In this issue ... Up-Coming EventsSABBATICALNEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTSCHILDREN’S MINISTRIES & YOUTHPRAYERS, NEEDS & THANKS REGULAR GATHERINGSPARISH REGISTERBIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIESEPISCOPAL CAMPUS MINISTRY (ECM)STEWARDSHIP / FINANCE MATTERSFORWARD IN FAITH SERVANTS SEEKING SOLUTIONS

February 7 “Newcomers” DinnerFebruary 7 BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE NEWARK

EMPOWERMENT CENTERFebruary 17 Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras SupperFebruary 18 Ash Wednesday

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Theological Education Sunday – February 1, 2015The Episcopal Church designates the first Sunday of February as Theological Education Sunday. It is intended to invite our prayers and support for those who follow God’s call into the ordained life, and seminary is the preparatory vehicle for this. Over the past years, we have had guest preachers such as the Reverend Elaine Thomas, a Yale graduate now associate priest & campus minister at St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville, VA, and Ann Urinoski, past ECM and UD grad now in her second year of seminary studies at The General Theological Seminary in New York City. This year, we are blessed to have … The loose plate offering will be designated to support the work of Virginia Theological Seminary, so please be generous with an extra offering today. If you wish to write a check, please make out to St. Thomas’s Parish and include in the memo line Theological Education Sunday.

Welcome Newcomers and VisitorsSt. Thomas's Episcopal Church welcomes you. Please let us know you visited by completing the yellow visitor's form found in the church pews or in the Welcome brochure in the foyer. If you would like more information or to talk with us, please contact our Vestry members by writing to Sue Houghton <mshoughton@verizon.nett> or Tim Casey timjulcasey@comcast.net or calling the church at (302) 368-4644 and leaving a message. Hope to see you again soon ... and, welcome!

Sabbatical

“In a word, what I’m saying is, GROW UP! You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”Matthew 5:48, The Message

A great energy bubbles up with re-imagining time that Sabbath and sabbatical offers. The opportunity and time to look back at how this marvelous journey of God in ministry has unfolded these 22+ years, the invitation to look ahead of what is emerging in life and the world around us, and how that can shape my ministry and the ministry of St. Thomas’s for our future. This is Good News, sort of, because looking ahead also demands the next part of sabbatical time. Sabbath and sabbatical is for re-working mission and ministry in the days to come.

“What is helpful is not always needful … what is needful is always helpful.” I cannot recall the source of this saying, but it holds an inherent truth for me, like it or not. As I look at the experiences I have had over 22+ years, they certainly have given form and shape for what I needed to share in the mutual ministry over our years together as a parish moving Forward in Faith. Those gifts of God have answered the latter part of this saying over the past six years. However, it is SO EASY AND INIVITING to stay right in this place, building the “three booths” like that of Peter’s great idea at the Transfiguration of Jesus. Simply to stay settled … rejoice in what we have done … and that’s enough from here onward! Yet as God not-so-gently suggested to Peter, James and John that memorializing this moment of great power and presence was not the Plan A for building the kingdom of God, they would have ALL THEY NEEDED to carry forth this work in the valley’s of life they would experience, and it will be helpful. The disciples just needed a re-orienting or re-working of the core faith of WHO they were called to be and become, and WHOSE they were of God’s creation and called by Jesus to be light-bearers onward. This is Good News, sort of … but it also demands that inward look to move forward in God’s new ways, which are not always the ways I see as most beneficial for me.

The Carpenter The Monthly Newsletter of St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church February 2015

St. Thomas Episcopal Church276 South College AvenueNewark, DE 19711-5613(302) 368-4644

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS (Continued)

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE NEWARK EMPOWERMENT CENTERThe Newark Empowerment Center is located in the Newark Methodist Church and assists the homeless population here in Newark. NEC is managed by Marc Marcus. The HEART OF NEWARK CONCERT will feature Mike Arenson and Friends. Saturday, February 7th from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the UUFN, 420 Willa Road, Newark. Tickets are $15 and are available on Eventbrite at the URL http://HeartOfNewark.com as well as from St.Thomas’s office during the week or from Jack O’Donnell or Karen Krauss on Sundays. An Evening of Music and Dancing for all ages, a range of food and beverages both alcoholic and non alcoholic will be available for a nominal donation. Child care will be available for a small donation. Planned for just before Valentine's Day as a fun way to warm up and share some good times. It's also a good way to express love for Newark Residents who need some extra care. You can purchase tickets from Jack O'Donnell at the 8:00 a.m. service and Karen Krauss at the 10:30 a.m. and in the church office during the week.

Ash Wednesday Our forty day journey with Jesus to the Cross and his Resurrection begins with “… the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” The mark that begins our Lenten

journey is that of the ashes of last year’s palms from Palm Sunday, and in fellowship sharing in the Holy Eucharist around our table together. In the words of St. Augustine, ‘We are what we eat.” Lent invites us to serious contemplation and action of this truth.

Services for the Imposition of Ashes & Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas’s will be held on February 18 at 7:30 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. in the Church. In between service times, Fr. Paul and Lay Eucharistic Visitors will make as many home visits as possible of those requested to our shut-in’s. If you desire a home visit for the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday, please call or email Cami Seward at the church office [368-4644; camiseward@gmail.com] between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. by Monday, February 16.

Once again Deacon Cecily, along with other Protestant chaplains at the University of Delaware will be offering “Ashes on the Green”, and Elizabeth Masterson and I will be offering “Ashes to Go” at the Newark SEPTA train station for the outgoing trains. Pray that we may bring God’s presence to begin a holy journey this Lenten Season to people that may not be able to begin with this mark of faith otherwise.

May you join us in a deeper walk of faith in this the most holy season of the Church year.

Sabbatical (Continued)

Writer, teacher, and activist Parker Palmer shares this insight on what it means to be sent in this higher calling of our life in faith. He writes in his book The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring …

“[Fourth century BCE Chinese Taoist teacher] Chuang Tzu critique of the active life is … Too much of our action is really reaction. Such “doing” does not flow from free and independent hearts, but depends on external provocation. It does not come from our sense of who we are and what we [are called] to do, but from our anxious reading of HOW OTHERS define us and what the world demands … Becoming a professional requires an investment of time and money that can easily set the vicious [pleasing others] circle in motion … The irony of the pathology of professionalism is that the word professional had a very different meaning. At root, a professional is one who makes a PROFESSION OF FAITH – faith in something larger and wiser than his or her own powers. A true professional is the opposite of someone who makes objects of other people by creating dependencies. Instead, the true professional is a person whose action POINTS BEYOND his or her self to that underlying reality, that hidden wholeness, on which we all can rely.” [pp. 39, 44]

Over the years, I have come to find the Bible translation of Eugene Peterson’s The Message refreshing in its contemporary view and vision for God’s people that we are in our days and times. The work of re-working the stuff of my vocation and my life in this latter time of both seems daunting, if not off-putting. Like the Hebrews in the Sinai desert, I LOOK BACK to the “good old days” of Egypt … but this is only helpful for me but not needful for God and those I serve.

Soon we will enter the Season of Lent through the doorway we know as Ash Wednesday, hearing those sobering words at imposition “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” What an INCREDIBLE invitation to live our holy Lent, to do the work of re-orienting or re-working our physical, personal, and spiritual lives in ways renewing. This is the essence of Peterson’s words echoing into my holy Lent and sabbatical preparations – “… GROW UP! You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it.”

So, as Peterson so suggests, I will be re-working to “… GROW UP! You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

In peace always, your servant in Christ,

Paul+

The Carpenter Page 2 of 11 February 2015

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS (Continued)

“Newcomers” Dinner

A dinner will be held on February 7th to allow us some focused time to share the blessings offered by the newest members to our church family. St. Thomas’s Evangelism Commission will host the event. Please contact Sue Houghton <mshoughton@verizon.net> or Tim Casey if you wish to participatate or help out.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

TUESDAY! February 17 From 5:30 to 7:30

Come and have pancakes and sausages and visit with parishioners.We'll have some crafts and music and face painting.And lots and lots of pancakes.

