St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL February 11th, 2022
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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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Sunday: February 13th, 2022
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10:00 AM Holy Eucharist
at St. Stephen's
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Dear friends,
My Friday morning breakfast is almost always a glazed donut from the Safeway across the street. I’m an early riser which means my donut is always fresh! This morning I walked in and saw a big pink a white balloon arch that looked like it had fallen on the floor. When I looked up to see where it might have fallen from, I was nearly knocked off my feet with the Valentine’s Day décor. Big balloons were EVERYWHERE. You wouldn’t even know the Super Bowl is this Sunday – except for the towers of six-packs at the end of the aisles. No football balloons – only love trios of red, white, and pink. It was so surprised that I took pictures!
There is a St. Valentine. He’s in my thick book of All Saints that says he was martyred in 269. His feast day is, of course, February 14th. The origin of St Valentine’s day is a little murky. Some say that it started in England, having something to do with birds mating in the middle of February. Valentine was a Cristian priest who assisted martyrs who were being persecuted under Claudius II, which eventually got him arrested. When he refused to renounce his faith, he was beheaded. He gave his heart for the God of Love. Somehow that turned into chocolates and red, white, and pink balloons. Go figure.
I suppose you didn’t need to know all this about St. Valentine, but I thought you might find it interesting. I hope it doesn’t spoil your celebration – whether with a special partner, family, or friend. Love is love after all. Happy Valentine’s Day a little early!
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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Sunday, Feb. 13th, 10:00am, indoors at St. Stephen’s
Holy Eucharist
Since we’re indoors, don’t forget your mask! We continue to alternate Sunday services between St. John’s and St. Stephen’s. Future service dates are on our website: www.ssitf.org
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Bible Study
The Path; A Journey Through the Bible
Our next session will meet
Wednesday, Feb 16thth.
11:00am - in person at St. John’s.
7:00pm - via Zoom using the following link:
We will be discussing Chapter 15. Please join us!
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Each week one person will be highlighted in our Friday newsletter:
February 11th, 1990 is the day Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was released from prison after 27yrs of incarceration for sabotage. He spent his life organizing for resistance against apartheid. While facing the death penalty, he addressed the court with: “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” *
When F.W. De Klerk, he walked out of the prison gates with his wife, Winnie. Four years later apartheid ended and Mandela was elected president of South Africa.
*Nelson Mandela Foundation, nelsonmandela.org
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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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Poem from the Garden
This poem is in honor of the lone giant redwood at St. John the Divine in Morgan Hill, our sister church.
The giant redwoods in Northern California
thrive on low-nutrient soil that is hard
to get roots into, so those massive trees
usually only have roots going down a few feet —
but they hold up their massive, thousand-year-old
bodies by intertwining their roots and holding
each other up. It makes for knotty, beautiful walking
and tortured messes when they fall. But, if we’re lucky,
the branches of a felled tree twist upwards and turn
themselves into new trees, making a new grove
from their mother’s fallen bodies.
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Food for thought:
“. . .the Good News borne by our risen Messiah who chose not one race, who chose not one country who chose not one language, who chose not one tribe who chose all of humankind!”
-Nelson Mandela, speaking to a Christian gathering in 1994.
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Kudos to:
-Gregg for putting together finance reports for our vestry meetings.
-a vestry that works together to accomplish St. Stephen’s mission to draw all people to Christ.
-Janet for her support as Sr. Warden
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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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