Worship and weekly news for October 8, 2023

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Hello faith family! This is the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 8, 2023. This week, we celebrate Edith Cavell: “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” Her strong Anglican beliefs propelled her to help all those who needed it, including both German and Allied soldiers. She is celebrated for treating wounded soldiers from both sides without discrimination and for covertly helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium and return to active service during the First World War, which in wartime was a death penalty offense.

Weekly News

See our Carpenter’s Helper Newsletter. Fall continues to bring exciting fellowship opportunities and FUN. Read about all of the EXCITEMENT headed our way!

Annual Giving Campaign underway
Step Up Together campaign update
Blessing of the Animals needs volunteers
Pies by Dana 2023 Outreach Fundraiser

Our weekly Worship schedule

Nineteenth Sunday after PentecostThis Sunday’s Schedule

Growth and Fellowship

  • Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – lectionary bible study in the classroom.
  • Third Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Novel Theology
  • 3rd Monday of the month – Hope Dining Room
  • Last Sunday of the month – Family Church Sunday
  • Last Sunday of the month – Coffee and Fellowship between services

Other Parish Events

  • Sun., Oct. 8, 2023 – Blessing of the Animals
  • Tue., Oct. 31, 2023 – candles in the cemetery
  • Sat., Nov. 4, 2023 – All Souls special service

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 our church or online giving.

If you have anything to add to the Parish calendar or the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter, please email the office at StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com.

To see worship, events or news, see our website, FaceBook, InstaGram, YouTube, or the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.

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.

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

Annual Giving for 2024 Budget Explanation

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Annual Giving is when parishioners are asked to give thanksgiving and pledge their financial gifts for the coming year. Our parish budget is based on our gift giving. Our gift giving “keeps the lights” on and the “doors open.” Our gift giving also lets us give back to our community.

2023 Budget Expenses

How does St. Thomas’s spend its monies and where do they come from?

Summary of Expenses for 2023:

Ministry/Worship 40%
Discipleship 36%
Community Bldg. 12%
Mission 12%

See St. Thomas’s Narrative Budget for an explanation of these categories.

Income for 2023 budget

What are the sources of our income?

Summary of income for 2023:

Facility use 1%
Pledges 89%
Plate 3%
Special Gifts 2%
Investments 5%

See St. Thomas’s Narrative Budget for an explanation of these categories.

Narrative Budget

Narrating a Budget is a way to tell the story of who we are through the ways we spend our time and money. See St. Thomas’s Narrative Budget for 2023.

See all news from our Annual Giving for 2024 campaign.

Annual Bazaar 2023

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Annual Bazaar 2023St. Thomas’s Annual Bazaar 2023 will be held on
Fri., Nov. 17, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 19, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

If you pre-ordered Pies from Dana, they may be picked up at the Annual Bazaar.

Admission is free and the public is warmly invited.

The funds raised at the bazaar are used for a variety of Outreach Missions.

Please volunteer either your time or your talents.

St. Thomas’s Parish is located at 276 S. College Ave., Newark, Delaware.

Step Up Together 2023 Campaign September 29, 2023 Update

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Step Up Together Almost ThereWe are almost there faith family, we are almost there! We are a few dollars short of our $30,000 second goal. Do you still wish to give a gift or give another gift to push us over the finish line? Every dollar given is valuable.

Our first goal was to acquire $25,000 in gifts. That means, our diocese will grant us $25,000 in a matching gift. Our second goal was to collect $5,000 in additional gifts and our Diocese would match that at $.75 per dollar or a $3,750 grant. We are just dollars away from that second goal!

We will wrap up this campaign at the end of October. Any gifts received over our goal will be applied towards the $40,000 loan we must acquire.

At the end of the campaign, we will have a celebration and invite everyone to sign a thank you card to our Diocese for their matching gifts.

We anticipate that work will begin on repairing the stairwell and retaining wall in mid-October.

All campaign details are available at Step Up Together 2023 Campaign.

Worship and weekly news for October 1, 2023

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Hello faith family! This is the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 1, 2023. This week, we celebrate Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (c. 1181 – 3 October 1226). He was an Italian mystic and Catholic friar who founded the Franciscans. Francis is associated with patronage of animals and the environment. It became customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4th, and we at St. Thomas’s will be holding a blessing of the animals next Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Weekly News

See our Carpenter’s Helper Newsletter. Fall continues to bring exciting fellowship opportunities and FUN. Read about all of the EXCITEMENT headed our way!

Annual Giving Campaign underway
Blessing of the Animals needs volunteers
Pies by Dana 2023 Outreach Fundraiser

Eighteenth Sunday after PentecostOur weekly Worship schedule

This Sunday’s Schedule

Growth and Fellowship

  • Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – lectionary bible study in the classroom.
  • Third Sundays at 9:15 a.m. – Novel Theology
  • 3rd Monday of the month – Hope Dining Room
  • Last Sunday of the month – Family Church Sunday
  • Last Sunday of the month – Coffee and Fellowship between services

Other Parish Events

  • Sun., Oct. 8, 2023 – Blessing of the Animals
  • Tue., Oct. 31, 2023 – candles in the cemetery
  • Sat., Nov. 4, 2023 – All Souls special service

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 our church or online giving.

If you have anything to add to the Parish calendar or the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter, please email the office at StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com.

To see worship, events or news, see our website, FaceBook, InstaGram, YouTube, or the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.

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.

