Happy February!  Today is wear red day. Taking place during American Heart Month, National Wear Red Day® encourages people to wear red to raise awareness about women’s heart health and cardiovascular disease in general, and to help make people aware that heart disease is the number one killer of women. The ultimate goal of the day is to help save lives.

Please see this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter. We have many exciting events taking place this month.  Here are just a few, but to see all the happenings, you can visit our website, check FaceBook, or check out the posted events on the board next to the name tag station.

• This Sunday Novel Theology will meet at 9:15 a.m. in the classroom to discuss A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans.  Reading this novel is a treat, but it is not a requirement to participate in the discussion; the book only kick-starts the conversation.
• This Sunday following the 10:30 a.m. service, we will have a Fun Coffee Hour Event: Prayer Beads, touching holiness.  Stick around after the service to hear about different ways to use beads to aid in meaningful prayer, and then have some Fun creating your own prayer beads!  This is an ALL AGES event; invite your friends and neighbors!
• Next Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 4 p.m., come and enjoy a poetry reading by the always engaging and enchanting Devon Miller-Duggan.  This is another event that would be perfect to invite a guest or three to.  It is co-hosted by the UD English department.  Let’s bring a good…no an awesome turn out for Devon!
• Next Sunday kicks off another 6-week series at 9 a.m. in the parlor: An Absurdly Short History of Christianity.  Each week can be enjoyed as a stand alone, so no pressure to attend all 6; come when you are able to one or to all.
• Monday, February 17, 2020 is the next Ladies’ Night Out at 6 p.m. at the Courtyard at the Marriott.
• Looking ahead to Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020, there will be services at 7 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m.  More details to follow.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

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.