This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, the theme for the Fourth Sunday of Easter each year. It is also the third Sunday of the month, which means it’s Family Service time at 10:30 a.m.. There will be no Sunday School for the children, but they will be invited to join Fr. Wayne in front of the altar during the sermon time.
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Bob Penneys, Matthew Donohue, Cheryl Richter,
Sam Fernandez, Connie Schultz
Upcoming Events at Immanuel Highlands
Wilmington Handbell Ensemble Presents
Songs Around the World
Saturday, May 4, 4:00 p.m.
On Saturday, May 4, the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble will perform in our church. Take a musical journey across cultures and continents as Wilmington Handbell Ensemble presents “Songs Around the World,”
Wilmington Handbell Ensemble is the only community-based handbell ensemble in the Wilmington, Delaware area. The concert begins at 4:00 p.m. Admission is free, but we’re asking for donations of non-perishable food items to be donated to a local food pantry.
Feast of the Ascension
Thursday, May 9, 5:15 p.m.
A spoken Holy Eucharist will be held on Thursday, May 9, for the Feast of The Ascension. On that day, forty days after the Day of the Resurrection, Luke tells us that Jesus ascended into the heavens. A visible sign of that for us is the moving of the Paschal Candle from beside the Altar to its place near the Baptismal Font. It will be lit at all services through the Day of Pentecost, and then at all baptisms and funerals as a sign of Christ’s resurrection and the new fire lit at the Easter Vigil.
Piffaro Concert
Sunday, May 12, 3:00 p.m.
Piffaro will return to Immanuel Highlands on Sunday, May 12, for a concert at 3:00 p.m. Information and tickes can be found at their website, www.piffaro.org and follow the links there.
Piffaro and another ensemble have booked our space for concerts in 2025.
Celebration of New Ministry and Installation
Wednesday, May 22, 6:00 p.m.
The Right Reverend Kevin S. Brown will be with us on May 22 for the Celebration of New Ministry and Installation of the Reverend E. Wayne Rollins as Priest-in-Charge. The service begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by a reception. We look forward to welcoming Bishop Brown, as well as other diocesan clergy and lay guests to our church for this event.
In order to track numbers for set-up and catering purposes, please let us know if you will be attending at
Bishop Brown will join us again on Sunday, September 8 for his annual visitation. On that day, we may celebrate Holy Baptism, Confirmation, and the Reception of New Members. We are working on notifying any who might be part of that celebration, but if you are a youth or adult seeking Confirmation or Reaffirmation of Faith, please let Fr. Wayne know. Preparation for this day will be done during the summer months, so vacation schedules will be part of our planning.
In Memoriam
We are saddened by the recent death of parishioner Mary Helen Little, who died on March 24. No local services are planned. May Mary Helen’s soul, and the souls of all the departed, rest in peace.
Church Keys
Several parishioners have keys to our church building, but no longer have need for them. If you have a key because you were a member of a group that needed access, but are no longer part of that group, please return the key to the church office. We are running low on the number of keys available for those who need them. Thank you!
Adult Education
Come join us as we study Richard Rohr’s Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer.
“The challenge of this book is simple, yet profound, ‘Be aware, Be aware of God in all things.”
- Catholic Library World
When: Starting Sunday, May 5, at 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. until we finish the book.
Where: In person in the Common Room, also accessible by Zoom with the link provided each week in The Voice
The book is for sale on Kindle, if that is your preferred method of reading. We have also purchased some copies. Please contact Maria duPont if you have questions, tel: 610-316-0748 or email, dupontmaria@yahoo.com
Zoom link to Adult Education
This will be the same link every Sunday morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m.:
The Students at JJ Johnson Elementary School (Formerly Highlands Elementary School) are in desperate need of spring/summer clothing sizes 5-6 through 14-16. So, while you are doing your Spring cleaning and changing over your wool sweaters for T-shirts and shorts, please consider donating last year's clothing your children have outgrown to some children who could really use it! Please place the items on the porch at 1420 Hamilton Street in the gray bin or simply email acassidy21@gmail.com to arrange a pick-up. Have any games your children have outgrown as well? Drop them off too! The school is part of our community – let’s help them out!
New Committees/Ministry Groups
We are forming some new Committees/Ministry Groups, and asking for volunteers to help staff them. The new groups are History and Memorials, Communications, Invite Welcome Connect, and Stewardship (everyone’s favorite!).
The History and Memorials Committee will look at documenting the history of Immanuel Highlands from 1870 onward, and include work done describing the windows. They will also be asked to gather information about the tiles in the floor and the symbolism contained in them.
Communications will look at how we keep information flowing, including The Voice, our website, Facebook page, bulletin boards, and any other available resources.
Invite Welcome Connect (IWC) is a national program, endorsed by our bishop and diocese, in which some have engaged since its inception. IWC provides a lot of support and resources and we will look at more intensive efforts at the parish level and our engagement of the wider community.
Stewardship will look not only at our finances and annual pledge drive, but at our stewardship of our buildings and grounds, working with the Property Ministry on those issues.
If you’re interested in being a part of any of these groups, please contact the church office or speak to one of the wardens or Fr. Wayne.
Update on the New Kneelers!
Thanks to you, we have ordered 60 kneelers! They are made to order in Kansas and will be delivered directly from the manufacturer to the church in approximately 90-120 days.
Fr. Wayne will formally bless the kneelers at the 10:30 a.m. service following their arrival, and they will go into service that morning. The dedications will be listed in the service bulletin.
Donation forms will remain available in the lobby, and we will order more as the kneeler fund increases to purchase 24 (or more!). As with flower donations, kneelers may be dedicated in memory of, or in thanksgiving for loved ones.
Please write "kneelers" on the memo line of your donation check. You may also contribute to the kneelers from our website by selecting "kneelers" in the Fund drop-down box.
Forward Day By Day
The latest quarterly issue of Forward Day by Day has arrived and is available in the lobby. We support your spiritual life beyond Sunday, and Forward Day by Day is a simple yet powerful way to begin engaging with a little chunk of scripture each day. The daily reflections that follow the Bible verses are written by disciples, just like you, and share a wide range of lessons and thought-provoking messages. We commend it to you if you are looking for a daily prayer practice.
Pray for those in need of our prayers for strength, guidance or healing:
Leslee Moore, The Santana Family, Sophie Day, Cathy Callahan, Claire and Johnny Ward, Dean, Brenda McCourt, Sam Swan, Alan, Edwina Michael, Sue Welles, Alison Barto, Dee Dee, Al Thomas, Bob Penneys, Stephen Linane, Jessica Pautz, Roman Sloan, Mike Pumphrey, Noel Pumphrey, Joseph Howie, Nathaniel, Guy, Laurena Hazell. Pray for those who have died, especially Mary Helen Little, and for the comfort of their families.
Coffee Hour Hosts Needed
Coffee hour is a great time to connect with members of your Immanuel family, and we are in need of hosts for coffee hour. The refreshments you provide don't have to be fancy, and you will be reimbursed for your expenses. If you would like to host a coffee hour, please contact Sue Welles: sueww@icloud.com
Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church
2400 West Seventeenth Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19806
If you have an item to be included in The Voice, please email it to the parish administrator, parishadministrator@immanuel-highlands.org by the Tuesday before the Thursday release of the newsletter. If you don't have access to email, please call the office or leave your written request in the parish administrator's mail slot in the mailboxes across from the parish administrator's office no later than the Tuesday before The Voice goes out. Thank you!