Volume 5, Number 16                                     Fifth Sunday of Easter                                      April 20, 2008

Annual Meetings — Sunday and Monday

Last Sunday after church, the people of Immanuel Parish met for the 2008 Annual Meeting.  In addition to receiving the yearly reports from the many ministries in the parish, reports were given about the Rector Search progress and plans for the transition.  Vicki Anthos reported on the Trip to New Orleans and Marcia Lynch reported on the Diocesan Convention which occurred in Laurel, Delaware, the day before (last Saturday).

Elections were held to choose new Vestry members going forward for the next three years.  Elected until 2011 were: Barbara Volko, Simon Jeynes, Byron Hobson, Carl Burnam, and Ryan Day (Youth representative).  Also elected until 2009 was Phyllis Harvey.  She replaces Charles Meehan who has resigned.

As the result of a spirited debate on proposed by-law changes that would have reduced the number of Vestry members, the Vestry proposal to amend the by-laws was tabled and the meeting was adjourned until a subsequent time when the changes could be discussed further.

Monday night the new Vestry met and elected Craig Folkert as Senior Warden and Laurie Hay as Junior Warden.  The Vestry will meet next Saturday for the annual Vestry retreat.

We give thanks to God for the good service and now retirement of John Lampinen (Sr. Warden), Carolyn Gibson (Jr. Warden), Al LeSieur, Diana Swartz, and Sophie Day (Youth representative).

                                                                                    Fr. Thom

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL: 

Sun     20      Fifth Sunday of Easter

                      8:00 am        Holy Eucharist in Chapel

                      9:30 am        Sunday School Classes

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

Mon - Fri       7:30 am        Morning Prayer will not be read at Immanuel, April 21 - 30

Mon   21                           No Vestry Meeting on “regular” night (replaced by retreat Saturday, April 19)

Tue     22       6:30 pm        Search Team (Parlor)

                      6:30 pm        Choristers (Music Room)

                      7:00 pm        Al Anon (Common Room)

                      7:45 pm        Coro Allegro (Music Room)

Wed    23       6:30 pm        Quiet Prayer (Common Room)

                      7:30 pm        Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu     24       7:30 pm        Mixed Choir (Music Room)

Sat      26       8:30 am        Parish Clean-Up/Fix-Up Morning with Lunch

                     12:00              Al Anon (Common Room)

COMING SOON (save these dates):

Thu    5/1       6:15 pm        Ascension Day: Festival Eucharist and Pot Luck Dinner

Sat   5/10       1:00 pm        Sunday School Corridor (“Sistine Chapel”) Painting

Sun  5/11      Pentecost
                     10:30 am        Sung Eucharist with a new liturgy for Pentecost
                                              followed by a party downstairs, with a special cake

Dear Parishioners and friends,

Look for a sermon link separately (I’ll send it via the parish email list).

                                                                                   Best, Thom

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.

“Parish Beautification”: Our parish work day is Saturday, April 26.  All of you are invited to take part.  We’ll do clean-up inside the building and outside; please bring your own tools and equipment.  There's a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board, as well as a poster with an overview of some of the tasks.  (Some ideas: general weeding, clean out open window pits, tidy up the Memorial Garden, clean the nursery with hot water and a good cleaning solution, clean and deodorize the refrigerators, dust woodwork and pews in the nave, dust floors, dust ceiling fans.)  Please put April 26 at 8:30 a.m. until noon on your calendars.  Spend as much time with us as you can that morning.  A light lunch will be served by noon.  Coffee will be available for anyone who wishes to take a break.  This isn't just a time to get our church spruced up, but also an opportunity for fellowship.

                                                                                    Joe Stoeckle, Property

Ascension Day is Thursday, May 1.  Reserve that evening in your calendar for Festival Eucharist at 6:15 pm, followed by a Pot Luck Dinner.  More details will be in next week’s Highlands Voice.

