A message from The Rev. Ernie Boyer
 


The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of a bush; Moses looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, 'I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.' When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 
- Exodus 3:2-4
 
      "Here I am."
      This is what Moses says when God calls to him from the burning bush: "Here I am." In Hebrew this phrase is rendered with a single word, Hineni, and it's one of the most loaded words in the Old Testament. It doesn't just mean "I'm here in front of you." In Hebrew there's a whole separate word for that. It means rather something like, "I'm right here ready to go." It's a word of energy and commitment. When God calls to Abraham to require him to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham answers, "Hineni." When the boy Samuel hears God calling to him in the night in this Sunday's Old Testament reading his first response is "Hineni," in other words, "Here I am at your service."
      Shortly before his death last November, the poet and singer Leonard Cohen recorded a final album, You Want It Darker. In the title song, he addresses God with his characteristic mix of devotion and irreverence and assesses his life. Clearly things have not always been easy for Cohen. Clearly, too, he's been far from God's most devout followers -- and yet follower he has been. Religious images, both tarnished and inspired, are everywhere in Cohen's music. (This is the man who composed the exuberant song "Hallelujah," after all.) And yet even so, the refrain of "You Want It Darker" comes as a bit of a surprise. Knowing that he is about to meet his God, Cohen is resolute, almost exultant:
 
"Hineni, hineni," he sings in his raw, gravelly voice,
"I'm ready, my Lord."
 
       "Hineni, hineni. I'm ready, my Lord." -- Here I am God, I'm ready for anything, just say the word.
      I can think of no better statement for us at St. Stephen's to approach whatever lies ahead.
      "Hineni."
   
Peace and grace,
Ernie +

Sunday Services:

Sunday, Jan 14         8 am   Holy Eucharist - 2nd Sunday After Epiphany
                                10 am    Holy Eucharist with the Joyful Noise Band 
      Nursery Care
      Sunday School
 
 
 
 
Server Schedule for Sunday, Jan 14 & 21, 2018
(click above to access Server Schedule)



On January 6th nine members from St. Stephen's went to SMUM to volunteer.  We boxed up food to be distributed to families in the neighborhood. They badly needed it! The need was so great, in fact, that the boxes eventually ran out. Rowena and Melissa made bag lunches for those who dropped by after the boxes were gone. 
We also helped sort clothing.  This had not been done for several weeks.  Keep SMUM in mind when you clean out your closets. Families are allowed to receive a pre-determined amount of items based on the number of family members they have.
Thanks to Rowena, Harley, Elena and Melissa ( THE WHOLE FAMILY), Ann and John Little, Margo and Susan Z for making it fun!
We still need 5 people to help out on the 20th.  The work was easy, and it helps us remember all that we have to be thankful for.  Let me know if you can go.
Some sad news from Brian Nordwick, Diocese of El Camino Real:

"Bishop Sadock from the Diocese of Western Tanganika sent an email on January 11, 2018 to notify us of the sudden departure of Canon Fred Kalibwami on January 10 at the SHUNGA Hospital in Kasulu Tanzania.  He had a serious heart attack and was admitted to the hospital in Tanzania.  He was preparing to go to work at SHUNGA Hospital as Secretary of the Hospital. Please pray for the children and family and particularly the clergy of the Diocese of Western Tanganika."
Father Fred Kalibwami visited St Stephen's from the Diocese of Western Tanganika a few years ago, and made a lasting impression with all of us.  He shared the work that he was doing in Western Tanganika to improve the lives of orphans and medical services. 
We pray for his family and for his eternal rest.

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

 
Our ongoing bible study meets again this Tuesday, January 16, at 10am at St. Stephen's.  We will be discussing the gospel for the upcoming Sunday.  
 
This will continue until 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.

Also, there are some people who are interested in meeting for a Lenten study in the evening in different people's homes. Depending on how people feel about it, this could also include dinner. If this interests you, please contact Fr. Ernie on Sunday or at boyer.ernest@gmail.com.

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.
     
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.
 
PLEASE NOTE: ECA IS IN PARTICULAR NEED OF VOLUNTEERS THIS COMING WEEK!
 

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


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  boyer.ernest@gmail.com 


If you wish to submit an article for the Friday Journal, please send it by email by Thursday noon of each week to  boyer.ernest@gmail.com.  Thank you.

Place article copy here. Be sure to make the articles short and concise as people tend not to read much more than a couple of paragraphs. Place article copy here.
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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