St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
  FRIDAY JOURNAL July 24th, 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: July 26th, 2020
The 10:00 service will be via video on our website Sunday morning at 10:00
Sunday Worship
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 ) 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. 
Sunday services update! 

July 1 st is the day I become your half-time Rector and St. John the Divine’s half-time Rector. These are exciting times!   As in all transitions, changes are necessary but we will start small. I know many of you are wondering how we will work out worship services.   For the month of July, our worship service time will not change (though it will for St. John’s).  Coffee hour will also be the same,(St. John’s will again be making the adjustment to their schedule).  The change for both congregations is mutual.  For the month of July, the recording of the service will take place at St. John’s on the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays, and at St. Stephen’s on the 2 nd and 4 th Sundays. As usual, all services will be posted online at 10:00am.  Coffee hour at St. John’s will begin at 9am, and at St. Stephen’s at 11:00 as usual.  Everyone will be able to worship every Sunday. You’ll just see new faces in a new place!  I’m so grateful for your flexibility and support of not only me, but of each other as we build new relationships. Please keep both SY. John’s and St. Stephen’s in your prayers!
WEDNESDAY PRAYER SERVICE

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. 



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!
Jane-Marguerite Russell, St. John the Divine


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

In the next few months, we will have new neighbors 
at the wide intersection of Bernal and 
Monterey. Well, not new; they've lived with us in 
our home district for years -- under overpasses,

in cars, on unsafe couches. They'll be inside, 
safe from cold and coughs and fear for the first time 
in a long time. I emailed someone I know 
at the agency running the tiny homes' 

support services; I asked if I could grow
them some housewarming gifts, plants to welcome our
neighbors. I'm writing to see if you would be 
willing to help. Next Sunday, I will have 30 

bold bright brave pots of succulents to grow green;
would you like to help by nursing one or 13?

If you're interested in participating in the St Stephen's Deployed Nursery to support and welcome our new neighbors at the two small tiny homes developments in our area, text or call Jessica at 650-804-9044. The succulents only need water once a week and sunshine from a kitchen window; Jessica can drop them off at your porch and then pick them up when the residents are ready for them. If you wanted to include a welcome note, it would be very kind!
Food for thought:
“. . .and I think we should start now preparing for the inevitable. And let us, when that moment comes, go into the situations that we confront with a great deal of dignity, sanity, and reasonableness.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Address to MIA Mass Meeting at Day Street Baptist Church
April 26, 1956



Kudos to:
-Maria for creating our pre-recorded service last Sunday
-All musicians for the service last Sunday
-Prayer Team


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