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A Message from Rev. Paula+
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Beloved Community,
That is our very own Alex Cole, one of the over 100 people who joined us Sunday afternoon at Congregation B'nail Jeshurun for the Coalition of Religious Leaders of Millburn & Short Hills interfaith service, "A Thanksgiving Gathering: A Community Celebration of Gratitude." It was a fun and festive service, with prayers and reflections, music and liturgical dancing (thus the picture of me in the opening procession). We were a diverse congregation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus, and, I wouldn't be surprised, of agnostics, atheists, and other faith communities and spiritual understandings. Most of us were from Millburn and Short Hills, though the liturgical dancers came from all over greater Newark.
As fun and festive as it was, more beautiful and meaningful was the spirit of love and gratitude that infused it all.
One of the speakers, Shashank Mishra, representing the Hindu community and the Millburn-Short Hills Desi Club, said it best:
I feel that there is no 'reaching across'! You only reach across when there is a wall or a boundary. There are no walls or barriers here, just because we choose - by birth or otherwise - to practice our faith in a different manner. The ultimate destination is the same.
I have been thinking about those words since he shared them. I am deeply grateful for his wisdom and the clarity with which he expressed so elegantly the purpose for the gathering, as well as for the Coalition in general. How much better the world would be, how much better we all would be, if we lived the truth he expressed, whether it be in regard to faith or ethnicity, gender or nationality, or any other difference we might see.
Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
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As of November 19th, we have 22 pledges for a total of $93,550, which is a great start but many thousands less than what we need for 2020. If you have not filled out a pledge card for this year, please do so soon. Whether a repeat pledger or someone who is making this kind of commitment to the life of this vibrant parish for the first time, your pledge matters! As you no doubt know by now, as an Episcopal parish we are almost entirely self-funded. Your financial stewardship enables the stewardship of our ministries.
If you're in church on Sunday, you'll experience at least three ways your giving matters: worship, Sunday School, and stewardship of our property. This last will be more obvious than in most weeks: six of the stained glass vent windows will be gone, with plywood in their place. These magnificent windows need repair which cannot be deferred. Taking care of this now is one of the ways your leadership honors the stewardship of those who have come before us, both for us to enjoy now, as well as for those who will follow us as stewards of this beautiful, historic building.
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RESCHEDULED
THIRD THURSDAY THEATER
Due to a scheduling conflict, tonight's Third Thursday Theater will be rescheduled for
Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7pm.
Please join us then for the screening of the documentary
Inequaltiy for All.
TAYLOR PARK WINTER WALK & CAROLING
Join us on Saturday,
November 30th at 4:45pm as we add some cheerful music to this annual Millburn event. We'll gather on our lawn following the parade and tree lighting which begins at 3pm. Please contact the church office if you are interested in caroling with us. The more the merrier!
HUDDLE FOR GENEROSITY
Please join the Coalition of Religious Leaders of Millburn & Short Hills to discuss the Jewish & Christian perspectives around the soul trait of Generosity.
This interfaith learning session is presented by Alan Breindel, Temple B'nai Jeshurun and Sister Donna L. Ciangio, St. Rose of Lima on
Wednesday, December 4, 7pm at
Congregation
B'nai Jeshurun, 1025 South Orange Avenue, Short Hills.
BAKERY BIBLE HOUR
Don't forget to join us at
Splurge Bakery on
Friday, December 6th,
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9-10am
, for this adult education program in partnership with Christ Church and B'nai Jeshurun.
This group meets the first Friday of each month. All are welcome!
ADULT FORMATION ADVENT SERIES
On
December 1, 8, 15 & 22, join us after church (
11:30am - 12:45pm) as we explore the nativity stories in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine.
As we did for our Lenten Series, we will read her book,
The Light of the World: A Beginner's Guide to Advent and view a short video as the basis for our discussion.
Don't let the book title fool you - there is much wisdom to be gleaned even for those of us familiar with the stories.
(
Please note:
we may adjust the time on 12/22 to avoid a conflict with another Advent activity.)
PIZZA WITH A PURPOSE
Stop by California Pizza Kitchen at the Short Hills Mall for a delicious meal while you are holiday shopping and
20% of your check will be donated to St. Stephen's! (This includes dine-in, take-out, catering and all beverages.)
Bring the flyer on
Tuesday, December 17, 11am - 10pm for this special FUNdraiser!
Coupon flyers are available on our Facebook page, in church, by the bulletin board in the narthex and from the church office.
Bon appetit and thank you!
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Taylor Park Winter Walk & Caroling
Wednesday Prayer
Advent Festival of Lessons & Music
Adult Formation Advent Series
Wednesday Prayer
Bakery Bible Hour at Splurge Bakery
Advent Retreat at St. John Baptist
Pizza with a Purpose at California Pizza Kitchen, Short Hills Mall
Blue Christmas
Greening of the Church
SAVE THESE 2020 DATES
Beckerath Organ 50th Anniversary 2019-2020 Recital Series
John Charles Schucker
Johann Vexo
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November 30, Parade at 3pm; Carolers gather at 4:45pm
November 27, 12 Noon
December 1, 10am
December 1, 8, 15 & 22 at 11:30am
December 4, 11, 18 at 12 Noon
December 6, 9am
December 7, 10am-5pm
December 17, 11am - 10pm
December 19, 7:30pm
December 22, after the 10am service
Sunday, February 23, 4pm
Sunday, April 19, 4pm |
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Liturgical Stewardship Schedule
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November 24, 8:00 am
Reader & Chalicer: Allison Walker
Altar Guild: Maria Nazareth
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November 24, 10:00 am
Readers: Jean James, Fran Young
Chalicist: Roger Riedel
Ushers: Steve Moran, Ladi Owolabi
Altar Guild: Julia Dorn/Jean James
Coffee Hour: Barbara Riedel
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December 1, 8:00 am
Reader & Chalicer: Theresa Scharff
Altar Guild: Carole Francis
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December 1, 10:00 am
Readers: Peter Wick, Carole Francis, Felder Dorn
Ushers:
Frangjie-Liu and Michael Priddy
Altar Guild: Theresa and John Scharff
Coffee Hour: Vestry
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Links to the Wider Church
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The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
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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 it says "St. Stephen's Church, Millburn, NJ 07041."
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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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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