6 Nov 2020

Worship service sign-up for November 8, 2020

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Good morning faith family.  Here is your link to sign up for in-person worship for this Sunday, November 8, 2020.  As always, we will continue to stream each service on our YouTube.  All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you.

This Sunday, the Creation Season continues with a special Adult Christian Ed offering at 10:30 a.m.  This will be available via Zoom, as well as in-person.  Please look for more information on this presentation later in the week.

Please continue to share your impressions and ideas for both in-person and online worship.  Your thoughts are appreciated!

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

6 Nov 2020

Remaking our Altar hangings

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The Altar Guild is embarking on a HUGE and WONDROUS project. You may have noticed that our altar hangings and other paraments are really showing their age. Sad, but true. Some are in shreds. In the tradition of the many who have made our vestments, both clergy and church, we are going to remake them.To this end, we need many people who can do invisible hand hemming.

SAAAAAAAAAAY WHAAAAAAAT????

Invisible – you can’t see it on the right side.

Hand – done with a needle and thread with your hands. No sewing machines will be involved. Don’t even ask.

Hemming – In this case defined as ¼ inch stitches with perfect tension.

Before you say that you can’t possibly do this, think. Ever hemmed a skirt, trousers, or dress? Ever done any needlepoint, cross stitch, or embroidery? You have the skill!

If you will be kind and generous and volunteer to help, we will teach you anything you need to know to do this work. Get in touch with Sally Price, our head of Altar Guild, at Sallyeyemanprice@aol.com or Martha Holyoke, aka The Vestment Lady, at maholyoke@aol.com.

We cannot promise you’ll be a famous movie star. But you could have fun with the group, do useful work, and know that you were a part of making our church beautiful before God.

6 Nov 2020

Youth Gathering this Friday, November 6, 2020

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This is a reminder of the Youth Gathering & Program Introduction tonight Friday, November 6, 2020 at St. Thomas’s from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Please see the Evite for details.  We have plenty of supplies if you would like to come, but did not already RSVP. 

If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call.Sue Houghton

30 Oct 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for November 1, 2020

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Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of November 1, 2020.  In it you will find encouragement from the #VoteFaithfully campaign, as well as a Thank You for showing care and respect by wearing masks in our church building.  The new Forward Day by Day for Nov. 2020-Jan. 2021 is available in the lobby; please let me know if you’d like one mailed to you.

Just a reminder: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS IS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!  Don’t forget to get your extra hour of sleep!

This week, we will have our 3 regular services and several other events on the calendar:

  • Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 4 p.m. – All Souls service in the cemetery.
  • Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Worship Service, Rite II with music LIVE on YouTube and in-person with guest preacher Rev. Martha Kirkpatrick.
  • Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – guest presenter, Connie Cooper: History of St. Thomas’s Parish 1842-1980.
  • Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 1 p.m. – Children and Youth Trunk or Treat.
  • Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 10 a.m. – Two Saints Readers book discussion via ZOOM.
  • Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer worship service LIVE on YouTube a leaflet for Pentecost.
  • Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers with Deacon Cecily via ZOOM.  ALL are Welcome. 
  •  Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Worship Service, Rite II with music LIVE on YouTube and in-person   

ALL are Welcome!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  Here is a  link to sign up for in-person worship  for this week, November 1, 2020.  Please do not feel pressure to return to the church building until you are comfortable.  We may be in different locations, but we are celebrating TOGETHER.

In this strange 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 page. 

Please let me know if you have any meetings – virtual or otherwise – that you would like to have included on the Parish calendar.   

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

30 Oct 2020

Worship service for November 1, 2020

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Pentecost 22Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you well. Sunday, November 1, 2020 is the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost. Here is the service program, and the service program in large print  for your preview. This is All Saints Day.  There are paper copies available to be mailed. If you would like one, please let me know.  

We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. and also worshiping in person. On Sunday, connect to our worship service at St. Thomas’s YouTube channel – this is the same link each week. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Yesterday, I emailed an invitation to in-person worship for this Sunday, with a link to a sign-up genius.  Here is the FAQ about the precautions and procedures for worshiping in person safely.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about this option. Each service will continue to be streamed, and I suspect many of us will still be participating from home.  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.

Following the service this Sunday, our coffee hour guest speaker is Dr. Constance Cooper!  Connie will offer an illustrated introduction to the history of St. Thomas’s. We will learn about how St. Thomas’s got started, some of its ups and downs, the story of campus ministry, and how we moved from South Main Street to South College Avenue.  There will even be a few puzzles and surprises!  This presentation will be in-person as well as via Zoom.  A Zoom invitation will be sent on Sunday at 10:15.  You do not need to register.

In this strange 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 page. 

See past sermons or bulletins on our Recent Sermons page.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!  

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

29 Oct 2020

Youth Ministry Volunteer Meeting

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St. Thomas’s Youth Ministries is having a meeting tomorrow, October 30, 2020 (Friday) night at 7 p.m. to go over the planned program and then to help match Volunteers up with specific opportunities. Since this is an all volunteer effort, we want to make sure we had committed support from volunteers to help run the program before rolling it out to the youth.

