The Carpenter s Helper

Transcription

1 The Carpenter s Helper Volume 4 Number 32 May 8, 2016 St. Thomas Parish, Newark, DE WELCOME! Please introduce yourself to any of our parish family and complete our yellow Welcome Form found in the pew card-holder. Place the form into the alms basket or give it to an usher. Join us for fellowship in the Great Hall following services. Guests are invited to put on a hand-written blue name tag which an usher or greeter can give you. The ushers will also be glad to help with any questions you may have. Location Key C: Classroom CO: Counter s Office GH: Great Hall K: Kitchen MR: Music Room N: Nave P: Parlor U: Undercroft TBD: to be determined TODAY 8:00 a.m. N Holy Eucharist I 9:15 a.m. P Adult Education 9:15 a.m. U The Crèche (Nursery, birth to 3 years) 9:30 a.m. GH, K Children s Ministries Family Breakfast 10:30 a.m. N Holy Eucharist II and UTO Sunday 11:30 a.m. GH, K Feast & Fellowship in the Great Hall 11:45 a.m. U CREW Youth 5:30 p.m. N Inclusive Language Liturgy & Holy Eucharist 6:30 p.m. GH UD Ballroom Dance Team Monday to Friday 5:15 p.m. N Evening Prayer Monday, May 9 6:30 a.m. C Sunrise Serenity AA Meeting 10:00 a.m. U Musik Garten 7:00 p.m. U Climate Change Ministry 7:30 p.m. GH, K Scottish Dance Tuesday, May 10 6:30 a.m. C Sunrise Serenity AA Meeting 7:00 a.m. P Bible Study 9:30 a.m. U Musik Garten 10:00 a.m. P Staff Meeting 1:30 p.m. p Prayer Shawl Ministry 5:30 p.m. CO AIDS Delaware Test Site 6:00 p.m. U Dusk Patrol 6:00 p.m. MR, GH, K Children s Lights Choir 7:00 p.m. P Finance Ministry 7:00 p.m. GH UD Ballroom Dance Team 8:00 p.m. U AA Meeting Wednesday, May 11 6:30 a.m. C Sunrise Serenity AA Meeting 10:30 a.m. C Bible Study 5:00 p.m. GH, K Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM) 6:00 p.m. P Centering Prayer 8:30 p.m. GH South College Speakers AA Meeting Thursday, May 12 6:30 a.m. C Sunrise Serenity AA Meeting 11:30 a.m. GH 12 Step Recovery Yoga 7:20 p.m. U Bluegrass Jam 7:30 p.m. MR Adult Choir Practice 1

2 Friday, May 13 6:30 a.m. C Sunrise Serenity AA Meeting 12:00 p.m. U Al-Anon 6:30 p.m. U Women s AA Meeting Saturday, May 14 9:00 a.m. GH, K St. Thomas s Men s Breakfast PENTECOST SUNDAY OF EASTER May 15, :00 a.m. N Holy Eucharist I 9:15 a.m. P Adult Education 9:15 a.m. U The Crèche (Nursery, birth to 3 years) 9:30 a.m. U Children s Worship 10:30 a.m. N ECM Sunday & Holy Eucharist II 11:30 a.m. GH, K Annual Parish Picnic 5:30 p.m. N Inclusive Language Liturgy & Holy Eucharist 6:30 p.m. GH UD Ballroom Dance Team Prayer of Thanksgiving on Mother s Day Most gracious God, on this day that we honor and remember our mothers. We thank you for the gift of their life to us, and to our world. Bless them with gracious abundance of joy, and guide them with heartfelt compassion in the care of their family. Surround them in Your loving protection by giving strength in the carrying out of their daily ministry of care and compassion. May every mother trust in Your presence through them that they may grow in strength, wisdom, and love, and be filled with the joy of knowing You, loving You, and serving You in all their ways, all their days; in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ we pray. Amen Stewardship - UNITED THANK OFFERING The spring ingathering of The United Thank Offering is TODAY, Sunday, May 8th, at all services. The Blue Envelopes are in the service bulletin. Please count the coins in your Blue Boxes and write a check for that amount. For more information please contact Ronnie Wilbur at vfwilbur@gmail.com. The United Thank Offering Prayer Gracious God, source of all creation, all love, all true joy: accept, we pray, these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and challenge that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these gifts through the outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ. Amen ST. THOMAS CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTRY On the Climate Change Ministry Wall: Please borrow and return the resources you find there in the way of books or magazines. Those interested contact Karl Krauss. The Climate Change Ministry meets weekly Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the Undercroft. For further information contact Karl Krauss at ktkdelaware@gmail.com or go to 2

