St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL January 4th, 2019
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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: January 6th, Christmas
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8 am Holy Eucharist
10 am Holy Eucharist
Sunday School
Nursery Care
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This Sunday is Epiphany. We will hear the story of the gift-bearing Magi who followed a star to pay homage to Jesus. Everyone will get their own 'star gift' to take home. Following the 10:00 worship service we will enjoy a delicious lasagna lunch and Sherrie's famous Epiphany cake!
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Dear (Contact First Name)
Happy New Year! It's almost time to set our Christmas hymns on the shelf until next year. I'm going to miss them.
In my college years, when I sang in an Episcopal Church Choir in Virginia, we sang many pieces from "Carols for Choirs", a two-volume set of 100 carols for Advent and Christmas published in England that you won't find in our 1982 hymnal. I have come to know and love many of them. One of my favorites is "A New Year Carol" composed by Benjamin Britten, based on a children's folk song. The music is lovely . . . the lyrics a little quirky:
Here we bring new water from the well so clear,
For to worship God with this happy New Year.
(Refrain):
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;
The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe,
Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go.
(Refrain)
Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin,
Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in.
(Refrain)
Here's a link to a recording worth listening to by the Wakefield Cathedral Choir in the UK:
Anyhow, there are a couple of phrases that popped out at me this year. "For to worship God 'with' this happy New Year". I might think of worshiping God 'in' a new year - but I never thought of worshiping God 'with' a new year. How will I worship God with this Happy New Year?
Also, "Let the New Year in." When it comes to New Year's Day, I think more about what I will do/not do, or what I would like to see happen/not happen. I don't think about 'letting the new year in' - welcoming it with open arms or inviting it in.
I like looking at the New Year as something to welcome in and something I will worship God with. I'm not sure I totally understand what that means, but I like it.
I'm looking forward to parsing this out for myself, but also with you. How can we welcome the New Year in and worship God with this new year? Welcoming and worshiping - a good couple of words to begin our New Year at St. Stephen's!
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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Annual Meeting!
Our 2019 Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday,
January 20th, after the 10:00 service. In addition to hearing about the 'State of the Parish' from Sr. Warden, Edy Unthank, our Treasurer, Gregg Hall, and Rev. Karen, we will be electing three new vestry members.
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Serving on the Vestry
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Every year, after finishing a three year term, two or three vestry members rotate off the Vestry. Our Annual Meeting is coming up this month and we will hold elections for the open vestry seats. The Vestry is the board that oversees every aspect of our life as a parish. Being on the Vestry is an opportunity to grow spiritually, participate in the visioning of our church, develop new and strengthen old relationships, and learn more about St. Stephen's. You might be tapped on the shoulder by a vestry member to see if you're interested in being on the vestry. Before saying no, please consider your gifts and your call. Pray on it! If your interested and want to know more, see Rev. Karen, Edy Unthank or any of our current vestry members (Janet Thorsrud, Tony Pecora, Rowena Dizon-Burger, Renee Brown, Anthony Francis,or Dottie Chin, Susan Zaballos, Gregg Hall) .
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Rev. Karen's Kudos to:
- The Rev. Edward Wilson for preaching and presiding at last Sunday's services.
- Janet Thorsrud and Ann Little for continuing to chip away at all the spring cleaning that needs to be done.
-All faithful prayers on the Prayer Chain.
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Santa Maria Urban Ministry
PLEASE NOTE!
We will not be going to SMUM on January 5th, 2019,
since they will be CLOSED.
Our next trip to Santa Maria Urban Ministries will be
on
Saturday January 19th,
led by Janet Thorsrud & Ann Little.
Can we count on you to help?
Just three hours: 8:45 to 11:45.
Please call Janet at (408) 281-0628,
or Ann at (408) 226-9763, if you can help.
Also, give a call, if you'd like a ride.
Address: 778 Almaden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110
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Village House Day Center
at the Episcopal Church in Almaden
(ECA)
Jan 4 thru Feb 6, 2019: Please sign up
It's time to sign up for Village House's January, 2019, day center for medically fragile, homeless women to be held at the Episcopal Church in Almaden (ECA). This is a ministry of presence, which St Stephen's people are so good at! Two hour shifts. Bring a friend!!
Please click on the
link below to sign up.
Then please watch this training video at
Revs Karen and Robin will each take a shift and would like someone to go with them. Robin is going with Francis S. on Sun, Jan 13, from 3:15 to 5:15pm. Karen will go on a week day.
Thanks so much for being a part of this worthwhile service.
ECA address: 6581 Camden Ave, San Jose, CA 95120.
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Gift Card Order
Sorry if this delay causes any problems. The next gift card order will be on January 13th, instead of the 6th. Due to a death in the family I will be in Texas on the 6th.
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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 Biddings book at the back of the sanctuary where you can write in things before the service starts
* there is a prayer chain of committed pray-ers (who maintain confidentiality). Contact Robin, our Deacon, who will initiate that for you
* there is prayer at the altar every Sunday, where we all join you in the privacy of your need with the Priest
* there is a kneeling prayer station at the side of the church with candles, prayer book, all available anytime, not just Sundays
* turn to your neighbors and friends in church to share what's on your heart, ask for support in speaking to God about your needs (and tell them the updates next week!)
* tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.
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Transforming Generosity - Stewardship Update
We have reached just over
81% of our stewardship goal. If you are still thinking about or planning to make a pledge for 2019, please do so as soon as possible. If you'd like to increase your pledge, please contact our Stewardship Chair, Eric Samson, or our Sr. Warden, Edy Unthank. Thank you for your generosity!
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Hearts & Hands
from Dcn Robin
Time to start planning for our next
Hearts & Hands
day at St Stephen's!
Two dates for your calendars:
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Field Trip
It's been a while since we have been on a field trip. On February 20th (Wed) we will journey to San Francisco's de Young Museum to see the Monet and Gauguin exhibit and then on to the Legion of Honor to see the Jewels of the Maharajas. We will have lunch at the de Young and decide to have dinner out or just return back to San Jose as we get closer to the day.
Monet, well known for painting water lilies from his garden at
Giverny in France produced more than 50 painting mainly from
1913 through 1926. These are called his "late years" where you
can see his style change due to failing eye sight.
Gauguin: a spiritual journey.
This exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum displays his paintings,
wood carvings and ceramics from this self-trained former stock-
broker on his quest to discover his own spirituality and that of
other cultures he encountered.
East meets West: Jewels of the Maharajas include showstoppers such as the 17.21-carat Arcot ll diamond. This collection has exquisite jewelry and precious objects from the seventeenth century to the present including pieces of historical importance.
For more information check the websites:
deyoungmuseum.org
legionofhonor.org
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Food for thought. . .
"Into this world, this demented inn in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited." -Thomas Merton
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Contact information for Rev. Karen:
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826
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Contact information for Deacon Robin:
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Please send any announcements or articles you want to have included,
to: jhnltl50@gmail
.com, by Thursday, 10am each week.
Thanks, John
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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
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