St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL October 9th, 2020
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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 Service: October 11th, 2020 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
Can you feel it? Can you feel the tension in the air? It’s been growing. Or perhaps it feels more like a rubber band that just can’t be stretched anymore. It’s okay to say it out loud. How long oh God?, How long?
The Book of Psalms is full of songs of lament. The saints before us have made the same cry, and they often end with hope. Here’s one of them. I hope it’s helpful to you in times such as these.
Psalm 61
Hear my cry, O God;
attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a shelter for me,
and a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in they tabernacle for ever:
I will trust in the covert of thy wings.
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows:
thou has given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life:
and his years as many generations.
He shall abide before God for ever:
O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
So will I sing praise unto they name for ever,
that I may daily perform my vows.
Blessings and peace to you,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
***New update - links to the bulletin and coffee hour are below!***
A separate email with links will no longer be sent out Saturday evening.
(The links will be in your Friday journal and on the front page of our website: www.ssitf.org)
This week Rev. Karen will preside the Holy Eucharist at St. John’s and shared with St. Stephen’s. The service will be posted on both our websites (www.ssitf.org and www.stjohndivinemorganhill.org) at 10:00am but is available any time after that.
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle, and download the bulletin here as you prepare to worship.
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen.
Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00am on Zoom with this link.
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Reflections
There are so many ministries to become involved in here at St. Stephen’s. Some of them have been put on hold, or at least become much more difficult to accomplish during this period of social distancing and uncertainty. However, there is one ministry that is still very much needed and quite easy. That is the reading of the lessons for our Sunday services. Each Sunday, one or two people are needed to read the two lessons and the psalm. I really enjoy participating in this and find that I get so much more from the lessons, since I read them several times in advance to become familiar with the words. By the time I read them for the service, they are familiar to me and I have a deeper understanding of their message.
I have taken on the responsibility of finding readers and liturgical assistants for each Saint Stephen’s Sunday service. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, even for one Sunday, please email me and let me know. I will find a Sunday that works for you. You can either record the readings at home on your phone and email them to either Jessica or Maria, or you can come to the church on the Saturday right before your assigned Sunday at 12:00, and read them during the recording of the service. If you need technical support recording your readings, that can be provided for you.
I hope you will consider participating in this important ministry. It is a wonderful gift to share God’s word with your church family.
Peace,
Susan
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Hello, Saint Stephens! The Vestry met this Thursday, as we do every month, to sync up about the state of the church and to keep apprised of important developments. Reverend Karen started us off in prayer and showed us a powerful message from Presiding Bishop Curry ( link: https://www.facebook.com/PBMBCurry/videos/vb.886752504773783/744262916124351/?type=2&theater ). We discussed Reverend Karen's activities, upcoming worship, the community garden, our relationship to St. John the Divine, finances and more. Despite the pandemic, we believe Saint Stephens is healthy and blessed. I closed us out with prayer and we plan to meet again next month.
-Anthony
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WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
Weekly Wednesday prayer group at 11:00am.
This is an opportunity to offer our prayers of thanksgivings, for healing for ourselves and others, and anything else on our hearts. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can join the Zoom meeting with your phone.
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WEDNESDAY EVENING COMPLINE
Begins at 7pm
Compline, the last Office of the day. End your day with a beautiful and short liturgy. All are welcome and please feel free to share the link with friends!
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Keeping the conversations going . . .
Pastoral Conversation About Race Thursdays @ 4:30pm
The Revs Karen Cuffie and Jani Wild will lead pastoral conversations on racism. There will be a brief introduction to the focus of the session followed by a video, discussion, and prayers. Please join us, there is no better way to learn, process and share together than in a faith community. Come join us next week by clicking on the following Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 835 7594 8022
Password: 748467
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,83575948022#,,1#,748467# US (San Jose
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Thanks to last week’s liturgy assistants! |
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We had a lovely in-person Pet Blessing Service at St. Stephen’s last Saturday with five humans and three beautiful dogs!
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Your faithful giving. . .
We rely on you to keep us current in paying our bills. If you haven’t yet, please mail your pledge checks or any other donations to the church office, or you can use the ‘Donate’ button on our website and pay with a credit card. We certainly understand if you are experiencing financial hardship at this time. If you are able, we appreciate any small offering you might consider making. Your financial stewardship is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
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Hello my friends!
I miss seeing your smiling faces as we wait for our beloved church to reopen.
Melissa Thomas has requested a gift card order to donate to the victim’s of the Glass fire in Napa.
I will be placing an order on Sunday to anyone who would like some cards either for your use and or to give to others.
Let me know what you would like via email and I will get an order together. You can mail me a check made out to St. Stephen’s.
Until we meet again.
Janet
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2020 STEWARDSHIP Campaign
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 1Timothy 6:18-19 NRSVA
“Faith Filled Generosity” – that’s our theme for this year’s stewardship. Though we’ve had many setbacks this year, we are very stable financially. Part of that is because your dedicated vestry has been watchful of our resources. The other part is that YOU have been faithful and generous in your giving. Thank you! As we look ahead to a new year, please keep in mind that your gifts are essential to St. Stephen’s. With deep faith, please consider pledging again this year.
This has been a difficult year in many ways and for some of you, the difficulty includes financial hardship. We fully understand that!
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Poem from the Garden
The youngest member
of our parish went
to investigate
the leafy grape vine,
desiccated of
grapes for fall. She crouched
down, peering, asking
if she could eat the
blueberries. I called back
there were no blueberries
and no grapes left. She
came over to us
hands cradling a handful
of sweet survivors,
round and dusky blue,
hidden behind a
leaf. She shared them with
a grin.
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The legendary cellist Pablo Casals was asked why he continued to practice at age 90.
“Because I think I’m making progress,” he replied.
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Kudos to:
-Jessica for creating our pre-recorded service this week.
-All musicians who give of their gifts in our worship services.
-Margo, Andy, Joseph, Kaylyn, and Maria for helping set up and put away chairs and tables for the pet blessing.
-Margo, the Eswines, Jessica, and community gardeners for helping move dirt
-Janet for reviving the gift card ordering.
-all who have given generously of their time, talent, and treasure – that’s YOU!
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How to help those impacted by wildfires and COVID-19 |
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The Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund has been expanded in response to the needs of communities impacted by the River, Carmel, Dolan, and Lightning Complex fires in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. Gifts made to the "Bishop's COVID-19 and Disaster Relief Fund" will be distributed to those impacted by either the fires or by the COVID-19 virus, based on urgency of need.
To make a gift online, visit the “Donate” page at the diocesan website (click here) and choose "Bishop's COVID-19 and Disaster Relief Fund."
Or mail a check to:
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
PO Box 689
Salinas, CA 93902
Please state “Bishop’s COVID-19 and Disaster Relief Fund” in the memo area of checks. Thank you! Bishop Lucinda and diocesan staff are also working with Episcopal Relief & Development to secure financial assistance for those in need.
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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: 408-781-1826
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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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