Annual Meeting postponed until April-May 2020

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Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, the COVID virus is now in Newark.  The University of Delaware has suspended classes, and many in the community are already taking precautions to avoid the sort of close contact that might lead to exposure.

For this reason, the parish leadership have decided to postpone the Annual Parish Meeting.  There is no business that must be conducted urgently.  The meeting will be rescheduled, likely for April 19th, but more definite information about this will follow as we see what happens with public health and our own scheduling.  In the interim, annual report books have been distributed electronically and are available on paper in limited quantities at the church.  If you have any questions about anything in a report, please contact its author.  I am confident that everyone will be happy to discuss any and all of the church’s ministries.

We will continue to pray for those who are ill and for those who care for them.  If you have any needs, spiritual or practical, or know of anyone who has become sick, please do not hesitate to let the church office know.

Peace
Howie+

Rev. Dr. Howell Sasser, Jr., Rector

Coffee Hour: Faith and Fear, a primer on sentencing reform

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St. Thomas’s Parish is hosting “Faith and Fear, a primer on sentencing reform” on Sunday, Marsh 29, 2020 after the 10:30 a.m. service in the Great Hall.

This talk is Open To The Public – invite your neighbors to join in this important discussion.

We look forward to hearing from Delaware State Legislator Sheri Dorsey Walker and other members of the community who are involved and familiar with the topic of SENTENCING REFORM.

Mandatory minimum sentences, “three strikes” laws, and the war on drugs. These and other social forces have combined to fill our prisons beyond their capacities. These are places that most faithful people rarely see or even think about. And yet, our FAITH calls us to a special concern for prisoners.

This session will give us an update on current conditions and future possibilities.

Carpenter’s Helper news for March 8, 2020

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See this week’s Carpenter Helper newsletter.

I am thrilled to share that the 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening service with Gregorian Chanting was a success last week.  AND, to add even more allure to this already very intriguing evening, Stan Spence has volunteered to provide a soup dinner following the service, probably around 6pm.  ALL Are Welcome!  Bring a friend or 4.

Just a few calendar reminders:

  • DAYLIGHT SAVINGS is this weekend.  Arrive for the procession, not just the recession!  Daylight savings changes the time, but Jesus changes lives.
  • ST THOMAS’S ANNUAL MEETING is next Sunday, March 15, 2020 at noon.  Please plan to attend. Lunch will be provided. Please let Rejane or Kelly know if you are able to lend a hand setting up or cleaning up.
  • Novel Theology will meet this Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. in the classroom to discuss “A Live Coal in the Sea” by Madeline L’Engle.  Reading this book is not a requirement to participate in the lively discussion.
  • The 6-week series, An Absurdly Short History of Christianity, will continue in the music room this week, between services. See session videos:
    March 8, 2020 session, Part 4 – Western Reformation
    March 1, 2020 session.

These are just a few events. 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

CREW Youth Group Meeting on March 8, 2020

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Hello Everyone,

St. Thomas’s youth group, CREW,  will meet tomorrow, March 8, after the 10:30 a.m. service.  We will be engaging in Lenten discussion, playing games and planning the Teen-Tween Lock-in Palooza. 

Upcoming Events:

  • On February 25, 2020, we will have our usual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at St. Thomas’s.  During the evening, we’ll also have other fun activities and lots of beads to add to the party atmosphere of Mardi Gras!
  • Our remaining meetings for the spring will be on March 22, April 5, April 19, May 3 and May 17, 2020. Please let me or Kelly know if you are able to provide lunch on any of those days.

Blessings,
Belinda Young-Payne, Children’s Ministries

Children’s Ministries News for March 8, 2020

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Hello Everyone,

Sunday, March 8, 2020, Second Sunday of Lent, Sunday School will begin with Sunday Breakfast Club in the Undercroft at 9:30 am. Sign up for your turn at  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-sunday. We still have openings on  3/15, 3/22, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19.

The education and worship part of our children’s program will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Undercroft. If you can, please join us and/or have your children join us as we begin our exploration of the story of Jesus and the Children in our PreK-K classroom and explore God’s care for us on our journeys through the stories of  Nicodemus traveling to see Jesus and of Abraham’s and Sarah’s travels in the 1-3 and 4-6 grade classrooms.  This will be a very interactive day for stories so don’t let the kids miss a moment if you can help it!

Looking ahead, keep and eye out  for news of the upcoming Teen-Tween Lock-in Palooza!!  All I can say now is Glow in the Dark eggs!!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings,
Belinda Young-Payne, Children’s Ministries

Children’s Ministries news for March 1, 2020

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Sunday, March 1, 2020, Sunday School will begin with Sunday Breakfast Club in the Undercroft at 9:30 a.m. Sign up for your turn to bring breakfast at  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-sunday. We still have openings to provide breakfast on 3/08, 3/15 and 3/22.

The education and worship part of our children’s program will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Undercroft. If you can, please join us and/or have your children join us as we begin our exploration of Lent, of the story of Adam and Eve, and the story of Jesus in the desert in each of our grade level rooms.  This will be a very interactive day for stories so don’t let the kids miss a moment if you can help it!

Looking ahead, keep and eye out  for news of the upcoming Teen-Tween Lock-in Palooza)!!  All I can say now is Glow in the Dark eggs!!Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings,
Belinda Young-Payne, Children’s Ministries

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for March 1, 2020

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“Everything in life has its own time. There is time to celebrate and there is time to mourn. This is the time for reflection and transformation. Let us look within and change into what we ought to be.” — Aaron Saul

Here is the link to the Carpenter’s Helper for the week of March 1, 2020.

Just a few calendar reminders:

  • The New service of Gregorian Chanting starts Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. and will continue throughout Lent.
  • Our Annual Meeting is coming up on March 15, 2020 at noon.  Please let Rejane or Kelly know if you are able to lend a hand with set-up, serving, or clean-up.
  • The next Coffee Hour speaker is a good one!  Mark off your calendars for Sunday, March 29, 2020 at noon, when state legislator Sheri Dorsey Walker will come and speak to us about sentencing reform.  
    • This event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, so please spread the word by sharing the FB event page, passing along the flyer, or simply talking to friends and neighbors.  
    • Do you have other ideas of how we can get the word out there about this and other events?  PLEASE let any of the communications committee know your thoughts: Fr Howie, Cana, Kristin, Bob G, Devon, Joy, or Mark.

These are just a few events. 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

Lenten 2020 Opportunities

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Dear friends,

As we begin Lent, I would like to remind you of two opportunities for spiritual growth over the next six weeks.

1)  On Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer will be offered in the church. The form will be mostly chanted, but please don’t let your opinion of your own voice keep you away!  The chant is simple, and those who want to come and worship in prayerful silence are also most welcome.  The dates for these services will be March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, and April 5, 2020.

2)  On Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., I will lead an “inquirers’ class” in the parlor.  We will cover the basics of Christian faith, and the Anglican/Episcopal approach as well.  This is an excellent resource for those considering whether they might like to be confirmed, received, or reaffirmed by the Bishop when he is with us in May 2020. Those who just want to refresh what they learned long ago, or who want some new spiritual insights should consider coming too.  The dates for these classes will be March 4, 11, 18, and 25, and April 1, 2020. 

Please plan to join us – and to bring a friend – for these Lenten events.

Peace, Howie+
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr.