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Deacons' Day
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Dear Hanover Saints,
Are you ready? Are you prepared for one of our most meaningful Sundays yet this year? Are you ready to rejoice?
Were it not for the coronavirus we would be gathering this Sunday for the annual Deacons' Luncheon. Each year the Deacons bring us together to celebrate the gift of membership and belonging in the Hanover community of faith. A part of the celebration is to recognize those with special membership anniversaries. This year we have an astonishing moment as we recognize 75 years of membership for not just one, but two Saints: Thelma Meginniss and Nancy Palmer.
Be sure to catch the worship service in which we will recognize Nancy and Thelma. It will be sent out on Saturday evening, and you are encouraged to watch it at 10:00am Sunday morning. CLICK HERE to read the scripture lesson - Psalm 103.
Covid-19 notwithstanding, the Deacons have created an alternative event designed to include each and every Hanover Saint. Following the 10:00am service there will be four options for taking part in the celebration. In each of these options, you will be presented with a special medallion that captures the mission and spirit of Hanover.
The four choices are:
From 10:30am – 12:00 noon, for those who are comfortable coming to the church, you may do so. The first option is to stay in your car. Deacons and others will be standing six feet apart along the sidewalk on Jefferson St. with their masks on. You can pull up and roll down your window and, wearing your mask, catch up with your deacon, who will remain six feet away.
Also from 10:30am – 12:00 noon, for those who are comfortable coming into the church (six feet apart and with masks), we will open the building for all to see the many changes that have taken place while we’ve been separated. Likely we’ll put on the air conditioning, so you won’t just see - but feel - the difference! And by then there is a good chance the work in the Gathering Place will be done!
From 12:00 on, for those who are not comfortable going out, we have a group of folks who are willing to come see you! If you would prefer a visit, someone will come to your door, knock or ring, and then retreat so you can have a safe and spirited conversation. And they will hand deliver your gift!
For those who are not comfortable interacting in these ways, we extend complete understanding – and another option. If that is the case, we will put your gift in the mail so everyone will be a part of the event.
May God bless our gift of belonging, no less the community that brings us to the place where we receive those blessings.
Peace,
Andy
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The
Inquisitive
Intern
by Sara Snowden
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This past summer I studied biblical Hebrew, the language originally used in writing the Hebrew Testament. This requirement for Presbyterian ordination seemed like an impossible task to me because the alphabet is filled with look-alike letters and it is read from right to left. But, our professor was patient and encouraging, and little by little, I got the hang of it and wound up enjoying the class more than I could have imagined.
Biblical Hebrew has certain groups of verbs that are used to communicate particular meaning. Verbs can appear in several of these groups or they may only appear in one group. One of these special group of verbs is used to communicate something that happens not just once, but repeatedly. I was surprised to discover the verb ‘to bless’ is in this group. Remember, biblical Hebrew is the language of people who were oppressed and who experienced unimaginable trauma for generations. And out of that deeply painful history comes this understanding of repeated blessings. Throughout the Hebrew Testament, we read stories of God extending blessing to individuals, families, or even a nation.
Blessings sometimes come to us as surprises or as awakenings to a new understanding. I’m curious about your experiences. In this transformed time, how have you been blessed? Are there ways you have been a blessing to someone else? Share your thoughts with me at sksnowden@lancasterseminary.edu. And may God bless you, again and again.
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The Week Ahead at Hanover
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Thursday, September 17 8:00am Food Pantry
5:00pm Faith in Action
Friday, September 18 6:15pm Yoga at the Sugarbowl
Sunday, September 20 10:00am Worship service on line
10:30am Fellowship Hour (Zoom)
1:00pm Creation Care
Monday, September 21 8:30am Prayer Circle (Zoom)
Tuesday, September 22 10:00am Hot Dog Cart
Wednesday, September 23 12:00pm High Noon at Hanover
5:30pm Coping with COVID-19 (Zoom)
7:00pm Finance Committee
Thursday, September 24 8:00am Food Pantry
Article Deadline for
October Herald
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High Noon
at
Hanover
Wednesday,
September 23, 2020
A Prayer for
Friends & Community
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O God of love, You have created us to live in community,
Bless our friends who provide us with the grace and love of an extended family.