3 GIVING BY TEXT -You can now make a contribution to St Thomas's Parish with a quick text message! Simply send a text to with the amount you would like to contribute. Make sure to include the dollar sign before the amount. Example: $25. Within a few minutes, you ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit card information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt via . For future giving, simply send a text with the amount you wish to give, and it will process automatically! Worship ECM SUNDAY PREACHER ECM student Nina Maria Harmon will be preaching on Sunday, May 15. Nina is a Sophomore student at University of Delaware majoring in Political Science and Women's Studies with a minor in Spanish. Having received the highest earned award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award, she started a Girl Scout Daisy troop that meets at St. Thomas bi-monthly. She also works on campus to educate students about issues of gender equality and disabilities. She hails from Fairfax Virginia, where she was active in her church participating in mission trips to repair homes in Dungannon, Virginia. Her grandfather Bishop Onell Soto was an Episcopal Bishop, who served as the Anglican Bishop of Venezuela and Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta and Birmingham. Nina's grandparents worked as missionaries for the Episcopal Church in Latin American for over 20 years. Nina's grandmother, whose name is also Nina, was the first Episcopal woman to graduate from Seminary in Cuba. She helped persuade her then Methodist fiancée to become an Episcopal Priest. Nina's grandfather passed away last year but his love for God's work continues. We believe Nina s grandfather is overjoyed that she is preaching a sermon in his beloved Episcopal church! CENTERING PRAYER AT SAINT THOMAS - The Centering Prayer Group meets on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the Parlor. Silence is the language of Spirit. For more information contact Joe Corsello or jmcorsello@gmail.com. DAILY DEVOTIONAL RESOURCE - Are you having trouble making prayer, meditation and scripture a part of your daily life? FORWARD DAY BY DAY is a publication that may help. It contains Bible readings and devotions and is issued quarterly. They are available in pocket size and large print and can be found in the top shelf of the publications rack in the entry hall. The cost of the booklet is a free will donation. Education DISMANTLING THE NEW JIM CROW Many in the Episcopal Church and other congregations, after becoming aware of our complicity in the problems of racism have wrestled with the question What can I do? Here is an opportunity. The Coalition to Dismantle the New Jim Crow in Newark meets at St. Thomas s the third Monday of the month. The next scheduled meeting is May 16, at 5:00 p.m. in the classroom off the Great Hall. If you would like more information contact Connie Malin at or Cami Seward in the church office or at camiseward@gmail.com. Evangelism ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC The Annual Parish Picnic will take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 15 after the 10:30 a.m. service. St. Thomas will provide hamburgers, veggie burgers and hot dogs as well as paper products and drinks. There will also be games and activities for all ages. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help set up, clean up and facilitate games. We also NEED YOU to bring a side dish or dessert to complete our celebration meal. Donations will also be accepted toward the cost of the entrees and paper products. Please sign up on the Great Hall door to help with an estimate of how many people are coming, who can help with setup and/or cleanup, and who is bringing what. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Thanks in advance for your help in creating another great fellowship opportunity for our St. Thomas family!! Please feel free to Belinda Young-Payne at belmar43@aol.com or call her at with questions or to volunteer. 3

