Volume 5, Number 5                            The Last Sunday After Epiphany                             February 3, 2008

ALL ABOUT CANDLEMAS

“The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple” is the long but descriptive title given to the final event in the liturgical celebration of Jesus' birth and infancy, a sort of “last taste of Christmas."  Many Christians are not quite sure what this feast day is about, even if they vaguely recall the biblical account (beginning in Luke 2:22) of Jesus' parents taking him to the Temple forty days after his birth.  There they encountered an aged prophet named Simeon, who declared the baby to be the promised Savior, sent by God “to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.”  The book Lesser Feasts and Fasts helpfully summarizes the meaning of this feast day:

The title, “The Presentation,” reminds us of the Jewish Law (Exodus 13:2; 22:29) that every firstborn son had to be dedicated to God in memory of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt... When Mary placed her small son into the arms of Simeon, it was the meeting of the Old and New dispensations.  The old sacrifices, the burnt offerings and oblations, were done away; a new and perfect offering had come into the temple.

“Candlemas,” the common English name for the Feast of the Presentation, refers to the custom of a procession with candles symbolizing the “Light to lighten the Gentiles,” a custom which dates back to the seventh century.  It may also refer to the medieval practice of blessing candles on this day for use throughout the year.

This year we commemorate the Presentation of our Lord with a Candlelight Procession and Evensong this Sunday at four o’clock, sung by our Girl and Boy Choristers.  Please join us for this beautiful and moving service, as memorable as it is brief (and for a convivial reception following the service—also candlelit), and join in singing John Ellerton's classic verse (Hymn 259):

                        O light of all the earth, thy children wait for thee!

                        Come to thy temples here, that we, from sin set free,

                        Before thy Father's face may all presented be.

                                                                                                 Jack Burnam

We’re having a group of visitors!  Our young people will have visitors this Sunday, February 3.  The youth group from St. Thomas’s Parish of Newark, are spending the day on “a road trip for fellowship and worship!” In the morning, they are attending the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew with their youth for their Carnival Sunday service.  After that service, they will come to Immanuel to join their friends here for our Extreme Sunday activities.  They will have lunch and fellowship with the young Immanuelites and will stay for the service of Candlemas at 4:00 p.m.  Help us to welcome this group of our friends.

                                                                                    Kay Kennedy Wack

A Tradition Continues: Pancakes, Sausage and Shrove Tuesday go together like the IPOD and Immanuel Youth.  Please plan to attend this wonderful event sponsored by Immanuel youth.  They look forward to this event with great anticipation.  Mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.  A signup sheet is in the foyer.

                                                                                    Teresa Pentoney

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:

Sun      3    Last 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         Lunch and Activities for Youth (with visitors)

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

                                             followed by candlelight reception

Mon     4       7:00 pm        Liturgy Ministry meeting (Parlor)

Tue       5       5:30 pm        Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (Dining Room)

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

                      7:00 pm        AlAnon (Common Room)

                      7:45 pm        Coro Allegro (Choir Room)

Wed     6                           Ash Wednesday

                      7:00 am        Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes

                    12:10 pm        Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes

                      7:30 pm        Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes

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

Sat        9     12:00             AlAnon (Common Room)

COMING SOON:

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

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

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

Thank you!  We did it!  Did you see that mountain on Sunday?  As of publication time, we have gathered exactly 400 rolls of toilet paper.  We have just a few days left in Epiphany before Ash Wednesday, so we will still welcome more, if you have yet to bring in your donation.  Just put your donations into the box in the foyer.  Thanks to many parishioners, the first 360 rolls have been delivered and gratefully received by Friendship House!  The 40 that are in the lobby right now, and any others that come in, will be delivered to them after February 6.

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Curious about quilting?  We will have a speaker from Quilts for Comfort on Sunday, February 10, at 9:30 a.m. 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 p.m.  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 p.m.  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 a.m.  We are putting together the agenda; there will be several important topics to discuss.  One of the items will be some proposed changes to the parish by-laws.  A copy of the proposal is on the lobby bulletin board (attached to the Vestry minutes for January), one will be on the Immanuel website, and for those who would not see it otherwise, some paper copies will be available on the lobby console.

                                                                                    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 earlier than usual (April 13).  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

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

Bayou Bingo Report: I would like to thank all of the hardworking Katrina Mission Trip volunteers who helped make the Bayou Bingo such a success!  We could not have done it without you.  On behalf of the team, I would like to thank the Immanuelites who joined us for this fun event.  It is wonderful to see such support from our church family.  We raised over $1,100.00 from this event and a fun time was had by all!

                                                                                    Vicki Anthos, Katrina Ministry

A heartfelt THANK YOU! to the many merchants and business folks in our community who generously donated items and services to make our Bayou Bingo Fundraiser such a success! 

A Propos                                 Joseph Banks                                                               Pizza by Elizabeth’s

Café Verdi                               Limestone Therapeutic Massage                                   Regal Cinema 16

Chez Nicole                             Lita Latham - Mary Kay                                               Scentsations

Delcastle Golf Course               Magpie                                                                         The Body Shop

Eeffoc Café                              Mystique                                                                      The Hair Cuttery

Especial Day                            Natural Therapies - Massage by Rita                            Toscana’

Grass Roots                             Personal Fitness Trainer - Christine Tabaka                   Wild Birds Unlimited

Jaques Ferber                          

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach 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.

Items from the website of the Diocese of Delaware:

Youth Media Summit, Saturday, Feb. 9, 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. Click here for details. 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.

Evensong, Sunday, February 10, 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel on the Green, New Castle. with St. Anne’s School Choir, Middletown; Jo Harney, director. Details: 328-2413.

Downtown Wilmington Lenten Concert Series, Tuesdays at Noon, February 12 through March 18. 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. Click here for concert details.

First organizational meeting of the Diocesan Youth Council, Saturday, February 16, at St. Anne’s, Middletown. Youth in grades 9–12 have been invited from all parishes and schools to attend. The council will work on developing a full calendar of monthly youth events, building on the success of our existing programs, which includes the Acolyte Festival and Wintercamp. Join in! Even if your representatives can’t make this first meeting, please contact the Rev. Jeffrey Ross of St. Peter’s, Lewes at 645-8471 or Lynne Turner of Trinity Parish, Wilmington at 652-8605.

Workshop on Celtic Spirituality, Sunday, February 17, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. St. Peter’s Church, Lewes, and Seekers (Spiritual Treasures at St. Peter’s Square) will jointly sponsor a free workshop on Celtic Spirituality, an ancient form of faith expression. Sr. Barbara Jean Brown from Anamchara Fellowship will lead the workshop. Visit www.SeekersLewes.com or call 645-9916 for details on the Celtic Spirituality workshop.

Choral Evensong, Sunday, February 24, 5:00 p.m. at Saints Andrew and Matthew, Wilmington, with a visiting choir from Immanuel-on-the-Green Episcopal Church, New Castle.

2008 Diocesan Acolyte and Choir Festival for Children and Youth, Saturday, March 1, culminating with a Festal Evensong at 3:00 p.m., at the Cathedral Church of Saint John. The festival celebrates and encourages the participation of kids in liturgical ministries throughout the diocese. This year’s guest conductor is Glenn Miller, Director of Music from the Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, MI, who specializes in the choral training of children and youth. For information regarding the acolyte portion of the festival, contact the Rev. Sarah Brockmann at 443 553- 0349; and for details on the choir portion, contact Canon Darryl Roland at 302 654-6279, ext. 3.

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

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 Highlands Voice readers: An email from Grace Church says, “The free test at Grace on April 12 is an SAT for undergrad college admission.”) 

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.