Cost will be $15 per family, $5 per individual. College students get a break.

Come to a Deeper Well – Searching for God in You!

“Oh dear, it’s Lent again!” More often the response I hear around faith circles. Then the semi-resolved steps to give up something for these forty days, or as many as we can last. Yet often what we give up does little or nothing to nourish our soul’s thirst for a deeper and lively faith that emerges into the world come Easter Day. In his book Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, Fr. Richard Rohr writes, “We do not find our own center; it finds us … Our journeys around and through our realities, or “circumferences,” lead us to the core reality where we meet both our truest selves and our truest God. We do not really know what it means to be human unless we know God … we do not really know God except through our broken and rejoicing humanity.” [pp. 17-19] During the Lenten season, Fr. Paul will lead the Parlor Group adult gathering into a deeper quenching of our spiritual thirst. Through five stories in the Gospel of John, we will look through the lens of these stories into OUR story. Each session will begin and end with time of silence and contemplation. The sessions will be designed for CONVERSATION not lecture. Our sessions are as follows:

February 22 – Midlife Do Over! March 1 – Don’t Worry, Be Happy! March 8 – Drink Deeply March 15 – Is It Enough? March 22 – I Believe …???

A SPECIAL LENTEN OFFER – Fr. Paul realizes that those in serve in our education and choir cannot participate at the 9:15 a.m. Sunday session. IF enough people are interested and committed, Fr. Paul will offer this class on Thursday evenings, 6:00 p.m. in the Parlor [or Great Hall classroom TBD]. Please call or e-mail Fr. Paul if you are willing to commit to this offering by February 16.

The Carpenter Page 3 of 11 February 2015

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS (Continued)

St. Thomas’s Ministry of Healing

If you would like to receive prayer, be anointed with oil or request laying on of hands for healing, members of the Healing Prayer Team will be in The Julian Porch at the conclusion of the service to offer these gifts.

Contemplative Service

St. Thomas’s Says Goodbye to two Special LadiesWe gathered to celebrate our friendship and wish Lucy Moise and Betty von Frankenberg a fond farewell.

Their new addresses are as follows.

Lucy Moise: Bettie von Frankenberg:160 Kendal Drive, Apt # 109 145 Huntington PlaceLexington, VA 24450 Waynesboro, VA 22980 540-943-5771 bettievf@gmail.comA note from Bettie von Frankenberg:Thank you for the lovely 'farewell' party you had for me January 10.  It was very enjoyable....and touching.  I will miss you all and St. Thomas's.  Its been a warm and fruitful fifty years.  God bless you all!With every good wish for your future,  Bettie

The Carpenter Page 4 of 11 February 2015

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

REGULAR GATHERINGSChildren’s ChoirThe Lights choir welcomes all children that are at least 3 year olds that are interested in joining the choir. It is OK if you are not sure if your kids will like it. Come try it out !!!

We would like to thank Michelle Topi for helping us out with our practices in January. We love to “Chatter with the Angels.”

Practices are on Tuesday nights from 6 -6:30 p.m. Following the last practice before a performance there will be a pizza dinner.

If you are interested please contact Mike Houghton or come to practice.

Novel TheologyThe Novel Theology reading group meets on in the classroom off the Great Hall at 9:15. We always welcome new folks to join us for a Sunday or on a more permanent basis. It is not necessary to have read the month's book to join in as the book's theme often is the starting point for a more wide ranging discussion. The reading list follows.

REGULAR GATHERINGSChildren’s ChoirThe Lights choir welcomes all children that are at least 3 year olds that are interested in joining the choir. It is OK if you are not sure if your kids will like it. Come try it out !!!

We would like to thank Michelle Topi for helping us out with our practices in January. We love to “Chatter with the Angels.”

Practices are on Tuesday nights from 6 -6:30 p.m. Following the last practice before a performance there will be a pizza dinner.

