St. Thomas Episcopal Church

The community of faith, hope, and love that is Saint Thomas began in 1723 when 30 families of the Quakertown area first met in a log building just across the street from our present site. In those years the congregation was served by visiting Anglican clergy and in 1769, just seven years before the American Revolution, the stone building that is now Saint Thomas Episcopal Church was raised. As was customary in the colonial era and thereafter, a burial yard grew up around the house of prayer.

Today Saint Thomas is one of the most beautiful houses of worship in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Set in a countryside often praised for its peaceful vistas and naturally restorative powers, this parish church still seeks to worship God in the beauty of holiness.

Over the centuries, the light of the Gospel in this place has both waxed and waned. Closed in the early 1900s, then reopened in mid-century, the churchyard was tended in the sparse years by the ever-faithful Saint Thomas Burial Society.

In the late 20th century, under the renewed efforts of its clergy and people, Saint Thomas came to be recognized as a parish in full standing in the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. Our full participation in the life of the diocese is enhanced by our membership in the Watchung Convocation, a regional group of Episcopal churches centered in Bernardsville and Somerville.

Today Saint Thomas Parish Church is indeed flourishing as it marks the milestone of its 282nd year. We are a congregation of about 100 families, worshipping each week in the Anglican prayer book tradition, enjoying a vibrant music ministry, developing in the areas of Children's ministries, Outreach ministries, Pastoral and Educational opportunities, and more.

In the Name of Our Lord, we welcome you to our Web Site and hope that you will enjoy learning more about us in these pages!

The Beth Coleman Band will be performing a traditional bluegrass concert outdoors in the gardens of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Please bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

The Beth Coleman band has been attracting a diverse and extremely loyal following. The band features Bruce Rupert (Mandolin), Mike Terris (Dobro and Banjo) EC Moore (Upright Bass) Marty Smith (Fiddle) Tim Sheetz (Acoustic guitar) and Beth Coleman (Vocals).

Bluegrass music roots are claimed to be from immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland (particularly the Scotch-Irish immigrants in Appalachia), and African-Americans, particularly through genres such as jazz and blues. In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns. Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe characterized the genre: "Scotch bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound. It's plain music that tells a good story. It's played from my heart to your heart, and it will touch you. Bluegrass is music that matters.

The Beth Coleman Band will be performing a traditional bluegrass concert outdoors in the gardens of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Please bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

The Beth Coleman band has been attracting a diverse and extremely loyal following. The band features Bruce Rupert (Mandolin), Mike Terris (Dobro and Banjo) EC Moore (Upright Bass) Marty Smith (Fiddle) Tim Sheetz (Acoustic guitar) and Beth Coleman (Vocals).

Bluegrass music roots are claimed to be from immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland (particularly the Scotch-Irish immigrants in Appalachia), and African-Americans, particularly through genres such as jazz and blues. In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns. Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe characterized the genre: "Scotch bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound. It's plain music that tells a good story. It's played from my heart to your heart, and it will touch you. Bluegrass is music that matters.

Many thanks to the volunteers who continue to support this very worthwhile organization! It's been a great year so far as IHN has been able to assist a number of families with finding housing. The participants are always SO grateful for all that we do to help them whether it's a warm smile, a meal or just some companionship and conversation at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. The donations we provide include children's clothing, house wares, furniture and appliances. The families we assist live right here in Hunterdon County. It is with our help that these folks can remain in this community, their children can continue to go to the school they know, they stay close and connected to their family & friends.

Confirmation Class Clothing Drive
& Bake Sale
Saturday May 15th from 9-12 noon

Acceptable items are:

Clean wearable clothing
Linens
Shoes
Handbags
Stuffed Animals

Please place items in plastic garbage bags and tie or secure bags. Please drop items at church day of drive. Receipts will be available.
Confirmation Class members will be on hand to help you with your drop offs. The Clothing Drive will take place rain or shine.

Ascension Day is observed forty days after Easter, and marks the final post-resurrection appearance of Jesus. This year we will mark the day with a Holy Eucharist at 7:00 pm, followed by dessert and coffee. All are welcome, come and enjoy the beauties of the gardens, of evening worship at St Thomas Church, and fellowship with our community of faith.

Rogation Days are the Church’s Earth Days, and are marked on the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before Ascension Day (see below). Observed long before the day in April when the secular culture marks Earth Day, the Rogation Days were the time for blessing fields and newly planted crops, fruit bearing trees, and all of the connection between humankind and the earth. It was also the time when parishes in England would “beat the bounds” or re-establish boundaries of the parish, Last year we marked Rogation Sunday by walking the bounds of St Thomas immediate property, which included the newly purchased two acres in the back of the property.

Beth Coleman Bluegrass Concert
Saturday, April 17
7-9 pm
The Beth Coleman Band will be performing bluegrass, civil war era songs, gospel music and some original compositions at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 98 Sky Manor Road, Pittstown NJ. $15 per adult donation benefits the support of St. Thomas Church. Children under 18 are admitted free. Refreshments and home baked goods will be provided by St. Thomas' members at intermission. Call 908-399-5117 for more information or go to www.sthomasepc.org or www.thebethcolemanband.net.

HOLY WEEK AT SAINT THOMAS’

APRIL 1: MAUNDY THURSDAY at 7:00 pm
We will enter into the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. Followed by the stripping of the altar and the vigil at the Altar of Repose.

APRIL 2: GOOD FRIDAY
Vigil continues throughout the day at the Altar of Repose

LITURGY OF THE DAY
with communion from the reserved sacrament and Homily, at 7:00 pm

APRIL 3: THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER at 8:00 pm
The light of new Fire, Word, Water, Bread, Wine. Come ye faithful of all ages! Bring a bell to the Easter Vigil!

APRIL 4: EASTER DAY at 8:00 and 10:00 am