3 Apr 2023

Worship and weekly news – April 2, 2023

by Joy Lynam | posted in: News, Worship | 0

Hello faith family! This is Palm Sunday and The Sunday of the Passion, April 2, 2023, Year A.

Weekly News

See our Carpenter’s Helper Newsletter for this week, which has info on …
Rector’s Call to Holy Week,
Interactive Stations of the Cross,
Philadelphia Museum of Art Trip,
Noisy Sundays – bring your change!,
Many ways to show love to our neighbors,
2 Saints Readers Program April 2023,
Holy Week Worship Schedule,
Good Friday Children’s event, Easter Sunday scavenger hunt and egg scramble
Easter 2023 Flower Donations, and
Annual Meeting 2023 and Vestry Nominations.

Our weekly Worship schedule

Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).
Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person. (Intercessory Prayer booklet).
Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer, live via Zoom. (booklet).

This Sunday’s Worship Schedule

Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries program
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).

Growth and Fellowship

Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. – 2 Saint Readers (April program)
April 2-9 2023 – Holy Week schedule
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., 2 Saints Readers resumes via Zoom with “An Invisible Thread” by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.
Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. – Annual Meeting and Vestry nominations.
Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation with Bishop Kevin Brown
Sat., May 6, 2023 – Train trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
1st Sunday of the month – Gospel in Spanish
Last Sunday of the month – Family Church Sunday
Last Sunday of the month – Coffee and Fellowship between services
2nd Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Novel Theology
3rd Monday of the month – Hope Dining Room
Sundays from 4-6 p.m. – free dinners for ECM students. Eat in or take homemade dinners to go.
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – lectionary bible study in the classroom.

In this strange pandemic time, the church is aware that some of its members are struggling to make ends meet. If you are in this situation, please let the clergy know of your needs, pray for the church, and feel no guilt about your giving. But if you are able to give, options for giving include mailing a check to our church or online giving.

If you have anything to add to the Parish calendar or the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter, please email the office at StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com.

To see worship, events or news, see our website, FaceBook, InstaGram, YouTube, or the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.

Regardless of whether we are together in-person or virtually, we are connected by the Holy Spirit: Always together; never apart…maybe in distance, but never in heart.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

3 Apr 2023

Easter Sunday 2023 scavenger hunt and egg scramble

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

ALL children and youth are welcome to join St. Thomas’s Easter Sunday 2023 scavenger hunt and egg scramble! Meet in the Great Hall after the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Donations for a snack would be appreciated.

2 Apr 2023

Call to Holy Week 2023

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Worship | 0

Dear friends,

We come now to the time in the church’s year – eight great days – when the story of God’s love for humanity is played out with power and drama. From the ominous celebration on Palm Sunday, to the command to love on Maundy Thursday, the solemn quiet of Good Friday, and the surprise and joy of Easter, the foundations of our faith are laid. In the words and actions of worship, we bring those great events into our present reality. The stories inspire our minds and hearts; the palms procession and foot washing and kneeling at the cross put us – body and soul – into the most important moments of our faith.

I urge you to join us, and to bring family and friends, for the worship of Holy Week and Easter. Let it be a challenge to yourself to attend at least three services between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. You will be fed by what you hear and see!

The experience of worship is most powerful if you can be “in the room,” but all services will also be live streamed on YouTube. In whatever way you join us, I hope that this Holy Week will be a blessing to you.

Peace, Howie+
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr.
Rector

2 Apr 2023

Loose change and loose plate cash

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Children's Ministries, News, Outreach | 0

Sunday, April 2, 2023, is the First Sunday of the month and the loose (non-pledge) cash in the plate is directed to Friendship House. Last Sunday, Kim Eppehimer from Friendship House joined us between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services to tell us more about Friendship House and answer questions. It was a treat to have her with us!

Additionally, Noisy Sundays continue. Throughout Lent, the Sunday school children will have a noisy collection in all Sunday services. Members are encouraged to find your spare change at home and bring it in. During the week, the change bucket will be available for rattling and donations in the lobby. The more “noise” the change makes the better! (They will even accept money that is not so noisy!) The proceeds will go to a charity to be selected. Some of their ideas include:

• A local school’s Donors’ Choice

• School lunch debt

• Medical debt

• Micro-loans

You will be updated as this project progresses. Please let Fr. Howie know if any of these choices jump out to you or if you have another suggestion to give Children’s Ministries.

Thank you for your continued support of these ministries. Regardless of your ability to give we are grateful to have you with us – in person or online!

21 Mar 2023

Easter 2023 Flower Dedications

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Easter | 0

It’s time to think about Easter 2023 flowers. It is a St. Thomas’s tradition to decorate the sanctuary with heavenly bounties of fresh florals. I can almost smell them now. A list of dedications is printed in the back of the Easter bulletin to share all of our Thanksgivings and Memorials with our faith family.

