“Our steps are directed by the Lord” (Psalm 37:24)
Almighty God, you bless all our works that begin, continue, and end in you; and you inspire in your people a love for your house: sustain us as we work for the repair of our church building and remind us that we have and hold everything for your glory alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Dear Friends,
As members of our parish family, you know how much we have to be grateful for, and your continued support of our ministries and programs is very much appreciated. St. Thomas’s has been a gathering place of prayer for over 181 years, a heritage we celebrate with thanksgiving!
For the past 67 years, our worship space has been at 276 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware. Here, through the sacraments, parishioners have met the presence of God at the altar, professed their love in lifetime commitment, and buried loved ones.
Here we come together to learn, to care for one another, and to help folks in the larger community, using this building to shelter homeless, provide a base for AA and Al Anon, host Scout troops, dancers, and more.
Earlier this year, our Property Committee discovered that an important retaining wall, one that has been repaired in the past, is now failing. This wall holds open the space at the back of the church for the below-ground stairwell entrance to our building’s utility room.
Consulting engineers have specified that the wall cannot be repaired again but must be rebuilt, very soon, to be twice as thick as it is now. So work is scheduled to begin in mid-September 2023.
Now, with the approval of our Vestry and support from the Diocese of Delaware’s Advance & Development Committee, we are embarking on a campaign to raise the money needed to rebuild this wall. As many of us as possible need to STEP UP TOGETHER at this time to donate what we can.
Please look over the details in Questions you may have, especially the wonderful offer of support from the Diocese, and consider how you can contribute. We are most grateful for your gift. You will also soon receive a postal letter version.
Members of the Vestry and the Property Committee will be at both services on August 6, 2023, to make an announcement and will stay after the service to answer questions about the project. Feel free to ask questions at any time either to one of us or to any member of the Vestry.
Let’s STEP UP TOGETHER! Feel free to write to us at StThomasChallengeGrant@gmail.com.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Amy Keach, Treasurer and Property Committee member
The Rev. Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr., Rector