16 Dec 2020

Worship service for December 20, 2020

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Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you well.  December 20, 2020 is the fourth Sunday of Advent. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. on our YouTube channel.  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.

Following the service each week in Advent, Fr. Howie will be offering Drive/Walk Through Communion and Prayers from 10 to 11 a.m. ALL are Welcome!

And then, at 5 p.m., there will be Lessons & Carols for Advent, live via YouTube.  Here is the leaflet for that event. 

At this time, all services and gatherings have been moved to online.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about the decision to move back to online worship. 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 have provided 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.

The Lord of the Rings adult education class has been postponed until January, so we can focus on celebrating the Advent season in new and meaningful ways during this unprecedented year.  This gives you plenty of time to dust off this awesome trilogy, or enjoy them for the first time!

On December 27, 2020, Novel Theology will meet via Zoom to discuss “Where Courage Calls” by Janey Oke and Laurel Oke Lagan.  There is still plenty of time to dig into this good read.

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

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday! 

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

15 Dec 2020

Hope Dining Room on Monday, December 21, 2020

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

Next Monday, December 21 is our Hope Dining Room day! We can only have 5 masked-people in the kitchen at a time and serving is done from a table in the front of the room, as a “grab and go”. Our guests come in one door and walk across the room, grab lunch and go out the other door – 6 feet or more apart.  ALL of them are masked as well.

If you are free on Monday, December 21, 2020, we have a job for you!  We begin preparing the meal at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Rd. in Brookside at 10 AM and serve it from 12 – 1.

Here is the Sign Up Genius for the fruit and the volunteers:  
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-hope4            

You may drop off your donations of fruit cups at  St. Thomas’s on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9 – noon.   If those times don’t work for you, give me a call, or email me and I will pick it up at your door.                

MANY Blessings,
Madeline Johnson <mad1240@comcast.net>

11 Dec 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for December 13, 2020

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Happy Friday faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of December 13, 2020. In it you will find a Christmas message from Bishop Curry, see a reminder of the Walk/Drive Through Communion and Prayers (yes, this is still being offered though no in-person worship), and the dates for one of our loved traditions, Lessons and Carols (2 this year!).  SO, as a reminder: in-person worship has been suspended for this time, and all worship will be offered online.

This week, we continue the busy Advent season, preparing our hearts and minds for the arrival of our Savior. Please see the 2020 Advent and Christmas Schedule. This should be the schedule, however it is subject to change.  We have to be especially flexible this year because of the pandemic.  If there are any changes, I will be sure to let you know via email and the usual social media channels.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

ALL are Welcome in our community!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  We may be in different locations, but we are celebrating TOGETHER.  I’d LOVE to see pics of your Names of Jesus Advent activities!

Please let me know if you have any meetings – virtual or otherwise – that you would like to 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

10 Dec 2020

Advent and Christmas 2020 Schedule

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We are worshiping via live streaming on YouTube at St. Thomas’s YouTube channel. Why not subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you are reminded to join us for our Advent and Christmas services? The full-text bulletins for our services may be found on our website and by email request.

See our Advent and Christmas 2020 schedule.

The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century and has long been a St. Thomas’s tradition. In this service, we listen to nine Scripture lessons and each lesson is followed by a carol or other song that reflects on the lesson’s message and a brief prayer.

9 Dec 2020

Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM) Report for December 2020

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Due to the exigencies of Covid 19, ECM has continued meeting via zoom on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. Shannon—our president sends out the Zoom link and reminders are issued over email and GroupMe. 

Blue Hen Bounty (BHB) has continued serving the community during the shutdown with spectacular support from Cana (who has become an honorary member of ECM). Patronage of BHB has continued to increase significantly. We continue to see patrons among staff as well students.  This increase has been hoped for and we remain humbled and grateful to serve our community in this fundamental way.

I had a meeting with Sue Houghton from Property regarding the option of installing shelving in the classroom area to accommodate our increased supply and demand. Sue explored options and conferred with Amy. The cabinets were purchased and will be installed shortly. Amy has committed to facilitating the purchase of the grocery cards for BHB. The cards will be split between Food Lion and Acme. Amy will also purchase a few categories of items that are not funded as consistently: namely hygiene products.

The Wesleyan United Methodist Church has made a generous financial contribution to BHB and the Islamic Foundation completed our grocery list. There have been several other acts of kindness and generosity from individuals and groups across the UD campus but no one more so than our St. Thomas’s family which continues to be our most consistent generous supporters of BHB and we remain ever faithful of the ways you continue to help us meet the needs of our community. 

We have continued having our monthly events. Our first event in September was ECM’s first annual Un-hayride. We gathered in our Grove, ate hot dogs, s’mores with apple cider and wore face masks. Our second event in October—Game Night in the Fellowship hall which was well attended. Our third outing in November was to Longwood Gardens. This was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by ECMers who could bring one guest each. We held our last event on December 11th. Craft Night was a success. We sent ECMers home with beads and findings to make wire Christmas trees (following a demonstration), we addressed Christmas cards and distributed our ECM t-shirts. Gifts for ECM supporters were assembled and left in the Fellowship Hall. This was our last gathering of the year.

Our focus on explicit spirituality continues to develop. We have been building the conversation about knowing God through prayer. This past meeting, I asked students to share the areas they felt God was showing up in their lives—an extended God moment exploration. This resulted in a thoughtful conversation. This coming meeting will be the last official meeting before break—we are in Finals Week! So please keep our UD students in your prayers. This has been a very difficult time for our students even though they are blessed with parents and homes which appear to be weathering the challenges of the pandemic very well. 

University of Religious Leaders Organization (URLO) meetings have continued via Zoom which I attend. Much of the support for BHB has come from attendees to these meetings.