If you are interested please contact Mike Houghton or come to practice.

Novel TheologyThe Novel Theology reading group meets on in the classroom off the Great Hall at 9:15. We always welcome new folks to join us for a Sunday or on a more permanent basis. It is not necessary to have read the month's book to join in as the book's theme often is the starting point for a more wide ranging discussion. The reading list follows.

REGULAR GATHERINGSChildren’s ChoirThe Lights choir welcomes all children that are at least 3 year olds that are interested in joining the choir. It is OK if you are not sure if your kids will like it. Come try it out !!!

We would like to thank Michelle Topi for helping us out with our practices in January. We love to “Chatter with the Angels.”

Practices are on Tuesday nights from 6 -6:30 p.m. Following the last practice before a performance there will be a pizza dinner.

If you are interested please contact Mike Houghton or come to practice.

Novel TheologyThe Novel Theology reading group meets on in the classroom off the Great Hall at 9:15. We always welcome new folks to join us for a Sunday or on a more permanent basis. It is not necessary to have read the month's book to join in as the book's theme often is the starting point for a more wide ranging discussion. The reading list follows.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

TITLE AUTHOR

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

Feb. 8 Flight Behavior Barbara Kingsolver

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

Mar. 8 Learning to Walk in the Dark

Barbara Brown Taylor  

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

Apr. 12 Talk Before Sleep Elizabeth Berg   

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

May 10 Shadows at the Window

Linda Hall  

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Sunday SchoolRegular Children’s Worship sessions for children 3 years to 6th grade will be held this month on February 1, February 8, and February 15. We are using two curriculums this year, Godly Play and Living the Good News in order to best meet the needs of each of the different age groups (PreK-K, 1st -2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade and 5th -6th grade). Although we meet in “classrooms”, we follow a worship schedule that mimics the liturgy of the Episcopal Church: greeting and opening prayer, liturgy of the word, response in the form of art and prayer, then feast and fellowship. In each of our classrooms, we encourage the children to explore the Bible and their relationships with God, family and church in their own way through developmentally appropriate, structured, and unstructured activities.

Family Church SundayFebruary 22 will be a Family Church Sunday. On this day, instead of Sunday school class, children will attend the 10:30 service with their parents. Father Paul will be giving a Grab Bag sermon with the help of the children. The children are encouraged to bring an item, not alive and not harmful, to put in the grab bag. Additionally, the children are invited to volunteer to fill service roles such as ushers, readers and communion assistants. Please talk to your children about what roles they are ready and willing to serve. Instruction on these roles will be provided.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner :On February 17, families are encouraged to attend the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake dinner. In addition to dinner, there will be entertainment and face painting. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.

Important Ways to Support Children’s Ministries:Volunteer to supervise the children in library from 9:15 to 9:30 so that the worship leaders/teachers can pray together and prepare for worship with the children. Volunteer to be a teacher. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average once a month. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. Donate food (e.g., goldfish crackers, popcorn, animal crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, light colored juices and water) or money to purchase supplies for the weekly feast (the children’s version of the Eucharist). Volunteer to help once or twice in the classroom. Give us any photographs of our children or youth engaging in any activities at St Thomas over the past year or so for our Children and Youth Ministries bulletin board in the Great Hall.

If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please speak to Belinda Young-Payne.

If you have questions, contact Phyllis Rawling at 239-2689 or phyllcr@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you.

If you have questions, contact Phyllis Rawling at 239-2689 or phyllcr@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you.

If you have questions, contact Phyllis Rawling at 239-2689 or phyllcr@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you.

The Carpenter Page 5 of 11 February 2015

YOUTH

Youth MinistryPlease contact Alejandra Garcia garciaa@udel.edu for information or questions about youth C.R.E.W. activities .

ECM (Episcopal Campus Ministry)January is a little bit of a respite as most of the students are home or traveling somewhere in the world. Pancake Breakfast at the end of last semester went well we had a very good turn out with over 200 students. Several of our ECM students were there.

