From the Rector

Dear friends, 

How’s your Advent going so far?  I want to let you know about an online daily reflection for the remainder of the season.  It’s a great way to stay help you stay focused on the ‘reason for the Advent season’ as you wait for the coming of our Savior’s birth.  It’s called “AdventWord” and is offered through Forward Movement. When you subscribe, you will receive the Advent Word of the Day and a short reflection.  To get a taste of what it’s about, here’s the link for today’s Advent Word:

https://adventword.org/en/ready/

I hope you decide to subscribe!

Advent blessings,

Karen+

Worship This Sunday:

Sunday, Dec 4th, 10:00am – Holy Eucharist

 at St. Stephen's

LIVE STREAM WORSHIP SERVICE

  BULLETIN

  St. Stephen’s church doors will be open every Sunday for worship. In-person services will continue to alternate with St. John’s but the live-stream from services at St. John’s will be projected at St. Stephen’s. Come to St. Stephen’s every Sunday!

2023 Pledge Campaign

 Our Annual Pledge Campaign isn’t over and your support is vital.  Our theme this year is ‘More Than Enough’. Based on the story of Jesus feeding a crowd of 5000 with a scant two fish and 5 loaves of bread.  It’s amazing what we can do as a church with the resources we have. Anything you give is helpful

Once again, the Vestry is asking that you please prayerfully consider what you can pledge this year.  Your commitment is how we prepare a budget for next year, which impacts our ministry of worship and mission.  If you have any questions, please contact our Treasurer, Andy Lief.

A message from Jessica. . .

&

A message from Susan. . .

Mark your Calendars

Friday 12/9, 7pm - Advent Labyrinth walk at the St. Stephen’s.

Sunday 12/18, 10am – Lessons and Carols at St. Stephen’s.

Saturday, 12/24, 4pm – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at St. John’s.

Sunday, 12/5, 8:30am – Christmas Day, spoken Eucharist.

Friday, 1/6, TBD – Epiphany Dinner at St. Stephen’s.

Gift Cards for Santa Maria Urban Ministry

St. Stephen's has long supported Santa Maria Urban Ministry in a variety of ways. This year SMUM is grateful to receive our Target gift card donations to help the families they serve have a happy Christmas.

If you would like to purchase Target gift cards for SMUM, please see Janet Thorsrud. She will be taking orders for gift cards this Sunday (12/4). If you can't be in church, please contact her by phone or email (thorsrud@sbcglobal.net) NLT Sunday afternoon.

If you already have some gift cards that you'd like to donate, please contact Rowena Dizon Burger.

Bible Study

Acts: Catching up with the Spirit 

We are doing a six-week study on the book of Acts with Biblical scholar, Matt Skinner.

Tuesday evenings via Zoom at 7pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87517609914

Wednesday mornings at 11:00am, in person at St. John’s.

Volunteers Needed!

Santa Maria needs pantry volunteers to box groceries between 9:00am and 11:30am on weekdays. It’s a gratifying way to make a big difference in the lives of others. Call Santa Maria Urban Ministry at 408-292-3314. You must be at least twelve years old to volunteer. 

Poem from the Garden

At nine days old, Alex

came to visit the

garden. He declined

to use the stroller

so Matthew and I 

carried him in arms

to the new nursing 

bench Aer set up in

the bower. We sat, 

visiting with Jun

and Catherine, Aer,

Michelle and her Alex,

showing our baby

a new bit of sky. 

—written with one hand by Jessica Dickinson Goodman, the other holding Alexander Oakes Creekmore Dickinson-Holmes, age 15 days. 

“The whole world is full of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things.”

-Hans Christian Anderson

Kudos to:

-Susan and Janet for getting our worship space ready for Advent. 

-To all who were able to bring or send in your pledge cards!