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 8:30 to 11:30 am.
The Church & Preschool will be CLOSED the week of November 20-24 for Thanksgiving Week.
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Support St. Stephen's with mini-fundraisers
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MATCHING DONATIONS
Do you know if your company does donation matching? Many companies will match what you give to St. Stephen's up to a certain amount. If you don't know if your work place will do this just go and ask the HR department what their policy is for matching to a non-profit organization.
You can pick up a form in the office on Sunday from Julie Zintsmaster, or send her an
email and she will send a form to you.
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PURCHASE MELALEUCA PRODUCTS
Contact Susie Good for information about Melaleuca Products--high quality, concentrated, eco-friendly products that contain no toxic ingredients or harsh chemicals.
Susie's contact info:
Phone: 408-375-0680
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GOODLIFE USA 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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 Please see the "Angels of St. Stephen's" article for our Thank You's this week.
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A Message from The Rev. Ernest Boyer
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"Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-you of little faith!"
(Luke 12: 25-28)
It's stewardship time again - that time we all dislike, the time when we have to decide whether we are going to pledge, and if so, how much. It's a decision I have to make too: just because I'm a priest doesn't mean that I don't pledge.
For years I struggled with this. There has never been a time in my life when finances were not strained, and for decades whenever pledge time came around I'd ask myself just how much I could afford. The answer was always the same: nothing. We were living so close to the line that we needed everything we had. My conscience compelled me to give something, though, so I'd come up with some figure that didn't feel too onerous, but I have to admit that I gave grudgingly.
Several years ago, something suddenly changed. All at once it occurred to me that I had been asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, "How much can I afford to give?" I should have been asking, "How much do I trust God?" That's what it's really about after all. I had been holding back because I feared life's uncertainty, but really, how much money do you actually require in order to protect yourself from all the problems that might befall you? The truth is, there is no sum large enough. No, I realized, it's not money that I needed to depend on, it's God.
That's when I decided to begin tithing, giving 10% of my income. Not only have I never regretted this, I've actually discovered an unexpected serenity in the practice: for me each individual pledge has become a reminder that my life truly is in God's hands. That brings me a deep peace, something for which I am profoundly grateful.
I invite you to come to know this peace too, if you haven't already. It's transforming.
Peace and grace,
Ernie
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A Message from Senior Warden Genie Lee
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Dear St. Stephen's Family,
This Sunday, November 12, 2017, is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. The Rev. Ernie Boyer, our Interim Pastor, will preside over the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services. The Joyful Noise Praise Band will provide music for the 10:00 am service.
The Vestry and Rector Search Committee will have their second meeting with Joanna Shreve after the 10:00 am service this Sunday to work on our "To Do" list for Bishop Mary. We will begin our meeting at 12:00 pm.
The Worship Committee is planning the liturgy for the next few months, which includes Christmas. As you probably know, Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year. There will not be an 8:00 am service that day. We will have a 10:00 am service, which is the Children's Christmas Pageant. Thank you Dottie Chin and Rowena Dizon-Burger for volunteering to direct the Pageant this year. If you would like to participate in the planning, please contact Dottie or Rowena. We will have our late Christmas Eve service at 4:30 pm.
This year we will have a Posada. Janet Thorsrud has volunteered to direct/organize it. It is scheduled for Saturday, December 2 at 5:30 p.m. Please contact Janet if you want to participate in the planning.
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 has worked hard to create our church profile and OTM. They are currently waiting to receive Bishop Mary's approval to move forward. 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.
We are near the end of our Stewardship Drive. Please bring your pledge cards to church on November 19, 2017 on Ingathering Sunday. Our second Stewardship letter was mailed out late this week to you. Please look for it and review it. Please prayerfully consider increasing your pledge this year and if you have not pledged in the past, please consider pledging this year. No matter how large or how small, each pledge matters. Our budget for the year is greatly influenced by your pledges. St. Stephen's cannot continue to prosper without your commitment.
Transition Update:
The Rector Search Committee has finished the OTM and Church Profile and the vestry has approved both. Both have been sent to Bishop Mary and Brian Nordwick for review and approval. Bishop Mary has let us know that there will be a delay in approval until we make progress in our work on our "To Do" list, which we created at the Retreat by Bishop Mary last month. 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.
