A message from The Rev. Ernie Boyer
 


In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.' - Matthew 2:1-2
 
Scholars debate virtually everything about Matthew's account of the wise men, the Magi. They ask WHO they were. They ask WHAT they were. They ask WHERE they came from. The most common story is that the Magi were Zoroastrian priests, men of great learning and power, who traveled to Bethlehem from central Persia. A dissenting view suggests that they might have been learned members of a Jewish community that was known to exist in southern Arabia, the present-day Yemen. Either way their travel to Bethlehem would have involved a pilgrimage of well over a thousand miles, a journey that would have been filled with both great danger and great hardship.
 
The most immediate question that this raises for us today as we approach the Feast of Epiphany is how far would WE travel in order to meet Jesus? What hardships and dangers would WE endure to be with him? To a certain degree the question is mute: the truth is, Jesus is always with us. He is always here. We need look no further than our own hearts in order to find him. "Abide in me," Jesus says, "as I abide in you" (John 15:4). It is also true, though, that our relationship with Jesus was never meant to be stationary. The phrase that Jesus constantly returns to is "follow me." He says it to his disciples (see Matt. 4:18, 8:22, etc.). He says it to sinners (see Matt. 9:9). He says it again and again: "Follow me."
 
This journey was never meant to be an easy one either. To the young man who asked him what he must do in order to gain eternal life, Jesus says, "go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me" (Matt. 19:21). And as Jesus told the crowd in Mark 8:34: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Jesus is clear: this is a journey that will demand much of us.
 
And where are we going on this journey? It's clear that for Jesus we are traveling toward what he calls "the Kingdom of God" - a place of justice, peace, love, and dignity for all - a place which Jesus wished to see "on earth as it is in heaven." And how do we get to this place? There is only one way. We must adhere closely to Jesus' teaching and so become ourselves instruments of that justice, that peace, that love, and that dignity.
 
My friends, we are already on that journey, and we have come far. Let us take heart from the Magi and begin this year with a new resolve to follow Jesus wherever he might lead!
 
Peace and grace,
Ernie+

Sunday Services:

Sunday, Jan 7         8 am     Holy Eucharist - 1st Sunday After Epiphany
                                10 am    Holy Eucharist 
      Nursery Care
      Sunday School
 
 
 
 
 
Server Schedule for Sunday, Jan 7 & 14, 2018
(click above to access Server Schedule)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT SANTA MARIA URBAN MINISTRY -- SATURDAY, JANUARY 6
by Janet Thorsrud
 
Saturday, January 6, SMUM needs 5 people to help distribute food to their clients. The food needs to be boxed up first. That's where you come in. We will meet in the church parking lot at 8 am to carpool to SMUM.
 
This is an excellent opportunity for children to help. Melissa went with us to help hand out gifts before Christmas. She was amazing!!! We then went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch.
 
So far only Susan Z has told me she can join me. Who else is up for a field trip?? Let me know.
 



Celebrate Epiphany at St. Stephen's
Saturday, January 6, 2018
6:00 pm  
  by Tom Good
 
Spaghetti Dinner
Feast of Lights Evening Prayer
Epiphany Twelfth-Night Party 
 
Please sign up HERE to let us know if you will attend the dinner -- and if you can help in one or more areas. We need a headcount in order to have enough food.
 
 
I hope that you will join us in this celebration of the end of the Christmas Season! Our tradition at St. Stephen's is that the men get together and prepare a Spaghetti dinner. I need some help to pull this together, there will be some set up and prep on Friday, early evening. Then help to prepare and serve the dinner on Saturday followed by cleanup after. Please consider helping with this event, then bring the family and enjoy this fun celebration! You can contact me if you can help.  
 
Tom Good
 

Bible Study Resumes at St. Stephen's
by Edy Unthank

Village House Warming Center -- Volunteers Needed
Episcopal Church in Almaden
by The Reverend Robin Poppoff

Volunteers are needed again this year to serve at the Village House Warming Center at the Episcopal Church in Almaden.
 
Dates:  Wed, Jan 3, 2018 - Wed Feb 7, 2018  
Location:  Episcopal Church in Almaden, 6581 Camden Ave,
San Jose, CA 9512 0
Phone Contact:  (408) 268-0243
 
Welcome to the group sign up page for Village House at ECA found at:

Welcome to all who would like to join us, from all faiths. On this page you will find links to all the volunteer spots available for the January, 2018, rotation of Village House Warming Center at ECA.

Following is a link to a video presentation by Libby Escheverria, the social worker who is working with Village House and the women who will be our guests at the daytime warming center in January.

If you will be volunteering at the Warming Center, please find time to watch this training video before you serve.
 
 

Thanks for being the hands and feet of Christ to our guests.


Gift Card Program
by Janet Thorsrud

Hey my friends,
 
You gave back a little over $400 to St Stephen's this month!!! Give yourselves a pat on the back.
 
Moving forward the next order will be placed on January 7th.
 
Imagine what we could do if everyone ordered. No budget problems.
 
See you Sunday
 


Save the dates 
 
Faith & Innovation Conference
You're invited to the annual  2018 Faith & Innovation Conference  at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Saratoga to explore the question, "What is the future of community?" Political viewpoints and issues and online communications have changed the quality and frequency with which we experience community. Join us Saturday, February 24, 2018, 9 am - 3:30 pm at St. Andrew's. Watch for details in future issues! 
 
Jesus Seminar on the Road at St. Jude's
David Galston and Bernard Brandon Scott will be the speakers at the Jesus Seminar on the Road at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Cupertino, to be held February 2-3. Their topic is "Taking Jesus Seriously: Building on the Wisdom Tradition." Register before January 19 for reduced rates.    David Galston will also be the featured speaker at St. Jude's Community Forum, held on February 4 from 9:15-10:15 am.
 
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.


Friday Journal editor needed.....

Please let Father Ernie know if you would be interested in a volunteer position at St. Stephen's to edit and publish the weekly Friday Journal, or possibly a monthly newsletter with updates as needed throughout the month.  Experience with Constant Contact is a plus, but we could train you.  We are working to simplify the format of the newsletter, and are open to new ideas.  We estimate that the time requirement is 2 to 3 hours per week and it can be done from home. 

Let us know what you think.....
This Friday Journal has a new format.  Please let us know what you think by responding to   julie@ssitf.org


If you wish to submit an article for the Friday Journal, please send it by email by Thursday noon of each week to   julie@ssitf.org.  Thank you.

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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