Endow them with the riches of your blessings that they may enjoy the wonders of your creation and share their delight with others.
Bless them with keen minds and compassionate hearts that they may create a better life for all.
Guard them from injustice, oppression, and evil that they may know lifelong freedom and hope.
In their waking and in their sleeping, in their laughter and in their tears, surround them with your love
Through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
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The Gathering Place Project - September 17, 2020
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Beautiful new flooring for The Gathering Place and a bathroom with appliances!
And meanwhile, here is the Sanctuary!!!
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for sustaining our ministries during this time of COVID. Here are the ways you can continue to give:
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Mail: Checks can be mailed to:
Hanover Presbyterian Church - 1801 North Jefferson Street - Wilmington, DE 19802
Drop-off: You can go to the Jefferson Street Open Arms Academy/Church Office entrance and put your envelope inside the gray mailbox on the left door. It is safe and secure there, and Herman and/or Twyla will pick them up.
Drop-off in person: Please call the office to arrange a time to meet us.
On line: Go to our website: www.hanoverchurch.org - scroll down to the bottom of the screen and you will see Online Giving. Click on the yellow highlighted word Donate - the next screen asks you if you are using a credit card or PayPal. Then follow the prompts - make sure you write in the Note section where your money is to go.
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Faith in Action
Peace and Global Witness Offering
A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Congregations are encouraged to use up to 25% of this offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace. Mid-councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.
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If you would like to make a gift, please mark your check “Peace & Global Witness Offering” in the memo line. Thank you for supporting this vital ministry.
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Click here to read this week's issue of "Midweek Musings".
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Community Services & Events
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Peace Week Delaware is celebrating our fifth anniversary this year, and our event organizers have risen to the challenge of bringing people together for peace. In the name of community safety we are hosting exclusively virtual and outdoor events. We encourage you to attend as many as you are able!
CLICK HERE to view our 49 scheduled events - you'll see that there is something for everyone. Don't forget to reserve your virtual seats for Zoom events!
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SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
Start here - click: https://2020census.gov/
When you respond to the census, you help our community gets its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. Businesses use this data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, and this creates jobs.
Please take a few minutes and help shape everyone's future.
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Fill out this Google form to register. Indicate your best day and time for a weekly two-hour meeting.
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"ENGAGING NONVIOLENCE" SCHEDULE – FALL 2020
Part I – two hours per week for six weeks
Runs weeks of Sept. 7 through week of Oct. 12
Part II – two hours per week for five weeks
Runs weeks of Oct 19 through week of Nov. 16
Part III will begin in early 2021.
(Schedules subject to change.)
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The Workshops
The workshops are free, but beginning participants are asked to purchase a copy of Engaging Nonviolence ($25 from Nonviolent Wilmington) for use during each session. Copies will be available at the first session (cash or check). If you cannot afford this book, free or reduced-price copies will be available.
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Featuring
Judy Johnson
Delaware's Local Hero
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Negro League Baseball. To commemorate this landmark, Andrea McCoy-Carty, Chair for the Judy Johnson Memorial Foundation in Wilmington has curated a striking assemblage of memorabilia and artificats from the League's rich history and archives, on loan from national private collectors.
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The exhibit is on display in the Edward R. Loper Sr. Gallery of the Christina Cultural Arts Center, 715 Market Street. The exhibit is open from now until October 30 - Monday - Friday from 9AM - 2:30PM by reservation only. Visits are in 20-minute time slots with a maximum of 4 people at a time. Masks are required.
CLICK HERE to schedule your visit.
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Inspiration for these days
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SONGS ABOUT
FRIENDSHIP & COMMUNITY
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Blessed be OUR journey . . .
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