The Voice Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church July 10, 2025
A weekly newsletter from Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church
The Voice
Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church
July 10, 2024
In this edition of The Voice: This Week at Immanuel, Sunday's Scripture Readings, From Fr. Wayne, Summer vacation schedule, St. Stephen's Food Pantry deliveries and help needed, Coffee Hour Hosts, New School Supplies, Annual summer cookout, Prayer List, Birthdays and Anniversaries, Links to our church community.
This Week at Immanuel
Sunday, July 13
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Chapel)
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)
Tuesday, July 15
6:00 p.m. Al-Anon (Parlor)
Wednesday, July 16
6:00 p.m. Tai Chi (Dining Room)
Saturday, July 19
12:00 noon Al-Anon (Common Room)
5:00 p.m. Annual Summer Cookout with Live Music (Courtyard or Dining Room if raining) Sign-up sheet is on the easel in the lobby!
William Temple was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942-1944. He was a prolific writer and theologian, and he suffered from severe bouts of gout. That disease cut his life short during the height of World War II.
Archbishop Temple (the second, for his father held the same post at the turn of the century) is reported to have said “The church is the only institution that exists solely for the benefit of those who are not its members.” Those may not be his exact words, and quotes differ, but it gets to the heart of his meaning. I’m sure that ministry in England during the Second World War looked much differently than it does in Wilmington, Delaware in 2025. But that does not change the meaning of his statement; it just alters the context.
Everywhere I’ve gone I’ve asked a question along the lines of “what would our community miss if we were not here?” In a couple of places, one of the first answers was that a bell wouldn’t ring early on Sunday morning and awaken the neighborhood. Bells were often used as a neighborhood summons, and some have said that they scare demons away. These days, many have electronic systems with skewed overtones that probably delight demons. The overtones sometimes even make an Easter hymn sound like a dirge.
Digression ended. Sadly, though, in a couple of cases the answer to my question was “nothing.” Ministry in our time must ask and try to answer a fundamental question. If this place did not physically exist in this location, what are the ministries particular to Episcopalians, but more to disciples of Jesus, that would cause us to create it? Not build a building, but to build community based in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. When we answer that, we discover our heart. More to the point, we just might discover the heart of God beating all around us.
Summer Vacation Schedule
Fr. Wayne will be on vacation from July 14 - 20, and from July 28 -
August 3.
Parish Administrator, Lola Michael-Russell, will be on vacation from July 18 - August 3.
St. Stephen's Food Pantry
Two More Deliveries!
Many thanks for your donations
which made these deliveries possible
Connie Shultz, Maria du Pont and Bob Penneys delivered liquid and bar soap, body wash, shampoo, diaper wipes, and toothpaste.
Now that's a load of diapers! When Fr. Wayne and Maria du Pont delivered these, they began to be dispensed immediately.
Your help is needed
with preparation for the final delivery!
Help will be needed in bagging items for the St. Stephen's Food Pantry after the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, July 13. Grab a cookie and ice tea and join us in the Common Room while we bag our final outreach delivery.
Coffee Hour Hosts Needed!
Many thanks to those who have signed up to host the coffee hour in July.
Hosts are still needed in August. Please sign up on the notice board in the lobby if you are able. Thank you!
School Planning!! It's that time again
Do you remember what fun it was to start a new school year with brand-new school supplies? ...The thrill of the bright blue and green and red crayons (unbroken!) ... The yellow pencils with unchewed erasers! You have the opportunity to provide a new generation of children (and teachers) with this pleasure.
For the month of July and through August 17th, we will collect money for purchasing school supplies for the students at Johnson Elementary School, formerly Highlands Elementary. Your donation will help us buy the requested school supplies in bulk, the pencils, crayons, glue sticks, dry erase and washable markers, the wipes, the paper towels, safety scissors, pocket folders, Ziploc bags, tissues requested by the school. By buying in bulk, we will not only be able to get good deals, but will be able to assure uniformity in the supplies.
Thank you as always for your generosity and prayers for the children who will use these supplies!
SUMMER COOKOUT!
All are invited!
There is a sign-up sheet on the easel in the lobby!
What: Annual Summer Cookout with Live Music
Where: In the Courtyard (Inside if it is raining)
When: Saturday, July 19, 2025, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
July 13 – July 19
Larry Records, Bowen Fernandez
If you would like your birthday or anniversary recognized in The Voice, please let the parish administrator know at [email protected]
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, Margie Taggart, Bob Taggart, Donna White, Joanna C., Kathy Osten, Eleanor Austin, Karen Watchorn, Kathie Bove, Jerry Gainrett, Daisy Gainrett, Rachael Zito, Ed Flynn, Donna Hoffman, A’Zayaiah, Sister Jo Anne, Cliff Simpson, Noel Pumphrey, Jared Oliver, Ruth Moon, Chris.
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!