6 Dec 2020

Family Fun Night and Cookie Exchange

by | posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

Hello Everyone!

Due to growing uncertainty about the safety of in-person gatherings, we have decided to make Family Fun Night on December 18, 2020 a virtual event. We will still be able to do most of the planned events, just on Zoom instead of at St. Thomas’s plus some other surprise activities! Some of the activities will require some supplies, materials, and game pieces. I would like to be able to mail or deliver what you need. Please let me know ASAP if you would like these materials.  You can email, text or call.

I will send out the Zoom link to the event next week. In the meantime, let me know if you want the game and activity materials and….just for fun…lets join the Carews in making or finding our most fun Christmas hats and wear them to the party on December 18, 2020!

Peace, Ms. Belinda

4 Dec 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for December 6, 2020

by | posted in: News | 0

Happy Friday faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of December 6, 2020.  In it you will find a reminder about Drive Through Communion and Prayers, a blurb about the Advent guide and activity you will receive this week, and some EXCITING news about going green.

This week, we continue the busy Advent season, preparing our hearts and minds for the arrival of our Savior:

  • Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite I with music, live on YouTube and in-person
  • Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Drive Through Communion and Prayers
  • Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. – Advent Evening Prayers, live on YouTube and in-person  
  • Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer live on YouTube
  • Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers live on ZOOM
  • Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite I with music, live on YouTube and in-person
  • Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Drive Through Communion and Prayers
  • Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. – Advent Evening Prayers, live on YouTube and in-person

ALL are Welcome in our community!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  Please do not feel pressure to return to the church building until you are comfortable.  We may be in different locations, but we are celebrating TOGETHER.

Please let me know if you have any meetings – virtual or otherwise – that you would like to included on the Parish calendar.   

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
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

4 Dec 2020

Christmas 2020 Outreach with Tarbiyah update

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

Greetings St Thomas’s People!

Thank you to everyone who is working to fill the wish list of our neighbors who are in need.  Our box in the Church foyer has new goodies added daily, but… We still have needs that haven’t been met.  Please see info for this project and check out specific information about giving items or donating money.

We still need candy (miniature candy bars, candy canes), crayons, and washable markers to fill our 50 Goody bags. And, with the coming of cold weather, any donation of a new coat, mittens, hats (male and female, sizes children’s 4-adult) are really welcomed by our friends who are not only dealing with winter, but with COVID and record unemployment.  This is a year unlike any other in terms of needs. 

I am asking all of you to prayerfully consider how you can help.  Tarbiyah is doing good work in our community – let’s join in!

Best,  Jill
Jill Englund Jensen

4 Dec 2020

Service Saturday on December 12, 2020

by | posted in: Children's Ministries, CREW | 0

St. Thomas’s Children’s and Youth Ministries will hold a Service Saturday, December 12, 2020.

To minimize the number of people at St. Thomas’s at one time due to Covid-19 we will have the Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry meet at different times. Masks must be worn at all times. Social Distancing should be practiced.

Children’s Ministry will meet at 10:00 a.m. and fill Goodie Bags for Christmas 2020 Outreach with Tarbiyah. 50 Goodie Bags will be filled with donations from St. Thomas’s. Stations will be set-up to allow proper social distancing. Parent’s help with smaller children i s appreciated.

Youth Ministry (CREW) will meet from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. and prepare cookies for Hope Dining Room. We had hoped to bake cookies together at St. Thomas’s but since Covid-19 numbers are up we are asking you to bring in some homemade cookies. Ask your parents to help where needed, or invite them to join in making some cookies. While making cookies, we hope you will think of spreading Christ’s love to our community. Please use the Cookie Sign-up to let us know what you will bring.

Christmas 2020 Outreach with Tarbiyah – Youth will help repackage supplies and other gifts for Tarbiyah.

Leaf Raking – If we have any extra time, we will help out St. Thomas’s by doing some leaf raking. Bring a jacket and some gloves.

1 Dec 2020

Worship service sign-up for December 6, 2020

by | posted in: Worship | 0

Good morning faith family.  Please sign up for in-person worship for this Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 9 a.m. See the FAQ about the precautions and procedures for meeting in-person safely.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about this option. Each service will continue to be streamed, and I suspect many of us will still be participating from home.  Regardless of whether we are together in-person or virtually, we are connected by the Holy Spirit:  Always together; never apart…maybe in distance, but never in heart.

As always, we will continue to stream each service on St. Thomas’s YouTube channel – this is the same link each week. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Here is the service program and the service program in large print. All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you.

This Sunday and each Sunday in Advent at 10:00 a.m., Drive Through Communion and Prayers will be offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!

And then, at 5 p.m., there will be Advent week 2 Evening Prayer, live via YouTube and in-person with the usual precautions (masks required). Here is the leaflet for the Advent Evening service.

The Lord of the Rings adult education class has been postponed until January, so we can focus on celebrating the Advent season in new and meaningful ways during this unprecedented year.  This gives you plenty of time to dust off this awesome trilogy, or enjoy them for the first time!

In this strange time, the church is aware that some of its members are struggling to make ends meet. If you are in this situation, please let the clergy know of your needs, pray for the church, and feel no guilt about your giving. But if you are able to give, options for giving include mailing a check to your church or online giving. See our Giving page. 