If you would like to make a dedication, you may our giving page and complete this donation form. You may choose to mail it in or drop by the office (if I’m not in, please leave it in the box on the front of the office door). I will have extra forms available on the bulletin board in the lobby. The suggested donation is $40, however, all gifts are deeply appreciated. Please let me know if you have any questions. Please mail it back, or bring it to the parish office no later than Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

21 Mar 2023

Worship and weekly news – March 26, 2023

by Joy Lynam | posted in: News, Worship | 0

Hello faith family! This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday in Lent – March 26, 2023, Year A.

Weekly News

See our Carpenter’s Helper Newsletter for this week, which has info on …
Interactive Stations of the Cross,
Philadelphia Museum of Art Trip,
Noisy Sundays – bring your change!,
Many ways to show love to our neighbors,
2 Saints Readers Program April 2023,
Holy Week Worship Schedule,
Good Friday Children’s event,
Easter 2023 Flower Donations, and
Annual Meeting 2023 and Vestry Nominations.

Fifth Sunday in Lent Our weekly Worship schedule

Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).
Sundays in Lent at 7:00 p.m. – worship via YouTube.
Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person. (Intercessory Prayer booklet).
Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer, live via Zoom. (booklet).

This Sunday’s Worship Schedule

Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Adult Education topic is Growing Up in the Church; what we learned about faith, race, and gender featuring Teri Quinn-Gray, Denise Burgher, and Fr. Howie.
Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries program
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).
Sundays in Lent at 7:00 p.m. – worship via YouTube.

Growth and Fellowship

Mondays in Lent at 7 p.m. – adult inquirers class series begins. See Fr. Howie for more info.
Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. – 2 Saint Readers (April program)
Monday, March 20, 2023 – Hope Dining Room
Sunday, March 26, 2023 from 9:15-10:15 a.m. – fellowship breakfast between services with a special guest presenter from the Friendship House
April 2-9 2023 – Holy Week schedule
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., 2 Saints Readers resumes via Zoom with “An Invisible Thread” by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.
Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. – Annual Meeting and Vestry nominations.
Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation with Bishop Kevin Brown
Sat., May 6, 2023 – Train trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
1st Sunday of the month – Gospel in Spanish
Last Sunday of the month – Family Church Sunday
Last Sunday of the month – Coffee and Fellowship between services
2nd Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Novel Theology
3rd Monday of the month – Hope Dining Room
Sundays from 4-6 p.m. – free dinners for ECM students. Eat in or take homemade dinners to go.
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – lectionary bible study in the classroom.

If you have anything to add to the Parish calendar or the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter, please email the office at StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com.

Regardless of whether we are together in-person or virtually, we are connected by the Holy Spirit: Always together; never apart…maybe in distance, but never in heart.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

19 Mar 2023

Good Friday 2023 Offering for Children and Families

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

We had such a wonderful time last year. St. Thomas’s Children’s Ministries is once again offering a Holy Week inspired event for children ages 4-11 and their families on Good Friday. See the flyer for the event. This Good Friday Gathering for Children and Families will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will include a snack.

I hope that many of our families with children will include this event in your Holy Week calendar. It will be a great way to allow your child to fellowship with friends and to experience Holy Week with developmentally appropriate activities.

Please feel free to share this information with friends who do not attend St. Thomas’s and with other churches with whom you may be affiliated. We love visitors!! Anyone can RSVP online, use contact information on the flyer, or contact me via email or phone.

ALSO, If you are an adult who is willing to help with activities, that would be great. Please let me know that too.

RSVP for Children’s Event: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-stthomas6
Share Good Friday Children’s flyer with friends!

Blessings,

Belinda Young-Payne

17 Mar 2023

Worship and weekly news – March 17, 2023

by Joy Lynam | posted in: News, Worship | 0

Hello faith family! This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 19, 2023, Year A.

Weekly News

See our Carpenter’s Helper Newsletter for this week, which has info on …
Interactive Stations of the Cross,
Philadelphia Museum of Art Trip,
Noisy Sundays – bring your change!,
Many ways to show love to our neighbors,
2 Saints Readers Program April 2023,
Holy Week Worship Schedule,
Good Friday Childrens event, and
Annual Meeting 2023 and Vestry Nominations.

Fourth Sunday in Lent Our weekly Worship schedule

Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).
Sundays in Lent at 7:00 p.m. – worship via YouTube.
Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person. (Intercessory Prayer booklet).
Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer, live via Zoom. (booklet).

This Sunday’s Worship Schedule

Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet).
Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Adult Education topic is Growing Up in the Church; what we learned about faith, race, and gender featuring Teri Quinn-Gray, Denise Burgher, and Fr. Howie.
Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries program
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person and online at our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet).
Sundays in Lent at 7:00 p.m. – worship via YouTube.

