Loneliness ranks alongside childhood obesity and mental well-being among the great public health challenges of our time. If you see the central quest of life as overcoming limitation and mortality, success will lie in the next gadget and always be just out of reach. But here’s the paradox: the more we emphasize overcoming limitation, the more we end up increasing isolation. The quicker we can get to or video conference with someone in New Delhi and Shanghai, the slower we are to learn our neighbor’s name.
Making ourselves self-sufficient renders us isolated. What we strive for, independence, may turn out to be another name for loneliness. But if you decide the real human problem is
isolation you begin to suspect, in all this quest to overcome
limitation, we’ve missed what matters most. The greatest gift we could possibly want is the one we’ve already been given, each other. Maybe this is what the epidemic of loneliness is telling us. All this time, as a whole society, we’ve been searching for the wrong thing. Welcome to St Stephen's.
See you in church!
Phil Ellsworth
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ALTAR FLOWERS
18th November 2018
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The flowers at the altar are given by
Gretchen
&
John Busterud
in thanksgiving for the service of our
military members and their families
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THIS SUNDAY 18th NOVEMBER
10:00a SERVICE
The Rev'd Rob Gieselmann will serve as Celebrant this Sunday at the 10a service.
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ST STEPHEN'S WILDFIRE DONATIONS
St Stephen’s parishioner Kim Portner, a graduate of Chico State, will be making a delivery to The Salvation Army in Chico
on Monday.
Here is a list of items the Salvation Army is accepting.
- Underwear/socks
- Blankets/pillows
- Hygiene items
- Cleaning supplies
- Diapers/baby wipes
- Non-perishable foods
- New toys for Christmas
- Gas cards
- Local vendor gift cards
This is a timely opportunity for us, by the embassy of the Portner family, to help people devastated by the fires. Please deliver your items by
Sunday, the 18th, by 8:00pm
to the Portner home at 2122 Centro East, Tiburon. You may text or call Kim at 415-309-3653 to let her know you’re dropping something by.
Their street number is not posted, so you’ll want to make use of these helpful directions:
Go to the end of Tiburon Blvd and follow the round-about onto Paradise. Follow Paradise past the Caprice Restaurant and continue to Solano. Turn left on Solano and follow it to the top of the hill, then turn left on Centro East. The Portner house is the 2nd driveway on the left (just past the 4-car carport). There is a 4-foot black wrought iron fence. You can pull down the driveway and leave donations by the garage.
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THIS WEEK
CHILDREN
&
YOUTH NEWS
ADVENT WREATH MAKING
FOR
ALL
AGES
SUNDAY
2nd DECEMBER
, 5 - 7:30p
Potluck supper, wreath making , followed by a short Advent devotional, and lighting of the first Candle of Advent. Donation: $10 to offset the cost of supplies
Please RSVP to
office@ststephenschurch.org if you will be attending so that we have plenty of greenery and candles for each wreath made. All ages are welcome to participate. One wreath per family.
Potluck Details:
Last name beginning with
A- M please bring a main dish,
N-Z please bring a salad, vegetable to share, or dessert.
It will be truly potluck. We will eat what shows up! Questions?
HOLIDAY GIVING:
Turkeys: This year, in lieu of a Thanksgiving food collection for Ritter House, St Stephen's asks that you consider purchasing frozen turkeys and self-deliver them directly to Ritter House. Ritter Center helps make it possible for low-income families in Marin County to enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner with their families. They provide all of the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal to more than 150 families every year. They can always use frozen turkeys. Please take your donation of frozen turkeys directly to Ritter Center at 16 Ritter Street, San Rafael between the hours of 9:00a —4:00p. If you have any questions, please contact Ritter Center at 415-457-8182 x 109.
Unfortunately, St Stephen’s
does not
have room in our freezer to accept these turkey donations.
Gift Barrel Christmas gift collection for Ritter House. This will be in lieu of the Family-to-Family Gifts.
Beginning on 25th November a "Giving Tree" will be available in the Parish Hall decorated with name tags and ages. You may take as many tags as desired and purchase a quality gift appropriate for the age on the tag. The wrapped gift complete with securely fastened tab must be returned by 13th December and deposited in a barrel that will be picked up early the next day.
PreK —
First
Godly Play |
Mike Peters
"Books of the Bible" |
Old
& New Testaments
This Sunday we will learn about many stories in the Bible. While your parents are upstairs reading the Bible in church we will spill stories from the pages of the Bible all over our Classroom! Come and see and wonder.
Next Week: Advent Stories |
Gospel of Matthew
& Luke
Second —
Fifth | Victoria Ellsworth
David C. Cook | Bible in Life
Trusting in God | Genesis 22
Abraham trusted God with his son Isaac.
N
ext Week: God Helps Me When I Ask
|
G
enesis 24
Sixth —
Twelfth |
David Hirsch
Lord of the Rings
Heart Defense | Lots of Scripture
We will look at a few of the ways that scripture helps to defend our hearts; most importantly by filling us with the strength God provides through relationship with Jesus.
Next Week:
Running Hard After God |
Sam
&
Frodo
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ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CHOIR CONCERT WITH STRING ORCHESTRA
9th DECEMBER,
4p
Bob McCaskill will be selling tickets following both services this Sunday.
Ticket forms were mailed out 22nd October to parishioners and all who attended last year. Tickets and seat requests are on a first come, first serve basis and are dated for assignment as they arrive in the office. This concert always sells out. Send your order and check in as soon as possible before sales open to the public.
More information available with this website link.
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ADULT EDUCATION
18th NOVEMBER, 11:30a
Discussion of the Letters of Paul to the Romans will continue.
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RAIN PONCHOS
&
WOOL SOCKS
FOR THE HOMELESS DRIVE
SUNDAYS 18th,
&
25th NOVEMBER
&
2nd DECEMBER 2018
63% of the county’s homeless population is unsheltered. At St Stephens, we collect funds every fall to purchase rain ponchos and wool socks for these homeless, unsheltered children of God. Ponchos cost approximately $20 each and Merino wool camping socks cost about $3. The ponchos and wool socks will be distributed by Ritter Center in San Rafael.
Please make cash and check donations
only
. Please
do not bring
coats and socks. Checks should be made out to St Stephens Church with Rain Gear in the
memo line. For more information, or to help, contact Joe Jennings at 415-279-3637,
josephwjennings@
sbcglobal.net. Thank you for your generosity.
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CALENDAR
The Daily Office:
Evening Praye
r is said at
5:00p Tuesday and Thursday
SAVE THESE DATES
Parish Retreat
18th December Anasazi Luncheon, 11a
26th - 28th April 2019
NOVEMBER
18 Paul's Letter to the Romans, Chapter 9
22 Happy Thanksgiving to all!
25 Gift Barrel Tags available this day
DECEMBER
2 Outside booking: Music Recital 2 - 5p
2 Advent Wreath Making, 5p - 7:30p
9 Christmas Choir Concert, 4p
13 Gift Barrel gifts deadline
18 Anasazi Christmas Carols, 11a
22 Pageant Rehearsal,
speaking roles 9a-11:30a, non-speaking roles 10:30 - 11:30a
23 Christmas Pageant, 10a
(pick up costumes 8:45a)
24 Christmas Eve Services, 4p
& 9:30p
25 Christmas Day Service, 10a
30 Services at 8a
& 10a
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SUNDAY SERVICES
8:00a
Contemplative Eucharist
10:00a
Holy Eucharist
St Stephen's Choir
Sunday School
10:00a
PreK – 5th Grades
PreK –
1st
2nd – 5th
Drop off begins at 9:45a
Youth Group
10:00a
Middle
&
High School
Childcare Provided
9:45a – 11:30a
infants through age 3
Confessions are heard by appointment
with the Rector
COFFEE CONNECTIONS
This Sunday
Twenty-fifth Sunday
after Trinity
18th November
Team 7
Next Sunday
The Last Sunday
after Trinity
The Feast of Christ the King
25th November
Team 3
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ANDREW HOYBACH |
A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE
30th NOVEMBER, 6:30p or 5:45p Ferry
Servinos
Friends of of Andrew Hoybach will be gathering at Servino’s, 9 Main Street, Friday, November 30th. The celebration of Andrew's life will begin with a toast to Andrew on the 5:45p Ferry, and continue at Servino’s upon arrival in Tiburon and until 9:30p.
