We ask your prayers and help to purchase a gift card that could help provide a tank of gas or buy some needed grocery staples at a local store. The office is currently out of gas cards. Please give them directly to Adele Meredith, Parish Administrator, in the Parish Office or put in an envelope marked to Adele’s attention and place in the offering plate. Donations of gift cards are always welcome. Will you help?
Using your IRA Tax-Free
In December, 2014 Congress enacted legislation making QCD’s (qualified charitable distributions) permanent. If you’re over age 70 1/2, you can send up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualifying charity — including St. Thomas’s. The distribution is excluded from your gross income making it tax free. For more information, contact Amy Keach, St. Thomas’s Treasurer via the Parish Office or your tax advisor.
Carpenter’s Helper Newsletter for the week of August 19, 2018
See St. Thomas’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for August 19, 2018. See all newsletters.
Newark Area Welfare Committee Food Cupboard
There is a current need for folks to transport the food that has been collected over to Newark United Methodist Church. There is also a continuing need for small jars of mayonnaise, grape or strawberry jam or jelly, canned fruit, and canned tomatoes. Contributions go in the baskets as you enter the nave. The NAWC Food Cupboard also needs volunteers to distribute food at the Cupboard housed at the United Methodist Church on Main St. The Cupboard hours are from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Susan Hechter susanahechter@gmail.com.
Collect for our Search for a New Rector
Our Heavenly Creator, who has blessed this dedicated church family for 175 years serving our community in your faith and love, we ask for guidance for our Parish, Search Committee and Vestry as we embark on the journey to mutual ministry with our next Rector. Bless us with your grace and fill us with knowledge and fortitude throughout this process. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN
Children’s Ministries needs volunteers
Our fun summer times are almost at an end and the time for fall preparation has come. I’m excited!
Regular Children’s Worship will begin again on September 10 for children 3 years (potty trained) to 6th grade. Sunday School normally runs from 9:30 to 11:10 a.m. Registration for Sunday School will begin at 9:15 a.m. in the Great Hall on September 10, 2018.
Our goal is to have three Sunday School classrooms this year. In order to do this in the best way that we can, we need at least two more teachers. I am praying we can find some new faces to join our children’s ministry team. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average of once a month. If you are more comfortable being the helper teacher each time, that is fine too. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. And the team members are a tremendous support and inspiration to each other. Training for Godly Play and training for Living the Good News for anyone who needs it will be held in late August/early September and as needed. If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please contact me at belmar43@aol.com.
Thank you for all the support that you, as a congregation, provide to our children and their families.
Blessings,
Belinda
Ladies Night Out
This summer we will hold Ladies Night Out on the 13th of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, August 13th: Iron Hill Brewery – Downtown Newark
Thursday, September 13th: Olive Tree Cafe – Chestnut Hill Plaza, Newark
Children’s Ministries schedule
Sunday School resumes on September 9, 2018.
From May 27 to September 2, St Thomas’s nursery for children aged birth to 3 years will be open from 10:15 to the end of the 10:30 a.m. service.
Summer Children’s Worship for children 3 years and older runs through August 19. Our summer theme this year is The Fruit of the Spirit, based on Galatians 5:22-23 (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Each week, we will learn about a different spiritual gift through scripture lessons, stories, hands-on play/art activities, service projects, and/or take-home assignments to promote real-life applications of the fruit of the Spirit. On most Sundays this summer (when children’s worship leader is available), children are invited to the Undercroft from 10:30-11:10 a.m. The children will rejoin their families at the Peace. On some Sundays (when a children’s worship leader is not available), children will remain with their families and are invited to complete the activity in the Fruit of the Spirit bags found in the basket by the sanctuary door.
If you have questions, need more information, or would like to volunteer to help this summer, please contact Belinda Young-Payne at 302-388-4017.
Adult Education
The adult education (parlor) group is now on summer hiatus and will resume on the first Sunday AFTER Labor Day — September 9, 2018. We will be exploring the book – The Misunderstood God by Darin Hufford. It can be obtained on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for new folks who are interested in joining. Questions? Feel free to contact Ronnie Wilbur at vfwilbur@gmail.com or Larry Duggan at lgjd@udel.edu.
Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for August 5
See St. Thomas’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for August 5, 2018. See all newsletters.