St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
  FRIDAY JOURNAL June 26th, 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: June 28th, 2020
The 10:00 service will be via video on our website Sunday morning at 10:00
Message from Rev. Karen

Dear friends, 

In our Psalm for Sunday, the Psalmist cries out, “How long, O Lord?  I don’t know anyone who hasn’t wondered that same thing these past months.  It’s the end of June and we still wonder, ”How long?” But I’ve also been wondering if I’m asking the wrong question. Maybe I should be asking, “What can I do in this time?”  “What am I learning about myself?”  What new opportunities does the church have now that we didn’t have 3months ago?”

The one that I ask every day is “What is God asking of me and of the church in this this time?”  And though I’m always asking, I already know the answer.  God’s call hasn’t changed. Love God, love your neighbor, just as God loves you. What’s more challenging is the ‘how’.  We are so used to going to church on Sunday morning.  Getting out of bed, dressed, and out the door earlier than we’d like sometimes. But we do it, even if we arrive after the first hymn is over (you know who you are!).  Most people can still do that, though some might need technical assistance.  But that’s not all there is to being church. 

There is nothing that is stopping us from being church right now, even with COVID-19 and racism at the forefront. I think both make this particular time ripe with opportunities. We can take care of our neighbors and to look forward to a more just world. To move towards the Kingdom of God where all people are God’s beloved and must be treated as such. 

Be courageous enough to take one step forward, to be uncomfortable, to make mistakes, to keep trying to do what you know God is asking of you. Carrie Newcomer’s song is a reminder to us all: ‘You can do this hard thing.’  So let’s do it, not alone, but together.  Take a good look at the Friday Journal. Think about doing one new thing this week. Keep your hearts and minds open to what God is saying to you. 

We can still lament, “How long, O Lord?”  It hasn’t been easy.  And at the same time, we can also echo the psalmist who, in the same psalm, said, “But I put my trust in your mercy . . .” 

Blessings and peace, 
Karen+
Sunday Worship
Our service this Sunday is Holy Eucharist at 10:00am.  The service is posted on the website at 10:00am but is available any time after that.  


We have new readers this week and new music. Come, let us worship together! 

I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle, download the bulletin, and join us in worship by going to our St. Stephen’s website ( www.ssitf.org ) to view the video and download the bulletin. 
I will also send a separate email with links to the bulletin and our virtual coffee hour in an email Saturday evening.
Special prayer requests to be added to our Sunday worship service can be sent to Rev. Karen or Dcn. Robin.
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 St. John’s and St. Stephen’s in your prayers!
Saying goodbye . . .

I am sad to remind you that this Sunday is Deacon Robin’s last Sunday with us.  Robin has served us well as a good and faithful deacon and we will certainly miss her! She has helped us be a better church in so many ways! But remember that we are also supporting her in doing what is best for her at this time.  May God bless Robin in the days and months ahead. May she have a deep sense of the Holy Spirit’s comfort and guidance!  
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.  The link will be on our website and in a reminder email Tuesday evening.

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 discussion and prayers. Please join us, there is no better way to learn, process and share together than in a faith community.  Next week there will be more breakout rooms to give more people a chance to talk.
 
 
Meeting ID: 835 7594 8022
Password: 748467
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,83575948022#,,1#,748467# US (San Jose
Re-entry Task Force

We have a new Re-entry Task Force that is doing the hard work of writing a plan, including protocols for the time when we can begin having some worship services at church again. The Re-entry Task force is chaired by Jessica Dickinson Goodman (Jr. Warden) and includes Margo Westfall, Dot Remson, Rob van der Molen, and Eric Samson.  
Every church in the Santa Clara Deanery must have a plan that has been approved by the Bishop before moving forward.  Look for updates from the team in future Friday Journals!
Thanks to our readers last week!
Rob Van der Molen
Janet Thorsrud
Please don’t forget . . .
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.  The link for Coffee Hour will 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

