Along the King's Highway
El Camino Real Newsletter
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Church Office & Preschool Hours
The church office is CLOSED on Mondays, and OPEN from
8am to 1pm,
Tuesday - Friday.
Preschool is in session Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8am to 1pm.
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 Please see the "Angels of St. Stephen's" article for our Thank You's this week.
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GoodLifeUSA VIP Hotel Savings Card
This is a new fundraising opportunity to support St. Stephen's. Donate whatever and whenever you want and receive a card worth $200 in discounts. Save money on hotels and resort stays through GoodLifeUSA.
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This Sunday, September 17, 2017, is the 15th Sunday after Pentecost. The Rev. Ernie Boyer, our Interim Pastor, will preside over the 8:00 am and the 10:00 am services.
The vestry met last night, Sept. 14, 2017 for our monthly meeting.
We are now in need of a Vestry Clerk
. The Vestry Clerk takes the minutes of all of the vestry meetings. He/she then types up the meetings and sends a draft of the minutes out to the vestry members for feedback. The minutes are then reviewed and approved at the next monthly vestry meeting. The Vestry Clerk is a non-voting member of the vestry and is essential for vestry record keeping. The skills that you will need are: good note taking skills at meetings and ability to type up the notes into a template and then send out to the vestry members by email. You will need to be able to discern what should go into the minutes and ask questions if not sure. You will need to be able to attend most of the vestry meetings, which are the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at St. Stephen's Church. Please let me know if you are interested.
Please keep the vestry, the Rector Search Committee, and Rev. Ernie Boyer in your prayers. The vestry is working hard to keep St. Stephen's operating smoothly and the Rector Search Committee is working hard to create our church profile. Ernie will be leading us through the rest of our transition, preparing us to call our next Rector. Please pray that God will guide us all and that we will have open hearts and minds as we make decisions for the church during this transition.
Bishop Mary is leading a Transition Retreat for us tonight, on Sept. 15 and tomorrow, Sept. 16, 2017 at St. Stephen's church. Reminder: The schedule for the retreat has been revised. September 15, 2017 (Friday evening) will be for the vestry and the Rector Search Committee to meet with Bishop Mary. Saturday, September 16, 2017, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm will also be for the vestry and Rector Search Committee only. The whole congregation is invited to attend for lunch on Saturday, Sept. 16th, at 12:00 pm, followed by the retreat until 3:00 pm. Bishop Mary will lead us through reflective discernment as we search for a new priest. It is very important that you attend and participate in the retreat. If you have not responded yet to the head count email, please do so today so that we can have a head count for lunch on Saturday (tomorrow). You can email me. I hope to see you at the retreat on tomorrow.
Transition Update:
The Rector Search Committee has revised the OTM and Church Profile and the vestry will meet this Tuesday evening, Sept. 19th, to review them and possibly approve them. Once the vestry approves the OTM and Church Profile, both will be sent to the Diocese, to Bishop Mary and Cannon Brian Nordwick to review. Once they approve it, then they will send the OTM and Profile out to the community to advertise our opening. The Diocese will screen and do background checks for all prospective candidates. They will send the search committee the candidates that qualify.
Please bring in dry food for the Food Basket for St. Julie's and pocket change for the Food for the Poor Jar.
Please look at the Angel Board to see if there are any tasks that need to be added or tasks that you want to volunteer to do.
Also, remember Andy Lief is putting together a list of tasks that need to be done for the Beautification of St. Stephen's Project. Please let him know if you have tasks to add.
Genie Lee
Senior Warden
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A Message from our Interim Pastor, The Reverend Ernie Boyer
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Dear St. Stephen's Family,
I want to say, first of all, what a joy it is to have Bishop Mary join us for a retreat this Friday and Saturday and to strongly encourage everyone who can to please attend - Friday evening and Saturday morning for the Vestry and Search Committee, and Saturday from Noon to 3 PM for everyone else. I don't know exactly what Bishop Mary plans for her time with us, but I do know that she intends to zero in on St. Stephen's current task of choosing a new Rector and, knowing Bishop Mary, that she will do this in a way that is concrete, practical, challenging, informative, compassionate, and inspiring.
No parish does the hard work of choosing a Rector in isolation: the bishop's role is decisive. It is for this reason that we are so blessed to have Bishop Mary, who brings to this task not just her canonical authority, but also her tremendous expertise, experience, wisdom, and insight. Over the years she has shepherded many, many parishes through this process. She carefully monitors what's happening and gets more involved with those parishes that need her help while remaining less involved with those who don't.
