Annual Bazaar 2021 on November 12-13, 2021

posted in: Outreach | 0

Annual Bazaar 2021Visit St. Thomas’s Annual Bazaar to be held on
Friday, November 12 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, November 13 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

You will find unique holiday crafts (many under $10), fresh baked goods, cookie walk (build your own cookie tray!), quarts of homemade soups, St. Thomas’s t-shirts and hoodies, second-hand Christmas decorations, resale shop / white elephant sale, and exclusive new items. Tastefully Simple is taking pre-orders. which you may pick up at the Bazaar.

On Friday and Saturday, join us for lunch, which may be purchased between 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Won’t you consider volunteering? Volunteer sign-ups via Sign-up Genius are available for you to sign up.

All proceeds from the Annual Bazaar go to Outreach Ministries.

Open to the public. Invite your family and friends!

Questions may be directed to Barbara Graham at 44graham@comcast.net.

Worship services for week of September 19, 2021

posted in: Worship | 0

Seventeenth Sunday after PentecostHello faith family! Sunday, September 19, 2021 is the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost.

Here is Sunday worship service information:

Services are in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

Other worship this week:

  • Sundays from 10:30-11 a.m., Communion at the Curb is offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
  • Wednesday at noon: Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion, live on our YouTube channel and in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Thursday at 7 p.m.: Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. – Pat McCullough funeral in-person with precautions and Live on YouTube channel. Light refreshments to follow and see Sally Price if you would like to contribute.
  • Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 2 p.m. – Bob Bennett funeral in-person with precautions and Live on our YouTube channel.

The new Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

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 your church or online giving. See our Giving information.

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 all events or news, visit our website, check FaceBook, or check out 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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for September 19, 2021

posted in: News | 0

See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the week of September 19, 2021. This week, you will find announcements for two adult christian education opportunities, a reminder of our minder of our fall Sunday worship schedule, and a big Save The Date for A Celebration of Time and Talent from our outstanding Sr Warden, Connie Cooper.

  • Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries under the tent in the courtyard.
  • Sundays from 10:30-11 a.m., Communion at the Curb is offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
  • Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., lectionary bible study in the classroom.Wednesday at noon: Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion, live on our YouTube channel and in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Thursday at 7 p.m.: Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. – Pat McCullough funeral in-person with precautions and Live on our YouTube channel. Light refreshments to follow and see Sally Price if you would like to contribute.
  • Sunday, September 26, 2021 between services – A Celebration of Time and Talent! Door prizes and refreshments will make this a FUN event where we will give much deserved recognition to the many St. Thomas’s ministries and the people who keep them going.
  • Sundays, October 3, 10, and 17, 2021 at 9:15 a.m.: exploring Celtic Spirituality offered in-person with precautions and LIVE via Zoom. Meets in the parlor in-person with precautions and live via Zoom.
  • Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 10 a.m. – 2 Saints Readers, the book study that brings us together with our St. Nicholas friends, will be discussing “The Language of God, A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief” by Dr Francis S Collins, via Zoom.  ALL are Welcome – you will receive an email invitation.
  • Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 2 p.m. – Bob Bennett funeral in-person with precautions and Live on our YouTube channel.
  • Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. – Novel Theology will meet via Zoom to discuss “Small Great Things” by Jody Picoult.

You will receive an emailed invitation to all the above events and their accompanying leaflets. As always, there are copies available to be mailed, so please let me know if you’d like a paper copy.

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 your church or online giving. See our Giving information.

The new Forward Day by Day booklets are available.  Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

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 all events or news, visit our website, check FaceBook, or check out the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.

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

CREW Youth Group Gathering- September 19, 2021

posted in: CREW | 0

I am so happy that fall is upon us and we can gather safely and comfortably outside again.

All youth in grades 6 and up (as well as any adults interested in serving in youth ministry) are invited to a gathering in the St. Thomas’s courtyard on Sunday, September 19, 2021 from 11:45 to 1:00 p.m. for a light lunch, cake and ice cream while we mutually plan our program year. The “grown ups” have some ideas but we want to hear ideas from our youth.  

As usual, we will follow CDC and diocesan guidelines for gathering which include social distancing and wearing a mask indoors. (Feel free to wear your mask outdoors if you want to, especially if you are not vaccinated.)

  • Please email or call me to let me know you are coming so I can be sure we have enough food and cake. But, if you decide to come at the last minute, please do. The more, the merrier!!
  • Also Let me know if you have a September birthday so we can celebrate you.
  • If you are unable to come, but want to give input on our plans for the year, email me with your ideas.
  • If I forgot someone on this email, please forward it.
  • Feel free to bring friends.

I look forward to seeing great things happen this year!


Blessings, 
Belinda Young-Payne <belmar43@aol.com>

Hope Dining Room volunteers for September 20, 2021

posted in: Outreach | 0

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

Monday, September 20, 2021 is our opportunity to serve lunch at Hope Dining Room. We begin cooking at 10 a.m. at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Road in the Brookside Park community. We are usually finished cleaning up by noon.

It is a lot of fun and very heart-warming to help feed people in our community, who REALLY appreciate it. At this time, it is a “grab and go” lunch, because of COVID. All of our kitchen helpers are masked and our guests who are also masked come through the dining room stay 6 feet apart, grab their styrofoam clamshell lunch, and go out another door. 

Here is a Sign Up Genius for the cookies, fruit cups and kitchen helpers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-hope13  

You may drop off your donations of cookies and fruit cups at St. Thomas’s, on Monday through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and noon, or Sunday morning when you come to church.    If those times don’t work for you, give me a call and I will pick it up at your house.  

MANY Blessings,
Madeline Johnson mad1240@comcast.net

Children’s Ministries start-up for Fall 2021

Just a reminder that Sunday School for children aged 4 years to grade 6(7) begins tomorrow, September 12, 2021, in the red tents in the courtyard. We will begin Registration and Gathering at 10:15 a.m. and the Lesson will begin at approximately 10:35 a.m.

Youth Confirmation registration and information session will begin tomorrow too. Confirmation is being offered for youth in 8th grade. Please contact Bob Rys with questions.

Youth group activities will begin on September 19,, 2021, with a “cake and ice cream party” and planning meeting. Look for more details tomorrow evening.

During all children’s and youth ministries activities this year, we will be following COVID guidelines recommended by the diocese, the CDC, Christina School District, and St. Thomas’s preautions. We will choose the strictest guidelines. This means that masking is expected by everyone age 2 and older.

I look forward to seeing everyone again. Please feel free to contact me either with questions or if you need at-home activities.

Blessings, Belinda

Worship services for week of September 12, 2021

posted in: Worship | 0

Pentecost 16 2021Hello faith family! Sunday, September 12, 2021 is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. This Sunday, we welcome a guest priest – The Reverend Dr. Peter Van Horne. Fr. Howie returns next week.

Here is Sunday worship service information:

Services are in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

Other worship this week:

  • Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. – a Special Evening Compline followed by a dessert exchange and service project.
  • Sundays from 10:30-11 a.m., Communion at the Curb is offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
  • Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. – Novel Theology will meet via Zoom to discuss “Beneath the Scarlet Sky” by Mark Sullivan. All are Welcome!
  • Wednesday at noon: Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion, live on our YouTube channel and in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Thursday at 7 p.m.: Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. – Pat McCullough funeral in-person with precautions and Live on YouTube channel. Light refreshments to follow and see Sally Price if you would like to contribute.

The new Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

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 your church or online giving. See our Giving information.

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 all events or news, visit our website, check FaceBook, or check out 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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Adult Education Fall 2021 events

posted in: Adult Education | 0

All are welcome to join the Adult Education Fall 2021 events shared below.

Join Fr. Howie and Fr. Jim plus a weekly special guest for a 12-week series discussing The Beatitudes in the 21st Century. For reference, see https://beatitudes.online/.

3-week mini series on Sunday, October 3, 10, and 17, 2021 at 9:15 a.m.: Celtic Spirituality offered in-person with precautions and LIVE via Zoom. ALL are Welcome to explore Celtic Spirituality. Meets in the parlor in-person with precautions and live via Zoom.

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for September 12, 2021

posted in: News | 0

See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the week of September 12, 2021. This week, you will find announcements of two adult christian education opportunities, a reminder of our fall Sunday worship schedule, an update for Children’s Ministries, update for the Annual Bazaar, and a reminder of Novel Theology’s Zoom meeting this Sunday.

  • Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. – “Do Good and Dessert,” A Special Evening Compline and dessert exchange.
  • Sunday, September 12, 2021 – Children’s Ministry under the tent in the courtyard, between services.
  • Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. – Novel Theology will discuss “Beneath the Scarlet Sky” by Mark Sullivan, live via Zoom. All are Welcome!
  • Sunday, September 12, 2021 – the services will begin at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. We will also welcome back The Rev. Dr. Van Horne this Sunday. Fr. Howie returns next week.
  • Sundays from 10:30-11 a.m., Communion at the Curb is offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
  • Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., lectionary bible study in the classroom.
  • Wednesday at noon: Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion, live on our YouTube channel and in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Thursday at 7 p.m.: Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
  • Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. – Pat McCullough funeral in-person with precautions and Live on YouTube channel. Light refreshments to follow and see Sally Price if you would like to contribute.
  • Sunday, September 26, 2021 between services – A Celebration of Time and Talent! Door prizes and refreshments will make this a FUN event where we will give much deserved recognition to the many St. Thomas’s ministries and the people who keep them going.


During the dessert exchange following the Special Compline on September 11, 2021, we will be assembling some Go-Bags (rescheduled service activity from our Grove Gathering).  Please consider bringing some items to donate to this cause.  Here is a list of the requested contents:

  • Protein serving (pasta, stew, tuna or chicken soup) – flip top cans only
  • Granola or cereal bar
  • 8 – 16 oz. Juice box
  • Peanut butter/cheese crackers
  • Fruit serving, such as single serve peaches, mixed fruit, applesauce, raisins
  • Dessert optional (single serve pudding, cookies)

You will receive an emailed invitation to all the above events and their accompanying leaflets. As always, there are copies available to be mailed, so please let me know if you’d like a paper copy.

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 your church or online giving. See our Giving information.

The new Forward Day by Day booklets are available.  Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

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 all events or news, visit our website, check FaceBook, or check out the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.

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

Youth Confirmation 2022

posted in: Confirmation | 0

We are making plans for the 2022 Youth Confirmation Class and invite all youth in 8th grade to join us on a spirit-filled journey centered around worship, learning, service, witness and fellowship.  We’ll have loads of dialogue, laughter and fun, too! Weekly classes will be held on Sundays at 9 a.m. from September 2021 to May 2022 with service and field trips as allowed under COVID protocols and St. Thomas’s precautions.

Stop by this Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 9:30 a,m, in the Great Hall to learn more and register for the 2022 Youth Confirmation Class.  Confirmands and parents are welcome!  

Give us a call or drop a note with any questions.  

In Service,
Teri Quinn Gray (tquinngray@verizon.net) and Bob Rys (bobrys05@gmail.com)