St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL November 22nd, 2019
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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 Services: November 24th
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Warbles from your Senior Warden
Next Sunday is Stewardship Sunday. Often just the thought of that financial commitment strikes fear into many hearts. Now being retired and on a limited income, I can understand that feeling. What if I make a commitment and then do not have enough for the basic necessities?
What is enough? When I am asking this question I cannot help but think of a passage from the gospel of Matthew:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
So much of my life is out of my control. I need to trust doctors and caregivers. I need to pray. But the passage above always gives me comfort. I no longer do long range planning. If I feel well one morning, then I will do some chores and run some errands. If I do not, then I will stay home.
Sleep is a huge factor in where I go and what I do. Sometimes I do not sleep well. Sometimes I sleep so well that I oversleep and miss being somewhere at a certain time. I sorely miss all of you when I miss church. I have accepted that this is the status of where I am right now. Maybe next week will be different. I will wait and see.
So do not worry about your pledge commitment. It is a promise to support St. Stephen's. It is a promise to support global ministry. Please make a pledge - either big or small - because our annual budget is based on your promises.
You are my St. Stephen's family. The comfort of your prayers and the fellowship we enjoy together is a major factor in my life. I see you more often than I see my biological family. You are an integral part of who I am - as an individual, as a Christian, as a person of the world.
I love you and I support and pray for all of you. I hope you all feel the same.
Many blessings dear family,
Edy
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Celebration Sunday with Stewardship In-gathering
November 24th
This St. Stephen's tradition is an acknowledgement and thanksgiving for the abundance we enjoy in whole range of God's gifts: food, shelter, health, employment, friendships, and family. We will collect two special offerings to be blessed:
Food for Santa Maria Urban Ministry and St. Julie's Food Pantry. Please bring non-perishable traditional Thanksgiving dinner Items (ie; canned cranberry sauce, corn, yams, boxes of stuffing mix).
2020 Pledge cards that show your commitment to shining our light - as individuals and as a faith community in worship, discipleship, and evangelism.
A potluck lunch will follow the service. Please bring something to share according to the first letter of your last name:
A-J Salad
G-R Main dish
S-Z Dessert
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CALLING ALL RINGERS AND SINGERS
!
With Advent at our door and Christmas right behind it, we have an opportunityto dust off the bells and clear the frogs from our throats to prepare music for our Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve services. Our first rehearsal will be Sun. Dec 1
st
after the 10:00 service.
Please let Rev. Karen know if you are interested in participating.
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This Su
nday,
November 24
th
,
is the culmination of our journey of this year's stewardship campaign
"Shining Our Light."
During each of these past five Sundays
we
have
been inspired by
fellow
parishioners' stories
at the 10:00 AM service about how St. Stephen's-in-the-Field has had an impact on their lives, why they come to St. Stephen's, and why it's important to give of their Time, Talent, and Treasure.:
October 20th: Dan Hughes
October 27th: Maria Eswine
November 3rd: Tony Pecora
November 10th: Margaret White
November 17th: Robin Poppoff
Thanks to all of you who have listened, prayed, and responded by sending in your pledge cards. We have now reached 62.8% of our goal!
Glenn Taibl
, Co-Director of the Center for Stewardship Leaders, Luther Seminary, suggested that we are well served by interpreting Time, Talent, and Treasure through the lens of Thanksgiving, Trust, and Transformation:
THANKSGIVING
for Time, Talent and Treasure begins with the acknowledgement that all three are God's gift and are not ours to possess.
TRUST
is another rich faith-word that defines biblical stewardship.
TRANSFORMATION
is something that doesn't happen accidentally but because in Thanksgiving we have trusted God with our lives and it has changed everything.
Our pledges to St.-Stephen's are a tangible manifestation of wellness - not only our financial wellness but the wellness of our congregation. It enhances St. Stephen's ability to carry out its ministries, including those involving cultivating gracious leadership and relationship in the church community.
If you've been waiting for the right time to submit your pledge card - this Sunday is it! We will gather to celebrate, both through worship and fellowship, the abundance we enjoy in our lives. Please bring your pledge card to church this Sunday!
Eric Samson
Stewardship Chair
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I Witness
Living Inside the Stories of Advent & Christmas
b
y Kate Moorehead.
Many of us have heard the story of Jesus' birth, but have we lived inside it? Enter the story of salvation with open hearts and minds to experience the miracle of Jesus through the eyes of witnesses: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and others.
These daily devotionals offer a companion through the seasons of Advent and Christmas and urge us to keep reading, keep listening, keep learning. The story of Christ's birth can be both familiar and new in each re-telling.
Join us Wednesday mornings at 10:00 through Advent, beginning Dec.4
th
. Books are $8 ea.
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GIFT CARD ORDERS
We earned $213 from gift card orders last month and $100 from the CPK fundraiser. We are on a roll!!!
The next order date will be
Dec 15
. If you are planning to use gift cards for either Thanksgiving (food or travel) or Christmas (presents, etc.) these dates should help you.
SMUM would like Target cards to distribute for the holidays. If you are able this order will be used for the Thanksgiving exchange and the Nov order will be used for the Christmas exchange. Help if you can.
Our annual blanket making workshop will happen in January again. If you can help with a Jo Anna's gift card we can deliver more blankets to Kathey Crow's ministry. Did you see her story in ALONG THE KING"S HIGHWAY?
Blessings
Janet
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We are in need of ushers, lectors, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and Altar Guild members. These are wonderful ministry opportunities for both extraverts and introverts, male and female, young and not as young as they used to be! Please prayerfully consider joining one of these ministries! See Rev. Karen, Edy or Susan if you are interested in learning more.
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Gratitude turns what we have into enough." - Aesop
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-Deacon Robin for sharing her testimony
-Vestry hospitality - soups, breads, salads, desserts, decorations last Sunday!.
-.All who have already sent in pledge cards
-Elena and Melissa for assisting in Sunday School
-all the children at St. Stephen's for bringing delight and joy!
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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 Biddings book at the back of the sanctuary where you can write in things before the service starts
* there is a prayer chain of committed pray-ers (who maintain confidentiality). Contact Robin, our Deacon, who will initiate that for you
* there is prayer at the altar every Sunday, where we all join you in the privacy of your need with the Priest
* there is a kneeling prayer station at the side of the church with candles, prayer book, all available anytime, not just Sundays
* turn to your neighbors and friends in church to share what's on your heart, ask for support in speaking to God about your needs (and tell them the updates next week!)
* tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.
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Contact information for Rev. Karen:
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826
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Contact information for Deacon Robin:
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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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