November 9, 2022

Happening at St. Stephen's This Week...

WELCOME TO ADVENT!


St. Stephen’s is one of a growing number of churches who celebrate an extended Advent of seven weeks, rather than four. This is a return to the Advent observance of the Church from its beginnings until just a few hundred years ago. Extending Advent in this way moves it from the “season of preparation” for Christmas to an observance of the full promise and realization of the God’s dream, helping us to engage more fully in Christ’s mission of peace, justice, and the integrity of creation. We take a few additional weeks to be mindful of God’s work in creation through all time as we look ahead with hopeful anticipation to a more peaceful and just world and the fulfillment of God’s promise to all people. Thank you to The Advent Project and William H. Peterson for the extended Advent resources.

Please join us at 8:00am and 10:00am on November 13th

for the Second Sunday Advent.


ALL are welcome!


Coffee Hour to follow the

10:00am service.


Live-streamed to YouTube, Facebook, and via Zoom. Bulletins are available on the St. Stephen's website. All links can be found at

the bottom of the newsletter.

Zoom passcode is SSM119.


The Sunday service will also be broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) on Tuesday at 6am and 3pm.

NEW: The Community Risk Level for Essex County was changed to yellow/medium on 11/18/2022.


Masks are now optional at both services (unless the level changes).


At Communion you may receive the wine by sipping from the cup,

or you may choose Communion in one kind only (the bread).


We will revisit our masking requirements when the risk level changes.



READING WITH THE RECTOR


Sunday, November 13th

11:30am - 1:00pm


We will be discussing:


The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by C. S. Lewis




COME JOIN THE ST. STEPHEN'S

CHILDREN'S CHOIR


Sundays 11:15-11:45am

In the Choir Room

Directed by Kim Williams


Children from Kindergarten through

6th grade are invited to join the

St. Stephen’s Children’s Choir,

starting Sunday, Nov. 13. Practices will be held in the Choir Room (just up the few steps from the Parish Hall) from

11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Parents are welcome to sit in on the rehearsal

or simply enjoy a little more time

at Coffee Hour. 


In addition to singing occasionally during the 10 a.m. worship services,

the Children’s Choir will participate in a Christmas Pageant to be presented at our 5 p.m. Family Christmas Eve service on December 24. 


For more information, please contact the Parish Office at (973) 376-0688 or email church@ststephensmillburn.org.


Kim Williams (aka Miss Kim) can be reached at kimwilliams59@mac.com.

Don't forget -- We're having a Baby Shower for North Porch! Please bring baby supplies to church on November 13, or you may leave your donations in the black bin outside the education building. Donations can be dropped off at any time.


North Porch Women & Infants' Centers is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides emergency aid, of baby supplies,

to mothers and infants in northern New Jersey, help them stabilize and improve the quality of lives.


The urgent need is:


  • Enfamil 12.5 oz powdered baby formula and soy formula
  • Diapers especially Large size diapers - 4, 5, 6 and Pull-ups of all sizes
  • Baby wipes
  • Jars of baby food all ages-fruit, veggie and 1st foods

You are invited to a complimentary lunch & learn event:


"Learn What Preplanning a Funeral is All About" on Wed, November 16 at 11:30am at the Bradley, Smith & Smith Funeral Home located at 415 Morris Ave in Springfield. 

 

Presented by special guest speaker and Cert. Preplanning Consultant, Jill A. Lazar. Discover why the gift

of preplanning can be one of the greatest gifts you leave for your family. All guests will receive resource materials, and more! 


Seating is limited! RSVP by November 15 by clicking here.


For more information,

call (973) 635-2428 ext. 140.

Looking Ahead
PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

NOVEMBER


NOV 13

Second Sunday of Advent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Second Sunday Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

12pm - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

 

NOV 14

7:30pm - MA Meeting

 

NOV 16

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting


NOV 17

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

 

NOV 20

Third Sunday of Advent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

 

NOV 21

7:30pm - MA Meeting

 

NOV 27

Fourth Sunday of Advent

10am - Sunday Liturgy of the Word Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

 

NOV 28

7:30pm - MA Meeting


NOV 29

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

DECEMBER

 

DEC 2

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour


DEC 4

Fifth Sunday of Advent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting


DEC 5

7pm - Small Group Summit

7:30pm - MA Meeting


DEC 11

Sixth Sunday of Advent

Bishop Hughes visit

10am - Second Sunday Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

12pm - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting


DEC 12

7:30pm - MA Meeting


DEC 13

7pm - Monthly Women's Lectionary Discussion


DEC 15

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting


DEC 18

Seventh Sunday of Advent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting


DEC 19

7:30pm - MA Meeting


DEC 21

7pm - Finance Committee Meeting

7:30pm - Longest Night Service


DEC 24

Christmas Eve

5pm - Family Service

9pm - Candlelight Service


DEC 25

Christmas Day

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting


DEC 26

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JANUARY

 

JAN 1

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

 

JAN 2

7pm - Small Group Summit

7:30pm - MA Meeting

 

JAN 6

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

 

JAN 8

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Second Sunday Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

12pm - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

 

JAN 9

7:30pm - MA Meeting

 

JAN 10

7pm - Monthly Women's Lectionary Discussion

 

JAN 15

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

 

JAN 16

7:30pm - MA Meeting

 

JAN 18

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

 

JAN 19

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

 

JAN 22

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

12pm - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

 

JAN 23

7:30pm - MA Meeting

 

JAN 29

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

 

JAN 30

7:30pm - MA Meeting

PASTORAL CARE


Rev. Paula will be away November 21 - 29.