This past Saturday, the UD chaplains and members of the UD housing sponsored an all day interfaith

workshop. Students were asked to read Eboo Patel’s book “Acts of Faith” to be discussed the following week. Students will spend and overnight together in Vineland New Jersey working with Habitat Humanity. Max Holdsworth and Laura Peterson represented ECM. I am reading the book and find it very interesting and important for all young people to read, and hopefully one day, our world will be one of acceptance and respect for difference without hate and intolerance.

We are expecting more supplies to sell at our Diocesan Convention. It would be wonderful to have more vestry members be a part of our diocesan convention.

The female clergy had the good fortune to have lunch with the presiding bishop and to be able to ask her our burning questions. It felt good to be “just the girls”

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Deacon Cecily Sawyer Harmon +LCSW

REGULAR GATHERINGS (Continued)Come to Bible Study!

Being part of an ongoing weekly bible study group has been part of my life for over 25 years. I usually found some group of “early risers” to meet with prior to going to my work in business, and now as a priest. It nourished my soul for understanding and living my faith in the world, the fellowship nurtured Christian

friendships that continue to this day, and the physical food was pretty good, too!

At St.Thomas’s, we offer TWO bible study groups you can join. The Breakfast & the Bible group meets on Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. – a great way to start you day and make it to work or class at the university in plenty of time! The Wednesday Bible Study group meets at 10:30 a.m. each week in the Great Hall classroom, and you can stay around for the 12:10 Holy Eucharist service afterward. No preparation is needed, nor seminary training required – just bring yourself, your soul, your interest, your wonderings, your hunger for knowing YOUR story that is the bible, and sharing with others in this journey. On Tuesday morning, we almost always share in some scrumptious bagels, donuts, or other treats to nourish your body as well! You can join at any time; you will quickly catch up to what is going on in the book we are studying.

Throughout scripture, people began their journey of deepening their faith through this complex invitation – Come and see! I look forward to this journey together!

Adult Education at St. ThomasThe first three weeks of February, until Ash Wednesday (February 18), Adult Education will continue looking closely at select passages from the Bible. If you have a passage, story, or parable that has long perplexed or eluded you, please feel free to bring it to us for elucidation and reflection. In January we started with what are arguably the most important words in the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament) and some of the most important in the entire Christian and Western traditions: Genesis 1 and 2. We'll take as long as necessary to work over these words and plumb their depths. Please feel free to join us at any time. For further information, contact Larry Duggan (lgjd@udel.edu) or Ronnie Wilbur (vfwilbur@gmail.com).

Adult Choir St. Thomas's adult choir practices Thursday, evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Room. For more information contactMarc Cheban at   a1b2celeste@yahoo.com.

The Carpenter’s HelperSee The Carpenter’s Helper published in the weekly church bulletin for more information on regular gatherings.

The Carpenter Page 6 of 11 February 2015

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Commision MeetingsThese commision meeting are held to ensure the smooth and efficient running of St. Thomas’s Parish. Please consider becoming involved in the planning of activities and efforts for our church and our community. Theses meeting are held by the mentioned names, but depend on participation from the parish to succeed.

Commision MeetingsThese commision meeting are held to ensure the smooth and efficient running of St. Thomas’s Parish. Please consider becoming involved in the planning of activities and efforts for our church and our community. Theses meeting are held by the mentioned names, but depend on participation from the parish to succeed.

Commision MeetingsThese commision meeting are held to ensure the smooth and efficient running of St. Thomas’s Parish. Please consider becoming involved in the planning of activities and efforts for our church and our community. Theses meeting are held by the mentioned names, but depend on participation from the parish to succeed.

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Pastoral Care 3rd Tues. at 6 p.m.

Donna Weaver

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Property Meeting

Thurs., February 19 th at 1 p.m.

Typically meet on the 3rd Thurs.

Gil Martin

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Finance Meeting

2nd Tues. at 6:30 p.m.

