Worship service for July 19, 2020

posted in: News | 0

Sunday, July 19, 2020 is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. On Sunday, connect to our worship service at St. Thomas’s YouTube channel. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Here is the service leaflet  that accompanies the service. There are paper copies available to be mailed. If you would like one, please let me know.

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

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com

Feeding the Homeless on Thursday, July 16, 2020

posted in: Outreach | 0

Dear families of St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

Last Thursday, with your help, we fed 40 homeless friends – still at the Red Roof Inn. 50 people showed up! 7 were given “Go Bags” and 3 were given apologies.

Tomorrow (Monday, July 13, 2020) the Hope Dining Room re-opens, so Thursday, July 16, 2020 will be our LAST week to serve. The plan for this week is chicken-noodle casserole, green beans and a roll or muffin, complimented with a fruit cup,cookies and a soda.   Here is the sign up genius.   Only look at the yellow and black part.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-feeding14

If you would bring your items to St. Thomas’s between 2 and 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020, that would be wonderful. If that doesn’t fit into your schedule, call me and I will pick it up at your door.

MANY BLESSINGS for your care for our homeless friends,
Madeline Johnson

Children’s Ministries at home for July 12, 2020

posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

It’s the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost!  I pray this note finds you and your family well and safe. 

This week, we are invited to become the rich soil in which the word of God becomes abundant harvest. In the gospel, Jesus describes his ministry through the parable of the seeds and their various responses. 

This week, a few kid-friendly versions of this week’s gospel, several hands-on activities on the theme of God’s kingdom and the abundant harvest it represents, and a reflection activity that might be appropriate for the more contemplative among us is provided.  Please use what works for you and your family. There is something for everyone from preschooler to tween to teen to adult.  One of the suggested music videos brings back wonderful memories of walking down the aisle to my groom 27 years ago.  See if you can guess which one!

For the next four Sundays, I will also host a weekly Zoom gathering each Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to noon.  This gathering will be a time for us to share fellowship, prayer and fun. If you have done any planting, gardening or harvesting in the past few weeks, bring us a sample, a picture or a story to share.  If you have a suggestion for a game, a special prayer, or want to read the scripture for the day, you are always welcome to do so.  The new link to the Zoom gathering can be obtained by emailing me at belmar43@aol.com. (It is the same link I sent last week, with Meeting ID ending in 3152.)  I hope to see as many of you there as possible.  Please make sure that your name is displayed when you log in so I will know it is safe to let you in.

Peace be with you,
Ms. Belinda, Children’s Ministries

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for July 12, 2020

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Hello friends!  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of July 5, 2020. In it you will read about another HUGE gift that has come into St. Thomas’s Blue Hen Bounty (BHB).  Also, see the most recent edition of our Diocese weekly newsletter titled The Net, as well as the quarterly magazine, the Communion.  In their weekly newsletter, The Net, among other things, you will notice a familiar face – our own Teri Quinn Gray has joined their communications team as a consultant!  Congratulations Teri – you are a blessing!

This upcoming week we will have our three regular services.  Please let me know if you would like any of the leaflets mailed to you:

Please let me know if you have ANY feedback, questions, or suggestions regarding our online worship. Let’s work together to make this “now normal” as great as we can imagine! Your input could make a big difference.

Ladies: I need your input.  Next Saturday should be our next Ladies’ Night.  Should we do it via Zoom or in person?  I’m thinking either a group movie night; maybe Hamilton?  If it’s in person, I’ll get a projector and we can watch it on the wall from the shade of the Grove.  If we do it over Zoom, we can each watch it on TV, and there might be a fun care package dropped on your door.  Please let me know all your thoughts!!

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

Worship service for July 12, 2020

posted in: Worship | 0

Sunday, July 5, 2020 is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.  Let me know if you need a paper copy mailed to you.  We will be streaming LIVE from St. Nicholas at 9 a.m. 

On Sunday, connect to our worship service at St. Thomas’s YouTube channel. Please subscribe and ring the notification bell (twice) so you never miss a service. Here is the service leaflet  that accompanies the service. 