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

Blessing of the Animals needs volunteers

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Blessing of the Animals 2023As you may have heard or are eagerly waiting to hear, St. Thomas’s will be hosting its Annual Blessing of the Animals on October 8, 2023 from 2-4 p.m. In addition to the usual blessings of animals, this year’s event will include vendors, displays, giveaways, and some visits from some of our larger animal friends. 

We invite you to join in the fun of the event but also to help with set up and clean up. If you have an idea for an animal related activity or table, you are invited to share that as well. However, if you are volunteering to offer an activity, please sign up for that by Oct. 1, 2023.  Please volunteer to help with the event in any of the three ways listed.

We appreciate any volunteers who can help.

Sincerely,

Belinda Young-Payne on behalf of the St. Thomas Events Committee

Pies by Dana 2023 Outreach Fundraiser

posted in: Outreach | 0

The Annual St .Thomas’s Bazaar is approaching quickly. The money raised at this event is used for various outreach projects. To increase the money we are able to donate this year, we have added an additional fundraising event. We are selling Pies by Dana.This is an opportunity for you to make your Holiday entertaining easier by ordering delicious pies made locally by an award wining chef, and support St. Thomas’s outreach ministries that help people in need. 

We are collecting orders until October 20, 2023 and the pies will be available to pick up at the Bazaar on Saturday, November 18, 2023 after 10 a.m

There is an order form, description of the pies, and order packets available at coffee hour and in the church office until October 20, 2023.  Please place your order form and payment (check or cash) in the box outside the office.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and thank you for your support.

Philippa Sunnergren

St. Thomas’s Bazaar Committee

Annual Giving for 2024

posted in: Giving | 0

Gracious God, we thank you for creating and recreating us to do your good works in the world. Pour into our hearts the spirit of your abundance. Remind us that what we have is only and always for your glory, and that what we give for the work of your church is our testimony to the blessings we have already received. Guide us as we make the choices that will help build your kingdom now and in the future. And sustain us always with the promise of the gift beyond price, your presence among us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Annual Giving for 2024 displayDuring the last week of September 2023, an Annual Giving packet is being mailed to our homes. Annual Giving is when parishioners are asked to give thanksgiving and pledge their financial gifts for the coming year. Our parish budget is based on our gift giving. Our Vestry has determined that the goal for this year’s campaign is $290,000.

The Annual Giving packet includes an invitation letter, narrative budget, budget explanation, and pledge card.

Throughout October 2023, we will share thanksgivings of our blessings and ask how we might share our gifts with our church and others. We hope you will use these to pray about your annual gift to our church and how our church might serve in our community.

Please enjoy blessings we are sharing….
Annual Giving for 2024 Thank You
Annual Giving Pledges Welcomed
Ingathering this Sunday, October 29, 2023
Invitation to pledge
Helen Spence’s October 15 homily

The Annual Giving theme this year is “Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works.” Ephesians 2:10
An opportunity exists before us to examine how much we give and whether we can do more. Opportunities welcome us if we seek them.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need more information.

Won’t you please pledge your financial gifts on your pledge card and return it by October 29, 2023?

In thanksgiving,
Annual Giving Ministry
Fr. Howie, Joy Lynam, Kristin Sausville, Helen Spence, Jinglan Redder

Blue Hen Bounty Food Pantry URGENTLY needs donations

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Blue Hen Bounty food pantryThe school year has started in earnest, the students are back, and Blue Hen Bounty (BHB) food pantry is seeing its highest need ever (yes, even more than pandemic levels). One thing in particular contributing to this is that we are seeing student athletes for the first time.

I took a look today, and the cupboard is almost bare. Can we make an effort to refill it this weekend? The most requested items are rice, eggs, cooking oil, soup, bread, tomato sauce, instant oatmeal, and sanitary products. Pasta isn’t going as quickly, so there is less need for that.

Just today, a student stopped by to share that BHB is what makes it possible for them to attend classes and work. Let’s keep it as well stocked as we can.

Thanks to all of you who have been donating items to Blue Hen Bounty (BHB) food pantry provided by Episcopal Camus Ministry (ECM) for University of Delaware students who are food insecure and cannot provide ample nutrition for themselves.

While you are doing your grocery shopping, please consider purchasing anything that is on sale for Blue Hen Bounty.  If you have an overabundance from your garden or bought more than your family will use, fresh fruit and veggies are always welcome.

Donations can be left in the box for BHB in the Great Hall or left in the classroom.

We even get requests for eggs.  (If you donated eggs, please place in the frig with a note saying ” For BHB”)

If you prefer, you can always make a cash/check donation – just indicate funds are for BHB.

Thanks for your support for this important ministry.

The church building is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. – noon. There is a bin by the name tag station marked for Blue Hen Bounty donations or put donations on the tables or counters in the great hall classroom. For questions, email bluehenbounty@gmail.com. Thank you.

Thanks,
Kristin Sausville, Senior Warden

Family Church Choir

posted in: Choir, News | 0

Family Church ChoirHello everyone!

This Sunday, September 24, 2023 – the last Sunday of the month – there will be Family Choir.  Please arrive no later than 9:45 a.m. to the front choir area of the church.  Anyone who is interested will be welcomed; we are all part of this wonderful faith family.

Come sing with the Family Choir this Sunday….meet at 9:45 a.m.  No worries about your voice…come have a wonderful experience using it in worship!

See you at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday!

Marc Cheban, Organist and Choir Director