Teresa Coons

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Hospitality Meeting

TBD Sally Price, Kelly Tompkins, Tim Casey, Sue Houghton

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Worship Ministry

6:00 p.m.March 19May 21

Sally Price, Nicole Cebula, Jordan Kinsey

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

Outreach Ministry

TBD DJ Ferguson, Jack O’Donnell, Karen Krauss

BIRTHDAYSSheila Sharpe February 4Jeanne Moore February 6Wayne Weaver February 6David Coker February 10Mia Lang February 12, 2010Jessica Tompkins February 15Maeve Kalmbach February 16, 2012Larry Duggan February 18Kristine Nystrom February 19Jane Fox-Babcock February 22Elizabeth Smith February 22Michael McGough February 23, 2002Joanne Schlosberg February 24Belinda Young-Payne February 25Stephanie Belinski February 26Carol Browning February 26Robert Kortvelesy February 27Susan James February 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Dom and Sylvia Berta February 14, 1976Sandy and Barbara Graham February 24, 1968Dr. Robert and Sharon South February 26, 2000

PARISH REGISTRAR - No UpdatesPARISH REGISTRAR - No UpdatesPARISH REGISTRAR - No Updates

The Carpenter Page 7 of 11 February 2015

99th Birthday Celebration for

Kay Renolds

PRAYERS, NEEDS, AND THANKSHope Dining RoomSt. Thomas’s hosts the lunch at Hope Dining room on the 3rd Monday of each month. Please consider helping out. Contact Jack O’Donnell if you are interested.

Wine Tasting Proceeds"The Wine Tasting committee has decided to divide the proceeds from this year's event among the following outreach missions:  Newark Welfare Committee, Hope Dining Room, Newark Empowerment (Code Purple), Forward in Faith and Father Paul's discretionary fund.  Thank you for your support."

“This Old House” ProjectThe Property Committee will meet on the third Thursday at 1 p.m. We will continue to pursue the whereabouts of the old fuel tank and find a source of door openers for the handicapped for the door to the Great Hall. Thursday, February 19, 2015. Anyone interested is welome to join us.

Contact Harmon Banning at hbanning@verizon.net or Vestry leader Gil Martin at fishfeargil@yahoo.com to lend your hands and heart! We need servant leaders like you to share in leadership of our emerging Property Ministry at St. Thomas’s. If you would like to serve and/or know more about this ministry, talk to Harmon or Gill or Fr. Paul.

Website & FacebookDo you frequent Facebook or Website? Want to learn to edit the information on them? We are interested in some volunteers to help keep our various forms of communication up to date and meaningful to our users. Please contact Sue Houghton <mshoughton@verizon.net> if you are interested in helping out.

Hospitality CommissionThe hospitality commission is looking for someone interested in sharing the lead (with Sally Price) for being a point person for planning and executing efforts to support Memorial Receptions. We are also looking to identify people who would like to be on call for providing food for these receptions and/ or serving during the receptions. Please contact Sue Houghton <mshoughton@verizon.net> or Sally Price <sallyeymanprice@aol.com> if you have interest or questions about how you could help out.

Code PurpleThank you to all who are helping out with Code Purple. You gifts of time, food and comfort are so appreciated. Anyone wishing to volunteer for future Code Purples contact David Coker at <dcoker@udel.edu>.

2015 Living Our Stewardship

THANK YOU St. Thomas family for stepping up to meet our financial needs! In our 13 week campaign, we received 113 pledges for a total of $250,978 compared with our goal to receive 120 pledges for $249,500. The Vestry and Financial Committee have been given this total to finalize the 2015 budget which will be presented to the congregation at the annual meeting in March. You have indeed answered Jesus' calling to us in the gospels of Luke and Matthew:for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The Stewardship Committee

Talent Inventory - 2015

To St. Thomas's family,

Over the years our working ministries, such as Property, Altar Guild, Pastoral Care, and Forward-in-Faith, have become areas where your special gifts are used to glorify God by serving our parish needs and opportunities. Each year, we ask and give of our time, talents and treasure. Devoting your talents enables you to know God, understand and facilitate Church functions, and meet members of the parish and the community in which we live.