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

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday! 

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com

Blue Hen Bounty receives large donation from KPMG

posted in: ECM | 0

Fr. Howie unloading boxesIt is a blessing that St. Thomas’s Blue Hen Bounty (BHB) has been able to continue to serve students in need during these unprecedented times. Our community’s generosity has kept our cabinets stocked full of non-perishable food, as well as cleaning and sanitary products. It seems just as you can start to see the back of a cabinet, another gift comes in.

Well, this week we received a LARGE gift — 1,900 lbs. to be exact! Fr. Howie definitely got his workout Thursday morning, unloading the giant pallet of boxed groceries. Each box includes the same combination of high protein, calorie sustaining foods that can be combined and stretched in many ways.

KPMG label The donation comes from KPMG, an international accounting cooperative, and one of the big 4 in the world. “We remain deeply committed to serving and supporting our communities during this challenge our world is facing,” said KPMG U.S. chairman and CEO Lynne Dough tie in a statement. “I’m also proud of our many partners and professionals across the country who are stepping up to help their local communities at this time in so many different ways.”

Many students have needed the support of our pantry during this crisis, but there is one group that Fr. Howie was reflecting on as he unloaded all those boxes. There are a group of students who are here on student visas. According to the rules governing their visas, they are not permitted to work. However, because of travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic, as well as contributing monetary factors, these young adults are unable to return home. So, they remain here, stuck, with no legal means of supporting themselves.These food supplies are a lifeline to help them keep going and can hopefully give some comfort.

Please keep these young adults in your prayers, as well as those volunteers who keep our pantry going every week. And, let us also thank God for the generosity of those who continue to keep our bounty filled, and for the opportunity to make a positive difference in our community. At St. Thomas’s, you can see God’s LOVE in ACTION in so many ways!

Thank you for your continued gifts

posted in: News | 0

In this unsettling time, the church is aware that some of its members are struggling financially. 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

While Delaware remains under a formal State of Emergency declaration and services are broadcast on YouTube, please consider continuing your giving to St. Thomas’s.  See our Giving page.  Contributions can also be mailed to the church at 276 S. College Avenue, Newark, DE  19711.  The mail is collected daily so checks do not remain in the mailbox for long.

With a grateful heart,
Finance Committee

Children’s Ministries at home for July 5, 2020

posted in: Children's Ministries | 0

Happy Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – July 5, 2020!  I pray this note finds you and your family well and safe. 

This week, we will explore the promise that when we surrender to God’s righteousness we find a place of rest for our souls. In the gospel, Jesus offers rest to all who long for relief from their burdens. We are encouraged by the promise that God is walking beside us each step of the way. 

Here are a kid-friendly version of this week’s gospel, several hands-on activities that correspond to this week’s gospel, and a reflection activity that might be appropriate for the contemplative among us.  Please use what works for you and your family. There is something for everyone.   

For the next five weeks, I will also host a weekly Zoom gathering each Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to noon (note the new time).  This gathering will be a time for us to share fellowship, prayer and fun.  If you have a suggestion for a game, a special prayer, or want to read the scripture for the day, you are always welcome to do so.  The new link to the Zoom gathering can be obtained by emailing me at belmar43@aol.com. (It is the same link I sent last week, with Meeting ID ending in 3152.)  I hope to see as many of you there as possible.  Please make sure that your name is displayed when you log in so I will know it is safe to let you in.

Peace be with you,
Ms. Belinda, Children’s Ministries

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Property Clean-up Invite

posted in: Property | 0

St. Thomas’s Property Ministry is inviting you to participate in a “virtual” Clean-up party instead of a group gathering.  We have posted activities where we could use some help. We are hoping for individuals or families to volunteer to work a few hours outside in the fresh air? Take some photos and share them through e-mail or Facebook. 

This work would be done at your convenience. Wear masks if around those outside your family, bring your tools, pick one (or more…) of the listed jobs, and have fun working outside.  

If you need more details, Contact Sue Houghton.

If you would like to help, but do not want to use Sign-up Genius, please contact me directly.