Greetings everyone!

I am slowly getting organized in the new reality of COVID, but I now realize that instead of waiting for things to improve, it’s time for me to get moving.  As a new Vestry member, I volunteered to assist those in the parish doing pastoral care. I have discovered that not only has COVID shut down schools, family reunions, and football games, but it has also affected our ministry to our community and each other.  There will be things that we used to do that will have to wait awhile, but let’s  prayerfully consider what we can do for each other.   

We have parishioners that need meals during an illness, convalescence, or bereavement.  Some need rides to a Doctor’s appointment or someone to pick up a few groceries. Perhaps just being at the other end of the phone if someone needs advice or an ear would be a great help.  I am reaching out to ask you to consider how you can help.  It goes without saying (so I am writing it) that in all that we do, we follow social distancing, wear masks, avoid crowds, and keep our hands clean.  

So I am asking two things.  The first part is easy.  How will you make pastoral care a part of your life?   

The second part is a bit harder. What help do you need? How difficult it is for us to ask for help!  We pride ourselves on being independent and taking care of our own needs. “I don’t want to be a bother”, ” I can handle it myself.” or “I just wait for someone to figure out what I need.”   This false pride deprives us of the opportunity to practice the ministries that we are called to. 

Do you have a need or can you fill one?  Would you be willing to let Cana or me know so that we can share our gifts?  As we are considering our giving to the Church, can we also consider how to allow others to give to us? I would like to put together a list of people willing to make a meal, run an errand, or make a few check-in calls.  Whatever you are called to do, it will go on the list!  Let us know.

Jill Englund Jensen, St. Thomas’s Vestry 

Happy Friday faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of November 8, 2020. In it, you will find a Creation Care prayer, along with a message from Jill about Pastoral Care of our Parish.

This week, we will have our 3 regular services and several other events on the calendar:

• Friday, November 6, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. – Youth Christian Eduction gathering
• Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 9 a.m.- Rite II with music, live on YouTube and in-person: Holy Baptism of Joshua Grice
• Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Adult Christian Ed, discussion of Creation Care
• Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 1 p.m. – Children and Youth Trunk or Treat, rescheduled from last weekend  
• Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 10 a.m. – 2 Saints Readers book discussion via ZOOM.
• Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at noon – Intercessory Prayer live on YouTube
• Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers live on ZOOM
•  Sunday the 15th at 9am- Rite II with music, live on YouTube and in-person   

ALL are Welcome!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  Here is a  link to sign up for in-person worship  for this week, 11.1.20.  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.

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

The Altar Guild is embarking on a HUGE and WONDROUS project. You may have noticed that our altar hangings and other paraments are really showing their age. Sad, but true. Some are in shreds. In the tradition of the many who have made our vestments, both clergy and church, we are going to remake them.To this end, we need many people who can do invisible hand hemming.

SAAAAAAAAAAY WHAAAAAAAT????

Invisible – you can’t see it on the right side.

Hand – done with a needle and thread with your hands. No sewing machines will be involved. Don’t even ask.

Hemming – In this case defined as ¼ inch stitches with perfect tension.

Before you say that you can’t possibly do this, think. Ever hemmed a skirt, trousers, or dress? Ever done any needlepoint, cross stitch, or embroidery? You have the skill!

If you will be kind and generous and volunteer to help, we will teach you anything you need to know to do this work. Get in touch with Sally Price, our head of Altar Guild, at Sallyeyemanprice@aol.com or Martha Holyoke, aka The Vestment Lady, at maholyoke@aol.com.

We cannot promise you’ll be a famous movie star. But you could have fun with the group, do useful work, and know that you were a part of making our church beautiful before God.

Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of November 1, 2020.  In it you will find encouragement from the #VoteFaithfully campaign, as well as a Thank You for showing care and respect by wearing masks in our church building.  The new Forward Day by Day for Nov. 2020-Jan. 2021 is available in the lobby; please let me know if you’d like one mailed to you.

Just a reminder: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS IS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!  Don’t forget to get your extra hour of sleep!

This week, we will have our 3 regular services and several other events on the calendar:

• Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 4 p.m. – All Souls service in the cemetery.
• Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Worship Service, Rite II with music LIVE on YouTube and in-person with guest preacher Rev. Martha Kirkpatrick.
• Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – guest presenter, Connie Cooper: History of St. Thomas’s Parish 1842-1980.
• Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 1 p.m. – Children and Youth Trunk or Treat.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 10 a.m. – Two Saints Readers book discussion via ZOOM.
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer worship service LIVE on YouTube a leaflet for Pentecost.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers with Deacon Cecily via ZOOM.  ALL are Welcome. 
•  Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Worship Service, Rite II with music LIVE on YouTube and in-person   

ALL are Welcome!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  Here is a  link to sign up for in-person worship  for this week, November 1, 2020.  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.

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 let me know if you have any meetings – virtual or otherwise – that you would like to have 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