What this means is that Bishop Mary will want to hear from everyone. That's because this is a retreat where the listening goes both ways. Bishop Mary will want to learn from us exactly how things are going. That will help her to gauge how she herself will proceed, and how involved she needs to be as she assists us both now and in the months ahead. I have no doubt that, when we look back on all this, we will count this weekend as a turning point.
Beyond that, I want to say how delighted I am that that so many people have invited me either to meet them in their homes or at some other location, such as Starbucks. It's been such a pleasure to spend time with all those who have contacted me so far, and I really look forward to getting to know the rest of you too. If you would like to meet, please catch me after church on Sunday or call me at the office and set a date. Remember: no need to "entertain" me. This is just our chance to talk.
Peace and grace,
Ernie
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Sunday, September 17, 2017
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THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2017
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost
8 am Holy Eucharist, Prayer A (without music)
10 am Holy Eucharist, Prayer A (Bell Choir)
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UNITED
THANK OFFERING (UTO)
by Edy Unthank
The Rev. Canon Heather L. Melton, Staff Officer for the United Thank Offering, offers this message for us to ponder. "This week I wanted to share some math with you from one of our UTO coordinators. There are roughly 2 million Episcopalians in the United States alone. If every American Episcopalian put one penny in a UTO Blue Box every day, there would be more than $7 million to grant each year. It adds up fast if we all contribute, and I bet we all have something each day we can give thanks for."
Ever think that just a penny a day could do so much good in the world? Do you have a little blue box?
Our ingathering at St. Stephen's will be on September 24. Please bring in a check for all your thanksgivings with UTO in the memo line.
Blessings,
Edy Unthank, Diocesan UTO Coordinator
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DIOCESE OF EL CAMINO REAL -- ECW  HONORED WOMEN'S DAY AND UTO INGATHERING
The Diocese of El Camino Real Honored Women's Day and UTO Ingathering is on Saturday, October 7. We will honor a woman from each of our congregations in the Diocese of El Camino Real - women who proclaim their faith through their lives and actions - for the congregation, the diocese, and the community.
The day will take place October 7 from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Gilroy. Celebration of the 2017 Honored Women will include Holy Eucharist with Bishop Mary and the United Thank Offering Ingathering.
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TWO SUNDAY FORUMS PLANNED AT ST. STEPHEN'S IN-THE-FIELD
by Deacon Robin Poppoff
SAVE THE DATES!!!
Two upcoming forums after church- details in next week's Journal. Deacon Robin will lead both forums.
9/24 - Episcopal Relief and Development
10/15 - Advanced Medical Directives using the "Five Wishes" form (forms will be provided). Advanced Medical Directives apply to everyone over the age of 18, not just the older folks like your deacon.
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CALLING ALL PAINTERS
by Andy Lief
Now that we have a beautiful new coat of paint on the building exterior we need to take care of the inside of all the exit doors, especially those that are painted teal. Kelly Moore has generously donated the "hybrid" oil/water-based paint we need to properly cover the old paint. Now all we need are some volunteers who'd like to spend a little time masking off, sanding and painting the doors.
I would like to do this next Saturday 9/23 but can adjust the schedule based on volunteer availability. Please let me know in person on Sunday or email (lief@sbcglobal.net) if you are interested in helping for 1 - 3 hours.
Many hands will make light work!
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DREAM VACATION - SILENT AUCTION - THIS COMING SUNDAY AT CHURCH
by Janet Thorsrud
Hey my friends,
A silent auction item was added last Sunday to raise more funds for the golf tournament. You had many questions before you would want to bid on this Dream Vacation Week. Good news!! This is not a scam!
This company listed a phone number in their booklet and they answered when I called them ( always a good sign!). You do not have to sit through any presentations. They offer lodging worldwide but you might want to steer clear of the Florida/Caribbean area for a while.
You can check out their website to find an area you want to visit. The certificate is good for a year to eighteen months ( it's printed on the certificate). I compared two lodgings in Whistler Canada for a family of 5(thinking of you Andy!) which would cost about $600 for a week during the winter. Some places where less and others cost a little more. This was a 2 bedroom ( sleeps 6 with a sleeper sofa) two bathroom suite. This is only for the rooms!!! You must pay taxes, provide your own food and transportation.
