January 6, 2017


 
On Sunday, January 1st,  we heard a portion of the "Christmas Story" that we do not
hear as often as the rest.  Beginning from the worship of the Shepherds and
the naming of the child, we heard what happened when, in accordance with  the law of God, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple.  The scriptures tell us that on the eighth day, when it was time to  circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him  before he had been conceived.
 
Then we are told that:   When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses  had been completed, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to  present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,  "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to  offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the  Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
 
And we are told that when this latter occurs, two persons in the temple,
Simeon - an old man who had been told that he would not die until he saw
the consolation of Israel appear,  and Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, a prophetess, who was 84 years old,  blessed God and the child - and spoke over him - to Mary and Joseph - and to the temple crowd - the word of God concerning what had occurred and was occurring and would  occur through the life of the babe called, as the angel had commanded,  Jesus - Emmanuel..
 
I don't want to go into the meaning of those prophecies,  other than to note that both Simeon and Anna were blessed with visions,  that they were touched by God,
and that they spoke of what God put upon their lips and their hearts.
 
Some of their words were sweet to the taste, but sour in the stomach  speaking as they did of a time of suffering,  and others were of pure joy and elation - for despite the suffering  and indeed - perhaps only through the suffering - the Messiah would take his throne and the people Israel and the  nations beyond would be blessed beyond measure.
 
Rather I want you to think with me of the obedience and humility of  both Mary and Joseph,  and of how they resolutely began their life with Jesus and his life with  them - and with us  with worship and prayer - with obedience and thanksgiving, with sacrifice
and joy.   Which is not a bad way to begin a life nor to continue it.  To begin a life - or a new year.
 
In the first 40 days of the life of Jesus among us Mary and Joseph did four  things with and for Jesus,  four things that bound them, with him, closer to God, closer to the people  of God,  and closer to one another.
 
The first thing is that they named Jesus in the manner God had commanded  through the Angel Gabriel.  They gave him the name "Saviour" for through  him God would redeem his people.  They believed in what they had been told  in their dreams and visions - and obeyed the giver.
 
This bound them closer to God - closer to Jesus - and closer to one another.  Sharing a vision draws us into a special intimacy  and living by that vision - creates a special community.
 
As you go into the new year - consider how you name one another.
Do you call others what God asks you to call them?
Do you name as your brother or sister the person next to you?
Do you see in their face the face of Christ?
 
The first thing Mary and Joseph did at the beginning of the life of Jesus  was to name him as God asked them to name him.
 
The naming ceremony was done on the eighth day - the day when the male  children of those born to Abraham and Sarah were, in accordance with  Covenant God made to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, circumcised - and thereby  became identified as the children of Israel and heirs to the promises made
to him - the promise of a people, a land, and a God who cares - a God who  would deliver and vindicate his people.
 
That is the second thing Joseph and Mary did - they made Jesus a part of  the family of God.  They said to God - look he is a child of promise - this  baby is meant with all who call on your name - to inherit your kingdom.   He is your servant - he is one of us - the ones you gave yourself to after
the time of Noah - the ones you said to Abraham and to Moses would be a  nation of priests and kings to serve you and bring everlasting glory to  your name amongst all the nations.
 
Do we make those God has given us a part of the household of God?
 
Do we extend to them the privileges and responsibilities that we have
received from the Lord?
 
I do not speak of mere circumcision or baptism here - I speak of the living  faith that claims the power of God's love upon the lives of those in our care,  upon the lives of those for whom we are called to care by the Spirit of the  Lord and the words of the prophets.
 
The second thing Mary and Joseph did with Jesus  was make him a part of the family of God,  and this bound them closer to God - and closer to God's people - and closer to one another.
 
Not a bad way to begin a life - or a new year.   Not a bad way to live.
 
The third thing that Mary and Joseph did was, when the time of purification  was over was present Jesus, as their first born, to God at the temple.
 
This is a very special thing to do - a thing that is related to all the  commands regarding things that are first.  Each of them - from the first  fruits of our gardens to the first born of our loins and wombs - belong to  God.  And God asks that we present them to him where he abides.  And name
them his.
 
By this act Mary and Joseph recognized that their child was not their  child.  Rather he was God's child - and that the purposes of his life  should be, would be, determined by God, and that as parents entrusted with  God's child, they should seek the wisdom and counsel of God each day,
so that they might raise him as God asks.
 
