St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL January 11th, 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 13th, Christmas
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8 am Holy Eucharist
10 am Holy Eucharist
Sunday School
Nursery Care
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Warbles from your Senior Warden
Last Sunday was Epiphany. It was so much fun to share lunch and Epiphany cake with everyone! One of the highlights of the service was the gift of stars. Karen laid out stars on a table and we were all asked to pick one. On the reverse side was a word - a word for us to ponder for the future.
The star I picked for St. Stephen's had the word truth on the back. Truth - we need to be honest with ourselves and really consider what St. Stephen's purpose is in our relationship with the community and the world.
My personal star had the word wonder. I love the concept of wonder and so far it has really impacted me in so many ways. When I received a diagnosis in July that was difficult for me to even rationalize, this St. Stephen's family really stepped up. Prayers and support overflowed - and continues to overflow today. It sometimes has me filled with wonder at my great fortune to be a part of this community.
I cannot write about wonder without mentioning Calvin and Ella. Calvin is now 4 ½ and he learns things at such an amazing rate. Yesterday we played Dino-opoly, a game he received for Christmas. He corrects my pronunciation of the dinosaur names and is so fully engaged in the facts. We have great conversations and I am amazed (and full of wonder) at all of the details that fill his head and excite him. It is truly a wonderful thing.
Ella is now 4 months old. She has learned how to do raspberries! She gets a twinkle in her eye, sticks out that little tongue and blows! Somehow she is so proud and excited that she has learned this new trick. She is more aware of her surroundings every day and just drinks it all in. We are all so wonderfully made and it is more evident as we observe babies and their fast learning curve than at any other time in our lives.
What was on your star? If you did not pick up a star, they are still available. It is a great exercise in self-exploration and wonderful food for thought. I welcome a discussion to ponder your word and what it could mean to you personally and to you in relation to St. Stephen's. I welcome a discussion about the word truth and how taking that word seriously could maybe change our course.
This Sunday at coffee hour we will discuss our next Hearts and Hands Sunday. We will pick a day and pick projects. I loved the manna bags and hope we can do that again. But that is up to the entire congregation. It was also fun to walk the neighborhood and meet some of our neighbors. Last time we had an invitation to offer. What would we offer this time?
The Sunday after that we will have our annual meeting. This is sort of like a state of the union for our congregation. I hope you can be there to listen and vote. Maybe you would like to run for an open position. Maybe you would like to ask a question or two. The meeting is held immediately after the 10am service - just time to grab some coffee and a donut - and does not take more than an hour or so. It is vital to our congregation to get input and to make sure that everyone understands what we are doing as a community.
You fill me with wonder and awe every day. There is so much that we can do to impact the world outside of our doors. We can reach out with love and compassion to those in need. We can comfort those who suffer and celebrate the many gifts that life gives us every day. We can be the light of the world to many and pass along hope and love to all.
Many blessings dear family,
Edy
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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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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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St. Stephen's star word for '19 is . . .
TRUTH!
This is our star word to ponder together - how might this word 'Truth' resound with St. Stephen's this year? If we're going to do this together, it is important to share your thoughts and experiences about 'truth' as it relates to our faith community and mission. What might God be revealing to us as a church?
If you weren't at church last Sunday, there will plenty of stars for you to choose your own star word.
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Rev. Karen's Kudos to:
- All who helped take down the Christmas decorations Sunday.
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Susan Zaballos for making the beautiful table decorations, and all who brought food for our Epiphany feast.
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Santa Maria Urban Ministry
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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Diversity Sensitivity Training
(for all congregation leaders)
The diocese is hosting a Diversity Sensitivity Training event at St. Timothy's in
Mountain View on Feb 23, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. This one day training will
meet the requirements for "anti-racism" training for all lay licenses and for local
parish leaders (vestry, etc. . .). Pre-registration is required by Feb 15th. Email
line; include your full name and church affiliation in the email. A $20 donation
will graciously be received on the day of the event to cover cost of materials and
lunch.
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What's happening at St. Stephen's
1) Have you noticed the large pile of garden waste beside the dumpster and thought to yourself "Man, that's ugly!"
Thanks to the Calero students the eyesore is gone.
2) When you get a chance, check out the St. Stephen's website. See if you can figure out the changes the Communications Guild have made. There are only a few changes so you really have to look. Let us know what you think about future changes.
3) There will be another blanket making event on Jan 29th at my house:
198 Giddings Court, San Jose, CA 95139. Phone: (408) 281-0628. The fun starts at 5:30 with chili and cornbread served.
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Gift Card Order
The next gift card order will be this Sunday, January 13th. Sorry if this delay caused any problems. (Due to a death in the family I was 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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The Communications Guild
The Communications Guild had its second meeting this Wednesday. We reviewed the Saint Stephens in-the-Field website with Rev. Karen and Deacon Robin and made a few changes and improvements right away. (Can you spot them?) We've generated a list of action items and will begin meeting regularly to incrementally improve the website. We also would like input from the community on what you use the website for, how you would like to improve it, and any other communications needs that you think you'd like Saint Stephens to focus on improving.
- Anthony Francis
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Impressions of a 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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Influencer Training - The Power of Influence
Have you ever struggled to get others to adopt something new - even when it was good for them? Why are people so resistant to change? How can they be so stubborn?
What if you could help anyone change in a way that would improve their lives and yours! Think of all the people whose behavior you wish you could change..
- Your neighbor keeps parking his motor home in front of your house
- Your team members show up to meetings late
- Your son has spent the past 2 years since graduating high school in your basement
- Your sister is not managing her diabetes well and you're worried about her health
Influencer training provides a systematic way to address our influence problems. Using the best of social science, it provides principles and strategies to help you think about your influence challenges.
Influencer Training is fun! It uses a combination of live training, compelling videos, and a written toolkit to aid learners. You will engage in extensive in-class practice, group discussions, and personal planning.
Would you like to attend this training course? The training lasts two days. It's scheduled for Saturday, March 23 from 9 - 3 and Sunday, March 31 from 12 - 6. The class is limited to the first 20 people to Email or call me. Sign up today!
eMail: Hall.christineb@gmail.com
Ph#: 831-236-0008
Chris Hall
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Food for thought. . .
"God wants not just a part of me, but all of me. Only when I surrender myself completely to God's love can I expect to be free from endless distractions, ready to hear the voice of love, and able to recognize my own unique call."
-Henri Nouwen
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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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