St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL June 5th, 2020
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We the people of Saint Stephen's in-the Field
Seek to know Christ, to share Christ, and to serve Christ,
recognizing his presence in all people, and reaching out in love
to each other and to the world around us.
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Sunday Services: June 7th, 2020
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The 10:00 service will be via video on our website Sunday morning at 10:00
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Sunday Worship
Our service this Sunday is Holy Eucharist at 10:00am. The service is posted on the website at 10:00am but is available any time after that.
We have new readers this week and new music. Come, let us worship together!
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle, download the bulletin, and join us in worship by going to our St. Stephen’s website (
www.ssitf.org
) to view the video and download the bulletin.
I will also send a separate email with links to the bulletin and our virtual coffee hour in an email Saturday evening.
Special prayer requests to be added to our Sunday worship service can be sent to Rev. Karen or Dcn. Robin.
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WEDNESDAY PRAYER SERVICE
Weekly Wednesday prayer group at 11:00am.
This is an opportunity to offer our prayers of thanksgivings, for healing for ourselves and others, and anything else on our hearts. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can join the Zoom meeting with your phone. The link will be on our website and in a reminder email Tuesday evening.
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Keeping the conversations going. . .
Pastoral Conversation About Race Thursdays @ 4:30pm Starting June 11th
The Rev’s Karen Cuffie and Jani Wild will lead pastoral conversations on racism. There will be a brief introduction to the focus of the session followed by discussion and prayers. Please join us, there is no better way to learn, process and share together than in a faith community.
Meeting ID: 835 7594 8022
Password: 748467
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,83575948022#,,1#,748467# US (San Jose)
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An update from Bishop Lucinda Ashby
The Diocese of El Camino Real will continue to work on plans so that we may re-gather in person and/or continue to meet virtually. Our earliest possible date to gather in person is June 21, dependent on the following circumstances:
- The number of cases of COVID-19 shows no significant growth in our counties.
- Our parishes each have an approved plan for gathering, virtually and/or in-person.
- All parishes in the deanery have an approved plan prior to any one parish meeting in-person.
- We remain committed to our plan out of love for each other and for our neighbor.
Bishop Lucinda
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What’s a LOQUAT? Try them – they’re fresh and free!
Loquats
are a delicious fruit that taste like a combination of
mangos
and
peaches
. Their
sour
and
sweet
taste makes them perfect for using in
fruit salsa
.
We have an abundance that Jessica has harvested from our Community Garden and are very ready to eat Jessica is doing no-contact deliveries of shoe-boxed sized bunches this Sunday afternoon, so text her your addressat 650-804-9044 after the service. Please keep social distance and wear a mask if others are present.
Click on the picture for a delicious salsa recipe to try with your favorite chips or crackers!
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Thanks to our readers last week!
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Financial realities and how you can help . . .
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Thank you to all who have continued to send in pledge checks! This has been extremely helpful. We rely on you to keep us current in paying our bills. If you haven’t yet, please mail your pledge checks or any other donations to the church office, or you can use the ‘Donate’ button on our website and pay with a credit card.
Thank you
very much!
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Virtual Coffee Hour!
A few more people joined in our virtual coffee hour and it was great to see familiar faces. It would be so nice to see many more of you! There is no limit to the number of people. The link for Coffee Hour will be in a separate mailing with the bulletin! You are welcome to call me (Rev. Karen) before the meeting if you’re having trouble with the link.
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Poem from the Garden
Monday morning there were four of our elder gardeners, they were
laughing and bickering and pruning the peach tree. They asked if I
would bring a hammer to make one of the beds less crooked and
help with finding a non-leaky hose that could reach their raised beds.
They wore masks but their smiles were clear from the bright crinkling of their
eyes, the open-palmed waving of their hands, and how they all kept
six full feet apart from each other and your own poet, how they
swung their loppers high to reach the branches they wanted to cut.
They pruned the peach tree not for fruit -- though she will bear this year, as
will the apricots -- but for sticks to hold up their summer crops
the beans and onions and garlics and peas that need support to
grow fresh for their tables, their families, house-bound friends.
For 10 weeks, younger gardeners have left their own beds dry and bare
to ensure elders would each stay safe, and could live their lives there.
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Food for thought:
A prayer from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington:
Loving God, in Jesus you were bullied, beaten, and killed. You are always on the side of those whose souls or bodies are mistreated. While I cannot be present with my body at the protests right now, I stand with all those who stand up for justice. Uphold them. Keep them safe. Grant us the courage to stand beside all who are harmed by the violence of racism with our bodies and in our prayers. Give us the words to speak out for those whose breath has been taken. Enkindle our hers the fire of our love that together we might end the scourge of racism that has infected our nation. Amen.
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Kudos to:
-Our worship service musicians
-Finance Committee
-Janet for coordinating carpet cleaning
-Wednesday morning pray-ers
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COVID-19 Fund established
In response to questions of how to give to the diocese following the Virtual Easter Service, a special Easter Offering has been established to support people in our diocese whose livelihoods have been impacted by shelter-at-home requirements. Donations can be made to the “Donate” web page at realepiscopal.org (
click here
). Choose "Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund" when making your online gift.
Or, mail checks to the diocesan offices at the address below. Please state “Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund” in the memo area of checks.
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
PO Box 689
Salinas, CA 93902
Thank you for your support of those in need!
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It's free to anyone who wants it. First come first serve. Pick up at the church. Call me so I can let them in. (408) 629-1836
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NEEDING PRAYER SUPPORT?
Prayer is one of those things we often think about, might feel inadequate about, believe in but might be unsure how to proceed. How we pray is sometimes unique to each of us. The Church provides help in many ways. If you find yourself in need, of any kind (emotional, physical, spiritual, guidance, etc) consider how St. Stephen's can support you:
* there is a prayer chain of committed pray-ers (who maintain confidentiality). Contact Robin, our Deacon, who will initiate that for you
* tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.
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Contact information for Rev. Karen:
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Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826
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Contact information for Deacon Robin:
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Editor's Note
Please send any announcements or articles you want to have included, to:
evan.bryan1@gmail.com
, by Thursday, 10am each week.
Evan Bryan
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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
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