Church Office & Preschool Hours
Beginning December 4, the church office will be open from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Starting December 4, our preschool will be in session Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 am.
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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 Reverend Ernest Boyer
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"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1: 3-9)
This is the epistle for this coming Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, and when I read it I thought immediately of St. Stephen's. I felt almost as if St. Paul had written this passage specifically with this community in mind. With Paul, I also give thanks for all of you "because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus." I too rejoice in the many spiritual gifts that God has granted to St. Stephen's and have no doubt that God will continue to strengthen all of us as we seek, first to find, and then to follow, the path to which the Holy Spirit is guiding us.
Of course, the waiting is the hard part, but then waiting is what Advent is all about. Waiting has two parts, though. It is not just about looking ahead and anticipating what is to come. Waiting is also about being awake and alert to what we already have. This is what biblical scholars call the "already" and the "not yet" - rejoicing in the grace that God has already given us even as we recognize that God has still more to give.
It is important that we hold tight to both aspects of this waiting -this time of Advent - because the "already" and the "not yet" are actually closely related: the fact is, the future that God has in store for us will grow directly from the grace of the spiritual gifts that God has already placed in our hands. In other words, we hold even now the seeds of what we will become.
So, as we approach this season of waiting, let us do so with deep gratitude for all that God has provided this wonderful community of St. Stephen's, never losing sight of the fact that "God is faithful." The God who has guided us in the past is guiding us still and will lead us on the right road. It will happen because it is happening even now. We wait only for what is already taking place to be revealed.
Peace and grace,
Ernie
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This Sunday, December 3, 2017
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THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2017
First Sunday of Advent
8 am Holy Eucharist, Prayer C (no music)
10 am Holy Eucharist, Prayer C
Week 1 Advent Wreath Candle Lighting
Music: Suzanne Zhu
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN
READINGS:
Hanging of the greens following the 10 am worship service with a cookie potluck. Please bring a plate of cookies to share and stay to help us decorate the Worship Hall for Christmas.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL -- JOIN US
DECEMBER 3
Our Sunday School curriculum this year is
SparkHouse! It 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: Rowena Dizon-Burger
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LA POSADA AT ST. STEPHEN'S
When: Saturday, December 2, 2017
5:30 PM
Where St Steph
en's Church
Beginning in the Parish Hall
What: Outdoor Posada Procession
Mexican Potluck Dinner
Pinata
Christmas Carols
St. Nicholas
"La P
osada" is a wonderful Advent
event that comes to us from Latin American tradition. We process to each door around the outside of our church building. The story we enact along the way represents the difficulties Mary and Joseph faced in finding lodging when traveling to Bethlehem. Children and adults go from house to house (door to door) singing a traditional song requesting lodging (posada). In each house, the owner responds with a refusal, until they reach the last door, where the owner recognizes Mary and Joseph, and allows them to come in. Their finding lodging is followed with a celebration-a Mexican potluck dinner!
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STUDENTS FROM CALERO HIGH SCHOOL LIFE SKILLS CLASS HELPING AT ST. STEPHEN'S
by Janet Thorsrud
Say "Hello" to our wonderful, cheerful, hardworking crew that visit us on Tuesdays and Thursday. From the left is Bailey, Mathew, Thu (pronounced "Two) with the rake, Valeria and Nataly.
This week the gang put down a ground cloth and covered it with wood chips to keep the weeds from growing between the garden and the parking lot.
They also raked up as many leaves as they could from under our landmark oak tree. They would have raked more but our dumpster was full of all the leaves it could hold.
We have lots of work to keep them busy. The gang arrives around 10 am with their fabulous guide and leader Mrs. Linda. They work till noon and then it's back to school for them. They are our angels.
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A Message from the Treasurer
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2017 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR 2018
by Julie Zintsmaster
Our pledge ingathering was held on Sunday, November 19.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE A FINANCIAL PLEDGE FOR 2018!
Of the 66 Stewardship letters mailed:
- 36 families responded with a commitment for 2018 totaling $99,632
- 26 of those families increased their pledge from last year.
Our goal is $127,000.
It is not too late to mail in a pledge card, complete one at church this coming Sunday, or send an email to the treasurer: julie@ssitf.org.
Pledge commitments are important so the vestry will know what it can count on to build a budget for the year.
If it works better for you to make a one-time donation, we can include that amount as support for 2018. Any commitment, large or small, will help us reach our goal and enable us to continue our ministry in south San Jose.
If St. Stephen's in-the-Field is important to you, we need your support.
THANK YOU !!
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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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BISHOP MARY WILL VISIT ST. STEPHEN'S ON  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17
On December 17th, Bishop Mary will preside and preach at our 10 am service (no 8 am service that day). Afterwards we will have a pot luck meal to welcome Bishop Mary. The current plan is to convert the Worship Hall to a dining room, as we have done for past events.
We will need help with setting up and cleaning up. Please let Gregg Hall or Tom Good know if you can help.
Please bring a dish to share. In order to have a good variety of choices, we ask that you pick a dish from the category that corresponds to the first initial of your last name.
A-F Dessert
G-R Main Dish
S-Z Salad
Volunteer Dates & Times:
Saturday, Dec 16, 10:00 am
Set up Worship Hall with tables and chairs
Sunday, Dec 17, 9:00 am
9:00 am -- Help with last minute set up of beverages & food
After event -- Help with clean up and putting the Worship Hall back together
Thanks and we look forward to
seeing you all there.
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ANGELS OF ST. STEPHEN'S
Many thanks go out to Ann Little for "tub thumping" looking for the correct apparel for Joseph and Mary to wear during the Posada and making adjustments so the outfits will stay on and be warm. She doesn't stop there. Ann also helped set up the parish hall so everyone can "party on".
Thanks to Genie Lee for saying "Yes" when asked to play, walk and sing all at the same time during the Posada. Susan Zaballos and Julie Zintsmaster also begged me to let them play piano and flute. We are not worthy.
Thank you Julie for printing out the booklets so everyone can follow along and sing together (hopefully on key) as we reenact Joseph and Mary's trails as they look for a place to stay.
(And MANY thanks to Janet Thorsrud for coordinating the volunteers and planning the Posada for this weekend.)
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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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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ECW 16 Days of Activism
Campaign
November 25 - December 10
Many in the Church have set the issue of violence against women and girls as a priority. The General Convention of The Episcopal Church has passed many resolutions on this issue, and Episcopal Church Women continue this annual "16 Days" observance.
We encourage people - women and men, girls and boys - to mark the 16 Days campaign by using these prayers and reflections every day during this period in personal or corporate prayer and worship.
Day 1 - Helping Hungry Children
Day 2 - The Peaceable Kingdom
Day 3 - Help Girls Experiencing Violence
Day 4 - Take Personal Action for Peace & Joy Today
Day 5 - And it Begins with Me
Day 6 - A Prayer for Sisters Being Trafficked
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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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GIFT CARD PROGRAM...
by Janet Thorsrud
Hey my friends,
Next Sunday Dec 10th will be the last order of gift cards for this year. They make great gifts for family members who don't live close by.
Don't forget to include yourself. Everyone need groceries and gas for all the trips to the mall. Are you traveling for the holidays? You can use gift cards for that also which also helps to support St. Stephen's. We have surpassed the goal of giving back over $2,000 for our church. Thank you for your continued support.
Watch the night sky for a great view. Check out the link to find out more.
See you at the Posada on Saturday and or church Sunday.
For information, contact Janet Thorsrud:
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