St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL September 18th, 2020
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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 Service: September 20th, 2020 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear siblings in Christ,
Another week has gone by. Some weeks seem shorter than others, and some seem longer. How has your week been?
Mine has had its ups and downs – a balance of both, but it is the downs that I seem to carry with me into the next week. The things that get under my skin sometimes stay there way too long and the ups I let flutter away too quickly. It’s my choice really, as it is yours.
What are you holding onto from this week that you will carry into next week? Either way, ups or downs, there will always be more of both in the weeks ahead. I’m trying to let go of the things that have weighed me down and cherish those precious ‘up’ moments. I cannot do this without God’s help. The good news is that God is always there to help!
Don’t think for a moment that you’re failing at seeing the bright side of things these days. If it’s been a tough week, go ahead and complain. You’ll be in good company. But don’t forget to rejoice in what has been uplifting, no matter how small. And don’t forget that you can ask God for help.
What will you carry into this coming week?
May your burdens be lifted, even if temporarily.
May your joys be revealed to you so that you can rejoice, even if temporarily.
Nothing is permanent. Next week will come with ups and downs just remember. . .you are God’s beloved. Yes you. Always. Maybe that’s the joy you can take into next week.
Deep peace,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
***New update – links to the bulletin and coffee hour are below!***
A separate email with links will no longer be sent out Saturday evening.
(The links will be in your Friday journal and on the front page of our website: www.ssitf.org)
This week Rev. Karen will preside the Holy Eucharist at St. Stephen’s and shared with St. John’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 here as you prepare to worship.
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen.
Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00am on Zoom with this link.
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Thanks to last week’s liturgy assistants! |
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Unfortunately, due to a recording error, our readers and lay assistant didn’t make it into the recording last week. Nevertheless, Thank you to Terre, Bethann, and Jane-Marguerite from St. John’s! |
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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.
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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!
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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
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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!
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How to help those impacted by wildfires and COVID-19 |
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The Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund has been expanded in response to the needs of communities impacted by the River, Carmel, Dolan, and Lightning Complex fires in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. Gifts made to the "Bishop's COVID-19 and Disaster Relief Fund" will be distributed to those impacted by either the fires or by the COVID-19 virus, based on urgency of need.
To make a gift online, visit the “Donate” page at the diocesan website (click here) and choose "Bishop's COVID-19 and Disaster Relief Fund."
Or mail a check to:
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
PO Box 689
Salinas, CA 93902
Please state “Bishop’s COVID-19 and Disaster Relief Fund” in the memo area of checks. Thank you! Bishop Lucinda and diocesan staff are also working with Episcopal Relief & Development to secure financial assistance for those in need.
Santa Maria Urban Ministry is re-opening their clothes closet. St. Jude’s in Cupertino will have a parking lot collection day soon. Go ahead and get a head start on your Fall cleaning. More details will follow. Donated clothes should be laundered and in good condition. Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing are all accepted. Santa Maria has received a matching grant from the Valley Foundation of $50.000 through December 31, 2020. Anything you donate will have double the impact. We’ll keep you posted!
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Poem from the Garden
"These are the people so many of our neighbors
have been frightened of," said the woman
on the Bridge Housing Communities of District 2
Community Task Force Call at 5:30pm on a Monday
in cool and smoky September. "Trish was driving by
the new tiny homes and she saw these two little
old men -- old people -- just, sitting beneath a tree,
sitting together." She laughed. "These are the people
so many of our neighbors have been afraid of."
This month, 17 people who are especially vulnerable
to corona virus have moved out of motels and onto a plot
of land at Bernal and Monterey, a few miles from the church.
Soon, they'll have welcome house plants grown by our
gardening parishioners to greet them -- not from an official
project of the church, but a choice to be kind. They moved out
of motels and cars, into a safe place, with air conditioning
and a kitchen. And a tree to sit beside and rest.
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“The task of the Church, in the first century or the twenty first century, is to live by the precedent, to bear witness to the precedent, and lift up the values of the precedent of Jesus in our time because, as the book of Hebrews says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
-The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, 2020
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Kudos to:
-Maria for creating our pre-recorded service last week.
-All musicians who give of their gifts in our worship services.
-Wanda for taking good care of the rose garden.
-Susan for finding readers and lay assistants for our worship services
-all who have given generously of their time, talent, and treasure – that’s YOU!
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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: 408-781-1826
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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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