Are you ready for more of this winter ride, full of chills and thrills?! According to the 2020 Farmers’ Almanac, this winter will be filled with so many ups and downs on the thermometer, it may remind you of a “Polar Coaster.” Occasional wet snow and unseasonably chilly conditions will hang on for a ride you may not be able to get off until April!  I’m curious to see what the groundhog says on Sunday!

Please see this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter. Also, here is The Angle, a monthly newsletter by Fr. Howie. This month is about blessings!

A few notes:

• This Saturday will be the funeral service for Brook Kortvelesy at 1 p.m., with a light reception in the great hall following.
• Sunday, we will be celebrating Candlemas.  This will be a special service incorporating the blessing of candles.
• Novel Theology will be meeting on February 9, 2020, to discuss A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans. “We must all walk in faith, for to live without is to live frozen in circumstance.”  This is a thought provoking read, however, as always, reading is not required to participate in this lively discussion.
• Coffee Hour FUN next Sunday: Prayer Beads, touching holiness.  An all ages event where we will learn about different methods of using beads for prayer, and have the opportunity to string some for yourself.
• The Spring 2020 Poets’ Corner schedule has been released- mark your calendars!  Invite your friends and neighbors!  The first featured poet is the ever enchanting and engaging Devon Miller-Duggan on February 15, 2020, at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary.
  

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

The flower guild is now accepting altar flower requests for 2020. ⁠
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The sign up sheet is in the lobby. However, if you are not local, or don’t feel like stopping in, simply email StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com⁠
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This is a beautiful way to mark an event, and to give thanks to God. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the flower guild, or to Cana in the office.⁠

Happy Friday faith family!  Please see this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter. We have a few upcoming events to put on your calendar.

• Guest Preacher this week, January 26, 2020 is The Rev. James Strader-Sasser, aka Fr Jim. He is visiting from Christ Memorial in Danville, PA. You can check out his home church Christ Memorial, as well as some of his recent sermons.
• ECM dinner and Flower Dedication sign ups for 2020 are available on the door in the lobby.
• Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Liturgy Guild interest meeting. ALL are welcome.
• Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 1 p.m. – Funeral service for Brook Kortvelesy with a light reception in the Great Hall following.
• Sunday, February 2, 2020 – celebration of Candlemas. See this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for more info on this tradition.
• Sunday, February 6, 2020 at noon – Prayer Beads, touching holiness activity. Fun and meaningful activity for all ages, bring the kiddos, invite your neighbors!  There are plenty of beading supplies for ALL.
• February 15, 2020 at 4 p.m – the first Poets’ Corner of 2020 will feature our own family member, Devon Miller-Duggan. Save The Date!

See recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements. It’s fun to look back and see what was going on in years past.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

Poets’ Corner Reading Series for Spring 2020 presents the following:

Feb. 15, 2020: Devon Miller-Duggan
March 21, 2020: Crucial
April 18, 2020: Andres Cerpa
May 16, 2020: Anne Colwell

All readings are held from 4:00 – 5:15 p.m. at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church, 276 S. College Ave., Newark, DE. A free will offering is appreciated. All are welcome – open to the public.

The Poets’ Corner Reading Series is co-sponsored by St. Thomas’s Parish and the University of Delaware Department of English.

For questions, please email StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or call the Parish Office at (302) 368-4644.

Happy Friday faith family!  Most of us have a 3 day weekend, in honor of MLK Day on Monday.  The church office will be closed, so that the kiddos and I can dig into some service projects on our day “ON” (not the day “off”).  There are a few opportunities to honor MLK day over the long weekend in this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter.

Just a few reminders this week:

•  Ladies’ Night Out on January 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Iron Hill Brewing Co in Newark.
  
• Vestry is meeting this Sunday, and they will also be hosting Coffee and Fellowship hour.  This is a wonderful opportunity to speak with them, ask questions and make suggestions.  Also, vestry nominations are coming up.  If you have questions about this calling, this is a perfect time to ask!
• The Novel Theology group will be meeting this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. to discuss “An Irish Country Love Story” by Patrick Taylor.  ALL are welcome to attend, even if, like me, you might not finish this juicy read in time.
• ECM (Episcopal Campus ministry) Spring session dinner sign up is posted in the lobby. Our ECM college-age parishioners have been doing a tremendous job this year growing our Blue Hen Bounty, and will continue this important work all Spring. Let’s support them with some delicious sustenance by volunteering to bring dinner. They truly appreciate a home cooked meal and your company. However, a delivered pizza is always a hit!
• Sunday Flower dedication sign up for 2020 is also posted in the lobby. This is a beautiful way to honor loved ones, and can be in memory of or in thanksgiving for.  Flowers can also be dedicated in honor of a place or event special to you.
• Mark your calendar now: Sunday, February 9, 2020 for our Coffee Hour Event on  Prayer Beads – touching holiness.  More information to come soon.

  See all Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator