Volume 4, Number 41                    The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost:                   October 14, 2007

As We Begin Together

What a joy it is to be with you good people of Immanuel-Highlands, serving for a season as your Interim Rector.  Last Sunday’s worship, Eucharist in the morning and Evensong in the afternoon, was glorious!  I am already preparing for next Sunday, excited to see you all again.

My job for the next few months is, as your Sr. Warden reported a couple of weeks ago, to assure all of you that there is a pastoral and sacramental presence in this very special Christian Community.  I look forward to meeting many of you over the next few weeks.  Be gentle with me and share your names enthusiastically.  I will work hard to learn them and know you as your priest.  Call me “Fr. Thom”.  That works for adults and children.

Are you interested in hearing my story?  When I retired from St. Thomas’s Parish in Newark, my farewell sermon was autobiographical.  You can listen to it (or download it to your iPod) by pointing your computer browser to:        http://idisk.mac.com/thomjensen-Public/thatsallfolks.mp3

I am only 56 (!) and been a priest for 31 years. I am beginning a new “career” as an Interim Rector. I am thrilled that I have been called by God and you to this new ministry here at Immanuel.

                                                            Faithfully,

                                                            Thom Jensen, Interim Rector

Fr. Thom may be reached at his church phone, 302-658-7326 Ext. 14, during his normal office hours Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. He works from home on Fridays. Please feel free to call him on his cell phone 302-229-8449 or write to thomjensen@gmail.com at any time other than church office hours, if a need arises.

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:                                           COMING SOON:

Sun     14      Pentecost 20                                                       Sun     21     Watch for UNICEF Preparations

                      8:00 am        Holy Eucharist in Chapel                 Sun     28      UNICEF Sunday

                      9:30 am        Sunday School classes

                    10:30 am        Sung Eucharist

Mon   15       7:00 pm        Vestry Meeting (Parlor)

Tue     16       6:00 pm        Katrina Meeting (Library)

                      6:30 pm        Search & Transition Teams Combined Meeting (Parlor)

                      6:30 pm        Choristers (Choir Room)

                      7:00 pm        AlAnon (Common Room)

                      8:00 pm        Coro Allegro (Choir Room)

Wed   17       6:30 pm        Quiet Prayer (Common Room)

                      7:30 pm        Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu     18       7:30 pm        Mixed Choir (Choir Room)

Sat      20     12:00             AlAnon (Common Room)

                      8:30 am        Emmanuel Dining Room Cooking – see Alex Lehr-Maunder (Kitchen, Dining Room)

Christian Education – Pre-K and K (continued from last week): Please continue to pray for parents as they 
work (sometimes struggle) to bring up their children in the love of God.  Maria duPont and Marcia Lynch 
(teachers), Lisa Folkert and Connie Shultz (craft response), and substitute Teresa Pentoney have five themes 
remaining in the current series:         October 14         “Thank You”

                                                      October 21         “Prayer”

                                                      November 4        “Zacchaeus”

                                                      November 11      “Resurrection”

                                                      November 18      “Sing With Joy” (The last of Sundays after Pentecost)

Pray for the children and their teaching staff, please.            Simon Jeynes, Christian Education

Revised Total: Immanuel raises $1000 for AIDS Walk Delaware!  Thanks to all the generous Immanuel donors and walkers, we raised $1000.00 for AIDS Walk Delaware!  The money is spent in Delaware on education, prevention, and treatment of AIDS/HIV.  Special thanks to our biggest fundraisers Kay and Richard Wack who raised over $400.00!                                       Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Please help: In October, Immanuel will be collecting warm hats, gloves, scarves, and cotton work gloves for the homeless men and women served by Friendship House.  Towels will also be collected for the transitional housing programs.  There is a collection box under the table in the foyer.  Thank you!

                                                                                                Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Knitters Needed!  The knitting instructions for the watch caps for sailors are on the foyer table.  We will be collecting these caps and other items to go into Christmas-at-Sea ditty boxes during November.  The Seamen's Center of the Port of Wilmington distributes 5000 ditty boxes to sailors on the ships that dock in Wilmington during December.                                                                      Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Free Family Caregiver Skills Training: The Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families and the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities are offering Giving Care/Taking Care, a family caregiver skills training program on November 1 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Newark Senior Center, 200 Whitechapel Road.  The workshop leader is The Rev. Dr. Karen Covey Moore, a pastor, nurse, and former caregiver.  Lunch and materials are provided.  There is no cost to family caregivers, but registration is requested.  Please contact 302/225-1040 or deccf@aol.com to register or for more information.

                                                                                                E-mail from The Rev. Sarah Brockmann

Register On-Line NOW for Parish Life Day – Saturday, November 17, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. to be held at St. Anne’s School, Middletown.  Register, or print the brochure, at www.dioceseofdelaware.net.  Brochures are also in the Immanuel lobby tract rack.  For more information write cyndebimbi@dioceseofdelaware.net or call Cynde at 302-656-5443, ext. 106.                                     E-mail from Diocesan Office

from The Net – A Weekly Newsletter For Delaware's Episcopal Clergy:

Free Workshop for Parents, Wednesday, October 17, 6-8 p.m. at Hockessin Memorial Hall – for families who are seriously considering independent schools and are wondering how to afford the tuition.  This session is designed to encourage creative thinking.  For more information call Claire Brechter 302-239-0332.

ECW Annual Meeting – Saturday, October 20: The Annual Meeting of the ECW of Delaware will take place  at the Church of the Ascension-3717 Philadelphia Pike-Claymont, DE.  Tickets are $17.00 per person ; 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.  (Registration forms are in our lobby.)

A Day of Quiet Reflection, Saturday, October 20, will be hosted by St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and presented by Barbara Tucker, Spiritual Companions, Diocese of Delaware.  The topic is Ruth’s Story.  Beverages and snacks are provided.  Bring your own brown bag lunch.  Bring a journal, if you wish to record your thoughts.  For directions and/or further information call 302-378-2401 or 302-378-1718.