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

THE CASA SAN FRANCISCO BROWN BAG PROJECT is going plastic. Plastic bags with a list of suggested food items to fill them are provided in the narthex. Please take one, or use a bag from home. fill the bag with the suggested items and return it to the church. We will take care of it from there. To those of you 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, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my breathren, that you do unto me." (Casa is a shelter and food distribution center for the poor and needy of 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.

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.

THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE needs the continued support of our church community to maintain and expand our wide and varied projects which take in local, national and international needs. the reduced budget levels for outreach over the past year have made it difficult to sustain our commitment to support the charitable needs which have become closely associated with the generosity of the St. Martha's congregation. As part of this year's Stewardship Campaign, the Outreach Committee is seeking to recoup some of its previous resources, thus allowing us to continue with both our long and short-term projects.

Some of our ongoing projects include 1) the Way Home, a prison ministry which assists prisoners in their transition back to the community; 2) Food For Thought, a supplemental food program which allows needy children to receive adequate nutrition; 3) Hickory Tree Housing Development, Selbyville, a Housing 8 Project with an after school program for youngsters who benefit from many of our ongoing projects; 4) Camp Arrowhead scholarships funded jointly by our church and the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware permitting local children to attend summer camp; 5) Casa San Francisco an ongoing food pantry providing groceries for area homeless and needy families; 6) Emergency Home Repairs which assists with emergency repairs for Sussex County residents; 7) Our Little Roses, Honduras, a school and home for abused and abandoned young girls; 8) All Souls Episcopal Church, New Orleans which receives limited funds to aid in community recovery from hurricane Katrina. These projects represent a "tall order" for a small parish with limited funds. Outreach needs your increased support to move forward and expand its programs.

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.

ST. MARTHA'S PRAYER CIRCLE

Updated names and numbers

Prayer is the encouragement and praise in every Episcopal Church. For more than a year, our prayer circle supported our parish community with the connecting bonds of a community prayer circle, fashioned like a telephone chain for quick response.

The prayer circle is for immediate times of need or concern,and functions "over and above" the Prayers of the People, Sunday service prayer, and other parish prayer lists. We are a supplement if the other prayer vehicles are not timely enough to meet your needs. We can pray during an operation, or immediately after an accident. Our circle is flexible to immediate needs!

For intercessory prayer, please call any one person within the prayer circle. That person will be the initial contact person or initiator for your new prayer request, and will pass on the information to all in the prayer circle. We are:

Eugenia Athan 302-569-8550

Nancy Gallons 302-539-2554
Lee Moore 302-537-8051

Kris Spinney 302-542-9332
Martha Fields 302-539-2056

Deb Kerchner 302-462-0801
Carol (Cat) Tavani 302-540-2656

Phyllis Mikolaiti 703-819-5872
Mary Lou Dogoloff 302-539-2635

Bill Jarboe 302-236-8262
Mimi Dupont 302-228-2755

Carolyn Smith 302-436-9080
Joanne Levy302-541-8969

Wincy Jackson 302-539-9319
Dianne Burlew 302-598-7309

Jean Shaw 302-539-9516
Mary Perkins 302-537-7552

Dick and Carolyn Hay 302-537-4246
Josie Kingsley 609-217-3609

Johann Ross 302-436-6424

Hint: Remember 1 or 2 names, and then if you are in need you won't have to look for this list!

Questions? Please call Deb Kerchner (539-4051 or 462-0801) or email her at Deb.Kerchner@stmarthasbethany.org.

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.

OUR CHURCH OFFICE is open Monday thru noon Friday. Rev Mary Allen is in the
office Monday thru Thursday and is available throughout the week as needed. She
would love to come visit you individually in your homes. If you have an emergency or
want to set up an appointment for a visit, call her cell # 425-232-7265 or send her an email at celtpriest@gmail.com.

Our administrative Officer, Lynne Watson, is in the
church office all day Wednesday, Thursday, and until noon on Friday.

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR volunteers help provide a time for renewing acquaintances and welcoming newcomers. A signup sheet by the kitchen or contact Bibi Tew, 541-8410, bibi2@airmail.net or Nancy Rojewski, 537-0495, rojoreid@mchsi.com

SUNDAY SCHOOL loves new faces, children and volunteers. We are unable to accommodate babies & toddlers in our Sunday School. We do have a changing table in the back rest room for your use. Please consider assisting or being added to the list of those who can help out in a pinch. Contact Barbara Harris at barbaraharris@mchsi.com if you would like to know more about volunteering with us. Join in the fun and possibly assist or teach a week or two. It's rewarding and fun!

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, Dennis Rhodes, 541-4697, 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.

STOCKLEY CENTER IN GEORGETOWN is collecting toiletries for the facility's residents. Tote is located in Narthex for the donations and has a list of suggested items.

WANTED: TELLERS - A few good women and men to serve as Tellers. this means counting the cash following the 10:00 AM service and preparing the cash for deposit. (Making the deposit when the contribution enterer, currently Mary Perkins, is not there.) The Tellers serve in teams of two. It usually takes about 1/2 hour and you would be scheduled once every six to eight weeks, unless you want to do it more often. Please let Mary Perkins know via email mppkrh@verizon.net or calling 302-537-7552.

BE A WILLING CHRISTIAN. Remember St. Martha's in your estate plans.

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.

ALTAR GUILD MEMBERS are being sought for both the 8 & 10 am services. The 8 am people clean up after 8 am and set up for 10 am. The 10 am people set up on Saturday for 8 am and clean up after the 10 am service. Contact Lois Radcliffe, 537-6069.

FLOWER POLICY: The new 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.

ST. MARTHA'S PRAYER LIST: To place a name(s) on the prayer list, please complete and return the form in the basket outside the church office with all pertinent information. Click HERE for form. Names will remain on the prayer list for only 2 months unless you contact Lynne Watson at the office, 539-7444.