21 Apr 2022

CPR/AED training offered June 4, 2022

by | posted in: News, Outreach, Service | 0

CPR/AED trainingThis American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Automated External Defibrillator (AHA CPR/AED) Course is designed for anyone with limited or no medical training who wants to be prepared to save a life.

The class is offered on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas’s Parish on 276 S. College Ave., Newark, DE. There is no charge for St. Thomas’s parishioners but the class is available to the public for $15 per person.

Please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/324965248807
to register. If the class fills up, there will be a waiting list and potentially additional sessions.

What does this course teach?

  • Describe how high-quality CPR improves survival
  • Explain the concepts of the Chain of Survival
  • Recognize when someone needs CPR
  • Perform high-quality CPR for an adult
  • Describe how to perform CPR with help from others
  • Give effective breaths using mouth-to-mouth or a mask for all age groups
  • Demonstrate how to use an AED on an adult
  • Perform high-quality CPR for a child*
  • Demonstrate how to use an AED on a child*
  • Perform high-quality CPR for an infant*
  • Describe when and how to help a choking adult or child
  • Demonstrate how to help a choking infant*

Upon completion of all course requirements, participants receive a Heartsaver CPR AED Course Completion Card which is valid for two years.

15 Apr 2022

Wine To Water non-profit for Ukraine

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

Wine to Water fundraiserWine To Water is a non-profit, working in Ukraine and neighboring countries to distribute water filters to families displaced and under attack in this crisis. Their networks are with local ground leaders devoted to helping in this humanitarian crisis and we wish support their courage. ⁠⁠

With infrastructure and supply chains disrupted in the region, people depend on surface water from rivers, rain or untreated sources. Filters give families and shelters a way to prevent waterborne illnesses common in war and refugee camps. The filters also avoid dependencies on single use plastics which add to the environmental disaster created by a global crisis. ⁠⁠

St. Thomas’s will be supporting this effort. On Maundy Thursday, our altar of repose will be decorated with succulents. Since succulents can survive harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures and water scarcity, they are associated with resilience and survival. Starting on Good Friday, these plants, associated with everlasting love, endurance and loyalty, will be available for a donation. ⁠⁠

You are welcome to contact the office (StThomassoffice@googlegroups.com) for information about taking home some these plants. In the meantime, you can check out winetowater.org. Read the inspiring story of an ordinary bartender turned humanitarian. And, there is cute merch…and wine for sale!

14 Apr 2022

Hope Dining Room volunteers for April 18, 2022

by | posted in: Outreach, Service | 0

Dear Families of St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

Easter Monday, April 18, 2022, is our opportunity to serve lunch at Hope Dining Room. Our numbers have increased since Christmas and we will be preparing 60 meals that day, for people who REALLY appreciate it. I always leave there with a warm heart.

We begin cooking at 10 a.m., at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Rd. in Brookside Park. We are finished by noon.  See the Sign Up Genius for the donations we need. You may bring them to St. Thomas’s on Tuesday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – noon or when you come to any service this week or on Easter! If you can’t make these times, give me a call or an email and I will pick it up at your house.

Beginning in June 2022, we are going to start serving “in-house”.  Since COVID, we have been doing “Grab and Go”.     We will be needing many more volunteers and will probably break it into 2 shifts: cooks (will come earlier) and servers (will come later). 

MANY Blessings to all,
Madeline Johnson    mad1240@comcast.net

18 Mar 2022

T-shirts in support of aid to Ukraine

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

On March 3, 2022, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, stated that over 1.2 million Ukrainians have become refugees, approximately 50% of them children, in neighboring countries, plus thousands displaced in-country.

It is critical that we unite around the globe for peace. Our support and voices are critical in helping to end this calamity. Our prayers and support matter.

This Sunday, following each service, a representative from PLAST will be in the great hall, selling t-shirts for $20 each, in support of aid to Ukraine.

PLAST is the Ukrainian branch of Boy Scouts, for boys and girls of Ukraine, ages 6-23. Faithfulness to God is paramount, because Plast has an idealistic worldview that commands belief in a higher meaning of life, in the Creator of the whole world. Just like Scouts in the US, Plast doesn’t teach religion, but requires from its members practical religiosity based on Christian principles. Plast doesn’t discriminate among faiths and respects each religious faith, but requires living in accordance with Christ’s teachings and the requirements of the faith to which the Scout belongs.

17 Feb 2022

Hope Dining Room volunteers for February 21, 2022

by | posted in: Outreach, Service | 0

Dear Families of St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

Monday, February 21, 2022 is our opportunity to serve at Hope Dining Room. We will be making 60 meals for anyone who is hungry.  We begin cooking at 10 a.m. at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Road in Brookside Park. We are finished cleaning up by noon and we always have fun.

