Volume 4, Number 36                    The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost:                   September 9, 2007

“Sundays at Immanuel Church, Highlands”

            In sermons and in my previous article in the Highlands Voice, I have commented on how we have been blessings to each other in this brief time together, how I appreciate all of your kind and gracious comments about my preaching, and how I find that being your supply priest is a spiritually-refreshing and satisfying experience.

            There is much I have enjoyed in the Immanuel liturgy, but the greatest experience is the symbolism and the power of our gathering around the table at the Holy Communion.  At my week-day services at St. John’s, the people came to the altar but could not complete a full circle as we do at the 10:30 service here.  I give thanks each week for the joy of being your priest in the midst of this holy assembly.  Hopefully, by the time I leave, my chanting will become better!  Jack is a great help, but this is the first time in my ministry that I have done this.

            As I mark eleven Sundays with you now, I continue to look forward week by week to Sundays.  On next Sunday, September 16^th, we will begin a three-session adult education forum on what I call “The Four Marks of the Church” or “A Parish Ideal.” There has been much written about congregational life and dynamics.  We all want to belong to healthy and active parishes which are spreading God’s word and doing ministry in the world.  Please come at 9 a.m. on the 16th and join in what I believe will be a spiritually enlightening and challenging series to continue the discernment of how God is calling Immanuel to exercise its call to be a missionary community of faith.  More details will follow in next week’s Highlands Voice.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                Fred +

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:                                          COMING SOON:

Sun      9       Pentecost 15                                                  Sun   9/16  9:30 am      First Sunday School classes

                     8:00 am         Holy Eucharist in Chapel                               3:00 pm      Sea Sunday Port Visit

                     9:30 am         Sunday School Registration        Thu   9/20   8:30 am      Cook for Emmanuel Dining

                                          and Rehearsal for Service                                                 Room (contact Nancy Loux)

                   10:30 am         Sunday School Sunday: Choral Eucharist,

                                          Commissioning of Teachers, and

                                          Blessing of Backpacks and Briefcases

                     c. noon          RNO Bracelet Making

Mon   10     7:00 pm          Stewardship/Finance Meeting (Library)

Tue    11      6:30 pm         Girl & Boy Choristers (Choir Room)

                    7:00 pm          AlAnon (Common Room)

                    8:00 pm          Coro Allegro (Choir Room)

Wed   12     6:30 pm          Quiet Prayer (Common Room)

                    7:30 pm          Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu    13     7:30 pm          Mixed Choir (Choir Room)

Sat     15     noon               AlAnon (Common Room)

                   10:00 am         Corridor Painting (Sunday School Corridor)

TIME CHANGE:  Saturday September 8, Sunday School Room Decorating for Sunday School Sunday will be held at 12:30 pm.  Previously, it had been scheduled during the morning.

Christian Education Memory Joggers!

Sunday September 9,         9:30 am      Sunday School registration.

                                          10:00 am      Practice for the 10:30 service up in the Sunday School rooms.

                                          10:30 am      Special Service where we will commission the Sunday School staff,
                                                               bless the backpacks and briefcases,
                                                               and generally have a good time.

Why does it matter that you are "there"?

1. Because Christ is the Head of the Church (1 Colossians 1:18), and
2. through Him we are to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13: 15), and
3. in Christ we are to be members of one body and thus belong to each other (Romans 12: 5).

It matters!                                                                   Simon Jeynes, Christian Education Coordinator

RNO Bracelets:  “Remember New Orleans” bracelets will be our next big Katrina trip fundraiser.  We will have a bracelet-making session after the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, September 9.  All ages are welcome to join in this important venture as we will be taking these bracelets to our diocesan-wide church visits and numerous craft shows in the fall to help raise money for the Diocese of Louisiana.  Contact Vicki Anthos with questions (302) 731-0311.                                                                    Vicki Anthos, Katrina Mission

Search Committee:  Please let us know by Friday, September 14, if you would like to be considered for the new committee.  Submit your name to any Vestry member ― in person, in writing, by phone or email.  Members are:

                        Sophie Day                               Maria duPont                            Ron Bauman

                        Carolyn Gibson                          Carolyn Hendrix                        Craig Folkert

                        John Lampinen                          Charles Meehan                        Connie Shultz

                        Al LeSieur                                 Joe Stoeckle                             Kay Wack

