1 May 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for May 3, 2020

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Hello friends! See this week’s  Carpenter’s Helper newsletter.  In it, you will find a letter from our Bishop, addressing the timing of reopening church buildings.

In the meantime, Church is not closed and we will continue to worship, and find connection and fellowship as best we can.  Our wonderful Vestry and team of ministry leaders are reaching out to us all this week.  Please share your suggestions for more ways that we can continue to not only stay connected, but Grow in our faith and friendships.

Are you following St. Thomas’s on Instagram or Facebook?  If you are, than you have seen some of the beautiful pictures of flowers sent in by Bob Rys and Rue Manning:  thank you both for sharing!  It would be great if you all would “Share” their beautiful posts, inviting ALL to Grow with us.

This week, I’d love to see how our animal friends are faring.  I can tell you, Arlo is loving the extra play time with the kids.  Would you share pics of your pets please?  You can reply to this email or text directly to 302.354.3277.

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

27 Apr 2020

Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM) Report for April 2020

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Due to the exigencies of COVID-19, Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM) has been meeting via Zoom since we resumed our meetings after Spring Break. Shannon—our president sends out the Zoom link; reminders are issued over email and GroupMe and everyone joins.

Our meetings have been well attended with usually five to six college-age students in attendance and Sally Price and Father Howie joining regularly. We have started a weekly devotional series based on Father Howie’s Into the Desert. We are using the text as way to explore life during the relatively desert-like conditions of COVID-19.  Everyone has been participating and the study has been going well.

Blue Hen Bounty (BHB) food pantry has continued serving the community during the shutdown with a great deal of support from Cana—who is wonderful. BHB has been patronized by several students during this difficult time. At this rate, we shall need to take inventory of our supply and seek more contributions to reup our inventory.

Sally Price completed a cookie run for the International House on behalf of ECM. Sally purchased 30 individually wrapped sleeves of Oreo cookies and delivered them to the front desk of the building. The International House houses students who could not return home after the campus was closed. Information regarding our online meeting Zoom meetings and BHB was distributed to the residents through the University of Religious Leaders Organization (URLO). URLO meetings have also continued via Zoom.

Denise asks that we hold our students in prayer as they maintain schedules and academic expectations during this time. 

Denise Burgher, Convening Graduate ECM Advisor

26 Apr 2020

Thank you for your continued gifts

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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.

While Delaware remains under a “shelter in place” order through at least May 15, 2020 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

24 Apr 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for April 26, 2020

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Hello Faith Family!  See this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter. for April 26, 2020. In it, you will read about the amazing Easter Sunday 2020 virtual orchestra and choir performance out of the Washington Cathedral, as well as an excerpt of a very interesting article about an Episcopal Church in LA that recalls the quarantine of 1919 and compares it to today.  Do you have suggestions for Carpenter content?  Please let me know!

A bit of good news. A local, Aaron Frazier, has a power washing company (check his website), has generously donated his time to us to powerwash the front walk that had grown some moss over the winter.  It looks incredible- thank you Aaron.

We are drawing near to the end of April 2020 and have had a fair amount of showers.  So, I’m looking forward to May flowers!  Do you have some stunners around your house or yard that you would like to share with us?  I’d love to feature your moments of beauty on our social media.  Please either send an email, or simply text me directly: 302.354.3277. 

I look forward to worshiping with you at 9am on Sunday! See info on the Worship Service on Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

24 Apr 2020

Worship Service on Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

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Hello faith family. Please see the worship service leaflet for Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. This is the Third Sunday of Easter and we will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s Parish.  Please look for an invitation email from me on Sunday morning at 8:55 a.m., with the link to the St Thomas’s YouTube page (this is the same link every time).  The YouTube link is also available from our home page. I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

17 Apr 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for April 19, 2020

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Happy Friday! See this week’s Carpenter’s Helper newsletter.  for April 19, 2020. In it you will find two messages from our Bishop, Rt Rev Kevin.  He explains a bit about the liturgy of the Word, and then gives us an update on the actions of the diocese during this unusual time.

Ladies, I hope to see all of your beautiful faces at our ZOOM Ladies’ Night IN, tonight at 6 p.m. Here is the ZOOM meeting; if it asks for a password, it’s thomas with a lowercase t.  If you have any problems getting in, please text me 302.354.3277, and I’ll try my best to help.  Can’t make it tonight?  It looks like we will have another opportunity to do this in May, and I for one am excited! (saving on that babysitter $$$).

Novel Theology is planning a ZOOM meeting for their May 2020 get together.  The book is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, and is available for free as a download from the New Castle County Public Library.  This looks like a good read.  Please look for more details about this ZOOM get together as we get closer to May 2020.

