18 Jul 2020

Children’s Ministries at home for July 19, 2020

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Happy Saturday, July 19, 2020, before The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost!  

I pray this note finds you and your family well and safe. And, I pray that my efforts to provide these weekly resources each week have been helpful to you in some small way.  

This week, we are invited to cultivate an awareness of both weeds and wheat, recognizing and accepting ourselves and others with compassion. In the gospel, Jesus teaches that the weeds and the wheat live side-by-side until the harvest. I take this as a reminder that we have to accept the bad with the good, while having faith that God’s love will win out in the end.

I have provided a few kid-friendly versions of this week’s gospel, several hands-on activities on the themes of compassion, acceptance and mercy. Please use what works for you and your family. There is something for everyone from preschooler to tween to teen to adult.   

For the next three Sundays, I will also host a weekly Zoom gathering each Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to noon.  This gathering will be a time for us to share fellowship, prayer and fun.  If you have a suggestion for a game, a special prayer, or want to read the scripture for the day, you are always welcome to do so.  The new link to the Zoom gathering can be obtained by emailing me at belmar43@aol.com. It is the same link I sent last week, with Meeting ID ending in 3152.  I hope to see as many of you there as possible.  Please make sure that your name is displayed when you log in so I will know it is safe to let you in.

Blessings,
Ms. Belinda, Children’s Ministries

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

18 Jul 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for July 19, 2020

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Hello faith family!  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of July 19, 2020. In it, you get an update on the Hope Dining Room, as well as, information about a very exciting and FUN fellowship activity – Passing the Peace with Postcards.  

Also, see the most recent edition of our Diocese weekly newsletter titled The Net, as well as the quarterly magazine, the Communion.  In their weekly newsletter, The Net, among other things, St. Thomas’s is recognized for our Christmas in July display promoting outreach and community building!

This upcoming week we will have our three regular services.  Please let me know if you would like any of the leaflets mailed to you:

  • Wednesday noon – intercessory prayer LIVE on YouTube a leaflet for Pentecost.
  • Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers with Deacon Cecily.  ALL are Welcome.  Let me know if you need a Zoom link for this calming and prayerful end to the day.
  • Sunday at 9 a.m. – Worship Service, Rite II, with music LIVE on YouTube.
  • Sunday at 11 a.m. – children’s worship via Zoom.
  • Monday, July 20, 2020 at 6 p.m. – Ladies’ Night IN, LIVE on Zoom. Email Cana for an invite. ALL Ladies are Welcome!

Please let me know if you have ANY feedback, questions, or suggestions regarding our online worship. Let’s work together to make this “now normal” as great as we can imagine! Your input could make a big difference.

The official start of the Great EpisGOpal Race is fast approaching on July 24, 2020!  If you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for?  This is a fun, and relaxing virtual marathon, to be done over several days, in any mode(s) you choose.  Here is a link to the Sign-Up Genius, or just contact the office!  There will be more details in next week’s Helper.

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

16 Jul 2020

Worship service for July 19, 2020

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Sunday, July 19, 2020 is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. 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. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Here is the service leaflet  that accompanies the service. There are paper copies available to be mailed. If you would like one, please let me know.

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. 

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com

13 Jul 2020

Feeding the Homeless on Thursday, July 16, 2020

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

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

Last Thursday, with your help, we fed 40 homeless friends – still at the Red Roof Inn. 50 people showed up! 7 were given “Go Bags” and 3 were given apologies.

Tomorrow (Monday, July 13, 2020) the Hope Dining Room re-opens, so Thursday, July 16, 2020 will be our LAST week to serve. The plan for this week is chicken-noodle casserole, green beans and a roll or muffin, complimented with a fruit cup,cookies and a soda.   Here is the sign up genius.   Only look at the yellow and black part.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-feeding14

If you would bring your items to St. Thomas’s between 2 and 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020, that would be wonderful. If that doesn’t fit into your schedule, call me and I will pick it up at your door.

MANY BLESSINGS for your care for our homeless friends,
Madeline Johnson

12 Jul 2020

Children’s Ministries at home for July 12, 2020

by | posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

It’s the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost!  I pray this note finds you and your family well and safe. 

This week, we are invited to become the rich soil in which the word of God becomes abundant harvest. In the gospel, Jesus describes his ministry through the parable of the seeds and their various responses. 

This week, a few kid-friendly versions of this week’s gospel, several hands-on activities on the theme of God’s kingdom and the abundant harvest it represents, and a reflection activity that might be appropriate for the more contemplative among us is provided.  Please use what works for you and your family. There is something for everyone from preschooler to tween to teen to adult.  One of the suggested music videos brings back wonderful memories of walking down the aisle to my groom 27 years ago.  See if you can guess which one!