The first child is a Hannah child - and if truth be known - every child  after.  But the first is special because it is first.  And what is first  goes to what is First.  Our best, our finest, our hopes and our dreams -  belong to God - God who is first in our lives.
 
So yes - Joseph - this child is destined to cause the falling and rising of  many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the  thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.   And yes - Mary - A sword will pierce your own soul too.
 
And that is the way of it - for this child is God's and God will accomplish  his work in him and his love will redeem his people.
 
This is the third thing Mary and Joseph did as they began their life with  Jesus - they gave him to God and recognized that God would raise him in  God's own way and in that recognition - they bound themselves to loving  Jesus in accordance with the counsel of God, in accordance to the law and  to vision that God gave Moses and gave them.   Not a bad way to begin a life - not a bad way to begin a year.
 
We too have people - and plans - that belong to God - and need to be given  to God.  Time will bring sorrows that pierce our hearts - but it will bring too the  consolation we all seek, consolation for us - and for all the people of  God.
 
The fourth thing Mary and Joseph did - they did on the day of Presentation.  Mary made sacrifice - the sacrifice of the poor among Israel -  she sacrificed two doves or pigeons for her purification.
 
And so Mary and Joseph show themselves as seekers of holiness, and as ones  who possess it - for what they do is set apart - dedicated - to God.   Not a bad way to begin a life - not a bad way to begin a new year.
 
Mary and Joseph did not simply begin it as they might have - with an  anticipation of great and wonderful things to occur - some with the pain  that pierces the soul;  nor did they begin simply with an awareness of their own poverty and  inability - the kind of poverty that is represented in offering in sacrifice two  pigeons instead of a two year old lamb - and the inability that every new parent - and indeed most every person - feels deep in their hearts when faced an unknowable future and holding in  one's heart the desire to love perfectly.
 
They began with these most surely,  but they began in those things with God,  and in humble obedience to all that God has promised,  all that God has commanded.
 
They began with God,  they named their child as the Angel told them,  they made the one in their care a part of the people of the God - joint heirs with them of the promises,  they gave him into God's care - recognizing that he was God's - not simply heirs  and they sought holiness - to live in it and by it - they set themselves, as they set Jesus, apart for God.
 
And us as we enter the new year?  Us as we raise up a family?  Or take  under our care -  under our love - those God asks us to care for and love?  Will we name folk as God wants us to name them?  Will we make them - will we treat them - members of God's family - members  of our family?  Will we let them be God's and heed God's counsel as he  tells us how to be his stand-ins?  Will we seek holiness?  Will we allow  the lamb of God  - sacrificed for us upon the cross - to proclaim that we  are clean?
 
There is a time for everything.
This is a time to begin with what should always come first.

Father Gary+
Preparing for SundaytureHeadin
To read the scriptures in advance, click here.
The worship leaders are:
     Eucharistic Ministers - Matthew Bendix, Bob Chao
     Lectors - Bob O'Brien and Dolores Kazanjian O'Brien
     Acoloytes- Megan Day and Thomas Day
     Altar Guild-  Gail Grossman, Laura Richards, Karen Lee and Christine Cheng
     Coffee Hour- Liz Engelman and Melissa Murphy
     Counters- Paul Seidel and  Maria Whisenand 

To read Father Gary's new Blog with weekly messages and sermons click here.
St. Stephen's  Ch il dr en  Yo ut M in is tr y   
  

Hope Everyone Had Really Nice And Relaxing Holidays!

                       Welcome back to Sunday School            

There will be regular scheduled  Sunday School and Youth Formation Meetings every  Sunday this month (including Martin Luther King Weekend).

I hope to see you this  Sunday January 8th at 10 AM.
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On  Saturday, January 28th , members of the Youth Group, grades 5th and up, will be feeding lunch to the workers who volunteer for Habitat For Humanity.  This is such a fun and meaningful outreach project, We did it last year and had a great time and learned a lot. Here's a picture from last year's event:


We will meet in the St Stephen's parking lot at  10:30 AM and will return around  2 PM.
Transportation will be provided.  PLEASE RSVP to  rhonda@ststephenspw.org  if you are interested in coming or chaperoning.