The Vestry had a monthly meeting this past week (Thursday). Please scroll down to find the vestry report with highlights of our meeting.
Next Sunday, November 19, 2017, is Ingathering Sunday and Potluck. This is a Sunday where we bring in food/dry goods to take to SMUM and turn in our Pledge Cards. The church is transformed into a dining room with fall colors and tablecloths for our potluck after the service. We will need your help in setting up and cleaning up for the potluck. Let Tom Good know if you can volunteer some time.
Reminders:
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.
Genie Lee
Senior Warden
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NOVEMBER VESTRY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
by Tom Good
November 9, Vestry Meeting Report
PRESCHOOL UPDATE
Preparations are underway to move to 5 days on December 4. Although our potential new student applications have not been received yet, we remain positive they will be in soon, please continue your prayers that this comes to fruition.
The Vestry gave approval for Janet Thorsrud, with Sue Nielsen's guidance and expertise, to make exploratory visits to 5 local companies HR departments. The visits will be to present a plan of the preschool possibly offering a full time 8:00 - 5:30, 5-day program beginning January 1, 2018.
RECTOR SEARCH
The Parish Profile and OTM are in the Bishop's hands. The Vestry and Search Committee are being required by the Bishop to meet and work together on some tasks being guided by Joanna Shreve and Father Ernie. We cannot move forward until she feels we are ready and gives us permission.
FINANCES
Pledge income is currently ahead of our year-to-date budget, which is positive for this time of year. It is very important that everyone stays on track and we finish the year strong. Expenses were higher than budget for October due to some unexpected large expenditures. $900 for fire exit signs that were required by code, $2,200 for 3 months in Rector Health Insurance, required by the Diocese, and a higher than normal water bill, irrigation has been turned off.
The Preschool is holding it's own with the 5 students, only because they are not paying a facilities use payment to the church or a share of custodial, copying, or insurance expenses, as they have in the past. Increased enrollment ideas are in the works. Please pray that these will produce the students needed or the preschool will not survive.
Treasurer Julie Zintsmaster informed the Vestry that she will be stepping down as our Treasurer as of December 31. After giving of herself at this position for 8 years, and a total of 19 years of faithful work in many areas and roles, it is now time for Julie to fully retire and take care of Julie. One person cannot replace what she has done for St. Stephen's. She will be working with Ernie, Jane and the Vestry to get people in place to do what is needed. Her dedication to St. Stephen's will be missed!
Tom Good
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A Message from the Treasurer
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STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR 2017
by Julie Zintsmaster
The second letter of our 2017 Stewardship Campaign was mailed this week to 66 families along with a Pledge Commitment Card.
Please prayerfully discern how you can contribute towards the future of our faith family.
Our Harvest and Pledge Ingathering Celebration will be SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19.
Don't hesitate to let me know if you have questions.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL -- JOIN US
NOVEMBER 10
Our new Sunday School curriculum,
SparkHouse!, is aligned with the current lectionary. Students will have songs and activities that correspond with what their parents and grandparents are hearing in church each Sunday.
Our dedicated teachers are excited to share this new curriculum with students. Bring a friend!!
Teacher this week: Monica Moniz
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CELEBRATION SUNDAY
November 19, 2017
Stewardship Ingathering and Potluck Brunch
This St. Stephen's tradition is an acknowledgement and thanksgiving for the whole range of God's gifts: food, shelter, health, employment, friendships, and family.
On the last Sunday before Thanksgiving we convert the worship hall into a dining room.
We will celebrate the end of our Stewardship Campaign by presenting our 2017 Giving Commitments during the Offertory along with food donations for Outreach.
A festive potluck brunch will follow the 10 am service.
Please bring your 2017 Giving Commitment forms and a dish to share for the potluck according to the first letter of your last name:
A-F Salad
G-R Dessert
S-Z Main Dish
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HARVEST INGATHERING
Food Offerings for Outreach
In supp
ort of our Celebration Sunday on November 19, w
e ask that you bring in food offerings for distribution to Santa Maria Urban Ministries and St Julie's
Food Pantry--non-perishable, traditional Thanksgiving dinner items such as cranberry sauce, stuffing, canned yams or corn, or other items that are a tradition in your home. All of these donations will be brought to the altar on Sunday November 19 for a special blessing, and delivered the next day.
