Greetings faith family!  This week’s newsletter talks about prayer; specifically, the cycles of prayer that are included each week in our Prayers of the People.

Additionally, you will see an invitation to join with many others lighting a candle in your window this Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 7 p.m. as a symbol of solidarity and thanks to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight.  We have invited our neighbors at St. Nicholas Episcopal Parish to join with us.

Please see the Carpenter’s Helper newsletter for March 29, 2020.

Personally, I for one, am glad to have my prayer beads from our fun fellowship activity.  See prayer bead instructions.  If you do not have prayer beads, no worries. String some together, draw symbols on a piece of paper to follow along with your finger, make a log out of play dough and make impressions along it to keep your rhythm. Last week, I shared some news that brought a smile to my face, and many of you replied with your moments of joy. THANK YOU!  This week, I’m asking you to share your prayer ideas. I’m a craft lady, so of course, I think of making tangible prayer aids.  I look forward to your ideas!

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

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Francis have jointly called on Christians everywhere to say the Lord’s Prayer at noon (in their various time zones) on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, as a symbol of Christian unity.  We will do this at the Noon Eucharist and I invite everyone to do so wherever they may be at that time.

Please join us LIVE on YouTube for our service of Intercessory Prayer with Holy Eucharist. Here is the accompanying service program. Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you will never miss a LIVE presentation.

Peace and be well
Howie+
Rev. Dr. Howell Sasser, Jr., Rector

Greetings faith family!  I hope this finds you well.  It has been so beautiful to see everyone’s kindness and consideration during these unusual times.  With regular services suspended, we have had opportunity to learn more about using technology to stay connected.That being said, if you would prefer a printed copy of the leaflet, or carpenter’s helper, or of any of the worship materials, please let me know. I will do my best to print and deliver any requested materials.

WE are the CHURCH- so, while access to the building may be limited, our CHURCH is never closed!!!

See this week’s Carpenter Helper newsletter. In this week’s newsletter, you will find a list of resources for online worship, as well an invitation from Bishop Curry to his new series, “Habit’s of Grace”.
And, for those of you who have stuck around to the bottom of this email, let’s chat about some of the absolutely amazing things we have seen this week:

• Three words that have me floored: Italian.balcony.singing.  Videos of this phenomenon have me absolutely shook.
• The water has cleared and fish, swans, and dolphins have returned to the Venetian canals!
• And honestly, if you google “kindness stories from quarantine”, you can fall down a mushy and uplifting rabbit hole for hours!

Last week, I shared a favorite verse that has helped keep me calm and flexible.  And several of you replied with your favorite verses!  Thank you!  This week, share something that has made you smile: in person, or online, or maybe just an act of kindness that you heard about.

As the news of COVID-19 continues, I find it necessary to remind myself that If we keep God in the forefront of our minds, we will have perfect peace. Trust in Him brings the greatest peace. Then, once I feel more settled, I can be more flexible. 

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

St. Thomas’s family,

Father Howie has heard of other churches who are responding to the current public health crisis with a blanket check-in with parishioners.  Clergy and members of the Vestry have divided up the telephone directory and are calling everyone to ask a few simple questions:

How are you doing?
Do you need anything?
How can I/we pray for you?

This seems like an excellent way to maintain some sense of community when a church can’t meet.

Peace – and be well

Howie+

From the Vestry – Over half of you have already received phone calls from a Vestry member, Fr. Howie, or Deacon Cecily and calling is still in progress. If you need help and/or prayer, please call the St. Thomas’s Parish office at (302) 368-4644. Peace, Joy Lynam / Senior Warden

Good morning faith family. 

See this week’s Carpenter Helper newsletter.

As the news of COVID-19 continues, I find it necessary to remind myself that If we keep God in the forefront of our minds, we will have perfect peace. Trust in Him brings the greatest peace.  Then, once I feel more settled, I can be more flexible. 

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

Dear friends,

As you may have seen in an email earlier this evening, Bishop Brown has directed that all public worship services be suspended for two weeks, beginning immediately. As a consequence, there will be no Sunday morning or evening services this weekend or next (March 15 and 22, 2020) and no Wednesday noon services on March 18, 2020. I will keep you informed of any further developments. 

