Warbles from your Senior Warden
 
 
It is really beginning to look and sound like spring!   As I write this there is sunshine outside and I can hear birdsong. It is so invigorating!
 
Makes we want to start planting things and watch them grow. I have daffodils in a vase on my kitchen counter (from Trader Joes - but who can resist when they are only $1.79!!)
 
This is a great time to re-invigorate our lives here at St. Stephen's. We have a great program coming up that will be announced soon. I am hoping that there will be something on this special day that will intrigue each of you.   I am hoping that there will be rich soil and nutrients to encourage you to grow. Final details are being worked out and I think we will be announcing details next week. Fun for the whole family with different projects that will appeal to all.
 
So that is my teaser for this week. It is worth waiting for and we may be contacting you to help lead one of the projects.   Meanwhile, think of St. Stephen's as a garden. We need to cultivate and plant seeds. With love and encouragement, we can then watch things grow. I love being a part of this family and growing along with you.
 
Birdsong to me is like God reminding me of the joy and hope that is right there for the asking. It reminds me to look around and see His handiwork. My dwarf orange tree by my front door is covered in blossoms. If all of those blossoms become oranges, the poor little tree will need alot of support. But a bounty of riches!
 
May we all be there to support one another as we grow and flourish in God's abundance. May we all be reminded of this abundance by the little song of a little bird joyfully announcing that God is good.
 
Many blessings on you this fine spring day,
Edy

Sunday Services: April 15, Third  Sunday of Easter           
 
                                       
  
                           
                8 am   Holy Eucharist 
              10  am   Holy Eucharist 
                            Nursery Care
                            Sunday School
 
              PLEASE JOIN US !!

 
 
Server Schedule for Sunday, April 15 & April 22 , 2018
(click above to access Server Schedule)  


This week the young adults from Calero High School helped out in the community garden and on our church grounds. The photos show the students cutting down dead branches from our oak tree and learning that sweeping is different from raking. New flowers were planted in 2 planter boxes left by the Good's.
In the community garden there are tall grasses that grow along the fence where the mower can't go and the weed-wacker also has trouble. They can be pulled up by hand, though. Everyone worked together as a team and much was accomplished.  -- Janet Thorsrud



Santa Maria Urban Minisitry 

Say "Hello" to my new friends from Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church. They were at SMUM last week to help out with the ongoing work that needs to be done. We sent out 25 boxes of food and 10 bag lunches for the homeless. There is a great need for socks. Please bring socks to church and we will let SMUM hand them out as needed.
Have you ever wondered why there is so much garbage at tent cities? I have. While at Santa Maria Urban Ministries (SMUM) I had a chance to talk with a gentleman who had been homeless but is no longer. He shared with me that the homeless are able to get free clothes but they don't have a way to wash their clothes due to no money. It cost $ 5-7 each week to wash including soap. That money is spent buying food instead. Now we know.
Susan will be going to SMUM on Saturday the 21st. I know she would like some company. Bring some socks and yourselves if you can.
                                                                        -- Janet Thorsrud
Gift Card order is due this Sunday
Much research has been done on how we spend our money. The women do most of the family shopping. If that is the case in your household remind your partner that they might want to order gift cards to purchase a gift for Mother's Day.
It could be a card for 1-800-Flowers (make sure they know they still need to order the flowers), See's candy, or dinner out so you don't have to do the cleanup. This is the time to plan ahead.
Also this month you can order cards in small denominations.
Amazon $10                                           Barnes and Nobles $5
CVS         $10                                         Olive Garden $10
Home Depot $10                                     iHop              $10
Panera   $5                                             Safeway       $10
Target     $10                                           Starbucks     $5
These can be used as teacher gifts, thank yous or for those in the office, or they can be distributed to people in need. Oh yeah, St. Stephen's benefits just with you shopping for your family.
Keep up the good work!
New order form is attached. 
    
Museum Field Trip
The museum trip on April 20 th has been changed. It's now going to be on Friday May 25 th . We are going to Carmel to see an exhibit of Eyvind Earle's works. Take a look at the website.  www.gallery21.com
We will leave the church at 10 and will try to be back around 3pm.
                                                                                      - Janet Thorsrud
Save the date: May 19
th
This is the day of the send off brunch for Julie and Logan before they head off to Arizona. It will be a drop in when you can.
Stay as long as you like between the hours of 10 till 2. The brunch will be at Janet Thorsrud's house. The  address is 198 Giddings Ct.

Pastoral Care Need
Our good friend and St. Stephen's family member Jim Glancey could use your support. He has gangrene and is in a lot of pain. He is at home and would welcome a phone call, visit, or card. We have offered to provide a few meals and Jim will let Dottie Chin know what meals would be best. If you are interested in providing a meal, please contact Dottie Chin.

Sr Elaine Coutu came to St Stephen's on Feb 18 to tell us about "Get on the Bus", a program which "brings children and their caregivers from throughout the State of California to visit their mothers and fathers in prison."  In past years, St Stephen's has helped "Get on the Bus" by donating backpack materials for the children's bus trips to the prisons.  This year "Get on the Bus" has determined that they will only accept financial donations.

Please consider making a financial donation to this important program.  Continual contact with families helps to lower the recidivism rate of those who are incarcerated.  If you wish to make a donation, please either make a check out to St Stephen's with "Get on the Bus" in the memo line, or make your check directly to "Get on the Bus".  We will gather checks throughout April and then forward all checks to Sr Elaine.
Bible Study at St. Stephen's
by Edy Unthank

Ou r next bible study session will be "Meet the Disciples." Why did Jesus choose the 12? What did he see in them specifically? He did not invite 2 or 3. He did not invite 150 - he invited these specific 12 men. 


Join us for our next meeting on Tuesday April 11 at 10:00 AM at the church. 

What can you teach?
There is an effort to reach out to the St. Stephen's community by offering a summer camp this year. The plan is to offer enrichment sessions to children from the ages of 5 to 12.  Please tell us if you have a passion to teach any art or crafts, sing, music, sports, building, or helping kinders to improve their reading, cooking, stand on your head and rub your tummy.....ok maybe not that one, but you get the idea.
We are looking for teachers and helpers.  Let Ann Little, Monica Moniz or Janet Thorsrud know if you are interested.  We are in the plansning stage now and need to wrap it up soon.  Reach out to us and let us know. 

St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
www.ssitf.org    office@ssitf.org 
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