Highlands Voice Immanuel Church

Highlands Voice
Immanuel Church, Highlands
Wilmington, DE 19806

302-658-7326
Website

Staff, Vestry, Ministries:

Staff

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Isaiah 6:1-13

Psalm 138

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Luke 5:1-11

Volume 7, Number 6

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 7, 2010

For anyone that knows our youth this should not be a surprise. Going to school, finishing homework, playing sports, and participating in school plays, concerts and other school activities would seem to be enough to keep any person busy. But that’s not enough for our youth. Many of them desire to grow in their faith through participation in Sunday School, choir, serving as lectors and/or acolytes. And does anybody remember the Epiphany service? Surprisingly enough, some still find time to participate in sports and other activities outside of school and church. I have had the chance to see a few of them in school plays and basketball games and hope I get to see all of them eventually. Our youth are a group of amazingly talented young ladies and gentlemen. We should all be very proud of them!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend Winter Camp at Lake Champion, New York with some of our Senior High girls. We had a great weekend in the -6 degree wind chill. There was excellent music, a wonderful speaker, great conversations during cabin time, and of course plenty of fun had by all. There were 31 youth from the Diocese of Delaware and over 400 youth from around the region. I will get to go on the same retreat with some of the middle school youth the first weekend of March. Immanuel youth will also be participating in the Shrove Tuesday dinner, the Wednesday Night Lenten Program and Holy Week services at Immanuel. They will also be a part of the 30-Hour Famine at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred and the Katrina Mission Trip to New Orleans. I want to congratulate the youth on all they do and encourage the rest of our church family to continue to help them grow in the knowledge and love of Christ. Britta Bimbi

Matching Grant for Haiti: We have a special opportunity for our gifts to support relief work in Haiti to be matched. The Church Pension Fund has generously offered to match the first $5,000 raised by each Trustee for Haitian Relief work. All the money raised will be contributed to Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) to support the work they are doing in Haiti. If you would like to have your gift matched, please send a check to:

Make sure that your checked is marked "ERD/Haiti." If you have questions, or need further information contact Mary Ann Brillhart in the Bishop's Office (302) 656-5441, ext. 103 or mabrillhart@dioceseofdelaware.net

Marcia Lynch, Vestry Person of the Day: Each week a vestry member is assigned as Vestry Person of the Day. This enhancement to our Sunday morning schedule is designed to promote awareness of our lay leaders at both services and to further improve our welcoming embrace.

Palms: Please bring in your palms for burning into ashes for use at the Ash Wednesday services. There are boxes marked for you to deposit the dried palms. Sunday, February 14^th is the last day for this collection. Thank you. Altar Guild

Valentine’s Day Babysitting: Babysitting will be available for the children of Immanuel from 6pm to 10pm on February 13^th. We want to provide an opportunity for the parents to have a “date night” to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you have not yet signed up, the sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the foyer. Please do so ASAP so that we can coordinate the night appropriately. We are asking for a $20 offering per family to go towards the youth group fund to cover dinner that night and future events. Britta Bimbi and Vikki Anthos

Shrove Tuesday Dinner: Once again the youth will be providing a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, this year on February 16^th. Dinner will be served from 6pm-7pm, buffet style. This is a night for good food, good fellowship, good fun and a good will offering. So, come one, come all, and bring a friend!

2010 Lenten Program: This year, Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent, falls on February 17th. Lent is a time when people of faith have willingly sought additional spiritual discipline as part of their preparation for Easter. In the spirit of the invitation to keep a holy Lent, I invite you to join us here at Immanuel each Wednesday evening in Lent beginning Feb. 24th. We will be offering a simple supper at 6:30 PM followed by an educational offering. Britta will be coordinating the youth program and I will be coordinating the adult program. We will conclude by 8:00 p.m. each week, ending with Compline. Thank you! Fr. Kim

Flower Memorial Chart: The 2010 Flower Memorial Chart is posted in the foyer by the Epistle transept door. Please sign-up to donate flowers as a thanksgiving or memorial for your loved ones.

Day of Reflection on the Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Scriptures: Please join us in the church on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 9:30 – 3:00 p.m. for a Day of Quiet Reflection. The day will be led by Barbara Tucker, an experienced spiritual director, who studied at the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C. Barbara is active with the Spiritual Companions of the Diocese of Delaware, a diocesan ministry designed to provide resources for spiritual growth, knowledge and inspiration, and she serves as a spiritual retreat leader. Barbara has served a leadership role in contemplative prayer groups at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred and Immanuel Church – Highlands, where she has been co-convener of a weekly group for over a decade. Throughout the day there will be three brief reflections, as well as an opportunity for individual prayer and reflection. The day will conclude with worship and Eucharist.

Epiphany Paper Drive for Friendship House: During Epiphany, we are again collecting rolls of toilet paper for the many ministries led by Friendship House for homeless people in Wilmington and New Castle County. Last year, we collected 566 rolls of toilet paper! Please put your donations under the foyer table and we will deliver these throughout the next month. Friendship House now uses over 400 rolls of toilet paper a month in the Men's and Women's Day Centers, the Clothing Bank of Delaware, Winter Hospitality, Code Purple Winter Sanctuary, Andrews' Place, the Newark Empowerment Center, and its eight transitional houses for men, women, and women with children. These in-kind donations are critical to helping Friendship House meet the needs of the many homeless folks who are unable to find employment during the recession. The Outreach Ministry

The New Orleans trip this program year will be March 6-13, 2010! The following folks have already signed on as volunteers: Vicki Anthos, Byron Hobson, Ryan Day, Debbie Long, Sophie Day, Ron Pierce, and Eve English. There are eight slots remaining. Come join the fun and hard work for those still in need in Louisiana. Please see me to sign up. Vicki Anthos

Friendship House Job Readiness Volunteers: Volunteer Opportunities are available for computer literacy tutors, Math & English tutors, Job coaches and Computer Lab monitors. Volunteers do not need to be experts, but must have some experience and competency in basic computer or employment skills. Flexible hours. Time commitment as little as two hours twice monthly. Orientation is provided! Contact: Kathy Graham at (302) 588-7712 or email fhvolunteer.coordinator@verizon.net.

Church Office: 302-658-7326 x14 4:00 pm each Tuesday for the next week’s issue.

Home Phone: 302-777-5418 Phillip Stephens, Parish Administrator and Highlands Voice Editor