                        Diana Swartz

                                                                                    Kay Wack, for the Vestry

Coffee Hour Hosts Needed for September 16:    Our most pressing need for hosts is now September 16.  Thank you to the people who have filled in some of the blank spaces!  Coffee Hour is an important activity that allows parishioners and visitors to enjoy fellowship over a cup of coffee or tea and a small snack.  If you would like more information, please contact me at gibson@biochem.dental.upenn.edu.  If you know this request is for you, just sign your name on the Coffee Hour Hosts list on the bulletin board at the top of the stairs or send me an email.  Thanks.                                                                        Carolyn Gibson

Sea Sunday will be held September 16 at the Seamen’s Center of Wilmington from 3 to 6 p.m.  Activities include an ecumenical service followed by refreshment, an open house at the Seamen's Center, and tours of the Port.  We invite you and your family to join us on this occasion by calling 575-1300 to register by Friday, September 14; office hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. when ships are in.  We remind all attendees aged 16 and older to bring a photo I.D. for entry to the Port of Wilmington.                         Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

During this year’s United Way Campaign, remember Friendship House and homeless folks. 
For Delaware United Way, use code 9033.
For Cecil County or Kennett Square write-in the following address:
Friendship House, P. O. Box 1517, Wilmington, DE 19899.
Friendship House also sponsors Andrew’s Place, Epiphany House and Clothing Bank of Delaware.                                                                                           Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

The Girl and Boy Choristers offer young people a unique opportunity: in return for a commitment to attend one weeknight rehearsal and sing each Sunday, Choristers receive group voice lessons, ear training and instruction in music reading skills, exposure to some of the world's greatest music old and new, practical experience in teamwork and personal responsibility, and possibly the beginning of a life-long love of singing and music, all at no cost.  To learn more, for your own child  or for someone you know, speak to me after any service, or call me during the week at church (658-7327, ext 22) or at home (994-6029), or send me an e-mail (jwburnam@immanuel-highlands.org).                           Jack Burnam, Parish Musician

Wanted: a Few Good Men—to sing in Immanuel’s Choir!  If you enjoy singing, or would like to enjoy it more, or even if you think you can’t sing at all, you could be just weeks away from a rewarding and stimulating new “career” as a member of the men’s section of our choir.  The only prerequisite is a willingness to risk learning something new.  Musical talent is not required—all skills and knowledge will be provided (If you don’t believe this, ask me about the legendary Marshall Guthrie!).  To find out more, call me, e-mail me, or speak to me on Sunday.                                                                                     Jack Burnam, Parish Musician

AIDS Walk Delaware – September 30:  Join Team Immanuel for this fun and worthy activity – Immanuel’s 3^rd Annual AIDS Walk!  Sign up on the list on the bulletin board and pick up a pledge envelope on the foyer table.  Also, please register with AIDS Walk Delaware at www.aidswalkdelaware.org.  This secure site allows friends and family to donate to your walk via credit card.  We have a few T- Shirts in various sizes for new walkers.  Please see Sue Welles or Phyllis Harvey if you need a T- Shirt.

DID YOU KNOW?  Delaware is in the top 5 states per capita in AIDS cases in the nation.

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Coins for Katrina:  Do you have coins at home that are sitting in a jar doing nothing?  Do you have spare change all over the house that would help the Katrina victims?  Please bring any loose change that you do not want to church with you any Sunday throughout the year and drop the coins in our Katrina water cooler bottle during coffee hour in the dining room after the 10:30am service.  All of the money raised from the coins will go towards our next trip in March.  Thank you in advance for your donations.

                                                                                    Vicki Anthos, Katrina Mission

Christmas at Sea:  Start saving coupons now for personal hygiene products such as toothpaste, etc. for the sailors who come to the Port of Wilmington in December.  Each Christmas “ditty box” given to the sailors in December includes useful items and a warm knitted cap.  Knitting instructions for the caps will be posted on the bulletin board soon.                                                                           Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Fred Guyott’s Sermons that he has given at Immanuel are on our website (www.immanuel-highlands.org).  On the home page, click on the word Sermons.  If you have no access to the Internet, printed copies may be picked up in the lobby.                                                                    Kay Wack, Interim Parish Secretary

To Contact Fred Guyott:  urbansquash@myexcel.com;   Home:  302-428-1897;   Cell:  215-435-2459