Volume 4, Number 38                   The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost:                  September 23, 2007

Announcements from the Vestry

Immanuel Church, Highlands, has been blessed for these past several weeks, as you know.  We are thankful to have come to know and to have learned from Fred Guyott since the beginning of July.  When he first came, we (and he) expected that he would be here for a couple of months, if that.  By the end of September, his time with us will have become three full months – fourteen Sundays – not the six or eight that we might have originally expected.  Although we thought that Fred would be coming only to “consecrate and preach” as a Sunday-only priest, we found that he was more than willing to do other things.  He has visited those who were ill; he has written articles for the Highlands Voice; he is giving an adult Sunday School class; he has been willing to publish all of those popular sermons on our website and in print.  Wherever a need was called to his attention, he has graciously met it for us.  However, as a Supply Priest, his tenure was always intended to be short term.  We cannot keep him forever.  Consequently, Fred’s last day with us will be September 30.  He has made a lasting impression on us, and we are extremely grateful for the gifts he has given us.  Thank you so much, Fred.  God is good to us.

Since we are faced with another stretch of time while we call a new Search Committee and go through the necessary steps to gather and prayerfully consider candidate information, another Interim Rector has been provided for us.  The Reverend Canon Thomas B. Jensen, recently retired from St. Thomas Parish, Newark, Delaware, will start as our Interim Rector October 1.  The Vestry has met with him, and a Letter of Agreement has been signed.  Fr. Thom comes to us as the senior priest (in years of experience, not age) in the diocese.  Since his retirement, he had a bit of vacation and then went through Interim Rector Training; we are providing his first interim experience.  His experience in multiple parishes will be helpful to him and to us.  He will be setting up office hours in our Rector’s Office and will be available at all other times by cell phone.  The Vestry has enjoyed a brief, informal meeting with him.  We are all looking forward to getting to know each other better, as we go through this next period of searching.  Please welcome Fr. Thom with us, and continue to pray for our parish and this next chapter in our life together.

On behalf of the Vestry,

            John Lampinen, Senior Warden       Kay Kennedy Wack, Highlands Voice Editor

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:                                      COMING SOON:

Sun      23     Pentecost 17                                                  Sat   10/6   2:00 pm      Cook for Andrew’s Place

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

                      9:15 am        Adult Education Forum               Sun  10/7   4:00 pm     Evensong, Mixed Choir

                      9:30 am        Sunday School classes

                    10:30 am        Sung Eucharist

                      c. noon         NOR Bracelet Making

Tue      25     6:30 pm       Choristers (Choir Room)

                     7:00 pm        AlAnon (Common Room)

                     8:00 pm        Coro Allegro (Choir Room)

Wed    26     6:30 pm        Quiet Prayer (Common Room)

                     7:30 pm        Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu      27     7:30 pm       Mixed Choir (Choir Room)

Sat       29      noon           AlAnon (Common Room)

Adult Education Forum:  September 23 and 30 at 9:15 a.m.:

It is not too late to join in this study of 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

We are discussing 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 treated the Ministries of Identity; the second session (September 23) will deal more 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 9:15 a.m.
                                                                                                Frederic Guyott, III +

Christian Education:  We began our Sunday School year with 20 children/youth and 12 adults meeting together to study what salvation means in their lives.  Of course, that meant different things – from telling the story with plenty of props with the younger folks, to trying to stay awake after a (long) movie night with their teachers at the youth end!  Please pray for all involved and continue to thank God for the willing leaders/helpers who bring God's word to our children week after week.

Now we look ahead to:

*        UNICEF project at Hallowe'en (please be prepared to trick or treat for UNICEF!).

*        UNICEF fashion show October 28.

*        Choristers (girls and boys) Evensong on November 4 (put this in your calendar now both to support the choristers and to be part of beautiful worship).

Finally, I draw your attention to the wonderful display in the fellowship hall for the school in China, set up by Julian Taplin.  This will be our Christmas project, so parents/families/anyone who is interested listen to what the Headmaster Shen Shi Tao wrote us: “As for the gifts your children in the church want to send us, we are deeply moved.  But could you send us some pictures of the children and their life?  The students in our school are very curious about this and want to learn something about it.  As for the other things, we don't have any particular need.  I think it's better to be something that can reflect the characteristics of your country, e.g. paint pictures, music cassettes, wall-pictures, models for the calculation... In my personal view, I think it's good for the children of two countries to exchange small gifts made by their own hands like cards and picture drawings and so on...”  Can we work on that?                                       Simon Jeynes

CHORAL EVENSONG BEGINS: Sunday, October 7 marks the beginning of the 26^th year of Choral Evensong at Immanuel on the first Sunday of each month.  Quite different in style from our Sunday morning liturgy, this distinctively Anglican service in the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer provides a contemplative, meditative setting in which to listen—in scripture, in music and in silence—for God’s voice.  The brief forty-five-minute service is always followed by wonderful food and friendly conversation at an informal reception in the Common Room.  Join us Sunday, October 7 at 4 pm, when the Mixed Choir will lead the first Evensong of the new season. Invite a friend to share the experience with you.

