Here is a tangible way you can help during this time of national crisis. The Birth Center needs masks. There is a dangerous shortage of face masks at the hospital where The Birth Center transfers laboring women with complications, and The Birth Center has never needed mouth and nose protection for low-risk laboring women, so they have none. And there are none available for purchase.

They would like to stay healthy and keep working. Here’s how you can help:

• If you have extra masks at home, donate them. A person at home doesn’t need a mask as much as a medical professional.
• If you have hepa vacuum bags (the cloth kind with many layers) or elastic, you can donate that for others to make masks.
• Make masks with materials from your house, or with materials that others donate.

Digging around your home looking for fabrics and materials? The New York Post reports that a recent study showed vacuum cleaner bags offer 86 percent protection against the smallest particles tested, followed by dish towels at 73 percent, a cotton-blend T-shirt at 70 percent and an antimicrobial pillowcase at 68 percent. If you’re sewing your own mask, test it—if water seeps through it or the inside gets wet, it’s not effective.

Here are patterns and instructions for two styles of masks:

Patterns and Instructions can be found here:

• Pattern 1
• Pattern 1 Instructions
• Pattern 2 Instructions

And Pattern 2 has a Tutorial on You Tube if you want to see someone making it in action.

If you have items you would like to donate, or if you would like to make masks but don’t have materials, contact Becky Foster to arrange a drop-off or pick-up which would involve social distancing. If you need help getting in touch with Becky, you can leave a message at the church office (office@stthomasglassboro.org or 856.881.9144).

Saint Thomas’ Online for Monday, 23 March:

• 4.00pm: Centering Prayer
  To join the meeting via the Internet click here: https://zoom.us/j/6676782042
  To join the meeting via telephone, dial (646) 558-8656 and use Meeting ID: 667 678 2042
  Alternate phone numbers: (312)626-6799 or (301)715-8592
• 8.00pm: Book Group

Plus Daily:

• Morning Prayer
• The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Saint Thomas’ Online for Sunday, 22 March:

• 8.00am: Morning Prayer with Sermon(pre-recorded)
• 9.00am: Sunday School for children
  To join the meeting via the Internet click here: https://zoom.us/j/6676782042
  To join the meeting via telephone, dial (646) 558-8656 and use Meeting ID: 667 678 2042
  Alternate phone numbers: (312)626-6799 or (301)715-8592
• 10.00am: Adult Formation
  See instructions above for joining.
• 11.15am: Holy Eucharist with Spiritual Communion
  at the  Washington National Cathedral

Saint Thomas’ Online for Saturday, 20 March:

• 4.30pm: Adult Formation
  To join the meeting via the Internet click here: https://zoom.us/j/6676782042
  To join the meeting via telephone, dial (646) 558-8656 and use Meeting ID: 667 678 2042
  Alternate phone numbers: (312)626-6799 or (301)715-8592
• 5.30pm: Evening Prayer with Sermon
  To join the meeting via the Internet click here: https://zoom.us/j/6676782042
  To join the meeting via telephone, dial (646) 558-8656 and use Meeting ID: 667 678 2042Alternate phone numbers: (312)626-6799 or (301)715-8592
• 7.00pm: Alcoholics Anonymous
  To join the meeting via the Internet click here: https://zoom.us/j/528974628
  To join the meeting via telephone, dial (646) 558-8656 and use Meeting ID: 528 974 628
  Alternate phone numbers: (312)626-6799 or (301)715-8592

Plus Daily:

• Morning Prayer
• The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Dear Friends,

With careful discernment, paying attention to our Presiding Bishop, our Governor, and federal bodies, Bishop Stokes has advised us that church gatherings are prohibited at least until 1 May 2020. Outside gatherings and off-campus gatherings, including during Holy Week and Easter, are not permitted. Bishop Stokes writes, “It is vitally important for us all to recognize that the steps we are being asked to take as a society and as a church are for the sake of the love of our neighbors – all of our neighbors.”

Bishop Stokes goes on to reflect on the Desert Tradition of early Christianity and the invitation we have received, unbidden, to explore aspects of that tradition in our sudden isolation.

See Bishop Stokes’ entire communication here and click the “Subscribe” button to receive weekly communications from the Diocese first-hand.

The news of continuing closure is sobering but not unexpected.

St. Thomas’ is committed to continuing to be a community of worship and mutual care, even during our sojourn in the desert. Please keep an eye on our homepage and keep in touch in with one another. Now is the time for our love for God and each other to shine forth, be fanned into flame, that we may see the Holy Spirit doing something new among us!

Faithfully,

Todd+

As we continually seek new ways to be Church in community with each other during these challenging times, you are invited to join an online bible study with Bishop Stokes.  This bible study will take place via Zoom web conference every Wednesday at 7 PM until further notice.

Tonight we’ll explore the upcoming week’s Gospel reading—this week is John 9—the man born blind from birth. “Who sinned?  This man or his parents?” Studying the text in light of the current pandemic could lead to a rich conversation and study,

We have set up these recurring weekly meetings through Wednesday, May 27.  Registration is required, but you can register all the way up to and even during any meeting.  Please note that you can join by cellphone (or even landline) – internet access is not required.

To register for any or all of these bible studies:

• Click here:  http://bit.ly/StokesBibleStudy
• Where it says “Please choose only one meeting to attend,” that doesn’t mean you can only attend one meeting.  It means you need to register separately for each meeting you want to attend, so we can keep a more accurate head count of how many people to expect at each meeting.
• From that drop-down menu of dates, pick the date of the meeting for which you want to register
• Include your name and email information as requested, check the box to prove you’re not a robot, and click “Register”
• A confirmation screen will appear, and there will be a link allowing you to add the meeting to your calendar if you so desire
• If so desired, hit the “back” button and repeat the process for each meeting you want to attend.

After registering each time, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting – including instructions for joining by phone.  You can access this same link at any time to register again for an upcoming session.  We look forward to having you join us as we explore God’s Word together.

n.b. The previously scheduled Evening Prayer and Bible Study at 6.30pm will be replaced by a brief check-in and prayer “In the Early Evening” (BCP 139). Then we will join the Bishop’s forum before 7pm. Please register separately for the Bishop’s forum! No registration is required for the St. Thomas’ meeting.