Happy Friday faith family! I hope this finds you all well. See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of December 13, 2020. In it, you will find a reminder about Lessons and Carols this Sunday, December 20, 2020, info about the Christmas pageant, being presented on YouTube, a few pics from our entry in Newark’s Festival of Lights display, and a lovely write up of the AMAZING joint venture with the Tarbiyah school to be featured in the Diocese of Delaware’s publication, the Net, in January.
Reminder: in-person worship has been suspended for this time and all worship is offered online.
This week, we continue the busy Advent season, preparing our hearts and minds for the arrival of our Savior. Please see the 2020 Advent and Christmas Schedule, which is subject to change. We have to be especially flexible this year because of the pandemic. If there are any changes, I will be sure to let you know via email and the usual social media channels. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
- Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 7 p.m. – the Christmas pageant, on YouTube
- Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite I with music, live on YouTube
- Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Walk/Drive Through Communion and Prayers
- Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. – Lessons and Carols for Advent, live on YouTube
- Wednesday, December 24, 2020 at 5 p.m. – family friendly Christmas Eve service from St. Nicholas, live on YouTube
- Wednesday, December 24, 2020 at 11 p.m. – a more traditional Christmas Eve service from St. Thomas’s, live on YouTube
- Thursday, December 25, 2020 at 10 a.m. – Christmas morning service, live on YouTube
- Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Lessons & Carols for Christmas, live on YouTube
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. We may be in different locations, but we are celebrating TOGETHER. I’d LOVE to see pics of your Names of Jesus Advent activities!
Christmas Pageant- This will be a pageant unlike any other. It will include a unicorn, Darth Vader, the Spider Man twins, and several of our pets. You won’t want to miss this! I’ll be emailing a separate invitation to this event, so that you can share it with your friends and family. So, get your blankets and hot coco ready – December 19, 2020 at 7 p.m. we will gather virtually to enjoy the talent and creativity of our amazing St. Thomas’s youth. This presentation will remain available until the end of the Christmas season.
One more note – earlier this week, a Christmas letter from Fr. Howie was sent out. In “normal” times, this letter is accompanied by a special Christmas offering envelope, to be gifted in the offering basket. This offering has always been a significant line in the budget. However, this is not a normal year. As we are not gathering in-person, the Christmas offerings will need to be given in a different mode. Any donations may be mailed in to the church building, with Christmas noted in the memo. Alternatively, you can always contribute using our Giving page. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or Fr. Howie (howell.sasser.jr@gmail.com). As Fr. Howie notes in this letter: If you have already given all that you can this year, please do not worry or feel guilty. Instead, I ask for your prayers for the ministries of our church. If, on the other hand, you can give a special Christmas offering, know that your gift will be received gratefully and applied faithfully to the work we all wish to continue.
The office will be “closed” Dec. 24, 2020 through Jan. 1, 2021, however I will absolutely be available via email or text, and will be happy to open the building if there is a need. There will not be a regular Carpenter’s Helper on Dec. 26 or Jan. 1, but you can still look for a weekly email wrap up. I’ll see you all virtually! Have a wonderful week!
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
This week, you can’t help but notice the beautiful piece of African cloth that is on the altar. Deacon Cecily acquired this piece of South African cotton in honor of Black History month. She specifically chose a green motif to go with our current liturgical season. Green is the standard color for“Ordinary Time,” the stretches of time between Easter and Christmas, and vice versa. It is meant to represent the anticipation and hope in the resurrection of Christ. Green symbolizes the hope and life of each new day. In traditional African kente cloth, green symbolizes spiritual renewal, and the maroon hue behind the green pattern on this cloth represents healing and caring for the earth. The tie-dyed cotton cloth is easy to care for and will last for years to come.
Hello faith family! January 31, 2021 is the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. 
A few months ago, Bishop Kevin invited everyone in the diocese to submit art to be considered for the Diocese of Delaware Christmas card. We have so many talented artists in our faith family. How THRILLING to announce that Audrey Houghton’s submission was selected! Way to go Audrey!