Our ECM t-shirts have been distributed to the students.

With regards,   

Denise Burgher
ECM Convening Graduate Advisor

9 Dec 2020

The Church’s Response to COVID-19 – December 2020 update

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Dear Friends,

Greetings to you as we reach the middle of the second week of Advent.  I’m sure that, like me, you have been following with concern reports of the rising number of COVID cases and hospitalizations.  So perhaps it will come as no surprise that the Bishop has decided once again to suspend in-person worship at Episcopal churches in Delaware, effective December 14, 2020.  This seems wise, given the advice we are getting from the Governor and others that we should stay at home just as much as possible.  This is especially hard in a season when we would most like to be with family and friends, and to be gathering with our church family.  Please be assured that St. Thomas’s will continue to worship.  We will return to our pattern over the summer – “broadcasting” services on YouTube with the smallest possible number of people in the building.  We will not reduce the number of services we had planned for the remainder of Advent and Christmas, and Communion at the curbside will continue to be available.  Other meetings and events in the church will also be curtailed, but our service to the community – through Blue Hen Bounty and our new project with the Tarbiyah School, among others – will go on without interruption.

Please know that you are in my prayers as we make our way through this strange time.  I remain grateful for all the ways that we are remaining strong as a community, and I am confident that we will emerge from our COVID experience as a vital part of the Kingdom of God.  Please keep St Thomas’s and the work we do in your prayers.
I wish you health and happiness – and all joy for Christmas.

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

8 Dec 2020

Worship service sign-up for December 13, 2020

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Third Sunday of AdventGood morning faith family.  Here is your link to sign up for in-person worship for this Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 9 a.m.  As always, we will continue to stream each service on our YouTube.  All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you. Here is the  service program and the service program in large print  for your preview. This is the Third Sunday of Advent. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know. 

This Sunday, and each Sunday in Advent, at 10:00 a.m., Drive Through Communion and Prayers will be 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!

And then, at 5 p.m., there will be Advent Evening Prayer live on YouTube and in-person with precautions.  You do not need to sign up to attend this service. Here is the accompanying worship bulletin.

The Lord of the Rings adult education class has been postponed until January, so we can focus on celebrating the Advent season in new and meaningful ways during this unprecedented year.  This gives you plenty of time to dust off this awesome trilogy, or enjoy them for the first time!

On December 27, 2020, Novel Theology will meet via Zoom to discuss “Where Courage Calls” by Janey Oke and Laurel Oke Lagan.  There is still plenty of time to dig into this good read.

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 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

8 Dec 2020

Christmas 2020 Outreach items with Tarbiyah due Dec. 10, 2020

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Our wish list is filling out and the enthusiasm for the project with Tarbiyah School is spreading through the Parish.  Thank you everyone who has shopped and donated. Our coat collection is growing and our diaper donation, with the exception of pull-ups, has been met.  There is still room for hats, gloves, candy, books, toys!  And of course – coats!  It’s cold outside. ?

The date by which we need your donations is December 10, 2020*.  We will be putting the goody bags together ? and doing final shopping this coming weekend. Everything will be delivered to Tarbiyah on December 15, 2020. 

 2020 has been an unusual and difficult year.  Whatever you can give is meaningful and appreciated. GIving brings both the giver and the receiver sparks of joy- something we all need at this time.  The joy we give and get brings this season’s meaning close.

Again, thanks to all at St. T’s, you are wonderful!

* if you have ordered something that has not yet arrived, let us know so our shopping lists reflect your gift. If you need something picked up, that can be arranged.  See more information at Tarbiyah or how to give.

Jill Englund Jensen

7 Dec 2020

Small hotel-size toiletries for Hope Dining Room

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Good Morning families of  St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

On December 18, 2020, Hope Dining Room gives each person who comes to pick up lunch, a goodie bag. The items in the bag are being provided by all the churches that serve, during the month. We are donating hotel-size toiletries and cookies.

I think we have the cookies covered, but we are still in need of small toiletries. There is a box just outside the office at St. Thomas’s, labeled “Hope Dining Room”.  If you have any small toiletries to share, the door at St. Thomas’s is open Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – noon. If you can’t make that schedule, give me a call, and I will pick them up at your house.

Many Blessings to all,
Madeline Johnson   mad1240@comcast.net  

7 Dec 2020

Solar panels installed

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Greening of the Church - Solar PanelsIt is this time in Advent when we typically “Green” the church building. Fragrant boughs of pine and gorgeous leafy green poinsettias with cheery pops of red flowers are an outward showing of the preparations that we make for the birth of our Savior.

Of course, 2020 has to be different. This year, St. Thomas’s Parish is getting green with SOLAR PANELS! That’s right; the long anticipated project has begun. This long anticipated move was sparked by the generous memorial donation from our family member, Jerry Schultz, and has been continued by a wonderful team from the Property Committee and supported by the Vestry. You may remember Jerry Schultz made a generous donation upon his death to St. Thomas’s to be used for solar panels.

Solar panels installedAmy Keach provided this picture taken from the intersection of South College and Park Place this morning. The panels blend right in with the roof!

We are all in this together as stewards of our Earth, and everyone’s efforts are truly appreciated. On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, Clean Energy USA began the installation. They have been hard at work all week. If you drive by the church building, you may see them up on the roof. Please keep Jerry’s love of the earth and St. Thomas’s in mind when you see the panels on the church.

Now, don’t worry, the church building will still be decorated for the season. The beautiful advent candles and wreath can already be seen at every service. The flower guild will be adding more to the display in the coming weeks. We are also participating in Newark’s Festival of Lights, so please, continue to bring in your donations of outdoor Christmas lights and decorations so we can let our light shine!

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