This ZOOM tutorial is not bad, and gets interesting at around the 3:25 mark.  Do you have a tutorial you recommend?  Are you more of a fan of Go To Meeting, Google Hangout, or Facebook Skype?  Please share your experiences and recommendations.  I’ve been having the best time playing games with family and friends on the Houseparty app: it has games like pictionary, cards against humanity, and charades.  Anyone want to play?  I miss you all and look forward to furthering my virtual hangout skills this month so I can see more of your faces.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

17 Apr 2020

Service Program for Sunday, April 19, 2020

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Hello faith family! See the  service program for Sunday, April 19. 2020.  The Sunday, April 19, 2020 service will be streamed LIVE beginning at 9 a.m. from St. Nicholas.  Please look for an invitation email from me on Sunday morning, with the YouTube link and this same link to the leaflet.

Next Wednesday, April 22, 2020, our Wednesday noon service of intercessory prayer will continue.  Do you have any changes to make to the prayer list?  St. Nicholas folks, please let us know if you have any additions, as we join together.  Let’s make a joint prayer list!  I love what a small town Newark is; I’m certain that there is already overlap.  We share many friends and loved ones.  

If you know of any college students in need of non-perishables, please pass along the word that the Blue Hen Bounty food pantry is OPEN by appointment.  ALL college students are welcome (UD or other institutions), and there is no paperwork to fill out nor explanation to give- they simply need to show a current student ID.  If you know of a student in need, please have them call St. Thomas’s office (I’m checking voice mail several times a day) 302.368.4644, or email bluehenbounty@gmail.com.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

15 Apr 2020

Wednesday noon Intercessory Prayer, not live April 15, 2020

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Greetings faith family.  Holy Week was so full of the Spirit, with opportunities EVERY day to worship together.  Now, the week following Easter, we are taking time to reflect, catch our breath, and rejoice that our Savior rose from the dead.

Usually, we have a LIVE service at noon every Wednesday.  It’s a special, quiet, spoken service of Intercessory Prayer with Holy Eucharist.  Although we will not be gathering LIVE today, April 15, 2020, revisit any service that was special to you, or perhaps catch up on one that you may have missed.  Then, please join us on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at noon for our regular LIVE Wednesday noon service.

Please look for an email from me by the end of this week with the leaflet for this Sunday, April 22, 2020, for your preview. We will be LIVE from St. Nicholas!  You will receive an invitation email on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with the link to our YouTube as well as the leaflet.

Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator

10 Apr 2020

Easter 2020 Message from our Rector

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Easter 2020 iconIn the traditional Eastern Orthodox icon of Easter (called the Harrowing of Hell), Jesus is shown retrieving the souls of the faithful who lived and died before his life, death, and resurrection. The scene has been laid out differently by icon writers through the centuries, but one element is always the same. Jesus is grasping those he saves by the wrist or hand, but those being saved remain limp, seemingly unable to assist in their own salvation.

In this season of Easter, we the followers of Jesus come face to face with the power of God acting for us, and in us, and through us. As the body of Christ in the world, the Church proclaims God’s will that none should be lost. In kind words and gentle actions, we do our part to raise up those who feel lost and alone. And make no mistake, through the days and years of our lives, each of us is by turns the rescuer and the rescued.

As we greet Easter 2020 in an unfamiliar way this year, it seems all the more important to be reminded that each one of us is a beloved child of God, a beloved member of St Thomas’s, a rescuer, and one for whom the promised rescue of God is assured. As we do what we can to keep everyone healthy, we also keep everyone in our prayers. I have been greatly encouraged by the stories I hear of on-line Sunday School and Zoom coffee meet-ups and one-on-one telephone check-ins. These are all evidence of the hands of Jesus still at work. I encourage everyone to continue to hold others close in spirit.

May the blessing of new Easter life be with you every day. And until we can gather again to give thanks to God – be well.

Yours in Christ,
Father Howie
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr., Rector

9 Apr 2020

Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for April 12, 2020

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Greetings faith family!  This week’s Carpenter’s Help newsletter shares several ways to pray the Stations of the Cross from home, including a recording featuring our own Bruce Finnie.  There is also a lego stop-motion version included for the littles (and lego fans like myself). 

The church has worshiped for 2,000 years and no virus will end that. This season presents some amazing opportunities for us to worship as never before, sacrifice like never before, and love our neighbors as always. But this is tough. It’s also worth it. So, keep loving your church; attendance at our online services has been fantastic! Write the encouragement note. Pray like you’ve never prayed before. Continue to give, click like, and share.

While Delaware remains under a “shelter in place” order through at least May 15, 2020 and services are broadcast on YouTube, please consider continuing your giving to St. Thomas’s 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.

Church is never canceled. Consider yourself invited. We may not wow everyone. That’s okay. If our heavenly father is pleased, that is enough.

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 and *virtual hugs*,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator