St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL March 26th, 2021
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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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Palm Sunday: March 28th, 2021
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Liturgy of the Word, Rite II at 10:00am online
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From the Rector
Dear Friends,
We take breathing for granted sometimes, don’t we? We forget that every breath we take is evidence of life – of being alive. I like to think of it as evidence that the Holy Spirit is breathing new life in me with every breath I take.
This week I listened to a favorite podcast, ‘On Being’. Clinical Psychologist, Christine Runyan, was the guest and she talked about what’s happening in our nervous system, our bodies, specifically in response to the pandemic. She explains a lot in the 50 minute interview and near the end she offers how we can work with our bodies to intentionally send messages of safety and calming – something we can all benefit from. Of course one of them has to do with breathing. A very looong, slooow exhale is particularly calming.
I like to think of this kind of breathing in terms of the Holy Spirit. Inhaling the Spirit deeply, and releasing her intentionally slowly, hanging on until the next breath . . . completely taking for granted that there will be one.
I am perplexed however by a thought brought up in the interview. This year, by virtue of my breath, I became a danger to others.
This week we will remember Jesus’ last breath. Breath that I hardly think he took for granted. His last breath marks his death, and yet without it, there would be no resurrection!
I don’t usually think about breathing much, but this week it’s been at the forefront of my thoughts. As we move through Holy Week may we be mindful of each breath we take, however shallow or deep, remembering that Jesus gave his last out of love for us.
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. We will process with palms, followed by the Liturgy of the Word. The service is outdoors and in person at St. John’s and it will be live streamed on Facebook. The link will be posted on our website at 10:45 Sunday morning. You must register for this service! We are limited to 40 attendees. The link to register for the service will be sent out in a separate email tomorrow morning at 10:00am. The service will be recorded and posted on our website for later viewing.
***Every now and then there is a glitch with the website link for the service. If you do not see the service, you can go to the St. Stephen’s website (www.ssitf.org) and see it there until we fix the problem, but please let Robert or Rev. Karen know if the link isn’t working!****
Click HERE for the bulletin
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL WITH THE HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE THIS WEEK BUT IN CASE YOU DIDN’T SEE IT, HERE IT IS:
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March 28th
St. John the Divine – in person
11:00am: Blessing of the Palms and Liturgy of the Word
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Maundy Thursday, April 1st
Pre-recorded at St. Stephen’s in-the-Field
7:00pm: Liturgy of the Word
Stripping of the Altar.
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Good Friday, April 2nd
12:00pm: Stations of the Cross
St. John the Divine Labyrinth
6:30pm: Zoom
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Great Vigil of Easter, April 3rd
Diocesan Service via YouTube
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Easter Sunday
April 4th
St. Stephen’s in-the-Field – in person
10:30am Holy Eucharist
12:30pm Holy Eucharist
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Filming underway for Great Vigil of Easter |
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Join with others throughout the Diocese of El Camino Real in a joyful celebration of Easter! An online Easter Vigil will be presented the evening of April 3 – a multi-lingual service of fire and light, story and music, remembrance and hope. Bishop Lucinda will preach and we will renew our baptismal covenant in community. The service will be available beginning at 6 pm on Saturday, April 3, at the diocesan YouTube page. Subscribe to the page to get an alert when it is posted.
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Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00am on Zoom with this link.
*NO COFFEE HOUR THIS SUNDAY!*
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Thanks to last week’s liturgy assistant! |
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RealEpiscopal, El Camino Real’s newest website, is live and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! After years of refinements to previous designs, the website has been completely remade from scratch, simplifying its structure and making it more accessible to leaders, clergy, and parishioners. Check it out!
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To help support the Morgan Hill community, St. John the Divine will be holding a canned food drive throughout the month of April. Please bring your non-perishable food to church during our in-person services or call Stacey Daprile to arrange a pick-up time. (408-710-3546)
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Poem from the Garden
We're planting the thin central median
of our own parking lot tomorrow from
nine to noon; last week we all planted trees
whose flowers are the colors of new flames,
bright yellow and hot red through filtering leaves.
Tomorrow, we'll plant waves of grasses tight
against blue and white blossoms, like you'd find
around a candle wick, or just above
the faces of the young apostles, when
when tongues of flame lit them up and they found
they could speak every language in the world.
We're planting a new Pentecost garden,
in the warm colors of the fire that filled
their hearts as they celebrated Shavuot.
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“. . .and people are to march around the church to commemorate the even, Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was greeted with applause and with palms. People thought he had come to overthrow the Romans, but . . .no. . .he had come to change THEM. . .and that led to things turning bad.” -Garrison Keillor
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Kudos to:
-Trig for mowing the lawn
-Jane for raking leaves on the office side of the church.
-The Altar Guild for the extra work they are doing for Holy Week
-The Re-Entry Team
-gardeners and musicians that bless us every week
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New Contact Information for Rev. Karen!
Please use this new number to contact Rev. Karen for calls or texts:
(669)270-7479
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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 prayer chain of committed pray-ers (who maintain confidentiality).
* tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.
Please submit prayer requests to Rev. Karen.
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Contact information for Rev. Karen: |
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: (669)270-7479
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Editor's Note
Please send any announcements or articles you want to have included, to: evan.bryan1@gmail.com, by Thursday, 10am each week.
Evan Bryan
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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
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