We will pass the bid sheet around during the Bishop's meeting tomorrow and after the church service on Sunday.
See you there.
Janet
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SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES
THIS  SUNDAY - 9/17
by Edy Unthank
Sunday School resumes this Sunday, September 17! We have a new program called SparkHouse! that is aligned with the current lectionary. Students will have songs and activities that correspond with what their parents and grandparents are hearing in church that Sunday.
Please join in - our dedicated teachers are excited to share this new curriculum with students. Bring a friend!!
Teacher this week: Monica Moniz
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TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
The curent Bible Study series is a Kerygma course on
The Parables --
Stories for Life in God's World.
Edy Unthank is leading the seven-week class on
Tuesday mornings at 9:30 am beginning September 12 through October 24.
Cost of the class is $20/person to cover cost of materials. Scholarships are available upon request.
If there is enough interest for an evening session of this course, we will determine the best evening based on interest and recruit a leader.
Please let Edy know if you are interested in attending the morning course or an evening course, so she knows how many copies to purchase.
You may send an email to
office@ssitf.org. Or call the church office at 408-629-1836.
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ST. STEPHEN'S PRESCHOOL
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd
San Jose, CA 95139
WHERE LEARNING IS FUN......
TELL YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS -- WE STILL HAVE OPENINGS IN THE TUESDAY/THURSDAY CLASS
Class Times
8:30 am - 11:30 am
Extended Day 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday (open now)
Monday, Wednesday, Friday (wait list)
We provide a nurturing environment that prepares children for Kindergarten academically, socially, and emotionally based on Christian values.
Visit our website
or call 408-629-1843
for more information.
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EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY HARVEY OR IRMA --HOW YOU CAN HELP
Please continue to pray for communities affected by Hurricane Harvey, and donate to the Hurricane Harvey Response Fund to help Episcopal Relief & Development assist local partners in responding to critical needs.
Or mail a donation using the form provided in this link.
Episcopal Relief and Development is helping those affected by Hurricane Irma as well.
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ANGELS OF ST. STEPHEN'S
by Julie Zintsmaster
THANK YOU to everyone who pays attention to what might need to be done at St. Stephen's and takes the initiative to offer help. It takes many hands to keep St. Stephen's at its best.
This past week, THANK YOU to:
- Renee Brown trimmed the suckers off of the tree in front of the church by the parking lot. It looks like a tree again instead of a bush!
- The mystery Angel who installed the new canopy over the preschool entrance. Now we just need to add the bungee cords to secure the canopy to the metal frame.
- Clean windows on the outside (priority order: parish hall, offices, worship hall)
- Rake the bark mulch in the play yard to cover some of the bare spots
- Clear away the grass from under the rose bushes by the Bell Tower (Talk to Wanda Bryan who has been working weekly on this seemingly endless task. The rose garden is looking better than it has for a while. Thank you, Wanda!)
If you see a need, please call the church office at 408-629-1836
so we can add it to the list.
CALLING ALL ANGELS !
LET'S KEEP ST. STEPHEN'S SHINING
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PRAY FOR THE RECTOR SEARCH
 COMMITTEE
Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, we, the people of St. Stephen's ask for your blessings on the members of the Search Committee. Bless them in their meetings, in their deliberations and in their discernment. Keep their hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit and to wherever You will lead them in this process.
Guide them in their deliberations while they prepare the St. Stephen's Profile which will be posted to the National Office of Transitional Ministry (OTM). Please allow this process to be completed with ease and joy.
We trust you and we know that you will bring us the best possible Rector for St. Stephen's as you have done for us before. Thank you, Heavenly Father for all your blessings on the Search Committee and this congregation.
AMEN
Please pray daily for our Search Committee......
Search Committee Members:
Ann Little, Co-Chair
Janet Thorsrud, Co-Chair
Marie Rose Bianco
Susie Good
Anthony Francis
Chris Hall
Eric Samson
Bjorn Samson
Ruth Lief
Julie Zintsmaster
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GIFT CARD PROGRAM...
by Janet Thorsrud
Orders were taken September 10. The next opportunity will be in October. Watch this spot for updates and announcement of the next due date for ecript orders.
See you on Sunday.
Janet
Gift Card Order Form
For information, contact Janet Thorsrud:
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