Volume 5, Number 4                            The Third Sunday After Epiphany                             January 27, 2008

Thoughts Before Lent

While putting the new edition of Forward Day by Day into the rack in the lobby, I happened to flip to the inside front cover.  I re-read the prayer that’s in there.  Since I fall short on a number of the things it lists, it set me thinking about Lent, starting soon, and whether this year I’ll try to do something that I haven’t attempted in the past.  I have not yet decided, but maybe the ideas in it will aid one or more of the Highlands Voice readers.  In case you have not read it recently, it says:

A MORNING RESOLVE

I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life,
repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking;
cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence;
exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.

In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.

And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

                                                                       Kay Kennedy Wack, Interim Parish Secretary

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:

Sun      27    Third Sunday After The Epiphany

                      8:00 am        Holy Eucharist in Chapel

                      9:30 am        Sunday School

                    10:30 am        Sung Eucharist, followed by Coffee Hour downstairs

                      c. noon         Vestry Subcommittee: Fellowship Planning (Parlor)

Tue     29       6:30 pm        Search Committee Meeting (Parlor)

                      6:30 pm        Girl and Boy Choristers (Choir Room)

                      7:00 pm        AlAnon (Common Room)

                      7:45 pm        Coro Allegro (Choir Room)

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

                      7:30 pm        Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu     31       7:30 pm        Mixed Choir (Choir Room)

Sat     2/2     12:00             AlAnon (Common Room)

COMING SOON:

Sun       3       4:00 pm        Candlemas Procession and Evensong, sung by the Girl and Boy Choristers,

                                             followed by candlelight reception

Wed     6                           Ash Wednesday

                      7:00 am        Holy Eucharist with Ashes

                    12:10 pm        Holy Eucharist with Ashes

                      7:30 pm        Holy Eucharist with Ashes

Sun     10       9:30 am        Quilts for Comfort Project for the Entire Parish (Dining Room)

Sun     17       9:00 am        Vestry Forum (Common Room)

Bayou Bingo Last Minute Update:  We have received over $1,700.00 in donated items for our Bayou Bingo event on Saturday, January 26 from 3:00-5:00 p.m.  Included in this fundraiser will be a Pick-A-Prize Auction, and we will be selling 50/50 raffle tickets.  Some of the wonderful donations include: four rounds of golf at two local courses; massages; a personal training session; birdfeeders; restaurant certificates; clothing certificates; and cosmetic certificates.  It will be a great event but only if you are there!!

                                                                                    Vicki Anthos

Will we make our Goal of 400 by January 27?  This Sunday will be our last chance to build the mountain in January!  As of January 20, we had 250 rolls – better than half!  More have come in this week.  We can do it!  If each person or family attending Immanuel brings in one (or more) multipack (any size pack of any brand) of toilet paper, we could almost meet the Friendship House's requirement for one month in their day centers.  Those of you who could manage to bring two multipacks might push it up to the 400 they need.  What would a mountain of 400 rolls of toilet paper look like?  Can we build one and find out?

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Candlemas: We’ll commemorate the Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple this year with our traditional Candlemas Procession and Festival Choral Evensong, led by our Girl and Boy Choristers on Sunday, February 3 at 4 pm. After the service you are invited to a candlelight reception in the Common Room.  Don’t miss this dramatic and inspiring service, and invite a friend to share it with you.

                                                                                    Jack Burnam

Palms Wanted:  Please bring to church before Sunday, February 3, any palms that you have from last Palm Sunday.  We need them to be burned for ashes to be administered on Ash Wednesday, February 6.  There will be boxes in the vestibule and at the back of the church for palm collection.  Thank you.

                                                                                    Carolee Grillo

WANTED: Bell ringers!  Handbells provide yet another part of Immanuel's rich liturgical traditions.  During Eastertide, we ring bells with enthusiasm after a quiet Lent.  Membership in the choir is NOT a requirement to ring bells.  Any child age 4+ (or young at heart) who would like to ring during Eastertide, please speak to Melanie Samardza by Ash Wednesday, February 6, as Easter comes early this year, and some practice IS required.

                                                                                    Melanie Samardza

Curious about quilting?  We will have a Quilts for Comfort speaker Sunday, February 10, at 9:30 am in the Dining Room to explain the quilting project that is starting.  Everyone is invited, whether or not you have done any quilting, and whether or not you have children to involve in the project.  There will be tasks that include actual quilting and tasks that will not.  Come to the Dining Room to find out more.

                                                                                    Eve English

Katrina Ministry will meet in the Dining Room on Tuesday, February 12 at 6:30 pm.  This is a meeting for the team that is going on the March trip.

                                                                                    Vicki Anthos

The Transition Team will meet in the Parlor on Wednesday, February 13 from 7 to 9 pm.  This will be a meeting with the consultants.  All members please set aside this date.

                                                                                    Al LeSieur

The next Vestry Forum will be held in the Common Room Sunday, February 17 at 9:00 am.  We are putting together the agenda; there will be several important topics to discuss.

                                                                                    The Vestry

Outreach Ministry will meet in the Immanuel Library on Tuesday, February 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. to review the activities since fall, 2007, and to look ahead and plan for 2008.  Come with your creativity, compassion, and ideas!

                                                                                    Sue Welles

Save the Date!  Sunday, February 24 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. there will be a Bowling Event for the Katrina Ministry.  Look for more details in another issue of the Highlands Voice.

