Hello faith family! Sunday is the Second Sunday after Epiphany – January 16, 2022, Year A. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

This Sunday marks our faith family member Beryl King’s 101st birthday! I know we are all sending her tons of virtual love and hugs, but you know she loves getting letters in the mail.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday is the First Sunday after Epiphany – January 9, 2022, Year A. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

This Sunday marks Deacon Cecily’s last Sunday celebrating with St. Thomas’s faith family.  We will shower her with love and well wishes this week, and present her with cards and gifts. But, the real celebration will take place this summer, when we can gather in the Grove and really do it right.  Please let the Cana or Fr. Howie know if you are interested in joining the party committee.  

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday, January 2, 2022 is the Second Sunday in Christmas. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

During the service this week, we will be blessing Epiphany chalk for “chalking your door.”  See the blessing for this tradition.  If you are not attending in-person this Sunday, there will be blessed chalk available next week Monday-Thursday from 9-noon or I am happy to mail some out to you.

Another note on the schedule: this Thursday is the last week that Deacon Cecily will be hosting Evening Compline Prayer. After her retirement, this weekly service will continue and be led by a member of our faith family.  So, if you want one last opportunity to participate in Deacon Cecily’s Evening Compline Prayer – this is your last week!  Look for your email invitation on Thursday evening.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.

The Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday, December 19, 2021 is the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please join us in song for the children’s Christmas Pageant at the 10:30 a.m. service!  Share the YouTube channel with our faith friends and family who may want to tune in!

Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries in the Undercroft.
• Sunday, December 19, 2021 – Children’s Christmas pageant, during the 10:30 a.m. service
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Sunday, December 19, 2021- St. Thomas’s cookie exchange following the 10:30 a.m. service
• Sundays at 5:00 p.m. – Advent service in-person with precautions and online at YouTube. (Advent 1 booklet)
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Friday, December 24, 2021- Christmas Eve services at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Saturday, December 25, 2021 – Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m.
• Sunday, December 26, 2021 “normal” 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services

The Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday, December 12, 2021 is the Third Sunday in Advent. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Sundays at 5:00 p.m. – Advent service in-person with precautions and online at YouTube. (Advent 1 booklet)
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Sunday, December 19, 2021 – Children’s Christmas pageant, during the 10:30 a.m. service
• Sunday, December 19, 2021- St. Thomas’s cookie exchange following the 10:30 a.m. service
• Friday, December 24, 2021- Christmas Eve services at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Saturday, December 25, 2021 – Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m.
• Sunday, December 26, 2021 “normal” 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services

The Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday, December 5, 2021 is the Second Sunday in Advent. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Sundays at 5:00 p.m. – Advent service in-person with precautions and online at YouTube. (Advent 1 booklet)
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Sunday, December 19, 2021 – Children’s Christmas pageant, during the 10:30 a.m. service
• Sunday, December 19, 2021- St. Thomas’s cookie exchange following the 10:30 a.m. service
• Friday, December 24, 2021- Christmas Eve services at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Saturday, December 25, 2021 – Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m.
• Sunday, December 26, 2021 “normal” 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services

The Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday, November 28, 2021 is the First Sunday in Advent. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

Next week, November 28, 2-21 begins our Advent season and we add a Sunday Advent Service at 5 p.m.; a unique experience each week.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries under the tent in the courtyard.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Sundays from 10:30-11 a.m., Communion at the Curb is offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
• Sundays at 5:00 p.m. – Advent service in-person with precautions and online at YouTube.
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.

The Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Hello faith family! Sunday, November 21, 2021 is the Last Sunday after Pentecost. Services are held in-person with precautions and online via our YouTube channel. Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options. We are listening to the experts and considering how to best keep our faith family safe during this pandemic.

Next week, November 28, 2-21 begins our Advent season and we add a Sunday Advent Service at 5 p.m.; a unique experience each week.

Worship this week:

• Sundays at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I spoken, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (8:00 booklet)
• Sundays at 9 a.m. – Youth Confirmation in the Undercroft.
• Sundays at 10:15 a.m. – Children’s Ministries under the tent in the courtyard.
• Sundays at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music, in-person with precautions and online on our YouTube channel (10:30 booklet)
• Sundays from 10:30-11 a.m., Communion at the Curb is offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
• Wednesday at noon – Intercessory Prayer with Holy Communion, live on our YouTube channel and in-person with precautions. Here is the accompanying booklet.
• Thursday at 7 p.m. – Compline Evening Prayer with Deacon Cecily, live via Zoom. Here is the accompanying booklet.

The Forward Day by Day booklets are available. Please feel free to stop into the lobby for a copy, or let me know if you’d like one mailed out to you!  There are plenty in both large and small print.

In this strange pandemic 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 information.

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 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.

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.

I look forward to worshiping together on Sunday!

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

Dear friends,

The Vestry did a periodic review of our COVID-19 precautions yesterday and directed the Senior Warden and me to send a letter to the parish to keep everyone in the loop as to what we are doing to keep everyone safe. 

Today marks 19 months since we began the new normal of COVID precautions. In that time, a few of us have been sick, many of us have rearranged and postponed parts of our lives, and all of us have been looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Conditions are in some ways much better now than even a few months ago. Many people have been vaccinated and the other precautions we have learned to follow have done much to keep the most vulnerable among us – children and those with chronic illnesses – from becoming ill.

We commend all those who have kept St Thomas’s going and kept St. Thomas’s safe. If it were possible to know when the first COVID-free day will come, we might be able to ask you to hold on just until then, but we do not yet know when or if that day will arrive. And so, for now, we can only ask everyone to remain diligent. The Vestry reviews its COVID safety
measures periodically, and will revise them – to ease or tighten them – as conditions dictate.

As a reminder, these are the policies that are in place:
• Mask-wearing is mandatory for those over the age of 2 years who have not been fully vaccinated and is strongly encouraged for those who have been.
• We encourage everyone who is able to receive any of the available COVID-19 immunizations to do so.
• Maintenance of a minimum distance of 3 feet between those not in routine household contact is recommended whenever possible.
• The use of hand sanitizer before receiving Communion is recommended.
• The distribution of Communion wine in any form is suspended.

If you have questions about any of these precautions or how they affect you and your family, please contact the church office. We are fortunate to have several people with clinical and public health training in the parish. Any of them will be glad to speak with you about the trends in COVID-19 rates and what they mean for us locally.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Howell Sasser, Rector
Connie Cooper, Senior Warden