I anticipate that the church office will remain open as usual during the week. If you have any pastoral or practical needs, please do not hesitate to contact me or Cana, Parish Administrator, to make them known. Also, please keep those who are or will become sick in your prayers, as well as those caring for them. May God bless them and all of us. 

Peace
Howie+

Rev. Howell Sasser, Jr., Rector

Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, the COVID virus is now in Newark.  The University of Delaware has suspended classes, and many in the community are already taking precautions to avoid the sort of close contact that might lead to exposure.

For this reason, the parish leadership have decided to postpone the Annual Parish Meeting.  There is no business that must be conducted urgently.  The meeting will be rescheduled, likely for April 19th, but more definite information about this will follow as we see what happens with public health and our own scheduling.  In the interim, annual report books have been distributed electronically and are available on paper in limited quantities at the church.  If you have any questions about anything in a report, please contact its author.  I am confident that everyone will be happy to discuss any and all of the church’s ministries.

We will continue to pray for those who are ill and for those who care for them.  If you have any needs, spiritual or practical, or know of anyone who has become sick, please do not hesitate to let the church office know.

Peace
Howie+

Rev. Dr. Howell Sasser, Jr., Rector

St. Thomas’s Parish is hosting “Faith and Fear, a primer on sentencing reform” on Sunday, Marsh 29, 2020 after the 10:30 a.m. service in the Great Hall.

This talk is Open To The Public – invite your neighbors to join in this important discussion.

We look forward to hearing from Delaware State Legislator Sheri Dorsey Walker and other members of the community who are involved and familiar with the topic of SENTENCING REFORM.

Mandatory minimum sentences, “three strikes” laws, and the war on drugs. These and other social forces have combined to fill our prisons beyond their capacities. These are places that most faithful people rarely see or even think about. And yet, our FAITH calls us to a special concern for prisoners.

This session will give us an update on current conditions and future possibilities.

See this week’s Carpenter Helper newsletter.

I am thrilled to share that the 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening service with Gregorian Chanting was a success last week.  AND, to add even more allure to this already very intriguing evening, Stan Spence has volunteered to provide a soup dinner following the service, probably around 6pm.  ALL Are Welcome!  Bring a friend or 4.

Just a few calendar reminders:

• DAYLIGHT SAVINGS is this weekend.  Arrive for the procession, not just the recession!  Daylight savings changes the time, but Jesus changes lives.
• ST THOMAS’S ANNUAL MEETING is next Sunday, March 15, 2020 at noon.  Please plan to attend. Lunch will be provided. Please let Rejane or Kelly know if you are able to lend a hand setting up or cleaning up.
• Novel Theology will meet this Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. in the classroom to discuss “A Live Coal in the Sea” by Madeline L’Engle.  Reading this book is not a requirement to participate in the lively discussion.
• The 6-week series, An Absurdly Short History of Christianity, will continue in the music room this week, between services. See session videos:
  March 8, 2020 session, Part 4 – Western Reformation
  March 1, 2020 session.

These are just a few events. 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

“Everything in life has its own time. There is time to celebrate and there is time to mourn. This is the time for reflection and transformation. Let us look within and change into what we ought to be.” — Aaron Saul

Here is the link to the Carpenter’s Helper for the week of March 1, 2020.

Just a few calendar reminders:

• The New service of Gregorian Chanting starts Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. and will continue throughout Lent.
• Our Annual Meeting is coming up on March 15, 2020 at noon.  Please let Rejane or Kelly know if you are able to lend a hand with set-up, serving, or clean-up.
• The next Coffee Hour speaker is a good one!  Mark off your calendars for Sunday, March 29, 2020 at noon, when state legislator Sheri Dorsey Walker will come and speak to us about sentencing reform.  
  • This event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, so please spread the word by sharing the FB event page, passing along the flyer, or simply talking to friends and neighbors.  
  • Do you have other ideas of how we can get the word out there about this and other events?  PLEASE let any of the communications committee know your thoughts: Fr Howie, Cana, Kristin, Bob G, Devon, Joy, or Mark.

These are just a few events. 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