Dear St. Thomas’,
We’ve crossed our t’s and dotted our i’s: it’s time to begin the process of re-opening our campus for worship in person! We plan to meet in person, when the weather allows, on Sundays at 10.30am. Note the time: it’s not either of our “usual” times!
We will be outdoors. Even if it rains.
We will bring our own chairs or other seating.
We will remain socially distant.
We will not shake hands or give hugs.
We will wear our masks.
We will not sing.
We will receive communion in only one kind.
Our Stay Safe Committee and our Vestry have worked hard to develop a safety plan that met the approval of our Diocese and our Bishop. That plan is a covenant we are making with one another about how we are choosing to re-open our campus. We may not all agree with the provisions. If you feel unsafe, please do not attend: we will continue to provide online options for worship! If you feel our safety precautions are too burdensome for you, please do not attend: we will continue to provide online options for worship! But if our plans and your desire to gather happen to coincide, you are welcome to join us on the grounds of St. Thomas’ each Sunday at 10.30am to celebrate together the Holy Eucharist.
Faithfully,
Todd+
Sunday School for children and teens will meet on Sunday, 13 September, at 9am! Children should log in at the usual place. Teens should contact Dan O. for more information!
Youth Game Night is also this Sunday, 13 September at 6pm, online.
Diocesan Approval for our re-opening plan has come! Many thanks to our Stay Safe Committee (Eric C., Maryann S., Barbara C., Wayne R., Sid D.) for carrying out this important work! Vestry is now at work preparing to put it into action: stay tuned!
Kitchen of Hope’s mission of combating food insecurity is more important than ever during this time of mass unemployment. Therefore we will be offering food distributions on two different Saturdays in August: the second and the fourth (12 September and 26 September). Volunteers are needed but you must sign up with Vivian H. and come only during your assigned shift so that we may continue to comply with state and Diocesan guidelines on social distancing!
Our turn to host Family Promise is coming up: 20-27 September. Our guests will not be staying in our building, but we will still be providing meals. Please communicate with Tal K. about helping out!
The Bishop George E. Councell Memorial Golf Tournament will take place this year on Monday, October 12, 2020 at Mercer Oaks Golf Club in West Windsor, New Jersey. It includes 18 Holes of Golf; Continental Breakfast, Box Lunch and Plated Dinner; Fabulous Prizes, Raffle, Silent Auction and what promises to be a day of Great Fellowship and Fun! The cost is $175 per person, which includes meals, green fees and cart. Read more.
Announcements for the bulletin or parish email are due into the office by noon on Wednesday of each week. You can email them to office@stthomasglassboro.org or call the office at 856-881-9144. Announcements are subject to editing due to limited space.
Lectionary readings for this week: Exodus 14:19-31, Psalm 114, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35
Lectionary readings for next week: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16
Please continue in your daily prayers for: Dennis, Marge, Brad, Joann, Ruth, Medical Personnel threatened, sickened, and dying from their service to patients with Covid-19, Joan, Sandy, Rona, Kathy, Tony, Phyllis, James, Debbie, Virginia, Diana, Alberto, Smith Family, Vasu, Joe, Zachary, Randy, Janet, Connie, Andrea, Joseph, Kelly, those impacted by Hurricane Laura, Janine, Lemmerman family, Livingstone, Lois
This Weekend Online and at St. Thomas’
- Saturday, 4.30pm: Adult Formation
- Saturday, 5.30pm: Evening Prayer
With Sunday lessons & homily. - Sunday, any time: Morning Prayer (pre-recorded)
- Sunday, 9.00am: Online Sunday School with the Diocese of NJ
- Sunday, 10.30am: Holy Eucharist Outdoors at St. Thomas’
- Sunday, 11.15am: Holy Eucharist with Spiritual Communion
at the Washington National Cathedral
Weekdays Online
- Daily Morning Prayer (Monday through Saturday)
- Monday, 4pm: Centering Prayer
- Wednesday, 6.30pm: Prayer in the Evening
Check-in and a brief (5-minute) service of prayer. - Wednesday, 7.00pm: Bible Study with Bishop Stokes
Events hosted by St. Thomas’ are accessed via Zoom: instructions here.
During this season of coronavirus infections, when attending events on campus at St. Thomas’, please demonstrate your love for your friends and neighbors by:
- Wearing a mask (covering both mouth and nose)
- Remaining six feet apart from anyone you don’t live with
- Refraining from touching, hugging and shaking hands – even during the Peace
- There will be no singing
- Service bulletins you have touched must be taken home
- After the service everyone must disperse with no lingering
- No sharing of common objects such as pens, paper, etc.
The Diocese of NJ is offering Anti-Racism Training that you can pursue from home via a combination of live and recorded sessions. See the Diocesan website for more information or register now! Demand for the Diocese’s online Anti-Racism Training has been extraordinary and these sessions have filled very quickly.
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey Anti-Racism Ministry invites you to take advantage of time at home to enroll in 20 hours of virtual Anti-Racism Training streamed to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The training takes a historical approach to help participants understand systemic racism and empower them to confront and organize against racism, inequality, and injustice. Lecture and discussion topics include “What is Race?”, “Systemic Racism and White Privilege,” “Internalized Racism,” “The Role of the Church,” “Settler Colonialism,” “Racism in Immigration and Naturalization Legislation,” and “The Prison Industrial Complex”.
The training begins on Sept 11 by Zoom videoconference, 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The training also includes Friday evening discussions and presentations (7:00 to 9:00 PM) Sept 18, Sept 25, and Oct 2, and participants receive reading assignments and recorded lessons throughout the course on Moodle, an online teaching platform.
The class will take place from 11 September through 2 October. There is a $50 fee, but scholarships are available. This course is open to everyone!
See a calendar of Saints of the Episcopal Church.
Which Saint will you remember today?
See the official St. Thomas’ calendar or a list of upcoming events.
Are you serving in liturgy? Check the rota!
Saturdays, 4.30pm: Adult Formation
Sunday School for adults – on Saturday!
Saturdays, 5.30pm: Evening Prayer
Sundays, 8am: Morning Prayer (recorded)
Sundays, 9am: Sunday School for children
Sundays, 10.30am: Holy Eucharist outdoors, rain or shine
Sundays, 11.15am: Holy Eucharist at the National Cathedral
Mondays, 4pm: Centering Prayer
Tuesdays, Noon: Coffee Hour
Wednesday, 6.30pm: Prayer in the Evening
Wednesdays, 7.00pm: Bible Study with the Bishop
Daily on Weekdays: Morning Prayer and Compline
https://www.stthomasglassboro.org/
OFFICE:
office@stthomasglassboro.org
Office telephone:
856-881-9144
Emergency Pastoral Care:
856-881-2841
Call this number if you have a pastoral emergency, such as an alert about an ailing parishioner, a hospital stay, a death in the family, or to request last rites. Leave a message and with a phone number for your call to be returned.
