A weekly newsletter from Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church

The Voice Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church November 13, 2024 In this edition of The Voice: This Week at Immanuel Sunday's Scripture Readings From Fr. Wayne For Your Calendar! SNAP Emergency Christmas at Sea Deadline Birthdays and Anniversaries Prayer List Links to our wider church community Upcoming Week at Immanuel Saturday, November 15 12:00 noon Al-Anon (Common Room) Sunday, November 16 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Chapel) 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Church) Monday, November 17 6:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting (Common Room) Tuesday, November 18 6:00 p.m. Al-Anon (Parlor) Wednesday, November 19 10:30 a.m. Quiet Prayer (Parlor) 12:10 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Chapel) 5:00 p.m. Property Committee Meeting (Library) 6:00 p.m. Tai Chi (Dining Room) 7:00 p.m. Indivisible Community Singalong (Common Room) Thursday, November 20 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room) Friday and Saturday, November 21-22 Diocesan Annual Convention Sunday, November 16 The Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost Isaiah 65:17-25 Canticle 9 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 For upcoming Sundays see The Lectionary Page: here From Fr. Wayne For several years I’ve been seeing and hearing about attempts at what’s known as “church without walls.” Last Spring, an effort was made to do this in Brandywine Park that included scripture, prayers, and Holy Communion while walking the trails. I was part of a “pub theology” group in one area that met in a local sports bar. The idea was that others might overhear us and decide to join in. While we had some good discussions, what mostly happened was that the venue had a guaranteed group on Wednesday evenings for many weeks. We don’t live in a climate that is conducive to not having a place to meet. The result of all this is that we’ve come to think of buildings as churches. But that’s not what scripture teaches. Paul gives us the phrase “body of Christ” in his first letter to the church in Corinth. He writes to a group of believers who meet in homes to pray, eat, and learn together what it means to be ekklesia, a Greek term meaning an assembly of people. It’s not a new term for his readers, but a redefining of a familiar idea. I believe we need to redefine what it means to be “church.” I’m not talking about a place we go to, but rather a people who embody the teaching and example of Jesus of Nazareth. We don’t need a place to meet in order to do that; in fact, it’s best done outside our walls in every aspect of our lives. The building at the corner of West 17th Street and Riverview is where we gather to do all the things that help us be the Body of Christ in between the various times we meet together. All that gets summed up in the word incarnation. Our understanding of that word will move us beyond December 25, as its wholeness also includes Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost, for starters. Throw in Baptism, and we begin to incorporate (another redefining!) the bigger picture. Our redefining will take much more than a standard dictionary reference. It will take the rest of our lives wherever we go until our understanding moves into what Paul also told the Corinthians in chapter 13. Time to ponder. For Your Calendar! SNAP Emergency! Because of the government shut down the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to 120,000 Delawareans have been interrupted. Governor Matt Meyers has declared a state of emergency in Delaware and will provide food assistance benefits to all Delaware households that are eligible during this state of emergency.   Even though the Governor is making funds available, the need is great at Lutheran Community Services (https://lcsde.org/donate) You may want to donate directly so they can buy bulk food items at 50% of wholesale price, and/or bring in emergency items that have been requested by the manager at St. Stephen's Food Pantry. They are asking for sanitary pads, tampons, and cookies.   God bless all our neighbors who struggle with food insecurity. Thank you for your support! Lectors and Intercessors are Needed! Lectors and Intercessors are needed for upcoming 10:30 a.m. Sunday services through December. Please sign up on the easel in the lobby if you are able to serve in these roles. Many thanks! Christmas at Sea Donation Deadline! This Sunday, November 16, is the last day for the generous folks of Immanuel Highlands to collect items for the Christmas at Sea program sponsored by the Seamen's Center of Wilmington. Each donation of toiletries, chapstick, gloves, cough drops, hard candy, knit hats and scarves will bring pleasure and comfort to mariners whose ship is at the port.   A "shopping list" of desired items is on the credenza in the lobby. We also have a dropdown tab for donations to the Christmas at Sea ditty box program on Immanuel's website: https://onrealm.org/ImmanuelChurchH/-/form/give/now. You may also write a check and earmark it for the special collection.   Have you wondered about the Port of Wilmington? Check this link: https://portwilmington.com/. Not only is there a drone view of the port, but check out the cargo tab. Learn about the livestock, automobiles, and other products coming in and out of the port. This is a busy port and many seamen use the Seamen's Center.    As always, thank you so much for your kindness in sharing your blessings with others! November 16 — November 22 Kaydn Bailey, Isobel Milne, Stephan Schwarz Pray for those in need of our prayers for strength, guidance, or healing: Leslee Moore, The Santana Family, Sophie Day, Dean, Brenda McCourt, Edwina Michael, Dee Dee, Thomas, Bob Penneys, Nathaniel, Emily Gibson, Molly, Laurence Hazell, Nancy Godfrey, Leroy, Eleanor Austin, Karen Watchorn, Kathie Bove, Jerry Gainrett, Daisy Gainrett, Rachael Zito, Ed Flynn, Cliff Simpson, Noel Pumphrey, Jared Oliver, Ruth Moon, Chris, Bob Utz, Luke Cain, Cooper, Karen, Maria du Pont, Elaine Simpson, Bev H., Jean S., Stephen Hoffman, Suzanne Moon, Sister Jo Anne. If any names may be removed from the prayer list or if you wish to add any names please let the parish administrator know at [email protected] Immanuel Highlands is part of a wider church! ‘Link’ in to our community Diocesan website Diocesan quarterly magazine Delaware Communion Diocesan weekly e-news The Net archives Subscribe to diocesan publications Province III Episcopal News Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs Global Partnerships Anglican News Archbishop of Canterbury Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church 2400 West Seventeenth Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19806 (302).658.7326 Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. https://immanuelhighlands.church https://www.facebook.com/immanuelchurchhighlands   Priest in Charge: Father Wayne Rollins [email protected] Music Director: Ryan Pryslak [email protected] Parish Administrator: Lola Michael-Russell [email protected] Sexton: Jim Maloney (302) 658-7326 [email protected] Senior Warden: Maria du Pont [email protected] Junior Warden: Barb Volko [email protected] From the Editor If you have an item to be included in The Voice, please email it to the parish administrator at [email protected] 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!   Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church immanuelhighlands.church

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