November 2, 2022 Full Newsletter

November 2, 2022

Message from Rev. Paula

Beloved Community,

One of my favorite spiritual practices is walking a labryinth. If you're not familiar with labryinths, they are structures with only one way in and one (different) way out. They have been a part of various cultures and religious practices for a few thousand years. In the 13th century they became a part of Christian religious practice, perhaps in response to the increased danger of undertaking an actual spiritual pilgrimage. Pilgrims could walk more deeply into the heart of God in the safety and sanctuary of churches, albeit in a decidedly more symbolic way than traversing the hundreds of miles of the Camino del Santiago, for example. In more contemporary practice, they are invitations to a contemplative practice that reminds us that when we journey into the heart of God, even if only for a few moments, we can never return to the rest of our lives in exactly the same.

I know that I have relied on the image of labryinths since the onset of the pandemic. In August, while in Colorado, I was able to walk a whimsical, artsy labyrinth next to a river in Lyons. I remember feeling so very much connected to God and the living waters of baptism in the time I spent there. And today I find that I am drawn to the images and that memory as we once again find ourselves facing a likely Covid surge. Essex and Union counties both entered the high risk level yesterday, which means our protocols will change beginning this Sunday. We are moving back to requiring masks for both worship services and offering only sipping from the cup at Communion, both of which mitigate the risk of transmission. What keeps me from throwing up my hands in frustrated surrender is that I know that we are not the same people we were in March 2020 and that we are more resilient and grateful that we know that making these kinds of changes makes a difference as we continue to honor our call to love and care for one another.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

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

WELCOME TO ADVENT!

This year, we continue our observation of 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 God's dream, helping us to engage more fully in Christ's mission of peace, justice, and the integrity of

creation. We enter the new year 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.

Please join us at 8:00am and 10:00am on November 6th

for the First 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 orange/high on November 2, 2022.

Masks are now required at both services.

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 this when the risk level changes.

INTERAITH BIBLE HOUR

On Friday, November 4th at 9:00am, we will meet with our friends from Christ Church in Short Hills and Temple B'nai Jeshurun.

Join us via Zoom here.

The password is SSM119.

The meeting ID is 865 4375 6895.

Please feel free to join us even if you haven't before.

50th ANNIVERSARY

BECKERATH ORGAN RECITAL

Sunday, November 6 at 4:00pm

at St. Stephen's Church

119 Main Street, Millburn

Join us as we celebrate over 50 years of our beautiful Beckerath organ with special guest artist, French organist Johann Vexo, Organist of the Choir at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, followed by a reception and an opportunity to meet the artist.

Originally scheduled for April 2020, this long-awaited final performance of our 50th Anniversary Beckerath Organ Recital Series marks over 50 years of sharing an exceptionally fine instrument with the greater community through outstanding performances by renown organists.

Designed and built for the interior of St. Stephen's Church by the celebrated German organ builder Rudolf von Beckerath, the 1970 tracker organ has

become a major cultural resource.

Suggested $15 cash donation at the door.

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

NOVEMBER

NOV 4

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

NOV 6

First Sunday of Advent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

4pm - Friends of Music 50th Anniversary Organ Recital

NOV 7

7pm - Small Group Summit

7:30pm - MA Meeting

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 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.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday through Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm

THE PARISH OFFICE IS CLOSED:

November 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving

November 29

December 13 - 16

December 27

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)

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

Narnia… the land beyond the wardrobe door, a secret place frozen in eternal winter, a magical country waiting to be set free.

Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first her brothers and sister don't believe her when she tells of her visit to the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund, then Peter and Susan step through the wardrobe themselves. In Narnia they find a country buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch. When they meet the Lion Aslan, they realize they've been called to a great adventure and bravely join the battle to free Narnia from the Witch's sinister spell.

Faithful Outreach

Everyone loves babies. People stop and say ‘hi’ to babies, can’t help but smile at them and share warm feelings. Another scenario – you are a parent who can’t feed your child. How must that feel? We had a glimpse of that when there was a baby formula shortage due to supply chains with Covid-19. We have a way of meeting some of these needs.

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.

We're having a Baby Shower!!!! Please bring baby supplies to church on November 13. Donations can be dropped off at any time. Please leave your donations in the bin outside the education building.

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

It’s a wonderful way to start our Thanksgiving celebration with donations and gratitude.

-Barbara Riedel

Low-income families in this country are facing unprecedented social and economic challenges from the pandemic. Job losses, health care expenses, and child-care have all combined to raise the number of evictions.

A donation can help Family Promise of Essex County to remain responsive to families’ emerging needs and its impact in our communities.

To read the Family Promise Newsletter, please click here.

APOSTLES' HOUSE

Apostles' House is devoted to providing comprehensive social services to homeless women with children and families at risk of homelessness in Newark and Essex County.

Apostles' House is in need of canned goods and non-perishable food items.

Collection bins are located outside the Narthex/ Education building doors in the parking lot. Donations can be dropped off at any time.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to Apostles' House, please click here.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church

THE BISHOP'S VLOG

NEW: Two ways we can think about beginning anew - 10/26/2022

Bishop Hughes returns to the topic of her last vlog post, beginning anew, and addresses two ways we can approach it: as a diocese, which we will do together through our strategic visioning and planning process; and as individuals, discerning what it is God has created us for and striving to mature in our faith and spiritual life.

NEW: The Voice Online Link - 10/26/22

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

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

Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries

CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center is a welcoming and inclusive community providing life changing and sacred adventures for renewal, growth, and joy.

Check out all the fun and interesting year-round programs for children, adults and families here.

For employment opportunities at Cross Roads, click here.

POP UP YOUTH MINISTRY

Pop Up is a welcoming ministry of the Diocese of Newark bringing together youth for fun activities, community, and faith formation. All youth grades 6-12 are encouraged

to join the monthly events.

Follow popupym on Instagram and Facebook.

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

Sandy Prince

Anne Grenda

Drew Johnson

Imani Nia

Eugene Foley

Evie Larson

Sandra Swan

Cherie Donze

Ron Gadbois

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

We will be celebrating a 7-week Advent

beginning this Sunday.

November 6, 2022

Job 19:23-27a

Psalm 17:1-9

Luke 20:27-38

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.