Please continue to share your impressions and ideas for both in-person and online worship.  Your thoughts are appreciated!

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

30 Nov 2020

Family Fun Night & Cookie Exchange 2020

by | posted in: Advent, Children's Ministries, Christmas | 0

Good Morning Everyone, 

November’s Trunk or Treat was so much fun and it was great to see everyone who came. Our next family gathering will be Family Fun Night & Cookie Exchange on December 18, 2020 from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. in The Great Hall at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church This indoor event, like the last one, will have a plan and guidelines to keep everyone safe. One of the things we will need to do is wear masks inside so please try to eat your dinner before you get there!!  The cookie exchange means you’ll be taking your dessert home!! See the flyer.

Also, if space allows. I would be happy to include adults without children for the Cookie Exchange toward the end of the evening (around 7:30 p.m.?),  if there is interested.

Please see the flyer for the event, which includes information about activities, the link to sign up and my contact info if you have questions or want to volunteer to help with set up or clean up.

I can’t wait to see everyone!!

Blessings,
Ms Belinda <belmar43@aol.com>

26 Nov 2020

Ladies Night IN via ZOOM

by | posted in: Women's fellowship | 0

Ladies Night IN via ZOOM on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. All are WELCOME! Doesn’t it sound great: wearing my comfy sweats, eating some left-overs, and swapping stories about weirdo Thanksgiving 2020? Contact the office for a Zoom link.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

26 Nov 2020

Worship service sign-up for November 29, 2020

by | posted in: Worship | 0

Advent 1Good morning faith family.  Please sign up for in-person worship for this Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 9 a.m. See the FAQ about the precautions and procedures for meeting in-person safely.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about this option. Each service will continue to be streamed, and I suspect many of us will still be participating from home.  Regardless of whether we are together in-person or virtually, we are connected by the Holy Spirit:  Always together; never apart…maybe in distance, but never in heart.

As always, we will continue to stream each service on St. Thomas’s YouTube channel – this is the same link each week. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Here is the service program and the service program in large print. All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you.

This Sunday and each Sunday in Advent at 10:00 a.m., Drive Through Communion and Prayers will be offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!

And then, at 5 p.m., there will be Advent week 1 Evening Prayer, live via YouTube and in-person with the usual precautions (masks required). Here is the leaflet for the Advent Evening service.

The Lord of the Rings adult education class has been postponed until January, so we can focus on celebrating the Advent season in new and meaningful ways during this unprecedented year.  This gives you plenty of time to dust off this awesome trilogy, or enjoy them for the first time!

Please continue to share your impressions and ideas for both in-person and online worship.  Your thoughts are appreciated!

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644

24 Nov 2020

Communion in Advent 2020

by | posted in: Advent | 0

Dear friends,

As Anglicans, we have a deep attachment to the sacraments.  It has been a source of great sadness that so many in our parish community have not been able to receive the Eucharist since the COVID pandemic began.  It has not been possible for all of us to gather in the church, and it was and is impractical (and not advisable for public health reasons) to bring the sacrament to everyone individually at his or her home.  But after conferring with parishioners with liturgical and medical expertise, I am pleased to have another option to offer.

On the four Sundays of Advent 2020 (November 29th, and December 6th, 13th, and 20th), the Eucharist will be available in front of the church portico from 10:00 a.m. (or the end of the 9:00 service) until 11:00 a.m.  The formalities will be simple – we will read the confession, I will offer absolution, and we will read the Lord’s Prayer (from a card to be provided), and then the Host will be offered as we do presently in church – in small plastic cups.  Masks and hand sanitizer will be in use.  The normal assumption will be that those coming to receive the Eucharist will have attended the 9:00 a.m. service virtually, but there won’t be a quiz about the sermon!

More advertising of this offering will be coming to you in all the usual ways.  I look forward to seeing many more of you in person!

Peace and be well
Howie+
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr., Rector

24 Nov 2020

Christmas 2020 Outreach with Tarbiyah

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

What is Tarbiyah?
Tarbiyah is a Muslim School located in Newark, Delaware. They are dedicated to teaching all of their students love, kindness, and respect.

What have they done during the pandemic?
The Tarbiyah School has distributed 1.3 million meals since March to children in Northern Delaware in need of food. They currently have 13 distribution sites, giving out a total of 5,000 to 7,000 meals every day, but they want to do something extra special for the holiday season.

What does St. Thomas’s need from you?
We Need Donations of:
● New Adult and Kid Size Coats
● New Hats and Gloves
● Educational Toys/Games
● Stuffed Animals
● Goody Bags – Sign Up to Donate Supplies for Goody Bags
You do not need to sign up to donate coats, gloves, hats,stuffed animals, or educational toys.

What do I do with my donations?
Donations can be dropped off in the Great Hall at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church, or you can contact Jill Jensen at jeejensen@gmail.com to request a pick up. The children and youth at St. Thomas’s will prepare the donations for distribution. Our goal is to have all donations by Thursday, December 10, 2020.

Don’t Like Shopping?
You Can Donate Money at St. Thomas’s Online Donations.

Print and share our flyer.