                                                                                    Laurie Hay

Spring is heading our way! With an early Easter and a mild winter, spring flowers will soon be among our blessings.  You are invited to share those floral blessings with the women who live in Friendship House transitional housing through the Mother's Day Garden project.  This is a simple way of honoring your own mother or another person who offers nurture and support while contributing to the beauty and peacefulness of transitional housing.

Your contribution to Friendship House (marked Mother's Day Garden) will be used to enhance gardens and yards at Friendship House facilities, and the person you decide to honor will receive a beautiful floral card for Mother's Day.  You will be listed as the donor, but the amount of your contribution does not appear on the card; a gift of any amount is honored.

Please see the poster for more information and to pick up a donor card on the foyer table.  Thank you for honoring important people in your life with a gift that helps once-homeless women find the joy of sharing and gardening.

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach

Sunday School Notes: 

May 10       Pentecost rehearsal 10 a.m. – 12 noon

May 10       The "Sistine Chapel" painting – 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

May 11       Pentecost service rehearsal 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. and

                        Pentecost service at 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming: do you know your New Testament books?  Coming to a service near you is soon the great New Testament quiz, brought by the Grade 4/5 class.  Bone up while you can!

                                                                                    Simon Jeynes, Christian Education

Desserts with Bach:  Immanuel musicians are proud to present an evening of Bach and his contemporaries.  Saturday, June 14, from 7:00 to 9:00, we invite you to join us to hear piano, violin, cello, recorder, and voice playing/singing Bach and his friends.  Entry fee is a plate of desserts (finger food).  There will be a thank offering in favor of St. Luke's parish, New Orleans.  This is a great opportunity to bring musical non-church-going friends and introduce them to our wonderful community.

                                                                                    Simon Jeynes and Jack Burnam

Boerger Fund:  As of April 16, 2008, we are at $1600 of our goal of about $3000 for the Boerger’s airfare.  We’ve helped for the 15 years’ of translation.  Let’s help them to finish the last step.

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach

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

Trinity Parish, Wilmington, has called The Rev. Patricia Steinecke Downing.  She will be coming to Trinity from Good Shepherd Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she has served as Rector since 1997.  Patty is married to The Reverend Richard Downing (Dickie), who has just retired as the Rector of another Episcopal church in the Diocese of Washington. 

ational Day Of Prayer May 1, 2008:  Resolution adopted by the 223^rd Convention of the Diocese of Delaware, April 12, 2008: 

In Celebration of the way our individual lives, our communities, and our nation are enriched by the diversity of cultures and faith traditions that make up the fabric of our country, be it resolved that this Convention urges all elected officials and event planners to create May 1, 2008, to be an interfaith Inclusive National Day of Prayer.

Explanation:  What was created by President Truman in 1952 to be a National Prayer Day for all Americans has evolved to become an almost exclusively Christian event.  It is our hope that promoting an annual interfaith Inclusive National Day of Prayer will nurture greater understanding and mutual respect among all of God's children and help heal divisions in our society.

                                                                                    Sponsored by:  Lee Ann Walling of Christ Church, Dover,                                                                                 and  Max Wolf of All Saints' Church & St. George's Chapel

Episcopal Diocese of Delaware seeks Part-Time Financial Consultant to assist the Diocese. From May 1 to August 31, 2008, the Business Manager of 14 years will take a four­-month sabbatical leave. We seek a Consultant to 1) assume some of the responsibilities, tasks and functions (other tasks will be shared by staff and volunteers), 2) make observations, comments and recommendations with a report to the Canon to the Ordinary and the Bishop in early September 2008. For additional information or to express your interest, contact the Rev. Canon Gary Rowe, garyrowe@dioceseofdelaware.net (302.656.5441 ext. 107)

Wanted: Program Director at Camp Arrowhead and Diocesan Coordinator for Youth Ministry

This full-time position will combine the functions of Program Director at Camp Arrowhead (1/2) and Diocesan Coordinator for Youth Ministry (1/2). The position will report to the Executive Director of Camp and Conference Centers with advisory responsibility from the Canon to the Ordinary and the Diocesan Council Program Committee. The position will be located at or near Camp Arrowhead with housing at Camp negotiable. Responsibilities will require regularly scheduled time working from the Diocesan Office in Wilmington. For more details, click here to send an email to the Rev. Canon Gary Rowe or call him at 302 656-5441 x107.

