August 11, 2021 Newsletter

August 11, 2021

Message from Rev. Paula

Greetings from Cross Roads!

Today I write to you from camp, where I am the chaplain at Family Camp. The staff and I are here to welcome and support 21 people of all ages (the youngest is a 2 1/2 and...well, no need to talk numbers at the other end) as they have fun - and I mean FUN - exploring their faith, while reconnecting with friends. We are worshipping together with song and prayer and skits and more song. We play lots of field games, most of them camp or religious themed versions of games we play in other places. We share delicious meals and enjoy lots of good conversation and laughs while playing board and card games after dinner. And we do it all with a renewed awareness that we are loved beyond our wildest imaginations by the God who created all of creation.

It is hard to describe in "normal" times how fun and transformative camp can be. To be in a place where all are truly welcomed and free to be themselves, is as sure a sign of grace as I've ever experienced. To see the staff, who are all older teens and young adults, building what for many will be life-long relationships with people they may not have met if not for camp, is a gift. To see them do that while they talk about their faith and celebrate believing in God and Jesus is indescribable. I marvel at their openness to all they encounter: people, questions big and small, challenges and successes. To be a part of their joy as they share their gifts is next level awesome. This year, as we continue to deal with the pandemic, including getting Covid tested not once, but twice, while here and wearing masks indoors, it is even harder to describe how special is this time together in this beautiful place.

I hope this doesn't come as a surprise to you, but in my prayers for you and for our amazing little parish, I am especially mindful this week of my prayer that as many of you as possible have the opportunity to spend time here at least once in the next year or two. Maybe it's Family Camp for a weekend or a week. Maybe, if you're the parent or grandparent, it's when you drop off and pick up a child or two or three who spend a week at summer camp. Maybe it's when you join me and come to the annual picnic, where you'll have the opportunity to learn more about Cross Roads and all the ways you are invited to experience being welcomed into this community of faithful people where relationships are formed and nurtured, and faith in God is deepened.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Connection & Common Worship

UPDATED: Welcome!

It's wonderful to be with each other in church! We will continue to gather in-person as long as it safe to do so. We will keep you posted about any changes. Essex County remains at high/orange risk, with new cases and the positive test rate increasing. Our service on August 15th will be the Liturgy of the Word with no congregational singing.

We continue to follow safety precautions and lovingly require that you wear a mask over your nose and mouth at all times while in the building and maintain physical distance. Enter at the Narthex door (Christian Education building). Someone will welcome you and take your temperature. An usher will assist you with seating in the church.

Welcome to everyone, whether in person or participating via broadcast. The details for the virtual service are noted below.

WORSHIP, Sundays, 10 AM

Live-streamed to YouTube, Facebook, and via Zoom. Bulletins are available on the St. Stephen's website. All links can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.

NEW Zoom passcode is SSM119.

To call in, dial by your location:

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 864 1664 1640

Passcode: SSM119

The Sunday service will also be broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) on Tuesday at 6 AM and 3 PM.

COFFEE HOUR

Coffee hour is suspended due to the orange/high risk level in Essex Country.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church

THE BISHOP'S VLOG - Week of 7/20/21

Perseverance and Hope

It could be easy right now to be discouraged or frustrated, says Bishop Hughes, but God has planted hope in us, and it's important for us to hold on to that hope as we persevere.

The VOICE Online Link Week of 8/4/21

Upcoming Diocesan Events Link

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Sign up to get e-newsletters and important announcements directly from diocesan headquarters. Find out more and subscribe here.

Media Release - 8/10/21

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry encourages Americans to get vaccinated: “Do this one for the children”

Watch his video message here.

New Book - 7/20/21

This Band of Sisterhood

Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church

Get to know the first five Black women to be elected diocesan bishops within the Episcopal Church:

Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows

Carlye J. Hughes

Kimberly Lucas

Shannon MacVean-Brown

Phoebe A. Roaf

TRINITY RETREAT CENTER

The Retreat Center offers free online courses to pray, reflect, make space for grace and listen to the voice of God. No registration is required. Each retreat takes place over five half-hour sessions and is viewable on the Trinity Retreat Center's Facebook page. For further information on courses offered this summer, click here.

Drumming Camp!

