Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for April 19, 2020

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Happy Friday! See this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter.  for April 19, 2020. In it you will find two messages from our Bishop, Rt Rev Kevin.  He explains a bit about the liturgy of the Word, and then gives us an update on the actions of the diocese during this unusual time.

Ladies, I hope to see all of your beautiful faces at our ZOOM Ladies’ Night IN, tonight at 6 p.m. Here is the ZOOM meeting; if it asks for a password, it’s thomas with a lowercase t.  If you have any problems getting in, please text me 302.354.3277, and I’ll try my best to help.  Can’t make it tonight?  It looks like we will have another opportunity to do this in May, and I for one am excited! (saving on that babysitter $$$).

Novel Theology is planning a ZOOM meeting for their May 2020 get together.  The book is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, and is available for free as a download from the New Castle County Public Library.  This looks like a good read.  Please look for more details about this ZOOM get together as we get closer to May 2020.

This ZOOM tutorial is not bad, and gets interesting at around the 3:25 mark.  Do you have a tutorial you recommend?  Are you more of a fan of Go To Meeting, Google Hangout, or Facebook Skype?  Please share your experiences and recommendations.  I’ve been having the best time playing games with family and friends on the Houseparty app: it has games like pictionary, cards against humanity, and charades.  Anyone want to play?  I miss you all and look forward to furthering my virtual hangout skills this month so I can see more of your faces.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

Service Program for Sunday, April 19, 2020

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Hello faith family! See the  service program for Sunday, April 19. 2020.  The Sunday, April 19, 2020 service will be streamed LIVE beginning at 9 a.m. from St. Nicholas.  Please look for an invitation email from me on Sunday morning, with the YouTube link and this same link to the leaflet.

Next Wednesday, April 22, 2020, our Wednesday noon service of intercessory prayer will continue.  Do you have any changes to make to the prayer list?  St. Nicholas folks, please let us know if you have any additions, as we join together.  Let’s make a joint prayer list!  I love what a small town Newark is; I’m certain that there is already overlap.  We share many friends and loved ones.  

If you know of any college students in need of non-perishables, please pass along the word that the Blue Hen Bounty food pantry is OPEN by appointment.  ALL college students are welcome (UD or other institutions), and there is no paperwork to fill out nor explanation to give- they simply need to show a current student ID.  If you know of a student in need, please have them call St. Thomas’s office (I’m checking voice mail several times a day) 302.368.4644, or email bluehenbounty@gmail.com.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

Wednesday noon Intercessory Prayer, not live April 15, 2020

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Greetings faith family.  Holy Week was so full of the Spirit, with opportunities EVERY day to worship together.  Now, the week following Easter, we are taking time to reflect, catch our breath, and rejoice that our Savior rose from the dead.

Usually, we have a LIVE service at noon every Wednesday.  It’s a special, quiet, spoken service of Intercessory Prayer with Holy Eucharist.  Although we will not be gathering LIVE today, April 15, 2020, revisit any service that was special to you, or perhaps catch up on one that you may have missed.  Then, please join us on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at noon for our regular LIVE Wednesday noon service.

Please look for an email from me by the end of this week with the leaflet for this Sunday, April 22, 2020, for your preview. We will be LIVE from St. Nicholas!  You will receive an invitation email on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with the link to our YouTube as well as the leaflet.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

Easter 2020 Message from our Rector

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Easter 2020 iconIn the traditional Eastern Orthodox icon of Easter (called the Harrowing of Hell), Jesus is shown retrieving the souls of the faithful who lived and died before his life, death, and resurrection. The scene has been laid out differently by icon writers through the centuries, but one element is always the same. Jesus is grasping those he saves by the wrist or hand, but those being saved remain limp, seemingly unable to assist in their own salvation.

In this season of Easter, we the followers of Jesus come face to face with the power of God acting for us, and in us, and through us. As the body of Christ in the world, the Church proclaims God’s will that none should be lost. In kind words and gentle actions, we do our part to raise up those who feel lost and alone. And make no mistake, through the days and years of our lives, each of us is by turns the rescuer and the rescued.

As we greet Easter 2020 in an unfamiliar way this year, it seems all the more important to be reminded that each one of us is a beloved child of God, a beloved member of St Thomas’s, a rescuer, and one for whom the promised rescue of God is assured. As we do what we can to keep everyone healthy, we also keep everyone in our prayers. I have been greatly encouraged by the stories I hear of on-line Sunday School and Zoom coffee meet-ups and one-on-one telephone check-ins. These are all evidence of the hands of Jesus still at work. I encourage everyone to continue to hold others close in spirit.

May the blessing of new Easter life be with you every day. And until we can gather again to give thanks to God – be well.