The Youth Ministry Program is for 6th through 12 graders. There are many opportunities to be involved with this program with varying levels of time commitment. These opportunities include meeting facilitation, mentoring, ministry liaisons, hospitality, activities, prayer, and service projects.  See the Sign-up Genius listing of volunteer opportunities to go with this program.

 If you are interested in helping out please try to come to the meeting.  I apologize for the short notice.  If you are interested in helping out and cannot attend the meeting please contact me directly so that I can give you more information and help to identify the best way to involve you in our program.

Sue Houghton

29 Oct 2020

Worship service sign-up for November 1, 2020

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Hello faith family. Sign-up for in-person worship for this Sunday, November 1, 2020.  As always, we will continue to stream each service on YouTube. All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you.

This Sunday, our coffee hour guest speaker is Dr Constance Cooper!  Connie will offer an illustrated introduction to the history of St. Thomas’s. We will learn about how St. Thomas’s got started, some of its ups and downs, the story of campus ministry, and how we moved from South Main Street to South College Avenue.  There will even be a few puzzles and surprises!.  This presentation will be in-person as well as via Zoom.  A Zoom invitation will be emailed on Sunday at 10:15 a.m.  You do not need to register.

Then, at 1 p.m., families with children and/or youth of our St. Thomas’s community are invited to decorate their cars and share treats and fun for an afternoon at St. Thomas’s Truck or Treat! Parishioners with no children can get in on the fun by donating goodies or decorations for the event or by helping with set up or clean up! In order to keep everyone safe, we will be following guidelines set by the department of public health and the city of Newark.  This means mask wearing, social distancing of people and treats, hand sanitizer, and a limit of 20 adults at the event (16 years and up) for an outside event.

 
Please continue to share your impressions and ideas for both in-person and online worship.  Your thoughts are appreciated!

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

23 Oct 2020

Children’s Ministries Trunk or Treat

by | posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

Truck or Treat 2020Families with children and/or youth of our St. Thomas’s community are invited to decorate their cars and share treats and fun for an afternoon. Parishioners with no children can get in on the fun by donating goodies or decorations for the event or by helping with set up or clean up! In order to keep everyone safe, we will be following guidelines set by the department of public health and the city of Newark. This means mask wearing, social distancing of people and treats, hand sanitizer, and a limit of 20 adults at the event (16 years and up) for an outside event.

When: Sunday, November 1, 2020 for 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: parking lot of St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church

Sign Up Genius will be available soon for families with children to sign up to participate. Due to limitations on adult numbers, please sign up a primary parent who will definitely come and then a secondary parent who wants to come and will be able to if space allows.

Fun, decorated cars (Parked in designated spots around the parking lot.)
Trunk or Treating of course!! Treats should be packaged and arranged so each child can take safely.
PUMPKIN People Craft Tables (We will be using latex balloons)
Costume Parade – Remember to include a protective mask as part of your ensemble! And wear comfy shoes…we’re going to try a walk around the block!
Giant Trick or Treat for UNICEF collection box (Bring your coins to donate.)
Music
Safe Fun and Fellowship with Friends and Family

Take home bags (\with more goodies and information about the plan for St. Thomas’s Children’s Ministries.

23 Oct 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for October 25, 2020

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Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of October 25, 2020.  In it you will find information about: next Sunday’s coffee hour presentation, the annual All Souls service, and the first annual Children’s Ministries Trunk or Treat.

This week, we will have our three regular services, and several other events on the calendar:

ALL are Welcome!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  Here is a  link to sign up for in-person worship  for this week, 10/25/20.  Please do not feel pressure to return to the church building until you are comfortable.  We may be in different locations, but we are celebrating TOGETHER.

In this strange 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 page. 

Please let me know if you have any meetings – virtual or otherwise – that you would like to have included on the Parish calendar.   

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

22 Oct 2020

Worship service for October 25, 2020

by | posted in: Worship | 0

Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you well. Sunday, October 25, 2020 is the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost. Here is the service program, and the service program in large print  for your preview. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know.  We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m.  On Sunday, connect to our worship service at St. Thomas’s YouTube channel – this is the same link each week. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service.  All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you.

Following the service, Novel Theology will be discussing “A New Song” by Jan Karon, via ZOOM.  Reading the book is never a requirement for joining in the lively discussion.  All are WELCOME.

Please see our parish prayer list.  These names are read aloud and prayed for each Wednesday at the service of intercessory prayer and sharing this list each week in the Sunday leaflet gives us all the opportunity to participate.  Please take a moment to look over this list, and send me any updates or additions.

Yesterday, I emailed an invitation to in-person worship for this Sunday, with a link to a sign-up genius.  Here is the FAQ about the precautions and procedures for doing so safely.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about this option. Each service will continue to be streamed, and I suspect many of us will still be participating from home.  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.

In this strange 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 page. 

See past sermons or bulletins on our Recent Sermons page.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!   

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