The Rector is attending, and has been asked to invite all friends of Andrew’s from St Stephen’s. For more information, you may call 415-577-7793.
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Altar Flowers 2019
The 2019 Flower Chart is now in the Narthex. Please sign up for your special Sunday. The donation for flowers is $150. You will
be contacted the week prior to your Sunday week for your floral dedication.
Please note that the collection of Christmas floral donations will begin on the First Sunday of Advent. This is a separate collection from the 2019 Altar Flower sign-ups.
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THE DAILY OFFICE
Evening Prayer is said at 5:00p,
Tuesday
&
Thursday
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HEALING PRAYERS
Every Sunday
Intercessors at the Mary Corner will await those who desire anointing. After receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion, if you desire healing prayers for yourself or for a loved one, make your request know to a healing minister in the Mary Corner (near the entrance to the church.) Your request is kept confidential unless you indicate that it needn't be.
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OTHER, OLDER
&
ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS
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PLEDGE APPEAL 2019
St Stephen's thanks all those who have sent in their 2019 pledges.
The Pledge Appeal for 2019 is coming to a close and the final 20% of goal is much needed to continue all of the programs St Stephen's has kept in place over the years.
We need your help to plan St Stephen’s future by submitting your pledge card as soon as possible.
Currently pledges total
$548,762 or 81%
of
the goal. Please know that whatever amount you pledge is sincerely appreciated. By simply making a pledge of any amount, you cast your heart and thoughtful support for St Stephen’s and the church community you want it to be.
Join the growing list of those shown on the Narthex poster each Sunday.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE HELP
ST STEPHEN'S COMPLY WITH NEW RECYCLING RULES
Due to recycling changes with our recycler,
bottles and paper must now be separated, and
tainted paper
(even used paper coffee cups) must be thrown
into the garbage. St Stephen’s will be charged extra for improper recycling. Please help us keep our garbage/recycling costs down.
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You are invited to the
Marin Interfaith
Street Chaplaincy's
22nd Annual Interfaith
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
7:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church
A brief reception will follow
Please bring
clean sleeping bags, blankets,
rain gear and socks for our friends on the street. (no clothing please)
A free-will offering will also be received to support the work of
The Marin Interfaith Street Chaplaincy.
For more information contact,
Nick Morris @ (415) 685-5058 or visit
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ST STEPHEN'S ONLINE DIRECTORY
The St Stephen's Directory is now ONLINE!
To protect parishioner information, access to the private information needed to logon is granted by calling or emailing the office.
This Directory is for the use of parishioners only and is not to be shared with the general public.
PRIVACY POLICY
If you wish to opt out, please send an email with
DIRECTORY SS OPT OUT
in your subject line. Let us know in the email if you want to opt out of the entire directory, just pictures, and/or snail mailings.
office@ststephenschurch.org
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SOURCES FOR GIVING
Ritter House
Thanksgiving Turkeys/Gift Cards directly self-delivered
&
Barrel Gift Collection
25th November through
13th December
age/name specific quality gifts
Food Bank Barrel
Classroom level and Hall
Tiburon Thrift Shop
Volunteers Needed - 2 hour shifts
Thursdays and Saturdays
10a – 1p and 1p – 4p
June Campbell 415.797.6142
Jennifer Henerlau
415.608.3239
Knitting Group
Knit or Crochet hats and scarves for the needy. Second and Fourth Mondays at 10:30a.
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YEAR'S MIND
Please assist Father Ellsworth to compile the names and dates of the death of family members whom you would like to be remembered in prayers at the altar on, or close to, the anniversary of their death.
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