                                                                                                Jack Burnam

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 23 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

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

Discovered on Sundays September 9 and 16:  When nearly everyone had left the church building, several rooms were found to have open windows and some still had fans running.  We seem to be forgetting again!  Please remember, and remind each other, that windows must be closed, appliances (including fans) must be turned off, doors that have been unlocked must be relocked.  Thank you.

                                                                                         Property Commission

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

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 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.

DID YOU KNOW?  One in 50 African-Americans in Delaware is HIV positive.

                                                                                                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

Thank You to Our Friends throughout the Diocese:  We are grateful to all of the clergy, parishes and staff of the diocese for your prayers, concern, notes and visits during the time of Carol’s hospitalization.  She is progressing nicely and we are now enjoying a few weeks in Maine to continue her convalescence.  Many, many thanks for your love and care.                                     Faithfully, Carol and Carl Kunz    

If you have your own website:  Watch out for this scam: DomainUSA sends a website owner a bill to renew the domain name registration.  The problem is that DomainUSA has nothing to do with your domain name; in fact, they don't even register domain names.  Domain USA provides domain name SEARCH ENGINE registration.  Of course, many places are willing to submit your domain to search engines for FREE.  If you receive a letter from DomainUSA, DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY, it is a scam.  Report them to the fraud investigation branch of the USA Postal Service.           From The Net – A Weekly Newsletter For Delaware's
                                                                                                Episcopal Clergy

Events Elsewhere in the Diocese (from The Net – A Weekly Newsletter For Delaware's Episcopal Clergy):

Musical Retreat - Sunday, September 23^rd 

Be Still and Know:  An 80-minute Musical Retreat will be presented at 7:00 p.m. at St. Thomas's Episcopal Parish in Newark.  Come journey into the stillness within you through musical selections from Messaien, Rheinberger, Bach and Original Improvisations and contemplative narration with organist Marc F. Cheban.  For details and directions, visit St. Thomas's website – http://www.gilleyweb.net/StThomasParish/.  Free will offering to benefit Emmaus House.  Not appropriate for children less than 15 years of age.  Childcare will be provided.

DECCF Conference on Marriage – Thursday, September 27^th

To promote healthy marriage and strong families in Delaware and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Delaware Healthy Marriage Coalition, led by the Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families, will hold Faith Communities Strengthen Families IV.  This is an all-day conference that will discuss the state of marriage in Delaware and the resources here for families and those who work with them.  The conference will be held at Delaware Technical and Community College, Terry Campus, on Thursday, September 27, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  There is no cost to attend this program and luncheon is provided.   Persons interested in attending are requested to call 302/225-1040 or e-mail deccf@aol.com to register for the event.  All are welcome. 

Music & Memories – Saturday, September 29^th

An auction and evening of cabaret will be held on Saturday, September 29^th, starting at 7:00 pm, at the Cathedral Church of St. John.  The tickets are $30 each or 4/$100.  Proceeds will benefit the Cathedral, it preservation and urban ministries.  For more information call 302-654-6279.

Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat – October 14-20^th

At duPont Memorial House in Rehoboth led by the Rev. J. Carlyle Gill, Associate at St. Peter's in Lewes.  This six-day retreat is an in-depth experience of the discipline of Centering Prayer.  Centering Prayer is a contemplative discipline that leads to the peace of God that passes all understanding.  The retreat will also offer teaching, one-on-one spiritual direction, daily Eucharist, and much silence.  Contact Lacey Gude for details at LaceyAGude@aol.com. 

Free Workshop for Parents – Wednesday, October 17^th

“How to Pay for Independent School and College, Too” will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Hockessin Memorial Hall in Hockessin.  This workshop is designed for those families who are seriously considering independent schools but are asking the question “How are we going to afford the tuition?”  This session is designed to encourage families to think creatively.  For more information call Claire Brechter 302-239-0332.

Cathedral Workshop – Saturday, October 20^th

The Cathedral Church of St. John will be offering a workshop for parents of children ages three thru eight titled:  Children:  Baptism and the Bible.  There will be two sessions.  In the morning the focus will be on helping and supporting children in discerning what the Baptism Covenant means to and for them; and in the afternoon, participants will explore ways of engaging young children with the story of faith as told in Holy Scripture.  The leader for the workshop will be the Rev. Canon Anne Kitch.  For additional information visit: http://www.cathedralsaintjohn.org/workshop2007.html  

ECW Annual Meeting – Saturday, October 20^th

The Annual Meeting of the ECW of Delaware will take place on Saturday, 20th October 2007 at the Church of the Ascension-3717 Philadelphia Pike-Claymont, DE.  Tickets are $17.00 per person and registration begins at 9:00 a.m.  The Church Periodical Club National Board Chair will be a guest at the meeting.  Workshops, Lunch, and Eucharist celebrated by our Bishop is the order of the day.  All women who attend Episcopal Churches are Episcopal Church Women, whether they belong to an organized women’s group or not, and are invited to attend this day of prayer, reflection, and action.