A Message from Rev. Paula+
Beloved Community,

On Monday evening, after a day spent in good conversation with a leader of a local Islamic Society, I attended an interfaith vigil in Maplewood Village.  It was a holy and sacred time, a gathering of diverse peoples remembering the lives lost in Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as the lives lost in the massacres in the synagogue in Pittsburgh and the church in Charleston, among others.  Those gathered share a commitment to recognizing the presence of God in all people, "period, full stop," as one of my seminary professors used to say.  

One of the speakers told a story of the the wisdom of the prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him.  The story is told that a man asked the prophet, "What is faith?"  The prophet's response: "No man has faith until he wants for all men what he wants for himself."  As the student was speaking, I glanced around and noticed the beauty of the lit candles we were holding.  It occurred to me in that moment, as it has in the past and I hope it will in the future, that we struggle greatly with questions that are as simple and as profound as this story illuminates.  The simple answer to healing the brokenness of our world is that each of us, all of us, take this wisdom to heart and commit to living it everyday.  The profound reality of this approach to life and faith is that change would come, and healing and reconciliation would be possible.

It struck me, too, that this is a good place from which to pray as we prepare to meet the risen Christ as if for the very first time.

Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
Important Alert: Email and Phone Scams
Please be aware that churches are being targeted with an email scam in the name of clergy with a request for gift cards.  Please DO NOT respond to any email in with the Bishop or any other clergy asks you to purchase gift cards.  Please let us know if you receive any suspicious emails.  Thank you!

There also is a telephone scam in which someone calls and claims to be representing the Social Security Administration.  The person says that your Social Security Number has been compromised.  The intent is that you will give your number in response to their need to verify its integrity.  Please DO NOT give your number.  The Social Security Administration does not place calls or send emails about such things.  If you are targeted by this scam, pray for patience.  They are unrelenting and sophisticated enough to make multiple phone calls, even if you have blocked one or more of their numbers.
News


Thank You!  The parish and Vestry of St. Stephen's Church would like to genuinely thank Ronnie Toland for fixing and improving the sound system! It was a pleasure to be able to hear this past Sunday's service without straining. Many thanks for your help! - Maryalice Chech, Warden of People & Programs

North Porch Baby Shower is this Sunday, March 24  at coffee hour. 
North Porch provides emergency baby needs to low income mothers throughout  the diocese. You can help by  contributing the following items:

Enfamil 12.5 oz. powder (regular & soy formulas), diapers (large sizes: 
4,5,6), Pull-Ups (all sizes), baby
wipes, baby food jars of fruits and
vegetables (all ages), and First Foods.

Cynthia Moriczde Tecso, diocesan
coordinator of North Porch will speak briefly at the 10am service and be present during coffee hour.

Please join us in this annual event. You can place early donations in the collection box in the Narthex or bring them to the coffee hour. You can also donate financially. Checks should be made out to North Porch Center.



A Celebration of New Ministry  and the institution of our 22nd Rector, The Rev. Paula J. Toland will take place on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 2 pm. The Rt. Rev. Carlye Hughes, XI Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, will be presiding. All are welcome!

Arrangements are being made for a reception following the Sa turday, March 30th  service. Special food items are needed. If you would like to contribute, please notify Sara Ruth Dorn at (973) 467-9847 or dornfmillburn@gmail.com.

Easter Egg Hunt:   
We need donations of Hershey's chocolate kisses (NO NUTS), Starbursts, Jelly Belly jelly beans, and plastic eggs for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. The hunt will take place on the church lawn after services on 
Sunday,  April 21 . Donations can be brought on Sundays and placed in the box marked Egg Hunt in the church office. Any questions, please see Maryalice Chech. Thank you in advance for your donations!

Check Out Our Updated Website: We are in the process of sprucing up our website, which now has an updated logo and home page.  This is part of our effort to reach out to the wider community to let people know what we are doing and to invite them to join us.  Did you know people "visit" social media 5 - 7 times before visiting a church in person?  P.S. We are also now on Instagram @ststephensmillburn - follow us!

Pledge Envelopes: To request pledge envelopes for 2019, please see Fran Taber, and add your name to the list she is compiling.
Lent and Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday, April 18:
7:00 pm - Eucharist with Foot Washing & Stripping of the Altar
8:15 to 10:00 pm - Vigil

Good Friday, April 19:
12:00 pm - Proper Liturgy for Good Friday with Administration of the Reserve      Sacrament
8:00 pm - Proper Liturgy for Good Friday

Don't forget our Lenten series!  Beginning March 10th, for six consecutive Sundays after the 10:00 am service, we will study the parables, basing our conversation on a book by Amy-Jill Levine, Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi.  The book is great but not necessary to this study.  You will need the Participant Guide, which is available at  Cokesbury  and Amazon  for about $10.
Events
Lenten Series


North Porch Baby Shower 


Celebration of New Ministry
Sundays, March 10, 17, 24, & 31, April 7 and 14 at 11:30 am

Sunday, March 24, 11:00 am Coffee Hour

Saturday, March 30, 2:00 pm

Schedule

This week: March 24, 8:00 am

Reader & Chalicer: Nancy Sieffert
Altar Guild: Nancy Sieffert

This week: March 24, 10:00 am

Readers: Fran Taber, Felder Dorn, Barbara Riedel
Chalicist: John Soughan
Ushers: Roger Riedel and Steve Moran
Altar Guild: Jean James
Coffee Hour: North Porch Baby Shower


Next week: March 31, 8:00 am

Reader & Chalicer: Allison Walker
Altar Guild: Nancy Sieffert


Next week: March 31, 10:00 am

Readers: Shaun Landers, Kathy Conway, Fran Young
Chalicist: Eric Maurer
Ushers: Roger and Barbara Riedel
Altar Guild: Julia Dorn
Coffee Hour: The Dorn Family
Lectionary

This week: March 24th
 

Next week: March 31st
Links to the Wider Church

The Episcopal Diocese of Newark







The Episcopal Church









The Presiding Bishop








Office Hours and Contact Information

Office hours are Tuesday thru Friday, 10:00 am to 1:30 pm or by appointment.
Phone: 973.376.0668  
Fax: 973.376.4002
Website: ststephensmillburn.org
Main email: church@ststephensmillburn.org
Follow us on:  Facebook and Instagram

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.
She is an occasional blogger at fromthestillness.