Any monetary donations would be so much appreciated.  Your donations will go towards the cost of lunch to feed the 25-30 volunteer workers and also towards  Sunday School's " Build an Ark" Heifer Project. 

Donations can be dropped off at the office or given to Rhonda during coffee hour.
Thanks so much!!!

Best Wishes for a Happy and a Healthy New Year.


            Rhonda
           (If you'd like to see the full year Sunday School calendar click here.)
St. Stephen's Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 22nd, 2017 in Parish Hall, following the 10 am Eucharist.

The election of new Vestry members will take place at the Annual Meeting Parish Meeting.
The St. Stephen's Vestry Nominating Committee - John Longmire (chair), Abby Chromy, Alan Dinn, Einar Haukeland, Melissa Murphy and Ellen Shields - has met several times and announces the following nominees.
For Vestry:                    
            Catherine Fish
            Rachel Golder
            Stephen Silvester
For Warden:
            Roopali Gupta 

Many thanks to the Nominating Committee for their tireless efforts in the search and selection process of these four fine candidates, as well as to the Nominees for their willingness to serve.

MEET THE NOMINEES

CATHERINE FISH (Vestry) has been a member of St. Stephen's Church for 22 years, since she was 5 years old!  She went through the Sunday School program, participated in the Youth Group, served as an acolyte, and became a confirmed Episcopalian. From the time she was 7 years old until present day though, you can always find her singing in the choir. Catherine and her family absolutely cherish St. Stephen's incredible music program. It is what first drew her parents to this parish, and enabled her family to benefit from the many other wonderful aspects of this church community.  Catherine is in her 6th year of teaching music and currently works as the Director of Orchestras at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park. She also plays violin professionally in a number of symphony orchestras and opera companies in the New York-metropolitan area. It is a great privilege for her to be able to return to the church she grew up in as an adult and continue to reap the benefits of this loving community. The people of St. Stephen's have acted as a supportive family for her entire life, and she looks forward to being able to pay this blessing forward. Catherine hopes that she will be able to offer a valuable perspective as a younger adult member of the parish, and looks forward to the opportunity to serve the people and church she loves.

RACHEL GOLDER (Vestry) is an 18-year member of St Stephen's with her husband and three teenage children.  She was a Sunday School teacher when the children were young, and has been a member of the choir for eight years.  She served on the Vestry for four years, leading the Stewardship effort.  She is also an active participant in many of the Church's community activities, including the Fall Fair, and helps to make the Miracle of Christmas Orchestra happen.  Rachel has a B.A. in Music (magna cum laude) from Yale.  When she is not working for the parish, Rachel is a manager of bond portfolios for Goldman Sachs. 

STEPHEN SILVESTER (Vestry) was born in Greenpoint, raised in Flushing.  He moved to Port Washington in 1996.  He has been a construction worker since 1985.  He has been attending St. Stephen's since 1997 or 1998.  Both of his kids were baptized here.  He also taught Sunday School for a long time.

ROOPALI GUPTA (Warden) grew up in Southern California and graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A in Economics. In 2000 she moved to New York City to work in investment banking structured finance for Morgan Stanley. She spent 9 Years on Wall Street, first with Morgan Stanley and then Barclays Capital, in structured finance banking and trading. After having her first son she made the decision to stay home and raise her family. She and her husband, Gareth, moved to Port Washington in 2005. She is now a stay- at-home mom of 2 boys and a full-time Yoga Instructor for adults and children specializing in special needs students. The John family has been part of our parish family at St. Stephen's since 2013.
Parish Calendar

Sunday, January 8:  
*11 am: SPECIAL VESTRY MEETING  in St. Cecilia Room.
*11:30 am:  Everything Belongs, the continuing discussion - CANCELLED
*6:30pm-8pm:   Youth Formation Meeting with meal in the Rectory.

Tuesday, January 10th, 8am:   Wardens Meeting in the Parish Office.

Wednesday, January 11th:   Noon Healing Service.

Sunday, January 15th, 6:30pm-8pm:   Youth Formation Meeting with meal in the Rectory.

Tuesday, January 17th, 8pm:   Vestry Meeting in the St. Cecilia Room.

Wednesday, January 18th:   Noon Healing Service.

Sunday, January 22nd at Coffee Hour:  St. Stephen's Annual Parish Meeting in Parish Hall.

