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A Message from Rev. Paula+
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Beloved Community,
As we enter the eighth week of our fast from in-person gatherings, I am so grateful for all of you and the ways in which you/we continue to be the faith-filled, Spirit-led community in which "love begets love." The care and concern you express for each other and the creative ways you connect are inspiring and motivating. Thank you.
The Finance Committee, Vestry, and I have started thinking about what happens and how it happens as the Governor and Bishop start lifting some of the physical distancing restrictions. This is a new kind of challenge because our instinct will be to jump right back into the habits and ways of being Church we enjoyed before March 17th. The reality, however, is different. It is highly unlikely that we will look exactly as we looked before. God willing, all of us will be here and healthy enough to come back, though it is possible that will not be the case. It is extremely likely - as in, this is how we need to plan - that we will come back in phases and with protocols in place to reduce the risk of infection well into the future. This will require a good deal of flexibility from all of us. And it will be yet another way we share the love of God with each other and the community.
Now that all sounds a little unsettling and not so enjoyable, doesn't it? It's easy to hear it as more restrictions, more of what keeps us from being who we are. Yet, I don't mean it that way or hear it that way. What makes us who we are is love - love of and for God, love for each other, and love for the community and all God's people. And that is something we get to show in all manner of ways, some of the tried and true, some yet to be explored.
Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
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Bishop Hughes' vlog for April 29th may be found
here.
This week's
The Voice Online may be found
here.
To read Bishop Hughes' Covid-19 guidelines, as well as other news from around the diocese, look
here.
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Connection and Common Worship
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All of the information you need to remain actively connected to St. Stephen's can be found on the website under the "Living Our Faith in a Time of Pandemic" tab on the top left. In addition, the ways to join in worship and other activities is also available on the Events Calendar on the website, under News & Events. Our worship services will be posted to
Facebook every Sunday morning and will be available on our new
YouTube channel.
NEW!!!! Ou worship service is broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) at 6:00 am and 1:00 pm. Please be sure to spread the word to your friends and family who do not use the internet.
Audio recordings of the homilies are found
here.
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Thanks to all of you who have been mailing your pledges or giving online using Vanco or Tithe.ly. Your faithful financial stewardship means we are able to "be Church" in all the ways that we are during this time, while also ensuring that, when the time comes, we are strong and nimble enough to return to our more comfortable and familiar ways.
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Bakery Bible Hour & Reading with the Rector via ZOOM
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Bakery Bible Hour
Friday, May 1, 2020 at 11 AM
Join Rev. Paula and our friends from Christ Church in Short Hills and Congregation B'nai Jeshurun via Zoom.
We are exploring the major themes and stories from Genesis, using the Robert Alter translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.
You can join the Zoom meeting by clicking the link
here.
You can also dial in with the following information if you do not have access to a computer:
Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 721 456 892
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Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 11:30 AM
This month's book selection is INSPIRED: SLAYING GIANTS, WALKING ON WATER, AND LOVING THE BIBLE AGAIN by Rachel Heidi Evans.
You can join the Zoom meeting by clicking the link
here.
You can also dial in with the following information if you do not have access to a computer:
Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 879 9057 2738
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Family Fun from Cross Roads
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Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center is offering up some family fun on their Facebook page during this time of social distancing, including virtual campfire nights, crafts and games. It is a great resource for families looking for activities for the kids or the whole family together.
You can find their Facebook page here. Enjoy!
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Resources from the Diocese and Beyond
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There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time. This is by no means a complete list, though it does cover many areas of need.
The Diocese of Newark has a page dedicated to pastoral messages, informational updates and directives, and resources for use by parishes and people of faith. You'll find it here.
The Episcopal Church, nationally and internationally, has information on its website, including pastoral messages from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry. You'll find it here.
The National Cathedral livestreams worship and hosts podcasts, all of which can be accessed here.
The Church Publishing Group has made available a free downloadable copy of The Book of Common Prayer. This is a wonderful way to encourage both a personal prayer discipline and as a support to online worship in which the liturgy is from the BCP.
Church Publishing has also made available until April 15th a wonderful children's book about Compline, Candle Walk by Karin Holsinger Sherman. If you listened to Rev. Paula's very first Facebook Live event the evening of March 20th, you heard her read this story. You'l find these and other resources on the company's website or here, an Episcopal News Service link.
Now might be the right time to sign up for a daily, weekly, or monthly devotion. A couple of our favorites are:
- The Society of St. John the Evangelist. The brothers offer wisdom in many ways so please do explore their website.
- The Center for Action and Contemplation, home of Richard Rohr. As with SSJE, this is a rich offering of resources so it is best to explore the website.
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St. Stephen's Prayer List
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Please keep the following
St. Stephen's family members
and friends in your prayers...
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Jeff Loggins
Jimmy Hasenkamp
Ian Janeczko
The McManus Family
The Blanchard Family
Donna Riggi
Bernard & Nathan
Donna Cuddeback
The Fitzgerald Family
Jamie Forgacs
Roy Williams
Jack Moreno
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Gail Pavlik
Stephanie Gubin
Sue Macbeth
Francis
Christine Conti
Shanisha
Pedro Villagran
Gregory Shuss
Cindy Finkelstein
Roger Riedel
Carolyn Romano
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Links to the Wider Church
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The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
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Giving with Tithe.ly is easy, with options for one-time or recurring donations. We encourage you to consider it at all times, but especially when you are away for any reason, like all of us now with the restrictions due to coronavirus.
There are two ways to do it: thru
tithe.ly.com
or the
tithe.ly
app on your smart phone. You'll want to search for St. Stephen's Church Millburn. Be sure to have the correct punctuation. You'll know you're there when you see: St. Stephen's Church Millburn and the address. Once you're at the church's page, follow the prompts.
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Office Hours and Contact Information
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Office hours: Until we are through this public health emergency, there are NO office hours. Please call Rev. Paula to arrange for pastoral care or if you have any reason to come to the office. She'll work with you to figure out a safe way to manage this.
Website: ststephensmillburn.org
Main email: church@ststephensmillburn.org
Doreen Schindler, Parish Administrator
can be reached at ext. 32 or
church@ststephensmillburn.org.
The Rev. Paula J. Toland, Rector can be reached at ext. 21 or
rector@ststephensmillburn.org.
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