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A Message from Rev. Paula+
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Beloved Community,
I came across this coaster at Michael's the other day. I bought two of them, one for Kathleen and one for me. My dear, dear friend, my anam cara, Sue, bravely fought breast cancer for several years. I will never forget the day we sat at her cottage on Martha's Vineyard, literally the day after her worst fears were confirmed. One of the things she said, in the midst of conversation about her fears, was that she would "always choose joy." Together with her friends and family she did just that. Her journey is one of the reasons, among others, that I try to live my life with this same conviction.
I have been thinking about that choice as I think about our future, particularly as we enter the new program year. Choosing joy is not about finding the ways to always be happy in the moment, but rather to go deeper into what is most important and find one's strength, courage, peace, comfort, and... (you fill in the blank) there. For me that is relationship with God and how that relationship shapes all else in my life. My own experience, including the journey with Sue, is that living one's faith every day, even on the days and in the ways that seem so difficult, impossible even, is one of the best, most effective and efficient ways to feel joy.
Being part of a faith-filled, Spirit-led community of followers of Jesus is a great choice if one chooses joy. In the days and weeks to come we will be talking more about the opportunities and choices we have to continue our journey deeper into the heart of God, where true joy is and always will be.
Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
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In our journey around the Anglican Communion...
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...we with the World Council of Churches, using a liturgy developed and first celebrated in 1982 in Lima, Peru, at the historic meeting in which the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC reached ecclesiological convergence about the eucharist through its
Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry document. While much of this sounds familiar to us in the Episcopal Church, there are some obvious differences from
The Book of Common Prayers, as well as some that are more subtle or nuanced. What makes this liturgy so appealing to so many is that none of these differences preclude use by most Protestant denominations, nor by the Roman Catholic Church. It truly is a liturgy that celebrates and honors our common understanding of Christian identity, even in the midst of significant theological and practical differences about many issues.
If you'd like to learn more about the World Council of Churches, you may do so
here. If you'd like to learn more about
The eucharistic liturgy of Lima, you may do so
here.
I hope you have enjoyed this journey. And I thank you for your willingness to take it with me.
Blessings,
Paula+
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READING WITH THE RECTOR
Our next book
discussion is THIS SUNDAY
September 8 at 11:30am
We will discuss
Marriage and Other Acts of Charity
by Kate Braestrup.
All are welcome!
CHRISTINE'S KITCHEN
We will be hosting lunch for Christine's Kitchen at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, West Orange on
12-15 volunteers are needed to prepare meals, 1 volunteer to pick-up bread/cake donation from Essex
Green ShopRite by 7:20am, 2-3 people to set-up at 9:45am and servers should arrive around 11/11:30am. Lunch is served from 12-1pm.
College and high school students are also welcome to volunteer!
Protein dishes are greatly appreciated. Some meal
suggestions include: mac & cheese,
veggies,
chicken, pork, pasta & meatballs, pizza, dessert, and fruits,
such as bananas, tangerines, grapes, or other soft fruits. Hard foods are not recommended.
Please contact
Deryck Rugbeer at
deryck.rugbeer@ubs.com to volunteer or if you have any questions.
KICK OFF SUNDAY
We will host a BBQ/extended coffee hour on the church lawn on Sunday,
September 15th following the 10am service.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Please sign up on the bulletin board or email
Maryalice_chech@yahoo.com if you can help and/or bring something to eat! Thank you!
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THIRD THURSDAY THEATER
Returns this month on September 19 at 7pm featuring the film Not My Life
starring Glenn Close. We will meet in the Common Room for the screening & discussion. All are welcome!
CHURCH LEADER UNIVERSITY
A training day for wardens, vestry, members, treasurers, clergy and ALL congregational lay leaders to learn, network and celebrate your ministry.
Saturday, October 5, 2019, 8am-12pm,
St. Elizabeth's, Ridgewood
Rev. Paula will be facilitating a conversation about healthy grieving, "Creating Wholeness: Living after Loss".
Participants are invited to a light breakfast with Bishop Hughes before the workshop sessions, to share ideas and dreams about our future.
Questions?
Contact: Jane Jubilee, Coordinator of Diocesan Resources & Events
973-430-9902
jjubiliee@dioceseofnewark.
org
SAVE THESE OTHER UPCOMING FALL DATES!
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
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
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Sunday School Teacher Position Available !
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We are looking for a Lead Sunday School Teacher for the 2019-2020 school year. This is a paid position ($50/week) for up to three hours a week, including Sundays. There may be opportunities for additional hours throughout the year to accommodate special programming.
We are looking for someone who will use the Sparkhouse digital curriculum to bring Bible stories to life, lead children in prayer, help the children grow in their faith, and take the lead in managing a classroom. The Lead Teacher will work with Rev. Paula to plan the programming and with a group of volunteers who will share the responsibility as the Teaching Assistant.
If you or anyone you know may be interested, please have them contact Rev. Paula at rector@ststephensmillburn.org.
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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.
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Wednesday Midday Prayer
Millburn Millwheel Diversity Festival
Reading with the Rector
Christine's Kitchen
Kick-Off Sunday BBQ
Third Thursday Theater
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Every Wednesday, 12 noon
September 7, 2-4pm
September 8, 11:30am
September 14
September 15, 10am
September 19, 7pm |
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Next Week: September 8, 8:00 am
Reader & Chalicer: Allison Walker
Altar Guild: Open
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Next Week: September 8, 10:00 am
Readers: Jean James, Fran Young
Chalicist: Eric Maurer
Ushers: Fangjie-Liu and Michael Priddy
Altar Guild: Jean James
Coffee Hour: Heloisa Rooney
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This Week: Sept. 15, 8:00 am
Reader & Chalicer: Michelle
Ellingham
Altar Guild: Maria Nazareth
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This Week: Sept. 15, 10:00 am
Readers:
Kathy Conway, Barbara
Churchill
Chalicist: Roger Riedel
Ushers:
Tim and Kathy Conway
Altar Guild: Julia Dorn
Coffee Hour: Kick-Off Sunday
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Next Week: September 15th
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Links to the Wider Church
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The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
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Office Hours and Contact Information
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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.
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