Along the King's Highway
El Camino Real Newsletter
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The Reverend Karen Cuffie will preside and preach at St. Stephen's on
October
29 while Father Ernie is on an out-of-town trip that was planned way before he knew he would be coming to St. Stephen's.
We look forward to welcoming Reverend Karen back to St. Stephen's, and wish Father Ernie safe travel and a relaxing time off.
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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 8:30 to 11:30 am.
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Support St. Stephen's with mini-fundraisers
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PAMPERED CHEF FUND RAISER -- A HUGE SUCCESS
The Pampered Chef fundraiser evening hosted by Susie Good on September 22 was a huge success, making $410.89 for St. Stephen's. Thank you, Susie, and all who attended and purchased products either at the party or online after the party.
MINI-FUND RAISERS HELP
ST. STEPHEN'S OPERATING BUDGET
For 2017, we raised $422.17 with our mini-fund raisers.
In 2016, we raised $367.50 with two mini-fund raisers.
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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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The Next Day-Trip
The next day-trip organized by Janet Thorsrud is scheduled for THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017.
...details to follow.
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A Message from Senior Warden Genie Lee
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Dear St. Stephen's Family and Friends,
This Sunday, October 29, 2017, is the 21st Sunday after Pentecost. The Rev. Ernie Boyer, our Interim Pastor, is on vacation and The Rev. Karen Cuffie will supply for us and preside over the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services. Most of you know Karen. We are very happy to have her preside this Sunday. Andy Lief will provide music for the 10:00 am service.
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 December 9, 2017. 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.
Our Stewardship Drive is fast approaching. You will receive a Stewardship letter in the mail shortly and more information will be announced at the 10:00 am service. 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. 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.
This Sunday is the 5th Sunday of the month and so you will find in your bulletin an envelope to make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development. Please consider making a donation. Please make your checks out to "Episcopal Relief and Development."
Please note that the Necrology Book has been placed in the church so that you can write in the names of any loved ones that you wish to be remembered. The Necrology Book will be read out loud at the 10:00 am service on November 5, 2017.
Save the Date:
Trunk or Treat will be Saturday, October 28, 2017 @ 6:00 pm. Andy Lief has agreed to organize Trunk or Treat. Andy will get a group of kids together to create a haunted house and Monica Moniz will provide crafts for a crafts table. Thank you Andy and Monica for volunteering to make this event happen. It is a fun and safe time for kids to enjoy pizza, crafts, haunted house, and trick-or-treat in their costumes. We need adults to come and decorate their trunks/cars and to give out candy. Please plan to join us.
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.
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THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2017
Twentyfirst Sunday After Pentecost
8 am Holy Eucharist, Prayer A (without music)
10 am Holy Eucharist, Prayer A (with music)
The Reverend Karen Cuffie will
preside and preach
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5th Sunday of the Month Special Collection
This Sunday is our first "5th Sunday of the Month Special Collection."
Several weeks ago at the Forum presented by Deacon Robin Poppoff on Episcopal Relief & Development (ER&D), we agreed to have special collections on the 5th Sunday of the Month.
This first special collection will go towards Episcopal Relief & Development, the Episcopal Church's US and international relief organization. ER&D sends people and funds to areas in need of relief around the world (think Hurricanes Harvey, Irma & Marie, California wildfires, earthquakes, etc.), and development projects in under-served countries (health care, micro-loans, farming, etc.). For details, please see, http://www.episcopalrelief.org/
The Forum group decided this donation to ER&D will be directed towards one of their water projects in an under-served country (clean water for a family or a share in buying a well for a village). Water is life and is a symbol of our baptism.
Special donation envelopes will be in your Sunday bulletin. Please make checks out to Episcopal Relief & Development, fill out your name on the envelope, and do NOT seal the envelopes.
Robin Poppoff will forward everyone's donations to ER&D so that each person will receive an acknowledgement directly from ER&D.
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A Message from the Treasurer
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STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR 2018
by Julie Zintsmaster
Next week we will mail out our first letter for Stewardship 2018 announcing our goal for this year and the critical need for everyone's participation.
Father Ernie Boyer gave a brief explanation in last week's Friday Journal of the financial challenges that we face this coming year at St. Stephen's. Please watch for the letter in the mail and prayerfully discern how you can contribute towards the future of our faith family.
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ENTIRE DIOCESE INVITED TO
EL CAMINO REAL CONVENTION EUCHARIST
The entire diocese is invited to a special Saturday Eucharist that will close our 37th annual convention on Saturday, November 4, celebrating Bishop Mary's 10th anniversary as bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. The Eucharist is expected to begin at 2 pm. The convention takes place at Sherwood Hall, located at 940 N. Main St. in Salinas.
The
Convention web page
has been updated with a new draft agenda, reports, applications for candidacy, a new resolution packet with reordered and combined resolutions, and the Certified List of Clergy, all to download.
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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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PERFORM A VITAL SERVICE FOR YOUR FELLOW ECR EPISCOPALIANS
by Deacon Robin Poppoff
Just in time for Halloween ... picture a convention morning without coffee. And no donuts. The horror! An afternoon without snacks or drinks? Our worst nightmare.
Convention attendees need your help on November 3rd and 4th -- Hospitality volunteers are urgently needed for different shifts on Friday and Saturday. Activities include:
- Replenishing snacks and water
- Helping to change Friday's business meeting into the banquet setting
- Helping ro clear the area Friday evening
- Setting up hospitality snacks and drinks on Saturday morning
- Setting up lunch on Saturday
Contact organizer Charles Greenleaf by email at ckgreenleaf@earthlink.net. Volunteers should not be delegates or alternates, as those individuals need to attend the business meeting. Thanks to all who volunteered to help with registration!
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MANAGING THE POWER OF CHOICE IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE
A talk sponsored by Stephen Ministries of St. Jude's and St. Andrew's,
November 7, 2017, at 7 p.m.
Carolyn Foster, national speaker and author, will help us learn to create clarity and a sense of meaning for lives often characterized by too many priorities and too little mental spaciousness. Join us for this timely and eternal topic - St. Jude's Parish Hall, Free and open to the public. Learn more about Carolyn Foster at
http://www.creativechoices.net.
Ernie Boyer mentioned this presentation in the Friday Journal several weeks ago.
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FORWARD DAY BY DAYS ARE HERE
The NEW Forward Day By Days for November
-December-January are here! You can pick up your copy at the back of the church to the left of the door as you exit. We have both the regular print and large print versions.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL -- JOIN US
OCTOBER 29
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.
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 current 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 10:00 am through November 7.
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THE NEXT FORUM PLANNED AT ST. STEPHEN'S IN-THE-FIELD
by Deacon Robin Poppoff
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Sunday, November 5 (following the 10 am worship service) - 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.
Please note, the date of this Forum has been changed from its original date of October 15.
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CPR/FIRST AID CLASS AT
ST. STEPHEN'S IN-THE-FIELD
Monday, November 6, 2017, at 8:00 am
St. Stephen's Preschool is hosting an 8-hour CPR/First Aid Training class for teachers and office staff. Extra spots are available in the class for $60 each. If you are interested, please call the St. Stephen's office at 408-629-1836, or send an email to
office@ssitf.org.
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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 RECENT HURRICANES
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
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
Hello my friends.
You added $160 to St Stephen's budget. Not shabby for one month. Just by shopping for the everyday items you use. Keep up the good work.
Our next order will be November 12th. Be thinking about your Christmas shopping and what gift cards you can order to help with St. Stephen's budget.
For information, contact Janet Thorsrud:
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