St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL February 26th, 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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Sunday Service: February 28th, 2021 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear Friends,
I have a morning routine that for me, includes coffee – at least two cups. I always sit in the same chair at the dining table. It’s a chair that faces the TV because I watch the news, enough to get the headlines and eat my breakfast. I sit with my coffee, look at my planner/journal to review what I had planned for the day, and then I pray.
Now, I have a lot of big tall windows in my living area. Two wall are practically all window. When I look down, where all the action is, I see streets, traffic lights, the building across the street, and one side of the Safeway, with a big Safeway sign. But if I look up and out over the busyness below, I actually have a lovely view of the mountains. It occurred to me that I should sit in a different chair each morning so that I could gaze at something beautiful. The beauty was there all along, I just chose not to see it, or look at it. I’m loving this change in my morning routine. It does make a difference and even inspires my prayer.
Focusing on something beautiful makes a difference in how I begin the day. Even if my prayer is a lament, I can still be thankful for the beauty of God’s creation.
I encourage you to find a beautiful spot, in your home or your yard, or out on the horizon. At some point in your day, take a minute (or 5 or 10) to pause and just sit and look at what is beautiful. Do it every day – it couldn’t hurt. Think about God for a moment and listen for another. Let it be your prayer, simple, silent, and heard.
May you see and feel the peace that only God can give.
Lenten blessings,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
Our service this Sunday is Holy Eucharist, pre-recorded at St. John’s. The service will be posted on our website at 10:00 and can be viewed any time after that.
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle as you prepare to worship
Click HERE for the bulletin
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen. (revkaren@ssitf.org)
*** Due to the increased rate of COVID diagnosis and deaths, all of our services will be pre-recorded until at least March 1st . Please stay safe, staying home when possible, keeping distant when you must go out, and wear a mask to protect yourself and the community.
Giving glory to God together is up to us, wherever we are on Sunday! For most, if not all of us, we can do that in our homes – under a roof that keeps us warm. If you need help finding the service on our website, please let Rev. Karen know!
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Centering Prayer Workshop
Week 2
Wednesday, 3/3 at 7pm
Plan to join between 6:50 and 7:00. The session will begin promptly at 7:00 and will end at 7:45.
Please keep your microphone on mute unless you are speaking during conversation time.
Topic: Wednesday Lent Centering Prayer
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 814 5982 0033
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GIFT CARD ORDERS DUE BY THIS WEEKEND
The order form is on our website. Just email me your order by this weekend and mail a check to me made out to St. Stephen’s. Our last order earned $111 for our church.
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UPDATE ON BLANKETS
Our beautiful blankets have been dropped off at Santa Maria Urban Ministries. They were received with thanks from Alfonso. A person in a wheelchair stopped me as I was leaving to thank us for caring. We do what we can with Gods help.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
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
(Suspended through Lent due to the Centering Prayer workshop on Wednesday evenings)
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. . .
The Rev. Jani Wild and I are facilitating Pastoral Conversations on Racism intended to help us all learn and talk about a broad spectrum of subjects concerning race in our country.
We follow the same format (a brief introduction followed by a short video, discussion, and prayers ) every week with a different focus. Please join us next Thursday at 4:30. Whether it’s the 1st time or the 30th time you’ve attended, please come to learn, process, and share together in a safe space with a faith community.
Bring a friend or family member – all are welcome – by clicking the Zoom link below.
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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RealEpiscopal, El Camino Real’s newest website, is live and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! After years of refinements to previous designs, the website has been completely remade from scratch, simplifying its structure and making it more accessible to leaders, clergy, and parishioners. Check it out!
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Bishop Lucinda to lead "Tuesdays in Lent" online prayers
Join Bishop Lucinda and the diocesan staff during Lent for a weekly series of brief noonday prayers every Tuesday. Each prayer, which will include a reflection from Bishop Lucinda and/or the diocesan staff, will be streamed live at the diocesan YouTube page at 12 pm noon. Subscribe to our YouTube page to get alerts when the prayers begin
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Poem from the Garden
The juniper bushes
were gently oppressing
a canyon live oak,
their wrist thick old branches
were twisting and pinching,
restricting her growth
We cut the spined branches,
cleared the mess from her roots
and within hours of
being relieved from what
she'd grown up to survive
she was straightening
up, uncrooking her back,
standing tall in the soft
afternoon sunlight.
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He who has health has hope and he who has hope has everything.
Arabian Proverb
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Kudos to:
-Jessica for getting quotes on the leak in the church.
-Janet for coordinating gift card orders.
-Trig for helping with the sound system and mics
-Maria for taking minutes of our vestry meetings
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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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