Now is your opportunity to have fun in February! Please use the following Sign Up Genius for items we need. 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4daca72aaaff2-hope19

You may bring your items to St. Thomas’s, on Tuesday through Thursday from 9 to noon. Or, bring them on Sunday, when you come to church. If you are stuck at home and have items to donate, email or call me and I will pick them up at your house.

Many Blessings to ALL of you,
Madeline Johnson    mad1240@comcast.net

20 Jan 2022

Code Purple of Delaware – helping with shelter for the homeless in bitter cold

by | posted in: Outreach, Service | 0

When temperatures drop below freezing and conditions pose a threat to individuals who are homeless, a network of agencies throughout Delaware help people obtain shelter. During times such as these, Code Purple of Delaware, along with the support of the Friendship House, here in New Castle County, Delaware, will initiate and communicate a Code Purple Alert to make shelter arrangements for homeless adults. While the Hope Center has provided housing for many of our neighbors in need, during the coldest nights, there are still not enough beds. So, as in years past, St. Thomas’s is joining with a handful of other churches in the area to give sanctuary on those dangerously cold nights.

Last Tuesday, January 11, 2022, we hosted 6 homeless guests for dinner and a safe, warm overnight in the Great Hall. Dinner was WONDERFUL and provided by the University of Delaware. Some of our guests had 3 plates full. They were SO grateful! Everybody slept well, stayed warm and we had NO problems. There is the possibility that we will need to host Code Purple again on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Friendship House is not going to make the decision to call it, until Friday afternoon. It will be our turn to cover it, IF it happens, and looking at the weather forecast ….. we just want to be ready – in case.

This large, safe space is a blessing that we must share with our community. How awesome that we are able to participate in Code Purple! If you would like to learn more, or are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Madeline Johnson at mad1240@comcast.net

13 Jan 2022

Hope Dining Room volunteers for January 17, 2022

by | posted in: Outreach, Service | 0

Dear Families of St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

Monday, January 17, 2022 is our opportunity to serve at Hope Dining Room  We begin cooking at 10 a.m. at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Road in Brookside Park. We are finished cleaning up by noon and we always have fun.

Now is your opportunity to have fun in January! Below is a link to a Sign Up Genius for items we need.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-hope18  

You may bring your items to St. Thomas’s, on Tuesday through Thursday from 9 to noon. Or, bring them on Sunday, when you come to church. If you are stuck at home and have items to donate, email or call me and I will pick them up at your house.

Many Blessings to ALL of you,
Madeline Johnson    mad1240@comcast.net

15 Dec 2021

Annual Bazaar 2021 thank you

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

The Annual Bazaar 2021 Committee cannot thank our parishioners enough for you support for our recent Annual Bazaar. We met last week to review the bazaar and make decisions about the distribution of the funds that we raised.

We wanted to let you know that through your support in time, donations, and your generosity at the bazaar, we were able to distribute $4,500 to the following organizations who help to support our neighbors.
Newark Empowerment Center
Newark Senior Center
Newark Area Welfare Committee
Blue Hen Bounty food pantry

Thank you all again! Barbara Graham

14 Dec 2021

Hope Dining Room volunteers for December 20, 2021

by | posted in: Outreach, Service | 0

Dear Families of St. Thomas’s and St. Nicholas,

Our opportunity to serve at Hope Dining Room  is next Monday, December 20, 2021. We begin cooking at 10:00 a.m. at Kingswood Methodist Church on Marrows Road in Brookside Park and are usually finished cleaning up by noon. For 2 hours, you are part of a team that makes a simple lunch for some VERY grateful people. It makes you feel SOOO good and it is actually fun!

I have created a Sign Up Genius for fruit cups, cookies and kitchen helpers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-hope17  

You may bring your food item donations to St. Thomas’s Tuesday through Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and noon or Sunday morning when you come to church. If none of those times work for you, please give me a call or an email, and I will pick it up at your door.

Many Blessings for remembering those who need some extra help,
Madeline Johnson
mad1240@comcast.net

11 Dec 2021

Hope Dining Room – Christmas Bags

by | posted in: Outreach | 0

Dear Family of St. Thomas’s,

On December 17, 2021 Hope Dining Room, which is a mission of outreach to those in need, will be giving a Christmas goodie bag to each guest who comes in. They are going to make 60 bags. Each participating church is putting something in the bag. I volunteered St. Thomas’s for clementines. We are hoping to put 2 clementines in each bag, so we will need 120 clementines.  Please signup at   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA72AAAFF2-hope16

If you volunteer for this project, please put  your bag of clementines in the box labeled “Hope Dining Room” outside the office by December 16, 2021. If you can’t get  them to church, give me a call or an email, and I will pick them up at your door.

MANY Blessings,
Madeline Johnson   < mad1240@comcast.net >