Dear Friends,

Greetings to you as we reach the middle of the second week of Advent.  I’m sure that, like me, you have been following with concern reports of the rising number of COVID cases and hospitalizations.  So perhaps it will come as no surprise that the Bishop has decided once again to suspend in-person worship at Episcopal churches in Delaware, effective December 14, 2020.  This seems wise, given the advice we are getting from the Governor and others that we should stay at home just as much as possible.  This is especially hard in a season when we would most like to be with family and friends, and to be gathering with our church family.  Please be assured that St. Thomas’s will continue to worship.  We will return to our pattern over the summer – “broadcasting” services on YouTube with the smallest possible number of people in the building.  We will not reduce the number of services we had planned for the remainder of Advent and Christmas, and Communion at the curbside will continue to be available.  Other meetings and events in the church will also be curtailed, but our service to the community – through Blue Hen Bounty and our new project with the Tarbiyah School, among others – will go on without interruption.

Please know that you are in my prayers as we make our way through this strange time.  I remain grateful for all the ways that we are remaining strong as a community, and I am confident that we will emerge from our COVID experience as a vital part of the Kingdom of God.  Please keep St Thomas’s and the work we do in your prayers.
I wish you health and happiness – and all joy for Christmas.

Peace and be well,
Howie+
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr., Rector

It is this time in Advent when we typically “Green” the church building. Fragrant boughs of pine and gorgeous leafy green poinsettias with cheery pops of red flowers are an outward showing of the preparations that we make for the birth of our Savior.

Of course, 2020 has to be different. This year, St. Thomas’s Parish is getting green with SOLAR PANELS! That’s right; the long anticipated project has begun. This long anticipated move was sparked by the generous memorial donation from our family member, Jerry Schultz, and has been continued by a wonderful team from the Property Committee and supported by the Vestry. You may remember Jerry Schultz made a generous donation upon his death to St. Thomas’s to be used for solar panels.

Amy Keach provided this picture taken from the intersection of South College and Park Place this morning. The panels blend right in with the roof!

We are all in this together as stewards of our Earth, and everyone’s efforts are truly appreciated. On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, Clean Energy USA began the installation. They have been hard at work all week. If you drive by the church building, you may see them up on the roof. Please keep Jerry’s love of the earth and St. Thomas’s in mind when you see the panels on the church.

Now, don’t worry, the church building will still be decorated for the season. The beautiful advent candles and wreath can already be seen at every service. The flower guild will be adding more to the display in the coming weeks. We are also participating in Newark’s Festival of Lights, so please, continue to bring in your donations of outdoor Christmas lights and decorations so we can let our light shine!

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

Happy Friday faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of December 6, 2020.  In it you will find a reminder about Drive Through Communion and Prayers, a blurb about the Advent guide and activity you will receive this week, and some EXCITING news about going green.

This week, we continue the busy Advent season, preparing our hearts and minds for the arrival of our Savior:

• Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite I with music, live on YouTube and in-person
• Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Drive Through Communion and Prayers
• Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. – Advent Evening Prayers, live on YouTube and in-person  
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer live on YouTube
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers live on ZOOM
• Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite I with music, live on YouTube and in-person
• Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Drive Through Communion and Prayers
• Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. – Advent Evening Prayers, live on YouTube and in-person

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.  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.

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

Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you all well.  See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of November 22, 2020. In it, you will find a plea from me for Christmas lights, info about a virtual Bazaar, a virtual Thanksgiving, and a virtual Novel Theology meeting.

This week, we will have our three regular services and Novel Theology:

• Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Worship service Rite II with music, live on YouTube and in-person.
• Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Novel Theology via  ZOOM.
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer live on YouTube using a leaflet for Pentecost.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers with Deacon Cecily live on ZOOM.
•  Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Worship service Rite II with music, live on YouTube and in-person. First Sunday of Advent.

As we head into Advent and the season of sharing, there will be many opportunities to give back to our community.  It will be different from our traditional Angel Tree and food drive.  One of the projects being put together is a kids’ gift bag assembly.  You can look for emails about this worthy effort, and others in the upcoming weeks.  If you have questions or if you have a project that needs to be advertised, please contact the office.

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, 11.22.20.  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.

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

Hello faith family!  I hope this finds you all well. See the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for the week of November 15, 2020. In it you will find an invitation to participate in an exciting project the altar guild is working on, as well as, an update on the Annual Bazaar.

Children and Youth had a fun weekend.  The Youth had a safe gathering on Friday night with great discussions and a cool string art craft. Last Sunday, the Youth and Children had a Trunk or Treat and it was SO FUN!  Thank you to everyone who gives support to our Youth and Children’s ministries.

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

• Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite II with music, live on YouTube and in-person.
• Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – DE Power and Light presentation, discussion of Creation Care, in-person and via ZOOM.
• Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 10 a.m. – 2 Saints Readers book discussion via ZOOM.
• Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at noon – Intercessory Prayer live on YouTube using a leaflet for Pentecost.
• Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 7 p.m. – Compline evening prayers with Deacon Cecily live on ZOOM.
• Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 9 a.m. – Rite II with music, live on YouTube and in-person .  
• Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. – Fr. Howie will give a presentation to wrap up our month long celebration of Creation Season, in-person and via ZOOM.

ALL are Welcome!  Please let me know if you’d like a paper copy of any of the leaflets mailed to you.  Please sign up for in-person worship  for this week, November 15, 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.

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

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