Linda, the teacher for the Calero school students who would
usually be spending 10 to 11:30am each
Tuesday and Thursday working in the garden, texted me to
see if we would like some wood. She's renovating her own kitchen, and

has a stone backsplash and cabinets and a big pile of wood
(1x8s). We could use the stone to make a special new-made
garden area, or as the backing of a sign with the
garden's name (when we have one); the wood for new beds; and for the

cabinets -- I thought we could use those individually, turn them on their ends
and knock their roofs off, so they're just well-made tall wooden shade-plant
boxes, covering the old cement-locked pipes that are what's left
of the benches behind the rose garden, the ones the coast-live oaks 

were so messily breaking their rough bark against before we
took them out. Planters of yarrow will make them much happier trees.
Food for thought:
At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He brought some people into being.                                  
–Friedrich Otto Hertz
Kudos to:
-Maria and Dan, our check signers
-Janet for coordinating carpet cleaning
-Sherrie for making extra masks
-Dcn Robin managing the prayer team
A COVD-19 update from Bishop Lucinda:
Dear people of the Diocese of El Camino Real,
I write to express to you my amazement at your leadership during COVID-19. As “Easter People,” you are walking with faith during uncertain times, seeking new opportunities, and “being church” in your homes and through use of technology. Thank you for sitting in this uncomfortable place and finding Easter joy. 

While we are all still on shelter-in-place, there is a palpable push, really a rush, to return to a sense of “normal life.” Really it is a desire to go back to the way things were before March, yet we know that is not going to happen. COVID-19, while a biological virus, has impacted many parts of our lives—economically, socially, spiritually—and going back isn’t an option. Instead, like Jesus’ followers, we face forward to a new way of being, open to possibility and discovery. But the culture around us has a different view; the almost desperate push to physically re-engage, and soon, drives some risky behaviors.
 
The Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real will remain shelter-in-place, practicing non-risky behaviors and tending to our worship and pastoral care virtually. As your Bishop, I am committed to our well-being and the well-being of those we serve. Heeding the guidance and mandates of our State Government, and our respective County Health Departments, we will not alter our policies until such time as health and science tell us that is safe to do so—and then we will proceed with caution.
 
I have appointed a Phase III Task Force to evaluate documents and information that will serve to guide us into re-gathering, when the time comes. This document will be available to you in mid-May. Until then, the following will help you to begin to plan ahead:
 
Phase I: Shelter-in-Place. This is where we are now: 

  • Hold only Virtual Worship Services
  • Allow for no more than 3 persons to film and produce Virtual Worship services
  • Maintain physical distance, at least 6 feet between persons
  • Wear masks as guided by the County Health Department
 


Phase II: Preparation. Following Diocesan, County Health, and Statewide orders and guidelines, we plan to: 

  • Clean the entire facility
  • Organize a team to clean before and after each worship service
  • Coordinate with those who share the plant to follow mandates and guidelines
  • Establish guidelines for church staff, rotating presence on-site
  • Discuss what-if scenarios, including how to roll-back when needed
 


Phase III: Gradual Re-entry. This is the next part of the plan once we have met the requirements of the State and Local officials for religious organizations. For the Diocese of El Camino Real, this will include: 

  • A completed re-entry plan, with approval from the Bishop
  • Gather in groups of 10, 25, 50, 100 in a gradual roll-out, with 14 days of no new cases in-between each incremental step; we will roll out by deanery
  • Use only the Daily Office or Liturgy of the Word for in-person worship
  • Wear masks (required), maintain physical distancing protocols
  • Maintain virtual worship and education for those unable to attend
  • Be prepared to roll-back, when cases increase
 


Phase IV: Being New Church. In this phase, we would have successfully navigated the requirements of Phase III and show that we can all safely gather and resume activities. 

  • Establish and maintain safe practices for in-person Eucharist
  • Maintain virtual worship opportunities for those unable to attend
  • Resume in-person education programs
  • Resume weddings, baptisms, funerals
  • Resume and increase outreach programs
  • Explore new learnings, new opportunities for ministry and mission
  • We will walk through these phases together, with care for each other and for our communities.



In his Pastoral Letter to the Episcopal Church , this is what our Presiding Bishop refers to as “sacrificial love”—putting common good before individual desire. I would add that the word “sacrifice” means a holy offering. Your adherence to these policies and procedures in the months ahead is your holy offering to our diocese, our towns and cities, and all of God’s people.

With a grateful heart for your leadership, sacrificial love, and patience, 


The Right Rev. Lucinda Ashby
Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real
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).  Contact Robin, our Deacon, who will initiate that for you
 
*   tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.
Contact information for Rev. Karen: 
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826

Contact information for Deacon Robin: 
Email her at Dcn. Robin,  deacon@ssitf.org ; Phone: 650-450-0656.
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