St. Thomas is welcoming, affirming, and generous.

Yes! There are lots of children associated with St. Thomas. Some are here seasonally, and others are here more year-round. They may sit with their parents or caregivers during the service, or attend our children’s programming.

We have a Sunday School that meets during our Sunday 9:30 worship service. Children 5 and up meet the “shepherd” by the Sunday School banner. They head downstairs to the Sunday School rooms for most of the service for “Godly Play,” and return for communion.

Children 4 and younger are welcome to stay in our staff attended Nursery Room, at the back of the sanctuary.

A teen youth group meets on Sunday evenings.

We also have camps and events.

St. Thomas, and the wider Episcopal Church, welcomes and affirms all people. As our baptismal covenant states, “we respect the dignity of every human being.”

Sun Valley is an informal place. As such, folks come to St. Thomas in all manner of dress, from blazers and dresses to slacks and ski clothes depending on the weather.

We have pews in the front and chairs toward the back. Please sit wherever you feel comfortable.

In the Episcopal churches, worship leaders wear traditional clothes called vestments.

As an Episcopal church, we follow the “Book of Common Prayer.” We have a traditional order of service that is followed by thousands of churches throughout the world known as “liturgy.”

The first half of the service centers around readings from the Bible and preaching. The second half is a celebration of the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, in which worshippers share in the presence of Christ through the bread and the wine.

All baptized Christians may receive communion.

The music is traditional, but living. We have an organist/choir director who trains our choirs and plays the organ or the piano each week. The music is divided between historic hymns of faith and newer hymns and anthems written by folks who are living now.

Some folks sing along with the hymns with gusto, and others pray the words quietly as they are being sung. Know that God receives your praise either way.

You may walk through the receiving line to say hi to one or both of our priests. You are also invited to “Coffee Hour,” which includes coffee and cookies, and sometimes hors d’oeuvres.

While the Episcopal Church recognizes the traditional clerical titles of “Father” and “Mother” at St. Thomas our clergy are known by their first names – Jonah and Kathleen.