 |
|
A Message from Rev. Paula+
|
Beloved Community,
This has been quite a week! We are gearing up for Drumming Camp, even as we are supporting the good work of the Interfaith Hospitality Network by working in collaboration with Wyoming Presbyterian Church and St. George's Maplewood. Four families are being hosted at Wyoming Presbyterian, which graciously agreed to host a second week after hosting the week of the 4th of July. Because St. Stephen's and St. George's were unable to host this year, we are doing some of the work. I can't tell you how much fun I had taking a few shifts Tuesday and Wednesday!
I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to Drumming Camp next week. I observed about seven minutes (literally) last year when I was here to meet the bishops. That brief visit and all that I heard about it during the search and since I've been here - topped off by the fabulous drumming at the Celebration of New Ministry - has me as inpatient as a youngster on Christmas morning. I can't wait!
And then we will be on to getting into the swing of the program year, a year in which we will focus on "Faith in Action: Living Our Faith, Giving Our Faith." We'll be kicking it off with our entry into the "Millwheels Rolling Into Millburn" public engagement art project, with the installation on September 7th. On September 14th we host Christine's Kitchen, and then, on the 15th we will have what we are calling "Kick Off Sunday," the day we will commission our ministries for the upcoming year and have a special coffee hour/cook out on the lawn. To make this day even more special, we will have a baptism!
There is so much that is truly good here at St. Stephen's, including energy, enthusiasm, and hopeful expectation about how the Spirit is working in and through us and where it is she will guide us. You'll be hearing lots more about this in the coming weeks and months, and can expect to read more about it in this newsletter. Please know that, as you listen and read, you are invited to be an active part of the conversation and the good work we are doing and will continue to do together.
Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
|
|
In our journey around the Anglican Communion...
|
|
...we are in Nigeria, the second largest province in the Anglican Communion, following the Church of England. The Church of Nigeria shares an uncomfortable history with The Episcopal Church because of the vastly different official stances on full inclusion of all people. As has been true at least the past few weeks, we are praying in unity and solidarity with those who would have things be different, praying across our differences and into our common humanity, acknowledging that we are all beloved of God.
If you would like to learn more about the Church of Nigeria, you may do so
here.
Blessings,
Paula+
Our itinerary...
August 18th
August 25th
September 1st
September 8th |
Church of Nigeria (West Africa)
Anglican Church of Canada
Home again, in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Lima, with the World Council of Churches
|
|
|
Wednesday Morning Prayer is moving...
|
|
to noonday worship, beginning September 4th. Please join us at noon for no more than an hour. We will worship together using a variety of liturgies. Some weeks we will have a prayer service, using the options in
The Book of Common Prayer and other resources commonly used in The Episcopal Church. Some weeks we share in the fellowship of the Table, using the same resources.
|
Drumming Camp is NEXT week!!!!
If you are on the roster to volunteer, many thanks in advance. If you are not on that roster, you can still help by holding the drummers and the staff in your prayers. You're also welcome to join the fun on Friday afternoon by coming to the performance and picnic. If you'd like to come, please RSVP to Doreen (church@ststephensmillburn.org by Wednesday so that we can be sure we have enough food for all to enjoy.
|
|
GRATITUDE
Thank you to the volunteers who are assisting this week at
Wyoming Presbyterian. While we were unable to host this year, we are able to continue our long-standing commitment to the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless by helping our neighboring parish.
If you are preparing a meal, playing with the children, or are just a friendly face welcoming this year's guests, it is greatly appreciated!
Contact Margo Greenfield if you can spare some time for the remainder of this week!
This 30th Anniversary video shows how IHN has helped homeless families in Essex County with emergency shelter and housing so they can realize a better future for their children.
For more information about IHN and other volunteer opportunities with them, please visit their webiste:
READING WITH THE RECTOR
Our next book
discussion will take place on the
second Sunday of
|
|
|
|
|
September
(due to the Labor Day holiday weekend)
9/8 at 11:30am.
We will discuss
Marriage and Other Acts of Charity
by Kate Braestrup.
H
ope to see you there!
SAVE THESE UPCOMING FALL DATES!
Saturday, September 7, 2-4pm
Millburn Millwheel Diversity Festival, Taylor Park
Saturday, September 14
Christine's Kitchen. Volunteers are needed to prepare meals, pick up donations, set-up, and serve lunch.
Please contact Deryck Rugbeer deryck.rugbeer@ubs.com. More information to follow in this Sunday's bulletin and next week's newsletter.
Thursday, September 19, 7pm
Third Thursday Theater: Not My Life, starring Glenn Close
Sunday, October 6, 3pm
Blessing of the Animals
Thursday, October 17, 7pm
Third Thursday Theater: Forbidden - Undocumented and Queer in Rural America; directed by Tiffany Rhynard
Sunday, October 20, 2-4pm
History Comes Alive at St. Stephen's Historic Cemetery Tour
Sunday, November 17, 4pm
Interfaith Coalition of Religious Leaders of Millburn & Short Hills Thanksgiving Service, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
California Pizza Kitchen will be hosting a fundraiser for St. Stephen's Church!
Please see the flyer below for details. Print the flyer from here, our website or Facebook page and bring it to California Pizza Kitchen on the dates stated and 20% of your bill will be donated to St. Stephen's. ENJOY and THANK YOU!
|
Tithe.ly is a
mobile-friendly
app designed by a clergy person and used by thousands of congregations across the country. With Tithe.ly, you can do one-time or recurring payments, as well as help with the nominal fee of using the service. You can download the app from the App Store or Play Store, or you can do it online at tithe.ly/give. Enter St. Stephen's Church in the search menu and we should pop up. You'll know it's
us if you see:
It's also possible to access Tithe.ly through our website - click on the "Give" button in the menu and you will be given the option to use Tithe.ly.
Don't worry. If you prefer to use a check or cash, that's fine. If you are a Vanco user and want to keep it that way, that is good, too.
|
|
Wednesday Morning Prayer
Pizza with a Purpose
IHN Week (Wyoming Presbyterian)
Drumming Camp!
Millburn Millwheel Diversity Festival
|
Every Wednesday, 8:00am through August 28
Every Thursday in August
Week of August 11
Week of August 19
September 7, 2-4pm |
|
|
|
This Week: August 18, 8:00 am
Reader & Chalicer: Nancy Sieffert
Altar Guild: Nancy Sieffert
|
|
|
|
|
This Week: August 18, 10:00 am
Readers:
Peter Wick, Ladi Owolabi
Chalicist: John Soughan
Ushers:
Ladi Owolabi, Heloisa
Rooney
Altar Guild: Jean James
Coffee Hour: Open
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next Week: August 25, 8:00 am
Reader & Chalicer: Nancy Sieffert
Altar Guild: Nancy Sieffert
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next Week: August 25, 10:00 am
Readers: Jean James, Kira Hanson
Chalicist: John Soughan
Ushers: James and Katie Wade
Altar Guild: Alex Cole
Coffee Hour: Fran Taber and Maryalice Chech
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Links to the Wider Church
|
|
|
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office Hours and Contact Information
|
|
Office hours are Tuesday thru Friday, 10:00 am to 1:30 pm or by appointment.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
