St. Thomas' Tidings
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
WELCOME all who enter these doors, especially those who enter for the first time or after a long absence. May this place be like home to you!
All are welcome to receive the Bread and Wine at this altar.
AVAILABILITY:
The Rector is available Tuesdays-Friday
The office is open these hours:
Monday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
The Church is open for prayer
most days until 4 p.m.
PEOPLE are available in the Chapel during Holy Communion to pray with you about any need or thanksgiving.
The Annual Meeting
TODAY Sunday, January 29th
10:40 a.m.
The budget will be presented, new vestry elected and reports presented. Every member is urged to attend.
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING – The ingathering for this annual, ecumenical hunger-relief initiative is coming up next Sunday, February 5th! St. Thomas’ Sunday School students join young people all across the country as we use the Superbowl weekend to fight hunger & poverty in our local communities. On February 5th, Superbowl Sunday, the youth will take a special collection of food and money for the Camden Area Food Pantry. Won’t you help us meet our 2012 parish goal of $750 and 100 food items?
TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL we complete projects for our outreach mission with the Souper Bowl of Caring, coming up next Sunday (February 5). We have been learning about hunger and how we can make a difference, in the context of seeing Christ’s mercy and compassion in the feeding of the five thousand. How do we answer Jesus’ call to feed Him in our hungry brothers and sisters? How do we lead others to help end hunger and poverty? Our classroom is both an educational place and a sacred space, where children become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. We welcome new children to join us! -Manette Pottle
OFFERING ENVELOPS are available to all parishioners. Please contact the receiving treasurers, Pat Ayers or Joan Bennett, should you want to obtain them.
HOLY WOMEN, HOLY MEN-SAINTS: Jan. 30: Juan Bosco, priest, 1888 and Jan. 31:Samuel Shoemaker, priest and evangelist, 1963. Both of these men were teachers and innovators, each in their sphere. Bosco formed the Salesian Order which operated orphanages, vocational schools and night schools for working people. Shoemaker, the long time Rector of Calvary Church in NYC was instrumental in founding AA and the renewal of evangelism through the Faith at Work movement. Feb. 1: Brigid (Bride), 523, one of the most beloved of Irish saints founded a double foundation of women and men at Kildare, Ireland. Feb. 2: The Presentation of our Lord, also known as the Purification of the Virgin or Candlemas, remembers the Jewish law requiring that the first born son be presented at the Temple in honor of the Israelites deliverance from Egyptians and the preservation of their own sons by God. Feb. 3 honors the Dorchester Chaplains who gave up their life preservers to others when their ship was torpedoed and sank in 1943. Feb. 4: Anskar, also known as Ansgarius, was Archbishop of Hamburg and missionary to Denmark and Sweden. His mission had limited success at the time but planted the seeds for later growth when the defeat of the Vikings made Christianity again possible. The Scandinavians regard him as their Apostle.
-Sue Voorhies
ST. THOMAS’ OUTREACH COALITION
MEETS tomorrow MONDAY, JANUARY 30TH
5:30 PM
CONFERENCE ROOM
Please come and lend your presence and ideas to our monthly Outreach meeting!
AWAKENING – Three of our students, plus our Rector and Youth Minister, will be attending this Diocesan middle school event next weekend, February 3-5, at St. Anne’s, Windham! We expect to have fun and meet new friends, as we worship together, play games, present skits, talk about God & family & the world, and eat great food. Please pray for us and for all youth in our diocese as we join in this ministry together. For more information, see the Diocesan website or talk to Manette Pottle.
SOUP’S ON! Come enjoy a warming lunch Wednesdays @ Noon– The First Congregational Church of Camden, 55 Elm Street. There is no charge for the meal. Free will offerings are cheerfully accepted.