Yours in Christ,
Father Howie
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr., Rector

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for April 12, 2020

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Greetings faith family!  This week’s Carpenter’s Help newsletter shares several ways to pray the Stations of the Cross from home, including a recording featuring our own Bruce Finnie.  There is also a lego stop-motion version included for the littles (and lego fans like myself). 

The church has worshiped for 2,000 years and no virus will end that. This season presents some amazing opportunities for us to worship as never before, sacrifice like never before, and love our neighbors as always. But this is tough. It’s also worth it. So, keep loving your church; attendance at our online services has been fantastic! Write the encouragement note. Pray like you’ve never prayed before. Continue to give, click like, and share.

While Delaware remains under a “shelter in place” order through at least May 15, 2020 and services are broadcast on YouTube, please consider continuing your giving to St. Thomas’s 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.

Church is never canceled. Consider yourself invited. We may not wow everyone. That’s okay. If our heavenly father is pleased, that is enough.

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 and *virtual hugs*,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for April 5, 2020

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Good morning dear friends!  In the this week’s April 5, 2020 newsletter, you will see a list of online worship opportunities, similar to last week, as well as information about contemplative prayer and a special prayer from our parishioner Kate Burchess.  Also, did you receive the email with information about feeding the hungry in Newark?  Today, our first round of meals will be distributed: see more info in the Helper newsletter.

I’m thrilled that we are joining with our brothers and sisters at St. Nicholas for this whole Holy Week!  Palm Sunday will be LIVE from St Nicholas, and “drive-through” palm distribution will take place at both parishes.  Please look for a separate email with more details about palm distribution.

Also, big shout out to Belinda for making sure that Children’s worship continues…and for helping to set up a fellowship ZOOM meeting for our youth.  Please let me know if you have missed any of her communications and I’ll be happy to help you connect.

And finally, the Blue Hen Bounty is OPEN.  If you have a chance to spread the word, please do.  Our pantry is open to ALL college students with an ID – not just UD students.  So, if a student is unexpectedly “home” from their school elsewhere, we welcome them.  There is no paperwork to fill out or explanation necessary.  It is by appointment only by emailing bluehenbounty@gmail.com, by calling 302.368.4644, or by contacting Cana directly 302.354.3277.  Curb-side pick up is available for those practicing self-quarantine.

While Delaware remains under a “shelter in place” order through at least May 15, 2020 and services are broadcast on YouTube, please consider continuing your giving to St. Thomas’s 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.

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

Saints Thomas and Nicholas Palm Sunday 2020

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Good morning faith family!  Here is your leaflet for April 5, 2020 – Palm Sunday.

I’m feeling so filled with JOY because our two congregations are joining together for our Holy Week observances.  CHURCH is is about doing life together with other people, and CHRIST is at the center of that.

You will receive a reminder email on Sunday morning, but please plan to join us LIVE from St. Nicholas on YouTube at 9 a.m. for worship, Liturgy of the Palms, and Holy Eucharist. If you have not already done so, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and hit that notification bell (twice to receive notifications EVERY time) ? to receive alerts every time we go LIVE.

Drive-through palm distribution will take place at both St. Nicholas and St. Thomas’s.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

Thank you for your continued gifts

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While Delaware remains under a “shelter in place” order through at least May 15, 2020 and services are broadcast on YouTube, please consider continuing your giving to St. Thomas’s 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

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for March 29, 2020

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Greetings faith family!  This week’s newsletter talks about prayer; specifically, the cycles of prayer that are included each week in our Prayers of the People.

Additionally, you will see an invitation to join with many others lighting a candle in your window this Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 7 p.m. as a symbol of solidarity and thanks to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight.  We have invited our neighbors at St. Nicholas Episcopal Parish to join with us.

Please see the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for March 29, 2020.

Personally, I for one, am glad to have my prayer beads from our fun fellowship activity.  See prayer bead instructions.  If you do not have prayer beads, no worries. String some together, draw symbols on a piece of paper to follow along with your finger, make a log out of play dough and make impressions along it to keep your rhythm. Last week, I shared some news that brought a smile to my face, and many of you replied with your moments of joy. THANK YOU!  This week, I’m asking you to share your prayer ideas. I’m a craft lady, so of course, I think of making tangible prayer aids.  I look forward to your ideas!

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

Service for Sunday, March 29, 2020

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Please join us Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 9 a.m. online and LIVE on YouTube. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the notification bell so you never miss a service. Here is the accompanying service leaflet for 3.29.20.

Please share this with friends and neighbors looking for a way to worship during these unusual times of COVID-19.  If you need a printed copy of this leaflet or any worship materials, please let me know and I will do my best to deliver.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator