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A Message from Rev. Paula+
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Beloved Community,
As some of you undoubtedly know, I'm reading the book,
Strength for the Journey: A Guide to Spiritual Practice by Renee Miller for our daily morning reflection. This evening I was recording about hospitality as a ministry practice. A couple of passages caught my attention, reminding me of another aspect of what living in this time of pandemic has been with all of the changes, all of the ways we've had to grow and sometimes spill out of our comfort zones to find the ways to live our faith, to be Church, and to begin to plan what our future looks like as we live the radical love and hospitality of Jesus. Perhaps some of you will find some meaning in them, too.
"Henri Nouwen spoke about 'hospitality of heart." At it's core, hospitality is an opening of the heart. It really has very little to do with having friends or strangers over for dinner. Indeed, we can invite the poor into our homes for a meal three nights a week, but if our hearts are not open, we have not offered hospitality...Providing a meal or shelter seems more manageable than opening our hearts...it is also important to step out in places where we've never been, to meet people we've not known before, to experience arenas of life beyond our familiar terrain."
Peace & Blessings,
Rev. Paula+
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Bishop Hughes' vlog for June 10th may be found
here.
This week's
The Voice Online may be found
here.
To read Bishop Hughes' Covid-19 guidelines, as well as other news from around the diocese, look
here.
A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Hughes
What direction shall we choose as health crisis and racism intersect with faith and politics? Read it here.
Prayers and Reflections on Pandemic, Racism, and Protest:
Thursday, June 11 at 6:30 PM on Zoom
(Login details were forwarded in a separate newsletter.)
J
oin online with Bishop Hughes and fellow members of the Diocese of Newark as we respond to the disturbing deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. This will be a time to share our hopes, worries, and fears in an uncertain time. We will begin and end the evening with prayers of lament and petition. This ancient practice of lament, reflection, petition, and praise is well-documented in the Psalms. It will uphold us as we gather with each other and before God to pray and reflect.
Diocese of Newark Memorial Service for all who have died during restricted distancing protocols:
Saturday, June 13, 10 AM on YouTube Live
The last three months have been filled with all kinds of sacrifice, probably none greater than the death of loved ones in our communities. These losses were made harder by families unable to grieve with the family of faith. While this service, led by Bishop Hughes, will not replace what has been missed, it will be a time for us to gather as the diocese in memory of those who have died.
Link to diocesan YouTube channel:
Please use this form to submit the names of loved ones to be included in the Memorial Service:
Checking In: A Lay Conversation with the Bishop
Tuesday, June 30, 6 PM
Bishop Carlye Hughes is eager to once again spend time in conversation with the members of the diocese, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us.
On Tuesday, June 30 at 6 PM we will hold the second monthly Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes. Scheduled for 90 minutes, this Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese.
An email invitation will be sent Monday, June 29 to recipients of The Voice Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting.
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Resources from the Diocese for Responding to Racist Violence
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In this time of national upheaval, outrage, and fear, The Episcopal Church's Department of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation Care and the Office of Government Relations have assembled resources to assist individuals, congregations and communities seeking to LEARN, PRAY and ACT.
Please use and share these resources, and send your own resources and stories to reconciliation@episcopalchurch.org.
You can find the link to current resources here.
Read Presiding Bishop Curry's Word to the Church here.
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Millburn Rally for Black Lives
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Photos and video from the Rally for Black Lives on Sunday, June 7, 2020.
If you were unable to join us and would like to show your support, we invite you to tie a red ribbon on the fence at St. Stephen's in solidarity.
Diocese of Newark Congregations say Black Lives Matter!
See the diocese photo gallery
here.
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St. Stephen's Zoom Events
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Coffee Hour
!
Sundays at 11AM
Watch the service at 10 AM, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and join the fun. We'll be around from 11 to noon.
Send an email to Rev. Paula at
rector@ststephensmillburn.org by 10:45 AM that morning to request the login information. Don't be surprised to find yourself in a waiting room. Barbara Riedel or Rev. Paula will let you in.
Reading with the Rector
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Topic: Sermons of the late Bishop Barbara C. Harris as published in Parting Words: A Farewell Discourse; Cowley Publications, 2003.
You can find the sermons here. For the Zoom meeting link, please visit the St. Stephen's calendar here.
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Youth & Teen Resources and Events
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POP UP YOUTH MINISTRY
The Episcopal Pop Up Youth Ministry is for all youth grades 6-12. Fun events are hosted via Zoom on Sundays at 4 PM. These events include themes like Scavenger Hunt, Escape Room and Trivia Night!
The next event is Sunday, June 21 at 4 PM.
Click
here
to register.
Follow POP UP Youth Ministry on Facebook and Instagram @popupym
Questions? Email popupym@dioceseofnewark.org
CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER
Our friends at Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center are providing activities for kids and teens including art projects, Zoom virtual camp-fires and more!
To join the fun, follow the Cross Roads Facebook page here and follow them on Instagram @crossroads.camp
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As we continue to navigate these challenging times, we want to continue to live our faith in some of the familiar ways, even though we can't be together. The number of individuals and families who are homeless or are facing homelessness is at an all time high due to the current pandemic. And the need for food and supplies to nourish and sustain these families, even more so. So we have organized the following ways for our congregation, friends and family to continue our mission of helping those in need.
1.
Apostles' House Food Barrel - A weather-proof collection bin is located at St. Stephen's outside under the roof of the Narthex parking lot entry door. Canned goods and non-perishable food items can be dropped off at any time and will be delivered to Apostles' House.
2.
North Porch Women & Infants' Centers - A second collection bin for North Porch is located at the same door. Right now they are in urgent need of the following:
- Enfamil 12.5 oz powdered baby formula and soy formula, and Enfamil infant (yellow label) 21.1 oz
- Diapers especially Large sizes - 4, 5, 6, and Pull-ups of all sizes
- Baby wipes
- Jars of baby food - all ages- fruit, veggie and 1st foods
3. Online Ordering/Donations - If you are unable to drop off items at the church, and would like to contribute, you can make purchases and/or donations online directly to these organizations. PLEASE NOTE: North Porch prefers you use their AmazonSmile link for direct product donations.
North Porch Women and Infant Centers
North Porch Amazon Smile direct link:
The Apostles' House
Food Pantry link:
4.
Christine's Kitchen
, Holy Trinity Church, West Orange
St. Stephen's will be hosting Christine's Kitchen again on August 15th. More details to come.
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Connection and Common Worship
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All of the information you need to remain actively connected to St. Stephen's can be found on the website under the "Living Our Faith in a Time of Pandemic" tab on the top left. In addition, the ways to join in worship and other activities is also available on the Events Calendar on the website, under News & Events. Our worship services will be posted to
Facebook every Sunday morning at 8 AM and will be available on our new
YouTube channel. The services can be watched at any time.
Our Sunday worship service is also broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) at 6 AM and 1 PM. Please be sure to spread the word to your friends and family who do not use the internet.
Audio recordings of the homilies are found
here
. The bulletins can be found
here.
FYI - St. Stephen's is on Facebook EVERY DAY! Join us, and tell your friends and family! Posts include daily morning and evening prayer, Sunday worship, Children's Chapel on Saturday, and Children's Storytime with Rev. Paula.
Videos of all the posts can easily be accessed from the Facebook video library right
here.
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Thanks to all of you who have been mailing your pledges or giving online using Vanco or Tithe.ly. Your faithful financial stewardship means we are able to "be Church" in all the ways that we are during this time, while also ensuring that, when the time comes, we are strong and nimble enough to return to our more comfortable and familiar ways.
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Resources from the Diocese and Beyond
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There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time. This is by no means a complete list, though it does cover many areas of need.
NEW!!! Faith@Home, a ministry of Forward Movement Publications and Forma, a ministry of the Episcopal Church Foundation, offers weekly lectionary-based readings and reflections for all age groups. You'll find those resources here.
The Diocese of Newark has a page dedicated to pastoral messages, informational updates and directives, and resources for use by parishes and people of faith. You'll find it here.
The Episcopal Church, nationally and internationally, has information on its website, including pastoral messages from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry. You'll find it here.
The National Cathedral livestreams worship and hosts podcasts, all of which can be accessed here.
The Church Publishing Group has made available a free downloadable copy of
The Book of Common Prayer. This is a wonderful way to encourage both a personal prayer discipline and as a support to online worship in which the liturgy is from the BCP.
Now might be the right time to sign up for a daily, weekly, or monthly devotion. A couple of our favorites are:
- The Society of St. John the Evangelist. The brothers offer wisdom in many ways so please do explore their website.
- The Center for Action and Contemplation, home of Richard Rohr. As with SSJE, this is a rich offering of resources so it is best to explore the website.
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St. Stephen's Prayer List
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Please keep the following
St. Stephen's family members
and friends in your prayers...
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Jeff Loggins
Jimmy Hasenkamp
Ian Janeczko
The McManus Family
The Blanchard Family
Donna Riggi
Bernard & Nathan
The Fitzgerald Family
Roy Williams
Jack Moreno
Colette Ehlers
John Schnurrenberger
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Stephanie Gubin
Sue Macbeth
Francis
Christine Conti
Shanisha
Pedro Villagran
Gregory Shuss
Carolyn Romano
Kenneth Armstrong
Mike Murray
Xander
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Links to the Wider Church
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The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
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Giving with Tithe.ly is easy, with options for one-time or recurring donations. We encourage you to consider it at all times, but especially when you are away for any reason, like all of us now with the restrictions due to coronavirus.
There are two ways to do it: thru
tithe.ly.com
or the
tithe.ly
app on your smart phone. You'll want to search for St. Stephen's Church Millburn. Be sure to have the correct punctuation. You'll know you're there when you see: St. Stephen's Church Millburn and the address. Once you're at the church's page, follow the prompts.
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Office Hours and Contact Information
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Office hours: Until we are through this public health emergency, there are NO office hours. Please call Rev. Paula to arrange for pastoral care or if you have any reason to come to the office. She'll work with you to figure out a safe way to manage this.
Website: ststephensmillburn.org
Main email: church@ststephensmillburn.org
Doreen Schindler, Parish Administrator
can be reached at ext. 32 or
church@ststephensmillburn.org.
The Rev. Paula J. Toland, Rector can be reached at ext. 21 or
rector@ststephensmillburn.org.
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