St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL August 14th, 2020
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Sunday Services: August 16th, 2020 |
|
|
|
The 10:00 service will be via video on our website Sunday morning at 10:00 |
|
|
Reflections
I thought that when this pandemic started, I would get so much painting done. There would be all this time to be creative. So, how many paintings have I done? None, zero paintings. I try to blame it on the fact that I have a puppy, who takes a lot of my time. Watercolors are about timing. You have to finish areas before the paper gets too dry, or you lose the effect you want. So, if a puppy wants out NOW, you can’t just say, “Wait a minute, I need to finish this part”.
Now, it has been so long since I held a paint brush, I feel a little unsure of myself. It took me awhile to get back in practice and now I feel like I will have to start all over again. But, that is the thing about starting over. I think we get as many start overs as we need, to get to where we want to be. God always lets us start over. If our faith waivers, if we turn from him, he is always there, loving us, waiting for us to return to him. To start over.
So, this week I am determined to pick up a paintbrush and paint. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It may be something I never show another person, but at least I will be trying. I will use this pandemic time to start over, to grow, to not be afraid to fail. Because, even if I do fail, I can begin again.
Peace,
Susan
|
|
Reflections from your Jr. Warden |
|
Since June, Maria Eswine and I have been alternating Sundays producing the weekly service recordings. I wanted to share one moment where, everytime I'm editing, I feel aligned with the humanity of everyone who contributes to the service. I feel connected to those who will watch it, who sang for it, preached in it; everyone who arranged the altar flowers, donated to make sure we can keep the church running, picked the music, played the organ or the piano, or stitched the videos together.
The moment is this: when I come to a hymn, say "God whose love is always stronger", I have to line-up all of the audio files for the song. Ginny Scott of St John's has been selecting excellent music and Andoni Bundros has been providing wonderful accompaniment, taking over from Susan Zaballos's lovely playing. Andoni sends the organ/piano files around first, then Maria and I (plus Ginny sometimes) listen to them with our headphones in and record our solo voices on our phones. Then we all email our files to the person making the video that week and wait to hear the end result.
Maria or I sit down on a Saturday afternoon with a folder full of audio files, a pdf of the hymns, and videos of the service. Then we quilt it all together.
But back to that moment. Taking the three audio files (Andoni's organ music, Maria's voice, my voice) and lining them up right is finicky work. Being off by a fraction of a second makes voices echo oddly, lyrics clash, beats collide in unnecessary syncopation. It pulls people out of what should be a peaceful, enlivening, enriching, connecting experience. But the sound file doesn't know what is singing and what is background noise; they don't come with lyrics or time stamps for start-times. So there's this careful, loving moment of moving the start time of the voices a tiny fraction of a beat, back and forth, back and forth, to match the accompaniment. It sounds worse -- much worse -- the closer they get, hearing it echo so badly. But then, eventually and as always happens, the crests and waves of the sound files line up, the breaths come in sync, and for a moment, it almost sounds like we were all together in the same room, singing.
If you'd like to add your voice to the digital chorus, reach out to Rev Karen please. Maria and I would love to include more voices, have more moments where we all align together to make a joyful noise.
|
|
Sunday Worship
This week Rev. Karen will preside the Holy Eucharist at St.John’s and shared with St. Stephen’s. The service will be posted on both our websites (www.ssitf.org and www.stjohndivinemorganhill.org) at 10:00am but is available any time after that.
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle, and download the bulletin as you prepare to worship.
A separate email with links to the bulletin and our virtual coffee hour (11:00am as usual) will be sent Saturday evening.
Special prayer requests to be added to our Sunday worship service can be sent to Rev. Karen.
|
|
WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
Weekly Wednesday prayer group at 11:00am.
This is an opportunity to offer our prayers of thanksgivings, for healing for ourselves and others, and anything else on our hearts. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can join the Zoom meeting with your phone.
|
|
WEDNESDAY EVENING COMPLINE
Begins at 7pm
Compline, the last Office of the day. End your day with a beautiful and short liturgy. All are welcome and please feel free to share the link with friends!
|
|
Keeping the conversations going . . .
Pastoral Conversation About Race Thursdays @ 4:30pm
The Revs Karen Cuffie and Jani Wild will lead pastoral conversations on racism. There will be a brief introduction to the focus of the session followed by a video, discussion, and prayers. Please join us, there is no better way to learn, process and share together than in a faith community. Come join us next week by clicking on the following Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 835 7594 8022
Password: 748467
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,83575948022#,,1#,748467# US (San Jose
|
|
Thanks to last week’s liturgy assistant! |
|
Susan Zaballos, St Stephen’s
|
|
Your faithful giving. . .
We rely on you to keep us current in paying our bills. If you haven’t yet, please mail your pledge checks or any other donations to the church office, or you can use the ‘Donate’ button on our website and pay with a credit card. We certainly understand if you are experiencing financial hardship at this time. If you are able, we appreciate any small offering you might consider making. Your financial stewardship is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
|
|
Virtual Coffee Hour!
A few more people joined in our virtual coffee hour and it was great to see familiar faces. It would be so nice to see many more of you! There is no limit to the number of people. Click here to join the meeting. The link for Coffee Hour willalso be in a separate mailing with the bulletin! You are welcome to call me (Rev. Karen) before the meeting if you’re having trouble with the link.
|
|
Poem from the Garden
The grapes are purple and tart,
blackberries flowing down the
tall oleander in ripe waves
and the corn is 10 feet tall.
The freshly-planted native
bunch grasses are fast putting
out seed. We've planted toyon
and sage, pale white chalk buckwheat,
goth watermelons, giant orange
pumpkins (we'll see if they
come up). The upright planters,
made from old service time signs,
are nursing tiny yarrow
seeds. Come plant with us tomorrow.
Things are growing in the garden -- come out Saturday, Monday, or Thursday morning and see. Masks required but work is not -- you're welcome to come and sit and drink something cool and keep the gardeners company.
|
|
Because school started for the San Jose schools this week here is a quote from Thurgood Marshal, the first black Supreme Court Justice and who served during the Brown vs. Board of Education case. The decision was in favor of ending segregation in schools in 1954.
“We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place.” Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the United States.
|
|
Kudos to:
-Maria for creating our pre-recorded service last Sunday
-All musicians who give of their gifts in our worship services.
-Margo and Jessica for working on the grounds this week.
-Evan for publishing the Friday Journal every week.
-The vestry for their faithful leadership
-Susan Zaballos for assisting in worship last Sunday
|
|
|
COVID-19 Fund established
In response to questions of how to give to the diocese following the Virtual Easter Service, a special Easter Offering has been established to support people in our diocese whose livelihoods have been impacted by shelter-at-home requirements. Donations can be made to the “Donate” web page at realepiscopal.org (click here). Choose "Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund" when making your online gift.
Or, mail checks to the diocesan offices at the address below. Please state “Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund” in the memo area of checks
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
PO Box 689
Salinas, CA 93902
Thank you for your support of those in need!
|
|
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.
|
|
Contact information for Rev. Karen: |
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826
|
|
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
|
|
St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