4 WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH - In addition to the Google group mail list, keep in touch via St. Thomas's web site at or via St. Thomas's Facebook page. To join our Facebook community, you can go to our web site at and click the Facebook ("F") link at the top right, log on to Facebook and like us. You can also go directly to Facebook, search for St. Thomas's Episcopal Parish just be sure to click that you like us! The weekly Carpenter's Helper, monthly Carpenter newsletters, and sermons are published via all three avenues. Please share our mail list, web site and Facebook page with others who wish to keep in touch with St. Thomas s Church. Pastoral Care PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The Prayer Shawl group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Parlor. We hope this new time will encourage other knitters, or want-to-learn knitters, to join us. For more information contact Sister Jackie Fossler at or srjacalynhild@gmail.com. PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY The Pastoral Care Ministry members provide many services to our parish family. Pastoral Care is not just for prayers and lay eucharistic visits, but also prayer shawls, note/cards, hospital/home visits, rides and meals. There are many needs within our parish family and we continue to reach out a hand in Christian fellowship. Whenever you know of a need or can lend a hand, please contact Donna Weaver at dweaver214@gmail.com or the parish office. Service THE GIFT OF FLOWERS - Each week, during the appropriate Church seasons, a Flower Guild member creates the arrangement that adorns the sanctuary. We have a couple of new members and would like to have more! There will be a schedule sent out by so guild members know well in advance when their turn comes to create an arrangement. Contact Karen Krauss at krauss831@yahoo.com for more information. SERVING GOD S PEOPLE WITH HOPE On the third Monday each month, St. Thomas s is committed to preparing & serving a nutritious meal for those in need at Hope Dining Room at Kingswood United Methodist Church on Marrows Road. Volunteers gather by 10 a.m. or after to begin preparation of the meal, set up of the dining room and so on. Lunch is served from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. This is a wonderful time of fellowship and Matthew 25:31-40 service to others that has been part of our community service for many years. Our next day to serve is Monday, May 16. If you are able and willing to help, please contact Marge and Jack O Donnell at or jodmod2@yahoo.com or Susan Hechter at or susanahechter@gmail.com. NEWARK AREA WELFARE COMMITTEE'S FOOD CUPBOARD - There is a great need for canned fruit. Contributions go in the baskets as you enter the Sanctuary. The NAWC Food Cupboard also needs volunteers to distribute food at the Cupboard housed at the United Methodist Church on Main St. The Cupboard hours are from 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information contact Susan Hechter at or susanahechter@gmail.com. And Also CRAFT FAIR - Your craft fair committee has already met to start planning to make the next craft fair the best one ever! We have taken all the suggestions from last year under consideration and adopted most of them - yes, lunches will return. The craft fair's next meeting will be Thursday, May 12th at 6:00 p.m. at Sister Jackie's home. Call for directions. HAIL TO THE CLASS OF This time of the year is a wonderful time of celebrating the accomplishments of many of our parish in completion of their academic work. We would like to honor them! Please send the name of your graduate [high school, undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, or special degree programs] to parish administrator Cami Seward on or before May 29. You can send the information by , camiseward@gmail.com or call the church office The graduates will be honored in the June issue of The Carpenter and each Sunday in the Carpenter s Helper for the month of June. 4

5 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. THOMAS'S - St. Thomas s parish was first organized on August 1, years ago in We have several events planned for the year and invite you to join us as we prepare for the celebration. This year-long birthday party recognizes our enduring ministry in Newark and our warmth as a parish of faithful people. Signup sheets will be available in the Great Hall starting on May 8 for you to help celebrate this exciting milestone in the life of our parish. Watch The Carpenter for further details as the celebration develops. Please contact Nicole Cebula, Laura Greene, or Tom Fairchild to learn more about our plans and how you can help. Contact Information Church office hours Monday Thursday 9:00-2:00 p.m Parish Website: Facebook Page: To view Parish s: Carpenter Submissions: facebook.com/stthomasepiscopalchurchnewarkdelaware http//groups.google.com/group/stthomasparish mshoughton@verizon.net To subscribe to automatically receive Parish s see the "Google Groups" section on the Parish Website. Rector: The Reverend Paul W. Gennett, Jr paulgennett@comcast.net Deacon and Episcopal Campus Minister: The Reverend Deacon Cecily Sawyer Harmon csawhar@udel.edu Organist and Choir Director: Marc F. Cheban a1b2celeste@yahoo.com Parish Administrator Cami Seward camiseward@gmail.com 5

6 Bishop Wright Announces plans for retirement Dear Friends: In June I will begin my nineteenth year as your bishop. From the day Holly, Parker, and I arrived in Delaware we have been blessed. Seeing so many good things happen is a source of great satisfaction to me. Today all of our congregations are served by a remarkable and faithful group of clergy. Our Episcopal schools, Memorial House, Camp Arrowhead and our many other ministries are also doing well. Our diocese rests on a sound financial and administrative foundation. There is a genuine sense of unity among the lay leaders, clergy, and staff who do so much to support and guide our diocese. With so many things going well I believe that this is the right time for me to move toward retirement and for the diocese to begin planning the election of your next bishop. Responsibility for overseeing the election of a new bishop rests with the diocesan Standing Committee. I met with the Standing Committee last week to share my decision. In mid-may the Standing Committee will meet with Bishop Clay Matthews. He has the specific responsibility for advising dioceses during a transition. Together they will begin laying out the steps and a specific timeline for nominating and electing a new bishop. I have great confidence in their ability to lead this process. We are at the beginning of a transition that will take some time to unfold. I plan to continue in office until early next year. Before I leave there will be opportunities to celebrate all that we have accomplished and time to say goodbye. I love being your bishop and it is an honor to serve with you. I will always be grateful for the friends we have made, the challenges God has offered us, and the accomplishments we have shared. These have been the best years of my ministry. As always, I ask for your prayers just as you will be in mine. Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware 6