I often joke that, while I know patience is a virtue, it's not one I possess, at least not across the board.  With myself and with some circumstances, such as living with a dastardly virus in a time of pandemic, I often pray for patience and for the grace to live patience well.  These past seven+ months of fasting from in-person worship have been a test of many things, not the least of which is patience, which is why this message is especially exciting:  We are returning to in-person worship this Sunday!  

After months of longing and discernment, of challenging our creativity and our resouces to figure out ways to be a virtual community of faith, we finally have a workable plan and the resources we need to support it.  Literally as I write this message, Nick and Charles, our tech contractor and his colleague, are installing the ethernet, wifi access, and equipment in the nave.  Doreen and I, along with a host of liturgical and hospitality ministers, have a comprehensive plan to manage as best we can the risk associated with a return to in-person gatherings.  (IMPORTANT: There are restrictions and changes to the way we gather so please, please, PLEASE read about them below in the "Re-Opening!" or "Sunday Worship -Updated" sections.)  

The irony that we are finally at this point as virus cases tick upward is not lost on us.  We know that we may need to back up and go fully virtual again, depending upon the course of the virus, and yet we are grateful to be able to come together in the ways and for the time we can.  We know that not everyone is able or should return to any kind of public gathering, thus the updates to our technology.  We will be live streaming on Facebook Live and YouTube, while recording the service for broadcast on HTTV.   If we have to move back to being fully virtual, we will be able to stream via Zoom, too.

If there is any regret about this plan, it is that the HTTV broadcast will be later in the week because there is no way for us to get the video to the station on Sunday.  Being able to broadcast on Sunday worked well during the spring and summer because recording on Friday evening worked for everyone who is a part of this effort, though that it no longer the case.  With the increasing realization that we are going to be living with this pandemic for the forseeable future, work schedules have changed so recording in the evening after working all day is, quite frankly, exhausting and unsustainable.  We will call those of you we know depend on HTTV to let you know when it will broadcast as soon as we get the word from them. We know this isn't ideal, just as we trust that you know we made this decision faithfully and with a desire to keep the HTTV option available in some way.

That's not all! Virtual Children's Chapel will be up and running this Sunday!  We've got a few options, designed primarily around age groups and will be getting the information to our families with children by Friday.  So stay tuned and check your email!

Paula+

We are so excited to welcome you back this Sunday, All Saints' Day, November 1, 2020 at 10 AM for in-person worship!  There are strict restrictions and attendees must register in advance via SignUpGenius here.  There are a limited number of seats, especially this Sunday, as we will also be celebrating a baptism.  The list of protocols can be found here. Please arrive early to sign-in, have your temperature taken, etc.  Please note: Celebration of the Eucharist will return beginning November 8th.

Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, November 1st. Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour and be on time for church!

Please also note - Virtual COFFEE HOUR will now take place at 12 PM in order to give those who are attending Sunday worship in-person, time to return home and log into coffee hour.

PLEASE NOTE:  We have some openings at the preschool.  

If you know of a family that may be interested, please have them contact our Director, Nancy Siracusa at sspsmillburn@gmail.com or call 973-376-3534 Ext. 20.  The preschool has learning programs for Infants, Toddlers, Pre-K and Kindergarten.

- Sign-up for in-person worship each week via the SignUpGenius link in the weekly newsletter or in the St. Stephen's Calendar.

- The Sunday service will also be live-streamed via Facebook and YouTube at 10 AM.

- Broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) will be determined soon; more information to come.

- Bulletins can be found here.

All of the information you need to remain actively connected to St. Stephen's can be found on the website under the "Living Our Faith in a Time of Pandemic" here.

A full newsletter will be emailed the first and third weeks of the month (usually on Thursday).  An abbreviated newsletter with highlights for the week will be emailed on the second and fourth (and sometimes fifth) weeks of the month.  Newsletters are also posted to our website here.

If you or someone you know is having issues receiving the newsletters, please contact the parish office at church@ststephensmillburn.org or call 973.376.0688.

BISHOP HUGHES' VLOGS can be viewed here.  

The Voice Online may be found here.

Jeff Loggins Jimmy Hasenkamp Ian Janeczko The McManus Family The Blanchard Family Donna Riggi Eleanor Robinson Chris Anderson

Bernard & Nathan The Fitzgerald Family Jack Moreno Stephanie Gubin Sue Macbeth Francis Alex Cole

Christine Conti Xander Evan Felder Dorn James Tranberg Debbie and Geoff Robarge Peggy Thompson