                                                                                    Vicki Anthos

Announcement for All Ministries and Committees:  With Easter coming so early this year, our Annual Parish Meeting will also be coming much earlier than usual.  That means that a report from each ministry or team will be required earlier than in the past – March 9.  Please write about your membership (who is in your group?), your 2007 accomplishments, and other information about your ministry or committee that should be recorded in the Annual Parish Report.  I prefer to receive reports by e-mail or on disk, if possible.  If not, please leave a paper copy in my mailbox, across from the parish office.  Thank you.

                                                                                    Kay Kennedy Wack, Interim Parish Secretary

Final Count!  We have 31 confirmed volunteers for the March 2008 Katrina Mission Trip.  The churches that will be represented are:                  Immanuel Church, Highlands

                                          Church of the Nativity Episcopal Church

                                          Red Lion United Methodist Church

                                          St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

                                          St. James Episcopal Church, Millcreek

                                          St. James Episcopal Church, Newport

                                          St. Nicholas Episcopal Church

                                          St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Camden

                                          St. Thomas Episcopal Church

                                          Universalist Unitarian Church.

Immanuelites going on the trip include:  Vicki Anthos, John Day and Darla Max, Ryan Day, Sophie Day, Eve English, Phyllis Harvey, Byron Hobson, Maria Madera, Chris Shields, and Sue Welles.

                                                                                    Vicki Anthos

Prayer Shawl Knit-a-thon!  You are invited to pledge for each prayer shawl knitted between January 1 and March 1.  The prayer shawls will be given to needy folks in our community and the proceeds will be donated toward the cost of the trip.  A sign-up sheet is in the foyer!

                                                                                   Vicki Anthos, Katrina Ministry

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.

Articles from The Net - A Weekly Newsletter For Delaware's Episcopal Clergy

Over the last few months both Episcopal Life and the Episcopal News Service (ENS) have been expanding their coverage and resources on the World Wide Web.  This includes news and features articles about local, national, and international ministries of the Episcopal Church.  You may want to check out their website.  Here is the link: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife/

St. Barnabas’, Wilmington was featured in a recent Episcopal Life online story.  You can read it here:  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_94099_ENG_HTM.htm

EYE Event Deadline – Friday, February 1^st

February 1st is the deadline for all EYE applications.  The Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) is for youth who have completed 9th-12th grades and it will be this summer in San Antonio--7/8-7/13.  Application is available on the diocesan web site and for more information about EYE go to www.eye2008.org.  For information about registering, please contact Fr. Jeff Ross at 302-645-8479.

Youth Media Summit - Saturday, February 9^th

Youth Media Summit at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover, Delaware. Youth, parents and teachers are invited to this FREE day of workshops, forums and special media presentations. Learn how to better understand and safely harness the power of digital media, including websites, instant messaging, and on-line movies. For details, see the News Page of the diocesan website. If one or more youth in your parish are active on the Internet or have produced digital movies, they may want to exhibit their work at the event's Delaware Youth Media Showcase. If so, please contact the Diocesan Web Editor, Danny Schweers, at 302 475-0998 or dodweb@comcast.net.

Lenten Recitals for Organ and Voice – Tuesday, February 12

Tuesdays at Noon, February 12 through March 11, Saints Andrew and Matthew, Wilmington, offers half-hour recitals in the church followed by Lenten Lunches, at 12:30 p.m. Delicious soups, sandwiches and desserts are served in the auditorium at reasonable prices.

Celtic Spirituality Workshop – Sunday, February 17^th

Celtic Spirituality, an ancient form of faith expression, has sparked renewed interest in the past few decades.  On February 17^th from 1-4pm St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Seekers, Spiritual Treasures at St. Peter’s square will jointly sponsor a free workshop on this spiritual tradition. Sr. Barbara Jean Brown from the Anamchara Fellowship will lead the workshop.  Visit www.seekerslewes.com or call 302-645-9916 for more information.

 Diaconate Information and Discernment Day (DIADD) – Saturday, March 1^st

The next DIADD for lay persons exploring a call to be a deacon, and congregations exploring a desire to be “Diaconal” congregations, will be held at Christ Church Dover, Saturday, March 1^st, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Each deacon inquirer must be accompanied by his or her Rector and a representative of the vestry.  Lunch will be served.  If you plan to attend please have your Rector let Cynde Bimbi, CyndeBimbi@Diocese of Delaware.net  know how many will be attending by February 22^nd.  Those who have already attended a previous DIADD need not attend again.

Choral Evensong at Saints Andrew and Matthew - Sunday, February 24

Starting at 5:00 p.m. with a visiting choir from Immanuel-on-the-Green Episcopal Church, New Castle.

Free Test – Saturday, April 12^th

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions and Grace Episcopal Church are hosting a FREE Practice Saturday on 4/12 at 10am.  A practice test is one of the best ways to get ready for the real thing.  You will:  Know exactly what to expect on test day, get a complete analysis of your results, and learn exclusive strategies to improve your score. Call 1-800-KAP-TEST or visit www.kaptest.com to register. 
(Note to Voice readers; I’m trying to find out more about the testing.  KKW))

2008 Historic Episcopal Church Calendars Available

Only ten are available at $15.95.  The 5 x 7 spiral bound collection features historic vignettes and photos of churches across the country.  Diocese of Delaware is featured with pictures of St. Marks Millsboro, which was established in 1848.  The oldest congregation dates back to 1618 and is in Burrowsville, VA.  Contact MaryAnn Brillhart at 302-656-5443 X103 or mabrillhart@dioceseofdelaware.net to place your order.