Please contact Deacon Karen at (973) 997-2722 in case of pastoral emergency.


Barbara Riedel will officiate on Sunday, November 27 at 10:00am.

This will be a Liturgy of the Word service.


PARISH OFFICE HOURS


Tuesday through Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm


THE PARISH OFFICE IS CLOSED:

November 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving

November 29

Other Happenings...

ANNUAL TURKEY BOX COLLECTION DRIVE

for our Drumming Camp families


Due: Sunday, November 20, 2022


Please email Maryalice Chech at maryalice_chech@yahoo.com if you are able to donate and bring a turkey box to the church on Sunday, November 20th. Or, if you’d rather bring in just a few of the listed items to add to a Turkey box, that helps too! Many thanks!!


Box Dinner Menu

The following items are recommended for each donated dinner:


(1) sturdy box

(1) 10 - 15 lb. FROZEN TURKEY 

(1) disposable aluminum foil roasting pan

(2) boxes of stuffing

(1) 5 lb. bag of potatoes OR two cans sweet potatoes

(2) cans of vegetables (corn, green beans, peas,)

(2) cans of turkey gravy

(2) cans cranberry sauce

(1) package rolls or corn muffins

½ gallon of apple or cranberry juice

Dessert-cookies, brownies, pies (no frozen pies)

GIFT CARD COLLECTION DRIVE

for our Drumming Camp families


Due: Sunday, December 12, 2022


As part of our Christmas celebration, we are delighted to be supporting our Drumming Camp children!

 

We are kindly requesting donations of VISA or TARGET gift cards (in denominations of $10, $20 or $25) this year for approximately 10-13 children.


Please forward your gift card donations to the St. Stephen's Church office

(119 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041) by Sunday, December 12th.


Please email Maryalice at maryalice_chech@yahoo.com if you have questions.


Many thanks! Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will help bring joy to these children during the Christmas season.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church



THE BISHOP'S VLOG



NEW: What does God want me to do??? - 11/9/2022


Discernment, says Bishop Hughes, is not just for people considering ordination or churches calling their next priest. It is the responsibility of all faithful people to ask themselves, and their community, “How is God trying to lead me into the thing that God has prepared me for in this life?"


NEW: The Voice Online Link - 11/9/22

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Sign up to receive important news, events and seasonal meditations from the Diocese of Newark. Find out more and subscribe here.

Resources
In this time of Crisis, there are resources that can help if you or someone you know needs assistance. Please contact NJ Mental Health Cares for free helpline telephone counseling or assistance. Call 866-202-4357.
TTY: 1-877-294-4356.
E-mail: help@njmentalhealthcares.org

Other resources are:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line, 741741
NJ Hope Line (suicide prevention) 
855-654-6735
A/MA MEETINGS

Weekly AA meetings:

Sunday at 1:00pm
Contact: Rob H. (516) 860-9062

For more information about Alcohol Anonymous, click here.

Weekly MA meeting:

Monday at 7:30pm
Contact: Max T. (212) 203-2542
Contact: Deana L. (908) 499-8997

MA meetings are presented in a rotating format:
Step - Speaker - Story from Life with Hope - Topic

For more information about Marijuana Anonymous, click here.
Prayer List
Please keep the following St. Stephen's family
members and friends in your prayers...

Peggy Thompson

Donna Riggi

The Blanchard Family

The McManus Family

Bernard & Nathan

Lucille B.

Jack Moreno

Joseph G.

Jane Rossiter

Mike Losito

Evan D. & Family

Donna Stadler Hostetler

Ed Roman

Emma Simonich

Inge Bass Mills

Jessica Rana

Cathy Zimmerman

Juliet Tranberg

Lind Hostetler

Mary Ruth Stone

Nancy Landers

Anne Grenda

Drew Johnson

Eugene Foley

Evie Larson

Sandra Swan

Cherie Donze

Ron Gadbois

Linda Clark

The Roberson Family

Shirley Dutton

If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please email us at church@ststephensmillburn.org, or call (973) 376-0688 Ext. 32.

Anyone for whom we are praying will be on our prayer list for six weeks. If prayers are still needed beyond that time period, please let us know. Thank you.
Sunday Lectionary

November 13, 2022

Second Sunday of Advent


Malachi 4:1-2a

Psalm 98

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19


If you'd like to read the full lectionary for the week, you may do so here.



Giving with Tithe.ly
TITHE.LY
Giving with Tithe.ly is easy with options for recurring donations or one-time use for when you are away or not able to be in church (like all of us now due to COVID restrictions).

You can access Tithe.ly via their website or their app on your smart phone. Be sure to search for the correct account - "St. Stephen's Church Millburn." Once you have accessed the account page with our address, you will be instructed to follow the prompts.
Office Notes
Due to COVID restrictions, only teachers and staff are allowed to be in the building during school hours. If you need to visit the parish office/building for any reason, please contact us for an appointment. Thank you.
Important Links
Zoom Links

Zoom passcode: SSM119

To call in, dial by your location:
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 864 1664 1640
Passcode: SSM119

Links for Sunday Worship Live-Stream & Social Media
Website Links
Other Social Media Links
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
119 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041
Church

Parish Administrator, Maria T. Card
973.376.0688, Ext. 32
church@ststephensmillburn.org

Rector, The Rev. Paula J. Toland
973.376.0688, Ext. 21
rector@ststephensmillburn.org

Fax: 973.376.4002
Website: ststephensmillburn.org

Preschool

Director: Nancy Siracusa
Phone: 973.376.3534, Ext. 20
Email: sspsmillburn@gmail.com
Visit our Website