How can we match your talents to our parish needs? Please let us know by completing the attached Talent Inventory.

If you completed a Talent Inventory last year, would you please do so again so that we may collect your new intentions? It has been so exciting to already extend many invitations to match your talents to those ministries needing helping hands!

Please return the Talent Inventory by February 28 by putting it in the offering plate, handing it to any usher or Vestry Leader, or mail it to Joy Lynam, Senior Warden c/o St. Thomas's Parish, 276 S. College Ave., Newark, DE 19711.

Joy Lynam / Vestry

The Carpenter Page 8 of 11 February 2015

Finance Matters: For Giving

Few words scare folks more than tithing. It gets talked about quite a lot. But why?

Since much of the Old Testament is concerned with law, it’s no surprise that tithing shows up often: Genesis 14:18-20, Genesis 28:12-22, Deuteronomy 14:26, Numbers 18:21-28, Leviticus 27:32-33, Nehemiah 13:5, Malachi 3:8-12 are some, but by no means all of the references. Giving, in various definitions, a tenth (which is what the word means) of your goods or harvest to the authorities was general practice in the Near East from before biblical times (in the Ugarit and Babylonian cultures), and many European countries also used it as a measure, even making laws about what was to be given to established churches up into modern times. For the Jews in biblical times there was no particular distinction between Temple and State. Tithing was the standard form of taxation.

Jesus, in the New Testament, is explicit that he and his law are intended to build on to and, in some cases, supersede the laws of the Torah. His take on tithing is, not unusually, radical. He’s remarkably clear that there are more important issues than financial tithing, namely practicing justice, mercy and honesty (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42), and there is otherwise little specific mention of the 10% laws. Some writers conclude from this there is no law mandating tithing in the New Covenant. Others suggest that tithing was so much a part of the norm at the time that Jesus didn’t think to mention it.

But it’s clear that monetary giving is part and parcel of justice, honesty, and mercy. Hebrews 7:1-10 talks about some form of it. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 speaks of the importance of giving weekly.2 Corinthians 8:12 and 9:7 both speak of giving cheerfully. 1Timothy 5:17 emphasizes the duty of Christians to financially support other Christians. Acts 11:29 and James 1:27 both proclaim the importance of feeding the hungry. So, in one form or another, the New Testament makes it clear that we are to give of whatever we have to serve the collective good. In justice, we carry our share of the community’s burden. In mercy, we give to care for those who suffer. In honesty, we acknowledge that we are capable of giving.

In church terms, we give for practical reasons; because we are one body in Christ and the building at 276 South College Avenue is our bodies’ house. It’s where that body offers shelter and solace and prayer to its members and the world. 10% is a useful figure, a figure with a lot of history behind it, and a useful goal. But the more important thing, by far, is to commit to give. Pledging does not equal tithing, though it can. Pledging does equal practicing justice, mercy, and honesty.

For a nicely common sense take on financial tithing, here’s a good article: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/daves-advice-on-tithing-and-giving/lifeandmoney_church/

The Carpenter Page 9 of 11 February 2015

SERVANTS SEEKING SOLUTIONSMike and Judy Grabowski

Mike and Judy Grabowski have been members of St. Thomas’s for 24 years. I recently sat down with them and spoke with them regarding those years and the ministries and committees they have served on. Judy has played many roles including Directing the children's Christmas pageant, a long time member of the A.M. bible study, alter guild communion assistants, she was also a member of the search committee for Fr Paul, she has volunteered for nights with code purple, vacation bible school with Newark United Methodist. I asked Judy while taking part in these ministries what she enjoyed the most and parts that surprised her. She very much enjoyed being part of the search committee for Fr. Paul and she said she was very surprised when she was able to step out her comfort zone and interview potential candidates and to speak to there references, some of whom were bishops.