For the next four Sundays, I will also host a weekly Zoom gathering each Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to noon.  This gathering will be a time for us to share fellowship, prayer and fun. If you have done any planting, gardening or harvesting in the past few weeks, bring us a sample, a picture or a story to share.  If you have a suggestion for a game, a special prayer, or want to read the scripture for the day, you are always welcome to do so.  The new link to the Zoom gathering can be obtained by emailing me at belmar43@aol.com. (It is the same link I sent last week, with Meeting ID ending in 3152.)  I hope to see as many of you there as possible.  Please make sure that your name is displayed when you log in so I will know it is safe to let you in.

Peace be with you,
Ms. Belinda, Children’s Ministries

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

10 Jul 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for July 12, 2020

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Hello friends!  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of July 5, 2020. In it you will read about another HUGE gift that has come into St. Thomas’s Blue Hen Bounty (BHB).  Also, see the most recent edition of our Diocese weekly newsletter titled The Net, as well as the quarterly magazine, the Communion.  In their weekly newsletter, The Net, among other things, you will notice a familiar face – our own Teri Quinn Gray has joined their communications team as a consultant!  Congratulations Teri – you are a blessing!

This upcoming week we will have our three regular services.  Please let me know if you would like any of the leaflets mailed to you:

Please let me know if you have ANY feedback, questions, or suggestions regarding our online worship. Let’s work together to make this “now normal” as great as we can imagine! Your input could make a big difference.

Ladies: I need your input.  Next Saturday should be our next Ladies’ Night.  Should we do it via Zoom or in person?  I’m thinking either a group movie night; maybe Hamilton?  If it’s in person, I’ll get a projector and we can watch it on the wall from the shade of the Grove.  If we do it over Zoom, we can each watch it on TV, and there might be a fun care package dropped on your door.  Please let me know all your thoughts!!

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

10 Jul 2020

Worship service for July 12, 2020

by | posted in: Worship | 0

Sunday, July 5, 2020 is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.  Let me know if you need a paper copy mailed to you.  We will be streaming LIVE from St. Nicholas at 9 a.m. 

On Sunday, connect to our worship service at St. Thomas’s YouTube channel. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Here is the service leaflet  that accompanies the service. 

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. 

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday! 

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com

9 Jul 2020

Blue Hen Bounty receives large donation from KPMG

by | posted in: ECM | 0

Fr. Howie unloading boxesIt is a blessing that St. Thomas’s Blue Hen Bounty (BHB) has been able to continue to serve students in need during these unprecedented times. Our community’s generosity has kept our cabinets stocked full of non-perishable food, as well as cleaning and sanitary products. It seems just as you can start to see the back of a cabinet, another gift comes in.

Well, this week we received a LARGE gift — 1,900 lbs. to be exact! Fr. Howie definitely got his workout Thursday morning, unloading the giant pallet of boxed groceries. Each box includes the same combination of high protein, calorie sustaining foods that can be combined and stretched in many ways.

KPMG label The donation comes from KPMG, an international accounting cooperative, and one of the big 4 in the world. “We remain deeply committed to serving and supporting our communities during this challenge our world is facing,” said KPMG U.S. chairman and CEO Lynne Dough tie in a statement. “I’m also proud of our many partners and professionals across the country who are stepping up to help their local communities at this time in so many different ways.”

Many students have needed the support of our pantry during this crisis, but there is one group that Fr. Howie was reflecting on as he unloaded all those boxes. There are a group of students who are here on student visas. According to the rules governing their visas, they are not permitted to work. However, because of travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic, as well as contributing monetary factors, these young adults are unable to return home. So, they remain here, stuck, with no legal means of supporting themselves.These food supplies are a lifeline to help them keep going and can hopefully give some comfort.

Please keep these young adults in your prayers, as well as those volunteers who keep our pantry going every week. And, let us also thank God for the generosity of those who continue to keep our bounty filled, and for the opportunity to make a positive difference in our community. At St. Thomas’s, you can see God’s LOVE in ACTION in so many ways!

8 Jul 2020

Thank you for your continued gifts

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In this unsettling time, the church is aware that some of its members are struggling financially. 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

While Delaware remains under a formal State of Emergency declaration and services are broadcast on YouTube, please consider continuing your giving to St. Thomas’s.  See our Giving page.  Contributions can also be mailed to the church at 276 S. College Avenue, Newark, DE  19711.  The mail is collected daily so checks do not remain in the mailbox for long.

With a grateful heart,
Finance Committee