BULLETIN BOARD

VESTRY EMAIL ADDRESS: You are encouraged to contact the vestry with questions, concerns, interests, etc. at the new email address: vestry@stmarthasbethany.org

FLOWER POLICY: The flower team orders all flowers. Sign your name and phone number on the flower chart on the bulletin board by the kitchen. Include special occasion ( Baptism, Anniversary, Birthday, Memorial, etc.) and indicate whether or not you wish to take the flowers home and be sure to write paid on the chart when you have submitted your payment. The cost is $30.00 payable to "St. Martha's Episcopal Church", and envelopes are provided below the chart. Note flower fund and the Sunday date requested on the memo line of the check. Place the check in the basket outside the office door. Lee Moore 302-537-8051, Joanne Levy 302-541-8969 & Deb Kerchner 302-539-4051.

THE FLOWER COMMITTEE is looking for helping hands for our indoor plants and altar flowers. If you have an interest, please contact Deb Kerchner at 539-4051, or Lee Moore at 537-8051.

THE CASA SAN FRANCISCO BROWN BAG PROJECT:

Bags with a list of suggested food items to fill them aare provided in the narthex. Please take one, or use a bag from home. fill the bag with the suggested items and return it to church. WWe'll take care from there. To those who participate regularly , we give a hearty thanks. To those of you who have not yet participated, we earnestly urge you to do so. Remember, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me." (Casa is a shelter and food distribution center for the poor and needy in Sussex County.)

Suggested Items: jelly/jam, pasta, scalloped potatoes, pancake mix, popcorn, mayonnaise, canned soups, canned fruit, oatmeal, canned vegetables, rice, cookies-healthy snacks, canned tuna, jell-o.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS: If you would love the opportunity to have some fun and enlightenment, please come join us. Kids do say the darndest things and our children are very thoughtful and loving. We can share with you how we think, read, and show our love of the Lord. If you would like to volunteer for a week or two please let us know. We will train you and provide lesson plans. If you have a talent for music and can share with us, that would be wonderful. If interested, please contact Barb Harris at barbharris@mchsi.com.

HELPING OTHERS: The Outreach Committee is seeking the support of parishioners in a new effort to help provide non-food supplies to those in need of emergency assistance. The Pyle Center in Roxanna serves as the clearing house for the State Services Programs which has funding to offer families and individuals emergency assistance providing medical attention, housing arrangements, food, and clothing.
What they cannot provide to those with limited incomes and in need of emergency help, and where we can help Out, is supplying non-food items such as toothpaste and brushes; diapers and other baby supplies: toilet paper, paper towels. Kleenex; hand. dish., and cloths soap: all types of cleaning supplies, as well as men's and women's hygiene products.
On your next trip to the store, pick up any non-food item, bring it to church, and place it in the marked blue container in the narthex. The Outreach Committee will take care of delivering the supplies to the Pyle Center. If you have any questions, please call Mary Davis, 537-6665. As always, your generosity is appreciated and helps to support the small church with a big heart."

FOOD FOR THOUGHT PROGRAM: Many children who live at or below the poverty level have their only meals at school. St. Martha's Food For Thought Program provides funding for additional servings of food for children eligible for free or reduced price meals and who are still hungry after eating the regular meal. For those eligible children, costs for the additional servings are charged to Food For Thought. For example, students may get additional milk, cereal, soup, etc.

The Outreach Committee currently has funds budgeted for Clayton and Showell Elementary Schools. The populations at both schools are racially and ethnically diverse. At Clayton, 81% of the enrollment is eligible for free or reduced price meals. At Showell, 61% are eligible. The generosity of St. Martha's helps keep poor children healthy and ready to learn.

THE WAY HOME PROGRAM assists prisoners at the Sussex County Correctional Center in their transition back into the community. St. Martha's was instrumental in organizing and launching this program and has continued to have an active role with the program through funding as well as through participation in various volunteer capacities. Staff members with the Way Home meet folks when they are released from prison and help them re-enter society by assisting with many basic needs including acquiring clothing, finding housing and employment, enrolling in education and training programs, and reconnecting with the many daily living requirements and changes. The program operates with limited revenue to carry out its broad mission and is continually seeking new opportunities to expand its fund raising efforts.

THE WAY HOME invites donations for the Men's Transitional House in Millsboro. Needed are hand pump soap, paper towels, toilet paper, dish washing soap and cleanser, and spray Lysol products. Food items needed are canned tuna, canned beef stew, pasta, pasta sauce, bread, canned or bottled juice, jelly, crackers, breakfast cereal, frozen hamburgers, turkey bacon, eggs, butter, cooking oil, frozen chicken, raw potatoes and raw onions.

INQUIRERS, TRANSFEREES & MEMBERSHIP:

How does one become a member of St. Martha's Church? This is a commonly asked question. Options are:

Request a transfer from the congregation where you are presently a member. Lynne Watson can request these from Episcopal Churches or you may contact the church on your own.

Be presented to the Bishop upon his annual visitation for confirmation, or for Reception if previously with the Roman Catholic Church. Speak to the rector about your desire or questions.
Write out your full name, place and date of birth, and place and date of baptism and give this to the rector or parish secretary for entry into the parish register.

Slips are available in the narthex for individuals to indicate their interest in becoming members of St. Martha's, or click HERE to download Transfer Request Form. Booklets about the Episcopal Church are also available for reading. Whether one decides to follow through and become a member will be seen as an individual decision. The books are being made available to assist each on their spiritual journey. Conversations with the rector are also invited.

GLUTEN FREE WAFERS are now available for those people who have allergies. Please advise the Ushers that you desire this alternative & they will give you a "no wheat" card. Please present this card to the Priest when you are at the altar rail ready to receive communion.

PASTORAL CARE TRANSPORTATION TEAM of 10 volunteers is now available to provide rides to medical appointments or other needs. Call if we can help, Carolyn Smith, 436-9080, or Mary Thormeyer, 539-0400.

THE MONTHLY MESSENGER, to be mailed only to non-internet households, may be found by going on our web page, www.stmarthasbethany.org, and then clicking Messenger on the left. If you are wish to be notified when the new issue is posted, send your name and email address to webmaster@stmarthasbethany.org.

All articles for the Messenger are due by the 15th of each month. Please send articles in a Word document via email to Lynne Watson, lwatson@stmarthasbethany.org.

GREETERS NEEDED: If you are interested in joining the Greeters, please contact Don Clarke at dcclarke@mchsi.com or 539-3702. We'd love to have you join our group.

COMMEMORATIVE BRICKS: $150 will give you an engraved brick for our outside walk. This is a wonderful way to celebrate a marriage, anniversary, birth of a child of grandchild or to honor a loved one. Click HERE for order form. Brick order forms are also available in the Narthex in the rack by the office. If you have any questions, contact Wincy Jackson 302-539-9319 or jaxon19930@mchsi.com.