Growth and Fellowship

Mondays in Lent at 7 p.m. – adult inquirers class series begins. See Fr. Howie for more info.
Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. – 2 Saint Readers (April program)
Monday, March 20, 2023 – Hope Dining Room
Sunday, March 26, 2023 from 9:15-10:15 a.m. – fellowship breakfast between services with a special guest presenter from the Friendship House
April 2-9 2023 – Holy Week schedule
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., 2 Saints Readers resumes via Zoom with “An Invisible Thread” by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.
Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. – Annual Meeting and Vestry nominations.
Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation with Bishop Kevin Brown
Sat., May 6, 2023 – Train trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
1st Sunday of the month – Gospel in Spanish
Last Sunday of the month – Family Church Sunday
Last Sunday of the month – Coffee and Fellowship between services
2nd Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Novel Theology
3rd Monday of the month – Hope Dining Room
Sundays from 4-6 p.m. – free dinners for ECM students. Eat in or take homemade dinners to go.
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – lectionary bible study in the classroom.

If you have anything to add to the Parish calendar or the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter, please email the office at StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com.

Regardless of whether we are together in-person or virtually, we are connected by the Holy Spirit: Always together; never apart…maybe in distance, but never in heart.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

17 Mar 2023

Holy Week 2023 Worship Schedule

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Easter, Worship | 0

All services in-person at St. Thomas’s unless otherwise noted and on YouTube. A printable Holy Week schedule is available. Please see our Rector’s call to Holy Week.

Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023
Worship and Holy Eucharist services at 8:00 (8:00 a.m. booklet) & 10:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. booklet)
Evening Worship 7:00 p.m. on YouTube.
The Liturgy of the Palms and distribution of palms will take place at both services and palms will be available later in the day.

Monday, April 3, 2023
Holy Eucharist 5:00 p.m. (Service Booklet)
A quiet, spoken service with prayers from the Eastern Orthodox Service of the Bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13)

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Holy Eucharist with anointing for healing 5:00 p.m. (Service Booklet)
A quiet, spoken service with prayers and anointing for healing.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Holy Eucharist 12:00 Noon (Service Booklet)
Solemn Evensong 7:00 p.m. (Service Booklet)
Our usual Wednesday midday Eucharist worship service with intercessory prayer. In the evening, a chanted worship service of evening prayer.

Maundy Thursday, April 6, 2023
Holy Eucharist with stripping of the altar and watch 7:00 p.m. (Service Booklet)
This evening we celebrate the Eucharist, remove the ornaments in the church in preparation for Good Friday and reserve the Blessed Sacrament on the Altar of Repose. The church will be open continuously (live and by YouTube) until 9:00 a.m. Friday morning for those who wish to follow Our Lord’s request that we watch with Him “one brief hour.” (Matthew 26:40).

Good Friday, April 7, 2023
Good Friday Children’s event 9 a.m.-Noon
Good Friday Liturgy 12:00 Noon at St. Nicholas, Newark (Service Booklet)
Stations of the Cross 7:00 p.m.
The principal Good Friday Liturgy will be observed at noon, with the solemn collects and Eucharist from the Reserved Sacrament. The evening service will be the traditional Christian cycle of prayers on the Way of the Cross.

Holy Saturday, April 8, 2023
Reconciliation (Confession) from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Great Vigil of Easter worship service at 8:00 p.m. at St. Thomas’s with St. Nicholas’s (Service Booklet)
There will be an opportunity for private confession during the afternoon as a way of becoming fully prepared to celebrate Easter. In the evening, we will gather for the Church’s most solemn observance – waiting and watching for Our Lord’s resurrection. We will light the new Paschal fire, renew our baptismal promises, and make a joyful noise (bring bells!).

Sunday of the Resurrection, April 9, 2023
Worship and Holy Eucharist services at 8:00 (Service Booklet) & 10:30 a.m. (Service Booklet)

13 Mar 2023

Hope Dining Room volunteers needed Monday, March 20, 2023

by Joy Lynam | posted in: Outreach, Service | 0

Dear Families of St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

Monday, March 20, 2023, is our opportunity to serve at Hope Dining Room. Guests at Hope, are now “dining in” so we have 2 different short shifts that you can volunteer for. The cooking shift goes from 10 – 11:45 a.m. The serving and cleanup shift, goes from 11:45 – 1:30 p.m.

If you’d like to help, please bring an apron and a ball cap. We would LOVE to see you! All of this takes place at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Rd. in Brookside Park. It is a team effort, lots of fun and it makes you feel so good to feed people who really appreciate it.

Please sign up to donate things we need for the meal, which may be brought to St. Thomas’s on Monday – Thursday between 9 and noon OR when you come to church on Sunday. If that doesn’t work for you, give me a call and I will pick it up at your house.

Blessings to ALL of you,
Madeline Johnson