcopal-Church-of-Long-Beach-CA-124554214274325
Share Our Services: Please feel free to share our Sunday services. The more people we reach, the better we do at evangelism. People are hungry for what we have to offer, and I encourage you to do our part to share our services with your friends and neighbors. Send them the link when you email them, invite them to join you on Facebook or in person… whatever way works best for you to share what we have to offer.
View and Share our Website: https://www.stthomascanterbury.org/ Please share our website which now has the weekly bulletin posted as well as the Sunday Homilies given by our clergy. The site continues to be updated and organized in order to share what is happening in our church family.
“For Your Prayers” in the Sunday Bulletin
To be added to the prayer list, please list the first and last name of the person being prayed for. You may (but are not required to) include why there is a need for prayer. Do indicate the category they should be listed under. (i.e. Serving in the Armed Forces, Protection and Guidance, Healing, or Homebound & Special Needs)
Contact Rick by email stlb47@verizon.net or call 562-425-4457
Reminder the Church office is open Monday-Friday: If you have any need, Rick Fridrick is in the Church office Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am – Noon. 562-425-4457
Pastoral Care: If you have normal “every day” pastoral concerns, contact Rick in the office at 562-425-4457, or Allen at (714) 381-5910.