DRUMMING CAMP IS HAPPENING!!!

On Tuesday, August 24th we will welcome 10 campers and about that many staff for the first of three days of fun at Drumming Camp.

Please add the campers, their families, and all who are working to make this happen to your prayers.

Reading with Rector Returns!

It's not too early to check your local library or favorite bookstore for these fall selections:

SEPTEMBER 26

The Book of Longings, by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd imagines the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything.

OCTOBER 10

The Beauty in Breaking, by Michele Harper

Michele Harper is a female, African American emergency room physician. Brought up in Washington, D.C., in a complicated family, she went to Harvard, where she met her husband. Two months before she was scheduled to join the staff of a hospital in central Philadelphia, he told her he couldn’t move with her. Harper began her new life in a new city, in a new job, as a newly single woman. In the ensuing years, as Harper learned to become an effective ER physician, bringing insight and empathy to every patient encounter, she came to understand that each of us is broken—physically, emotionally, psychically.

Faithful Outreach

FAMILY PROMISE

With so many children going back to in-person learning after a year of virtual learning, the challenges for low-income families to provide necessities to succeed are difficult.

To be successful in learning, children need computers, internet, access to tutors and school supplies.

Donations can help provide a child with essential learning supplies and educational opportunities in the Family Promise Youth and Family Program.

Please consider a donation to Family Promise of Essex County.

To read the Family Promise July Newsletter, please click here.

APOSTLES' HOUSE &

NORTH PORCH

Collection bins are located outside the Narthex doors in the parking lot. Donations can be dropped off at any time.

Apostles' House needs: canned goods and non-perishable food items.

North Porch is in URGENT need of Enfamil Infant Formula 12.5 oz containers (yellow label), baby wipes, and diapers size 4, 5, and 6.

Online Donations - If you are unable to drop off items at the church, and would like to contribute, you can make purchases and/or donations directly to these organizations at the following links:

The Apostles' House Donation Link

North Porch Donation Link

Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center

CROSS ROADS

CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

Check out all the fun and interesting year-round programs for children, adults and families.

Click here for more information.

Teen and Youth Ministries

POP UP YOUTH MINISTRY

Pop Up is a welcoming ministry of the Diocese of Newark bringing together youth for fun activities, community, and faith formation. All youth grades 6-12 are encouraged to join the monthly events. Follow YM on Instagram and Facebook at @popupym.

Resources During Covid

Journey Forward Guidelines

There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time. See resources here. This is by no means a complete list, though it does cover many areas of need.

In this time of Crisis, there are resources that can help if you or someone you know needs assistance. Please contact NJ Mental Health Cares for free helpline telephone counseling or assistance. Call 866-202-4357.

TTY: 1-877-294-4356.

E-mail: help@njmentalhealthcares.org

Other resources are:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line, 741741

NJ Hope Line (suicide prevention)

855-654-6735

Please keep the following St. Stephen's family members and friends in your prayers...

Ian Janeczko, Peggy Thompson, Felder Dorn, Donna Riggi, The Blanchard Family, The McManus Family, Bernard & Nathan, The Fitzgerald Family, Lucille B., Jack Moreno, Jim Freeman, The May Family, Mary Jo Zarance, Joseph G., Kelly Olson, Jane Rossiter, Ruth Pitts, Linda Moran, Greg Shuss, Matthew Price, Nicole and Emma, Carl Clemons. We give thanks for the life of Jonathan Cavin, who entered into greater glory last week.

Sunday Lectionary

August 15, 2021

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephesians 5:15-20

Psalm 111

John 6:24-35

We will hear these readings so that we observe the time guidelines during Covid. If you'd like to read the full lectionary for the week, you may do so here.

Giving with Tithe.ly

TITHE.LY

Giving with Tithe.ly is easy with options for recurring donations or one-time use for when you are away or not able to be in church (like all of us now due to COVID restrictions).

You can access Tithe.ly via their website or their app on your smart phone. Be sure to search for the correct account - "St. Stephen's Church Millburn." Once you have accessed the account page with our address, you will be instructed to follow the prompts.

Office Notes

Due to COVID restrictions, only teachers and staff are allowed to be in the building during school hours. If you need to visit the parish office/building for any reason, please contact us for an appointment. Thank you.