A message from Sr. Warden Edy Unthank
 


Warbles from your Senior Warden:
 
Well, here we are in the Lenten season.  Everyone always has a plan - give up chocolate, read the bible more often, exercise more, etc.  Below you will see a suggested list from William Arthur Ward, a pastor and teacher.  Just food for thought.
 
Meanwhile, at St. Stephen's, there are several Lenten activities possible.  One is reading Forward Day-by-Day.  This season, the readings will guide you through the entire Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts chronologically.  We are also offering a Lenten study - Meeting Jesus on the Margins -  a daily meditation throughout Lent.  This is based on Matthew 25.  We are offering 2 opportunities to discuss, question, listen, ponder each week.  You can stay for an extended coffee hour or you can come on Tuesday mornings at 10.  There are still a few books available.  And don't forget Lenten Madness!  This fun exercise is like March Madness - only it is based on the saints!  You have the opportunity to compare 2 saints and then vote for your favorite.  Today (Thursday) Saint Paul and Saint Peter are running a close race.  It might be too late to register for this fun activity but you can watch the progress.  Check with Robin if you have any questions.
 
Since Bishop Mary has asked us to explore and find our identity as a parish, these exercises can help a great deal.  On what do we feast?  On what do we choose to fast?  Can we carry these disciplines throughout the year?  Is this the year that we become transformed?  Is this the year that we discover our passions?
 
I hope you take the opportunity to explore this Lenten season.  Lead with your heart and see where it takes you.  Share your thoughts.  Share your ideas.  Never forget that we are all on this journey together.  I look forward to hearing from you!
 
Many blessings,
Edy
 
Sunday Services:

Sunday, Feb. 18        8 am   Holy Eucharist - First Sunday of Lent
                                10 am    Holy Eucharist  
      Nursery Care
      Sunday School
 
 
 
 
Server Schedule for Sunday, Feb. 18 & Feb. 25, 2018
(click above to access Server Schedule)
 

Edy's Suggestions for Lent (See her reflections above) . . .
 
Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal Truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.

Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with your presence, so we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work. Amen.
                                                                      - Attributed to William Arthur Ward
 


This Week at SMUM . . .

Our fabulous volunteers this week are, Susan and Nick Zaballos (Nick is over 90 years old and still volunteering!!) Wanda and Gabriel.  If you have a few extra hours on Saturday morning stop by and give them a hand.  The address is: 778 S. Almaden Ave.
We were the only group to show up on the 3rd.  Help make a difference.
If you need a ride you can check with Susan. 
                                                -- Janet Thorsrud 

Gift Card Program
Congratulations!  You raised $89 for the month of February by choosing to use gift cards.  Hope everyone enjoyed their See's candy!  How can you not, right?
The next order is March 11th.  This order will cover Easter gifts and meals.  Remember Honeybaked hams!  If there are any questions feel free to call or ask me.
                                                -- Janet Thorsrud 
  Sr Elaine Coutu from  "Get On The Bus" will be with us this Sunday, February 18.  Sr Elaine will preach and give a video presentation about the "Get On The Bus" program after the 10am service.  This is a program St Stephen's has contributed to in the past.
"Get on the Bus" brings children and their caregivers from throughout the State of California to visit their mothers and fathers in prison, generally around Mother's and Father's Day.

An annual event, "Get on the Bus" offers free transportation for the children and their caregivers to the prison, provides travel bags for the children, comfort bags for the caregivers, a photo of each child with his or her parent, and meals for the day (breakfast, snacks on the bus, a special lunch at the prison with their parent and dinner on the way home), all at no cost to the children's family. On the bus trip home, following a four hour visit, each child receives a teddy bear with a letter from their parent and post-event counseling."
                                      

Village House Volunteers . . .

The Village House is currently at Willow Glen United Methodist Church, and we are hoping that you will join us in loving and caring for our guests, and helping us make a home for them in our historic Woodhaven Retreat Center.

We need evening hosts, overnight volunteers, morning shepherds, drivers, linen washers, and breakfast providers. You can get more information about the volunteer duties (and background check requirements), and sign up at   shelter.wgumc.org.

Instead of giving something up for Lent, why not take something up? Be a blessing and make a difference!

The daytime Warming Center for the next month will be at 2 churches.  To find the schedules and sign up links, visit the Village House website,  https://www.villagehousesccca.com/volunteer.html



FIELD TRIPS
Please join me on Friday Feb 23rd  for a visit to the Legion of Honor to view the Casanova exhibit.  The cost is $15 if you are under the age of 65.  If over that age you pay only $12.  We will meet in the church parking lot at 9 am.  If the weather permits you might want to bring a bag lunch to eat on the lawn with a  beautiful view of the bay. If it rains we can enjoy lunch in the caf é. 
Depending on what the group wants to do we can walk to Land's End and walk on the labyrinth.  Wear walking shoes if the weather is dry.
Let me know if you will be joining me so we can figure out how many cars will be needed.
Wednesday March 14th we will travel to the de Young museum to enjoy the Bouquets to art exhibit .  Same meeting place and time.

And last but not least in April we will drive down to Carmel to Gallery 21 to see the Eyvind Earle exhibit.  Edy, Wanda and myself saw some of his works at the Disney Museum.  We want to see more!!
Let me know  if you can join me to make sure how many people need to drive.   
                                                                                      - Janet Thorsrud
Lenten Study at St. Stephen's
by Edy Unthank

Tuesday, February 20, at   we begin the Lenten study on Mark 25.  Deacon Robin has the books for this study.  If you would like to join in the Lenten study, please pick up a book before the first meeting so that you can begin the short daily readings which on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14.   
 
The Lenten study will meet on Sundays after church and on Tuesday mornings, whichever is convenient for you.   
 
The first session will be on Sunday February 18.
 
 
What can you teach?
There is an effort to reach out to the St. Stephen's community by offering a summer camp this year. The plan is to offer enrichment sessions to children from the ages of 5 to 12.  Please tell us if you have a passion to teach any art or crafts, sing, music, sports, building, or helping kinders to improve their reading, cooking, stand on your head and rub your tummy.....ok maybe not that one, but you get the idea.
We are looking for teachers and helpers.  Let Ann Little, Monica Moniz or Janet Thorsrud know if you are interested.  We are in the plansning stage now and need to wrap it up soon.  Reach out to us and let us know. 

The Good Book Club:  Reading the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles 
               
  A wide range of resources, from prayers to videos to study guides, are now available from the more than 25 partners presenting the Good Book Club, a church-wide program that invites the reading of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles during the liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter. Led by  Forward Movement,   the Good Book Club readings begin the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday (February 11), and finish on Pentecost (May 20).
               
 Presiding Bishop Michael Curry described The Good Book Club as an opportunity to "read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Holy Scriptures." He noted that "The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus" while "the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of those who followed in the footsteps of Jesus."
               
 Many resources for the Good Book Club, including daily readings, are available  here  including daily readings.
                
 Read the full announcement online   with links to resources, Bishop Curry's video message, and more.


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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
www.ssitf.org    office@ssitf.org 
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