Mike has had the opportunity to be part of the following committees and ministries. He had the privilege of being on the Vestry for two terms and serving as both Junior and Senior Warden. Mike has also been an active member of the finance committee, Lay Eucharistic Minister, a reader, usher,and a member of the St. Nicholas Baking Guild. I asked Mike his most surprising and rewarding memory and he said the emotional connections that he made while taking communion out to parishioners, and talking to them.

Mike and Judy have also been a part of Foyers, as well as leading the planning team for the Forward in Faith Grovin in the Grove concert which was held this summer. They look forward to many more years to come serving and worshiping with St. Thomas’s.

The Carpenter Page 10 of 11 February 2015

FORWARD in FAITH

OUR JOURNEY ONWARD Capital Campaign Update:

To all Fellow St. Thomas’s Family Members, As you may have heard, we received an amazing update from Tom Fairchild last week which we wanted to share with you all. Several years ago, a group of faithful parishioners joined ranks and created the Forward In Faith exploratory team. It was this group of unsung heroes who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop a plan for the purchase of The Grove. Based on their initial studies and overwhelming support of our parishioners, the decision was made to proceed and launch a capital campaign to fund the purchase.  Today, we are proud to announce the following from Tom: “After several years of discernment, prayer, and hard work, the parish legally acquired the grove from the trustees on December 30th!  We now own it! With funds from the capital campaign, we paid 25% of the $650,000 purchase price in cash and will pay the balance over the next three years as capital campaign pledges are received. We plan to sell the Indian Road property early this year and will apply the additional proceeds toward the purchase price. The grove purchase is separate from the ordinary parish budget and does not affect the budget. Many parishioners worked hard to make this step possible and most parishioners made a financial commitment to the capital campaign. This momentous step reflects the strength of the past, the optimism of the present, and the gratitude of the future.” On the behalf of the Capital Campaign team, we wanted to humbly thank those who led the initial effort with very little fanfare. It was these parishioners who gave us the tools and momentum to ultimately launch a successful capital campaign. In addition, we also would like to thank the faithful parishioners who responded to our capital campaign call with such over whelming generosity, faith and trust. We will be planning a larger scale celebration in the future, but wanted to ensure everyone was aware of this huge step in the future of St. Thomas’s. Please join me in thanking so many people who helped “The Grove” become “Our Grove”. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all.  Happy New Year! Your Forward In Faith Campaign Chairs DJ Ferguson – djferg1271@verizon.netAl “Roby” Roberson – Roberson@udel.eduJon Greene – jong@nucarconsulting.com  

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our many blessings, especially for our St. Thomas’s Family.  Guide us as we continue our journey Forward in Faith to become a more vibrant presence in the community.  Give us grace to follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

The Carpenter Page 11 of 11 February 2015

Your Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone(s):

Email:

yes: no:yes: no:

Would you like an invitation to like our Facebook page? yes: no:My Facebook name is: ____________________________________

Service you attend: 8:00 a.m. _____ 10:30 a.m. _____ 5:30 p.m. _____

Please check the areas below where you can help or have talent.

Adult education Lay Eucharistic Visitor (Millcroft)Altar Guild Lead readings or Prayers of the PeBulletin boards MusicChoir Newcomers contactsCode Purple shelter helper Outreach ministriesCommunion bread baker Pastoral care and visitsCraft Fair Property committeeECM dinner on Wed. evenings StewardshipFinance Sunday School assistantFlower Guild Sunday School teacherForward in Faith (Grove projects) Technology supportHope Dining Rm, 3rd Mon. each month UsherHospitality Vestry memberOther: ___________________________ Weekly offering counter

Youth ministry

By March 31, please return this form to the Vestry by putting it in the offering plate or mail it to:Vestry, St. Thomas's Parish, 276 S. College Ave., Newark, DE 19711

If not, would you like to be added?Do you subscribe to the parish email list?

St. Thomas's Parish in Newark, Delaware2015 Annual Gift of our Talent Inventory

This annual talent survey will be used to match your talents to the Lord's work. Please let us know the ways you are able to help. A Vestry Leader will call you based on the gifts you indicate you have.

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