Church of the Ascension Yard Sale – Saturday, May 10^th

Proceeds of the sale will be used to help offset the medical expenses of one of our youngest church members.   Sale will be held Saturday May 10, 2008, 10AM-2PM, 3717 Philadelphia Pike (at the intersection of Darley Road). Donations welcomed!  Tables are available for $25.  For more information call (302) 762-6734 or (302) 798-6683.

 Grace Church Flea Market – Saturday, May 10^th

Grace Church is sponsoring a Flea Market with Antique Car Show; there will be crafts and food.  Rent a space for $15.  For more information call 302-658-3251.

DELAWARE COMMUNION ON-LINE:

The news page of our website - http://www.dioceseofdelaware.net/news2.html - has announcements, news items and want ads. The Delaware Communion page - http://www.dioceseofdelaware.net/communion.html - has the latest printed issue in PDF format plus numerous stories found only on the Web about faith-inspired ministries throughout Delaware.

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Items from the website of the Diocese of Delaware:

Camp Arrowhead Open House, Sunday, April 27, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Tour Camp Arrowhead and meet staff. Please bring a friend!

Choral Evensong, Sunday, April 27, 5:00 p.m., at St. Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Avenue, Philadelphia. Cathedral Choir School of Delaware. Details: 654-6279.

Wilmington Garden Day, May 3. The 61st Annual Wilmington Garden Day is a self-guided tour of 22 distinctive private homes and gardens. Garden Day supports St. Michael’s School and Nursery’s Tuition Assistance Program and is sponsored by four Episcopal churches.

Strengthening Stepfamilies, Wednesday, May 14. The Delaware/Delmarva Healthy Marriage Coalition and Catholic Charities Diocese of Wilmington are sponsoring a program on Strengthening Stepfamilies: A Developmental Approach. Surveys of clergy and religious counselors indicate that support for blended families, that is, couples on second marriages and bringing children from first marriages, is a difficult task. We are presenting a program featuring one of the country's true experts on the subject, in Bear, DE. For details, contact DECCF at 225-1040.

A Day in Old New Castle, May 17. Join the parishioners of Immanuel Episcopal Church on this, the oldest house and garden tour in the U.S. This year’s beneficiary will be the Food Bank of Delaware’s “Backpack Program.”

Blessing of the Bikes & Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, May 17, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., at Church of the Ascension, Claymont. After breakfast, we will have a brief service in memory of friends, fellow bikers, and military personnel in recognition of Armed Forces Day, followed by the blessing of the bikes. All bikes are welcome! Breakfast is $8.00 for adults; one child (10 and under) is free with each paid adult.

Evensong, Sunday, May 17, 4:00 p.m., Immanuel on the Green, New Castle. Featuring Immanuel's Choir of Women and Men. Details: 328-2413.

Overnight Spiritual Retreat, May 19-20. The Spiritual Companions of the Diocese of Delaware invite you to join them at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, PA. The Rev. Carlyle Gill, Priest Associate at St. Peter’s, Lewes, the retreat leader, is an experienced spiritual director, with a specialty in centering prayer. Richard Rohr in Everything Belongs wrote, “Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even enjoying the Presence. The full contemplative is not just aware of the Presence, but trusts, allows, and delights in it.” The cost is $55 per person. For details contact Barbara Tucker at 571-9457, or Phillip Stephens at 656-5443 ext. 109.

Memorial Day Weekend Organ Recital, Sunday, May 25, 5:00 p.m., at St. Peter's, Lewes. Organist George Bayley will be joined by harper and organist Margaret Love in music for two organists and music for Celtic Harp and Organ.

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