Fr. Howie is writing a series of “Praying Shapes Believing” articles that appear in our weekly Sunday worship bulletins. Whether it is your first time, or your thousandth, reading, reciting, and praying the traditional Rite II worship from the Book of Common Prayer, it is worthwhile to ask why. We will examine some of our prayers and collects to help us find more meaning and connection in the ritual. See all topics in the Praying Shapes Believing series.

The Collect of the Day

This is a prayer specific to the day or occasion on which the Eucharist is celebrated.  It often sets the “theme” of the service.

What is it?

This prayer may have been introduced to “collect” the individual prayers of the faithful in worship, or to “collect” the attention of those gathered.  Whether used here or elsewhere in worship, a collect has a standard form – a preamble that recalls the nature and purposes of God, a petition that asks for God’s action, and a conclusion that recalls Christ’s role in drawing us into God’s presence.

Why do we do it?

The collect gives us a prayerful way to note the times and seasons of our lives as Christians.  It also puts us in mind of the connection between God’s past promises and present (and future) actions. 

What it says about God

God’s presence is consistent through every moment of our lives.

Our knowledge of God deepens with time and experience.

Messages for how we live

Our prayer life illuminates and guides all aspects of our lives.

Our prayer, day by day, makes time sacred.

For more – Look up in the Prayer Book the Collect for Proper 17.

Fr. Howie is writing a series of “Praying Shapes Believing” articles that appear in our weekly Sunday worship bulletins. Whether it is your first time, or your thousandth, reading, reciting, and praying the traditional Rite II worship from the Book of Common Prayer, it is worthwhile to ask why. We will examine some of our prayers and collects to help us find more meaning and connection in the ritual. See all topics in the Praying Shapes Believing series.

The Song of Praise – The Gloria in Excelsis usually, except in Lent and Advent, when the Kyrie Eleison or the Trisagion is used. Other songs or hymns might be used.

What is it? This hymn probably started in Latin/Western churches (our ancestors) as a way of helping the people to join in the beginning of worship. Before many popular hymns existed, the chants used in the prayer services of the church – the Gloria was one such – were the religious songs they knew best.

Why do we do it? By including a sung prayer of praise to God near the beginning of our worship, we call to mind God’s blessings to us, including the blessing of being a community that can worship together.

What it says about God – God is worthy to be praised by us, as much as by angels. Jesus is both our judge and our advocate at the throne of God.God is unique in holiness, different from all the rest of the created order.

Messages for how we live – Gratitude to God is the foundation of the Christian life. Praise is as important a component of our prayer life as is petition.Thankfulness is the key to generosity.

For more – Have a look at Luke 2:13-155.

Fr. Howie is writing a series of “Praying Shapes Believing” articles that appear in our weekly Sunday worship bulletins. Whether it is your first time, or your thousandth, reading, reciting, and praying the traditional Rite II worship from the Book of Common Prayer, it is worthwhile to ask why. We will examine some of our prayers and collects to help us find more meaning and connection in the ritual. See all topics in the Praying Shapes Believing series.

The Collect for Purity – Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

What is it? This prayer started as a private devotion said by the priest before the liturgy. Now it is the first public prayer we say at every Eucharist.

Why do we do it? With the Collect for Purity, we ask God to give us the grace to worship in a way that God will find pleasing. We acknowledge as we begin that we are an “open book” to God, and that we bring our whole selves to worship.

What it says about God – God is the source of all good spiritual gifts. Without God’s grace and mercy, our worship has no meaning.God desires our love and expects us to tell others about the blessings we have received.

Messages for how we live – Everything we do should begin with calling on God to bless it. We have no need to hide anything from God – it’s all out in the open already. Perfection – as God is perfect – is a goal, not a measure of success.

For more – Have a look at Psalm 51.

Fr. Howie is writing a series of “Praying Shapes Believing” articles that appear in our weekly Sunday worship bulletins. Whether it is your first time, or your thousandth, reading, reciting, and praying the traditional Rite II worship from the Book of Common Prayer, it is worthwhile to ask why. We will examine some of our prayers and collects to help us find more meaning and connection in the ritual.

Here is an outline of worship items shared so far:

The Collect for Purity
The Song of Praise
The Collect of the Day
The Lectionary
The Psalter
The Sermon
The Nicene Creed
The Prayers of the People
The Confession
The Peace
The Offertory
The Canon of the Mass
The Lord’s Prayer
The Fraction
Communion
Post-Communion Prayer
Blessing

Hello faith family!  Sunday, April 25, 2021 is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. via our YouTube channel and here is the service program and the service program in large print. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know.

