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Volume 4, Number 37                    The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost:                   September 16, 2007

To the Parishioners of Immanuel Church, Highlands:

The Vestry would like to thank all the stewards and parishioners that have been part of the Isaiah/Matthew Commission over the past 21 years.

This Commission was established by the Vestry in 1986 to manage the Isaiah/Matthew fund to support and to fund projects which have included: addressing the causes of poverty, homelessness and other distress, aiding in strengthening the Christian church, and making a significant difference in the quality of life in our local community.

The Isaiah/Matthew Commission has recommended, and the Vestry approved, over 3 million dollars in grants to the core mission of this fund.  We are honored to have been able to make these contributions to those in need within our community.

Due to the current financial position of the parish, we will suspend the operation of this Commission.  However, community outreach and support of those who are less fortunate continues to be a calling that we at ICH are deeply committed to supporting.

Going forward, ICH will continue to make contributions on an individual basis to some of the same organizations that previously received funds from the Isaiah/Matthew Commission.  Additionally, ICH, through its outreach ministry, will continue to offer support, both monetarily and through volunteer efforts, to a broad array of charitable organizations in our community.

Sincerely,

            John Lampinen, Senior Warden               Ronald Bauman, Junior Warden

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:                                           COMING SOON:

Sun      16     Pentecost 16                                                                  Sat   10/6   2:00 pm      Cook for Andrew’s Place

                      8:00 am        Holy Eucharist in Chapel                                                  (contact Alex Lehr-Maunder)

                      9:00 am        Adult Education Forum (see below)

                      9:30 am        First Sunday School classes

                    10:30 am        Sung Eucharist

                      c. noon         NOR Bracelet Making

                      3:00 pm        Sea Sunday Port Visit (more info below)

Mon    17      6:30 pm        Vestry Meeting (Parlor)

Tue      18      6:30 pm        Choristers (Choir Room)

                      7:00 pm        AlAnon (Common Room)

                      8:00 pm        Coro Allegro (Choir Room)

Wed    19      6:30 pm       Quiet Prayer (Common Room)

                      7:30 pm        Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu      20      8:30 am        Emmanuel Dining Room Cooking (Kitchen):  contact Nancy Loux with questions

                      7:30 pm        Mixed Choir (Choir Room)

Sat       22      noon             AlAnon (Common Room)

Search Committee:  Friday, September 14, is the last day to submit your name for consideration for the new committee.  Contact any Vestry member ― in person, in writing, by phone or email.  Members of the Vestry:

                        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

Adult Education Forum on Congregational Dynamics and Theory:  September 16, 23, and 30 at 9:00am:

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.  The basis for this analysis comes from a course at Andover-Newton Theological Seminary by Rev. Dr. Gabriel Fackre (U.C.C.).  The course was adapted from a book by Avery Dulles, S.J. - “Models of the Church.”   This analysis believes that to be holistically and fully functioning; the local congregation must incarnate what are called “The Four Marks of the Church.”  These are as follows:

            Leitourgia (Liturgy) and Koinonia (Community):          Ministries of Identity

            Diaconia (Service) and Kerygma (Proclamation):         Ministries of Vitality

The approach for this three session program is called “A Parish Ideal” which is simply another way of understanding “The Four Marks of the Church.”   About fifty years ago the rector of an Episcopal church in Philadelphia wrote four lines which proposed to describe a holistically and fully functioning parish.  He titled it:  “A Parish Ideal:” 

                                    Every Member a Worshiper
                                    Every Worshiper a Worker
                                    Every Worker a Giver
                                    Every Giver a Spiritual Force.

We will discuss the “Marks of the Church” with particular focus on how each mark is lived out in Immanuel's current ministry or how they might be expanded in the future ministry of this congregation.  The first session (September 16) will treat the Ministries of Identity; the second session (September 23) will deal with the Ministries of Vitality; and the third session (September 30) will be a dialogue aimed at helping Immanuel members understand their level of interest and commitments to these ministries, both in the past, the present and for the future.  Please join us in the Common Room at 9:00 a.m. for all or any of these sessions.
                                                                                                Frederic Guyott, III +

Delaware's Annual Sea Sunday will be celebrated on September 16.  With this observance our community will give thanks for seafarers – whose lifestyle means long separations from homes and families – and the vital role they play in international trade.  Please join us in remembering mariners on that day.

Sea Sunday Activities will be held September 16 at the Seamen’s Center of Wilmington from 3 to 6 p.m.; they include an ecumenical service followed by refreshments, an open house at the Seamen's Center, and tours of the Port.  We invite you and your family to be with 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.  Delaware's Seamen's Center annually assists over 10,000 merchant sailors from over 80 countries.                        Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

NOR Bracelets:  “New Orleans Remembered” bracelets are our current big Katrina trip fundraiser – Five Styles, each in Two Sizes!  They’re on our website www.immanuel-highlands.org.  Have your friends and family take a look.  Order forms are also available on the website.  Sunday, September 16 we will have another bracelet-making session after the 10:30 a.m. service.  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

Impromptu Coffee Hour!  Although no one has volunteered to set up coffee hour on Sunday, September 16, several containers of ice cream are still in the freezers in the kitchen.  If someone is willing to get them out along with some dishes and spoons, an easy snack would be available for all to enjoy.  Please note that this idea will require a few folks to clean up afterwards.                   Carolyn Gibson

During this year’s United Way Campaign, remember Friendship House and homeless folks. 
For Delaware United Way, use code 9033.
For Cecil County, Kennett Square, or other non-Delaware United Way, 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

Nursery: The Fall Nursery Schedule has been posted on the bulletin boards.                                                                                                                                                    Alison M.A. Bennett

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?  The fastest growing populations of HIV infection are heterosexual women and all people over age 50.

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, soap, 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