We are grateful to students from Calero High School Life Skills class for the decorated boxes that we will use for the distribution.
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ST. STEPHEN'S FIELD TRIP
Are you ready to have fun? Please join me on Thursday, November 16th to see the Disney Museum and Gustav Klimt exhibit at the Legion of Honor. Also at the Legion of Honor is the "Gods in color" exhibition which shows how color was used in ancient cultures.
Depending on the weather we will have lunch outside at either the Disney Museum or the lawn at the Legion of Honor. The plan is to walk to Land's End to walk the labyrinth so wear walking shoes. This is on a sandy trail. We will finish with dinner at Cliff house.
The cost will be :
$30 for the Disney Museum
$32-35 (depending on age) for the legion of Honor ( I can bring 3 guests for free on my membership) or you can buy a membership for about $79 for a year which is also good at the de Young museum.
Dinner at Cliff house.
Check out the following links to see if you are interested and let me know.
See you Sunday
Janet
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ADVENT BIBLE STUDY
by Edy Unthank
Have you ever wondered why the magi chose the gifts they brought to baby Jesus? Our 4 week Advent study addresses this question. Also it helps you to investigate what gift you personally bring. What a Gift! is a course I downloaded - so your cost is only a small donation of $5 to cover the reproduction of this course.
We will meet at church at 10am on the following Tuesday mornings: Nov 21, Nov 28, Dec 12 and Dec 19
If you are interested in having a small group study in the evening, just contact Edy Unthank at edyunthank@yahoo.com
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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 HAVE OPENINGS FOR 2, 3, OR 5 DAYS PER WEEK
Class Times
8:30 am - 11:30 am
(M-F)
Extended Day 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
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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UPDATE ON RELIEF EFFORTS FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES
by Deacon Robin Poppoff
Bishop Barry, Canon Andrea, Margaret Dunning, and other clergy and staff of the Diocese of Northern California continue to work closely with Episcopal Relief & Development. The organization has approved a grant for the diocese's fire relief effort and disbursement of that money will begin this week.
Donations can be made to the Bishop's discretionary fund. Click here for online donation options and mailing address for checks.
Please support Episcopal Relief & Development's response to the wildfires in California by donating to the
U.S. Disaster Fund
and pray for all those impacted. We add our prayers for those impacted by the Bear Fire, in addition to firefighters and personnel battling the fire.
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EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY RECENT DISASTERS
Episcopal Relief & Development works closely with church partners after disasters, equipping them to meet needs of those most vulnerable in their communities. Currently, our staff is responding to areas devastated by multiple Hurricanes, and watching developing tropical storms. Because of our strong diocesan partnerships, Episcopal Relief & Development is ready to assist in the recovery of the impacted areas for as long as necessary. You can help provide critical relief to affected communities by donating to our Hurricane Relief Fund.
Episcopal Relief and Development:
Healing a Hurting World
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ANGELS OF ST. STEPHEN'S
Thank you,
Ann Little, for the beautiful & functional new
name tag board !!
Thank you,
Janet Thorsrud and Sue Nielsen for reaching out to local businesses to promote our wonderful preschool.
Thank you,
Emil Baggs, for faithfully delivering our non-perishable food items to St. Julie's Food Pantry each week.
NEW TO THE LIST:
- Clean windows on the outside (priority order: parish hall, offices, worship hall)
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
Hey my friends,
This Sunday is the day to order your Scrip gift cards. You might want to go shopping on Black Friday. If so, you can order gift cards for The Gap, Macy's, Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy and many other retailers.
If turkey is not your thing, you can order a card or two for Honey Baked ham.
The gift cards keep your identity safe as no credit card info is used and it helps raise money for St. Stephen's without costing you anything extra. With your help, we have made our goal to give back $2000 to St. Stephen's buy using this program.
Deacon Robin asked us last week to help out our neighbors in the North Bay by buying gift cards for Target and Home Depot. There is a supply problem with Safeway gift cards right now so they are not available at this time.
See you Sunday!
For information, contact Janet Thorsrud:
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