Services will also be open to in-person worship with all precautions in place and with sign-ups.  However, please do not feel pressure to return until you are ready; all services will still be available on our YouTube channel.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

Here are other items of interest:

• This Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 10-11 a.m., Communion at the curb will be 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!
• Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 10 a.m., 2 Saints Readers will continue to discuss “Holy Envy: Finding God in the faith of others” by Barbara Brown Taylor, via Zoom.  You can jump into the conversation, even if you missed a week.
• Wednesday, April 5, 2021 St. Thomas’s will host another blood drive.  Your efforts have been making a tremendous difference.  Thank you for your help sharing these dates (and for donating blood if you have been able).

If you missed any of the stellar offerings over Holy Week, please know that they are all available on our YouTube channel!

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, April 18, 2021 is the Third Sunday of Easter. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. via our YouTube channel and here is the service program and the service program in large print. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know.

Here are other items of interest:

Continuing this Sunday, services will be open to in-person worship with all precautions in place, and with sign-ups.  However, please do not feel pressure to return until you are ready; all services will still be available on YouTube.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

• Sunday, April 18, 2021 from 10-11 a.m., Communion at the curb will be 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!
• Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., Novel Theology will meet to discuss “Dimity and the Heart of Gold” by Nancy Atherton
• Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 10 a.m., 2 Saints Readers will meet to discuss “Holy Envy: Finding God in the faith of others” by Barbara Brown Taylor, via Zoom.

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, April 11, 2021 is the Second Sunday of Easter. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. via our YouTube channel and here is the service program and the service program in large print. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know.  

If you missed any of the stellar offerings over Holy Week, please know that they are all available on our YouTube channel!

Continuing this Sunday, services will be open to in-person worship with all precautions in place, and with sign-ups.  However, please do not feel pressure to return until you are ready; all services will still be available on YouTube.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

• This Sunday, 10-11 a.m., Communion at the curb will be 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 Intercessory noon prayer will resume next week, April 14, 2021.
• Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., Novel Theology will meet to discuss “Dimity and the Heart of Gold” by Nancy Atherton

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, March 28, 2021 is Palm Sunday. We will be streaming LIVE from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. via our YouTube channel and here is the service program that accompanies the worship service. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know.  

Continuing this Sunday, services will be open to in-person worship with all precautions in place and with sign-ups.  However, please do not feel pressure to return until you are ready; all services will still be available on YouTube.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

• Communion at the curb will continue this Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 10 a.m., no sign up necessary.  Please wear a mask.
• Also available at the curb this Sunday will be palms!  There will be a number of palm crosses available to pick up or be mailed out as well.  Please contact the office if you’d like one mailed to you.
• Also, this Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 10:45 a.m., Fr Howie will conclude the 3-week adult education “Sacramental Life” via Zoom.

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

Good morning faith family.  If you wish to attend in-person worship, please sign up for in-person worship for Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 9 a.m.  As always, we will continue to stream each service on our YouTube channel.  All are welcome; please worship in whatever way is comfortable for you.

I will be sending invitations to each day in Holy Week. You will receive the invitation along with a preview of the leaflet the day before the service.  See the full schedule for Holy Week.  If you have any questions, please let me know; others probably have the same question!

• This Sunday, March 28, 2021 from 10-10:45 a.m., Communion at the Curb will be offered for those who have not received the Sacrament in-person during the service, ALONG WITH PALMS TO-GO.  You do not need to sign up for this.  ALL are WELCOME!
• Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 10:45 a.m., Fr. Howie will conclude the adult education 3-week series titled “Sacramental Life”
• Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 5 p.m., there will be Lenten Evening Prayer only on YouTube; not in person.

Please continue to share your impressions and ideas for both in-person and online worship.  Your thoughts are appreciated!

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!  March 21, 2021 is the fifth Sunday in Lent. We will be streaming LIVE on our YouTube channel from St. Thomas’s at 9 a.m. (streaming and in-person) and will worship again at 5 p.m. (only streaming, no in-person)  Here is the service program and the service program in large print for Sunday morning worship and here is the leaflet for Sunday evening. There are paper copies available to be mailed.  If you would like one, please let me know.  

Continuing this Sunday, services will be open to in-person worship with all precautions in place and with sign-ups.  However, please do not feel pressure to return until you are ready; all services will still be available on our YouTube channel.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or Fr. Howie with any questions or concerns about these options.

Communion at the curb will continue this Sunday from 10:00-10:45 a.m., no sign up necessary.  Please wear a mask.

Sunday is the ANNUAL MEETING from 11-12 noon live via Zoom.  On Sunday morning, you will receive an email invitation just after 10 a.m.  You can log in early to catch up.  At 11 a.m., Fr. Howie will begin the meeting.

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