St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL May 28th, 2021
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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.
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From the Rector
I have been in Chicago for most of the week visiting the Chicago Cuffies which includes my granddaughter Penny. Images of her beautiful smiIe and sounds of her sweet voice accompanied me the whole flight home last night.
Every big city has different ‘neighborhoods’ and Penny, having lived in Chicago her entire life, has a sense of that. She knows that she has a neighborhood and that she travels in and out of whenever she goes someplace. On our way back from the zoo she asked, “Is this our neighborhood?” a million times until the answer was ‘yes’, and then she stopped asking. She feels at home in her neighborhood.
After the tragic shooting at the VTA station Wednesday, I had a longing to be in my neighborhood. It wasn’t that I was ready to come home, but because I would have liked to have gone to the vigil, to be present with ‘neighbors’. Of course I prayed, but it wasn’t the same. Being in a different city so many miles away, it was all too easy to tuck it away in the back of my head.
That made me wonder about my own sense of neighborhood in relation to how God might want me to see it. Is it large enough? Does it span across miles and miles? Where does my neighborhood begin and end when it comes to thinking of all humanity as ‘neighbors’ as in “Love your neighbors as I have loved you”?
What would it be like if all people thought about what happened at the VTA as if it happened in their own neighborhood? Would there be more advocating for reform?
I know what the answer is for me and also know that it might not be the same as yours. Either way, we can all probably agree that loving our neighbor means addressing the issue of gun violence in our neighborhood, with a God’s eye view of neighborhood.
That’s my hope for now.
What I can say for sure is that I’m feeling a little like Penny - it’s good to be in my neighborhood - back here with all of you. Thank you for being my neighbor and thank you for praying for all our neighbors in their grieving.
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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A prayer for the tragic shooting incident at the San Jose VTA station offered by Bishop Lucinda:
Loving God, we pray to you for those who died in the gun violence in the San Jose Valley Transportation Authority station. Grant to the departed your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them. We pray for those who mourn and suffer from grief and loss. Give them faith and courage to face the days ahead with steadfastness and patience knowing that you hold all your creation in a loving embrace. We ask that those who mourn and we who keep vigil may cast our care on you, knowing the consolation of your eternal love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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A Prayer for violence in the Middle East
God of mercy and compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to
hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving
embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all. Amen.
I also invite you to read Presiding Bishop Curry’s statement on the violence in the land of the Holy One:
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10:00am at St. Stephen’s
All of our services are being held in person and outdoors. We will continue to alternate Sunday services between St. John’s and St. Stephen’s. Everyone from either St. Stephen’s and St. John’s – and VISITORS TOO of course -are welcome to attend all services. They will also be live streamed so that if you are not physically at church, you can participate from home with the rest of the congregation gathered at the church.
Click below for links to the service and bulletin.
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COFFEE HOUR
You can come to the service at St. Stephen’s and enjoy a socially distanced in-person coffee-less hour after the service!
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The Church Cracked Open; Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community by Stephanie Spellers, the Presiding Bishop’s Canon for Evangelism.
We are discussing chapters 4 & 5 this week.
Join the zoom meeting at 2:15:
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Cardboard needed!
Please bring in all that cardboard you know you’ve been wanting to get rid of! The landscapers (Jessica & Co.) need it for weed control on the embankment.
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THE LABYRINTH IS COMING!
And the work continues . . .
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Poem from the Garden
Thanks to the vestry and the kind, work-rough
and well-dirtied hands of the gardeners, tomorrow
in the garden we will raise the rainbow pride flag
for Pride Month in June; well, two flags on the
flagpole anchored by an old spare tire: the bright
rainbow flag, with black and brown stripes,
first flown four years ago in Philadelphia, to center
outward-facing support for queer people of color;
we're also flying the trans pride flag, both to honor our
trans gardeners and to show our support for trans
and non-binary folks. The flags will fly in front of the tall
sweet nectarine tree, near the water spigot
for a month, cheerful and flapping, colorful and clear
about what we mean when we say: all are welcome here.
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Piloting Faith
Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.
Rev. John Welsley
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Kudos to:
-All who pitch-in to help set up and take down chairs, etc. on Sundays
-Our musicians
-Our tech assistants in worship.
-the Gardeners
-the Labyrinth Guild
-Jane for learning to do new things so that I can do more for you!
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New Contact Information for Rev. Karen!
Please use this new number to contact Rev. Karen for calls or texts:
(669)270-7479
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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.
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Contact information for Rev. Karen: |
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: (669)270-7479
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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
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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
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