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St. Stephen's in-the-Fi
eld Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL
February 23, 2018
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We the people of Saint Stephen's in-the Field
Seek to know Christ, to share Christ, and to serve Christ,
recognizing his presence in all people, and reaching out in love
to each other and to the world around us.
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As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
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Psalm 42: 1-2
I've been reading "Meeting Jesus on the Margins," the excellent book of meditations that Robin ordered for each of us for Lent, based on Matthew 25. (There are still a few available, if you have not yet gotten yours.) Last week all the readings were inspired by the phrase, "For I was hungry and you gave me food." Starting today all the readings follow the theme, "I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." Each day's entry is short, moving, and poignant.
Last Sunday a number of us gathered to discuss what we had read so far. I was particularly struck by the reading from the second day. In it, that day's author talked about Fritz Eichenberg's 1953 wood engraving, "Christ of the Breadlines." Maybe you've seen it. It shows Jesus standing in line along with six others. All are probably homeless. They huddle in blankets, with heads bowed. All are waiting for a handout. As the writer notes: "Each person in the line is turned inward, alone and vulnerable. What we see goes beyond hunger for food. We see hunger for connection, hunger for relationship. Isn't that a hunger we all share, regardless of our circumstances?"
That struck me. Although many of us have been fortunate enough in our lives to never know actual starvation or a life-threatening lack of water, we all know a desperate longing of another sort - a hunger and thirst for connection - connection to other people, connection to God. The two are intimately joined. As it says in First John: "Love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not know love does not know God."
The hunger for connection may not appear quite as urgent a need as food and water and yet it may turn out to be the deepest craving of all. The problem seems to be especially acute in Western countries, especially in the United States, with its preoccupation with individualism, which all too often simply means isolation. Bishop Mary tells about how, when the visitors from the Diocese of Western Tanganyika were here, what surprised them most about this country was not the wealth of goods but the lack of interaction between people. "The first thing I do when I get up each morning," one of the visitors said, "is go around and greet all of my neighbors, and I have many of them. Here everyone just stays inside their house. They all seem so alone." The crisis has reached a point in England where the Prime Minister has recently appointed a Minister of Loneliness to address the problem. It's worse in the US. It's not just a social problem either. It's a health issue too. Researchers have determined that persistent loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
So when you see a homeless person on the street, a kind word may turn out to be as important to them as anything else you might offer, perhaps much more important. That's true for all of us, in
fact. So reach out to others, both to those with obvious need and to others too. We all need this. We all need each other. We all need God. And by reaching out we offer both.
Peace and grace,
Ernie+
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Sunday Services:
Sunday, Feb. 25 8 am Holy Eucharist - Second Sunday of Lent
10 am Holy Eucharist
Nursery Care
Sunday School
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A Heartwarming Story from SMUM . . .
On Saturday, February 17
th
, Gabriel Tor, Wanda Bryan, Nick Petkovich and Susan Zaballos volunteered at Santa Maria Urban Ministry. We packed food boxes for 15 families and handed out bag lunches which included sandwiches, fruit, and water, to anyone that came to the window, asking for them.
I was fortunate to have interaction with one family that came for their groceries. A mother and two sons, ages 10 and 7 came and knocked on the window for their box of groceries. They were handed a box and went to the other side of the room to load their food onto a small portable cart. I closed the window, waiting for the next person to arrive. After about a minute, there was a knock on the window. I opened it and there stood the 10 year old boy who had just received their families' box. He handed the box back to me and as I looked inside I saw there was food left inside. I said to him, " There is food left here. It is all for you, you know." He gave me a shy smile and said, "We have enough. We don't need very much. Maybe someone else can use it." I said, "Well, at least take the jar of peanut butter. I know how much boys like peanut butter." This time I got a much bigger smile as he reached for the jar. "Thank you, you are right!" he said.
I have thought about that family quite a bit and was so moved by how, even though they were there to receive help, they wanted to be sure there was enough for someone else. I know that I received so much more that day than any person I handed out food to.
Please considered volunteering at SMUM. You will be blessed beyond your imagination.
Susan Zaballo
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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
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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!
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FIELD TRIPS
Please join me on
Wednesday March 14th
We will travel to the
de Young museum to enjoy the Bouquets to art exhibit
. We will meet in the church parking lot at 9 am.
Also, 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
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Lenten Study at St. Stephen's
by Edy Unthank
Tuesday, February 27, at
we continue the Lenten study on Mark 25.
Deacon Robin has the books for this study. There are still copies available if you would like one.
The Lenten study will also meet on Sundays after church and on Tuesday mornings, whichever is convenient for you.
The next session will be on Sunday February 25.
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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.
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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.
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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
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