Sunday, January 22nd, 6:30pm-8pm:   Youth Formation Meeting with meal in the Rectory.

Wednesday, January 25th:   Noon Healing Service.

Saturday, January 28th, 11am-1pm:   Habitat for Humanity Youth Group Outreach  Sunday School/Youth Group will feed lunch to the volunteer workers.  Transportation will be provided.

Sunday, January 29th, 6:30pm-8pm:   Youth Formation Meeting with meal in the Rectory.
Announcements

Priority Property Needs
Here is my property repair list as of 3 Jan 2017:  replace chairs from Senior Center that AA damaged (awaiting email from the director of SC), parish office floor replacement and new rugs, rectory outside issues, painting outside on all our buildings, Port kids want a buzzer to let people in, taking care of our rental properties.  Vestry and Parish help and oversight on some/all of these projects is much appreciated. Can you lend a hand?
Thanks in advance, 
Gary+

Taking Home Poinsettias: 
Please take a poinsettia home for yourselves or to give to someone else after Sunday's  10am  service.  If anyone is unable to attend service but would like to have one or some poinsettias, please email Gail Grossman at  gaildg1@verizon.net  and she will hold the desired number of plants in reserve for you.

Sunday's Session of "Everything Belongs" CANCELLED :  
This continuing discussion, hosted by Bob & Dolores Kazanjian O'Brien and originally scheduled for 11:30 am Sunday January 8th, is being postponed until further notice.

Please Pick Up Offering Envelopes:
Your 2017 Offering Envelopes are available for pick up. Please take your labeled box as you enter the church from the back. If you do not have an assigned box please see Bernadette in the office and she will be able to assign you a box of envelopes. Thank you for your continued support. 

Call for Office Volunteers! :  
The Parish Office needs volunteers to help with certain tasks, such as folding and distribution of service bulletins, preparing envelopes for major holiday mailings (stuffing, labeling & stamping), and filing.  If you are interested , please contact Bernadette Reyes, Parish Administrator.

Baby Supply Exchange :  
St. Stephen's Baby Supply Exchange is in particular need of strollers  -no jog strollers please-  and Winter clothing for toddler girls (ages 2-6 years).  Please call Leslie Bradshaw at  516-883-3003  if you have or someone you know has these items to donate.

Room Rental Available in Port :  
A local homeowner is looking for a prospective tenant-single female is preferred.  For details, please call  (516) 944-3835.

For Our Prayers
For the sick: 
Dick & Jean, Virginia, Peter, Bob, Ann, Gerry, Carol, Jo, Tom, Gerry, Darlene, Jeanne, Steve & Debbie, Dianne, Valerie, Nancy, Frank, Sue, Nina, Karen, Ian, Richard, Donna V., Lisa F., Kitty, Justin, Tony, Mary M., Ross, Sue, Hank, Gladys Van Colten, Howard, Libby, Charles, June, William, Carolyn, Elizabeth, Erica, and Ann Alletta.
 
To have someone entered onto our Prayer List please send an e-mail with the person's name and the requester's name to:  office@ststephenspw.org.  
Your prayer request will be included for 4 weeks. Please submit another request if you wish to have prayers continue after this time.

Ministry Schedule
Here's the first quarter 2017 Ministry Schedule. Thank you for your service to our parish family.
Please make every effort to be on time. If you need to re schedule, please arrange for a substitute and let me and the office know. Thank you. 
Alan Dinn 

Coffee Hour Schedule

For the latest schedule please click here. If you are not available for your scheduled Sunday, please contact another parishioner to substitute or Sue Massingill. Thank you.
 
Please feel free to contact:    
Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Gary Parker
O: 516-767-0363
   
C: 917-817-4056
 
Warden
John Longmire
516-695-3520
wardens@ststephenspw.org
Warden
Einar Haukeland
516-883-5249
wardens@ststephenspw.org
Music Director
Mark van Schenkhof
516-353-0738
Youth & Children
Rhonda Fay
516-944-5635
rhonda@ststephenspw.org 
Consignment Shop Supervisor
Caren Salkin
516-944-8829
shop@ststephenspw.org 
Parish Administrator
Bernadette Reyes
516-767-0363
office@ststephenspw.org
Banner Melissa Murphy 516-729-4655

 

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An Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Long Island

St. Stephen's Church
9 Carlton Avenue | Port Washington, New York  11050