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.

Worship This Sunday:

Sunday, December 10th

10:00am - Holy Eucharist

BULLETIN

LIVE STREAM

 St. Stephen’s has an in-person worship service every Sunday at 10am. We alternate between Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist. We are not live-streaming Morning Prayer services at this time. All Holy Eucharist services are live streamed. Links to the bulletin and YouTube video are provided for all Holy Eucharist services.

From the Rector

Dear friends,

I have enjoyed following Forward Movement’s AdventWord this past week. Here’s the reflection for today’s word Watch:

Few experiences rival the attentiveness that comes when my children welcome me or their father home after time away. They ask when the plane will land, when the car will arrive, and when the train will pull into the station. They look out the window and ask excitedly with every approaching headlight, “Is it yet?! Is this it?!” This Advent we, like the disciples and generation after generation of believers, echo their childlike eagerness to know the arrival time. We turn on the porch light and take one last look out the window, hoping to be the first to run and greet our beloved.

                                                                                                          -Lindsay Barrett-Adler

In my own reflection on today’s word, I chose the homonym path and thought about my Apple ‘watch’. Sounds silly but hear me out. I watch my watch so often during the day because it gives me all sorts of information that I find helpful throughout the day. It occurred to me that if I stopped watching my watch so much, I could watch for things that my watch won’t ever be able to show me. Maybe I should try watching my watch less so that I can watch for more than email, messages, steps, heart rate, etc. . . Remembering Jesus’ warning to “keep awake . . .keep alert”, I’m going to refrain from wearing my watch on weekends (baby steps) to watch for signs of Jesus’ among us. I’ll stop watching my watch so that I can watch in the spirit of Advent! 

Advent Blessings and peace to you,

 Karen+

AdventWord is an online Advent calendar that has a daily prompt from a word out of the Sunday Scripture readings. When you subscribe (it’s free and all you have to give is your email address) you receive the word for the day with an image and meditation.  

You can even share your own reflection with the online community if you feel so moved.

I’ve already signed up, and I know some others have signed up as well. I hope you will find time for these reflections as you prepare for Jesus’ coming.

Click on the link below to learn more and subscribe.

https://adventword.org/#how_it_works

Community Solutions

Holiday Giving Program

Bring the new and unwrapped gift items to St. Stephen’s by Friday, December 8 at 12:00pm.

Any questions, call Janet Thorsrud at 408-2891-0628.

THANK YOU

COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEET

Diocesan Newsletter



Read about what’s going on in the diocese! Click below to subscribe to the diocesan newsletter that is emailed every two weeks.

Advent around the Diocese of El Camino Real

Find out what’s happening in our diocese for Advent HERE.

   IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

It is for good reason and it isn’t necessarily . . . for good reason. As the year comes to a close, it is the vestry’s responsibility to do the hard work of looking at the end of year finances and putting together a budget for 2024. We need all the information we can get to do this work and you can help! Two of the main things we need to know involve your intentions - whether you intend to fulfill your pledge for this year and whether you intend to make a pledge for 2024. Everyone’s situation is different. You might not know if you’ll be able to do either at this point. A yes, no, or I don’t know yet, would be helpful.  If any of this applies to you, please let Andy know.

You can help . . .

If you are interested in making donations to help with the relief efforts in Israel/Palestine, here are the links that were included in Bishop Lucinda's letter:

https://j-diocese.org/wordpress/

https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=d91c439a3d&e=bcc1702497

SAVE THE DATES!

Friday December the 8^th at 7 pm

Labyrinth walk with Christmas carols.

We will have a short service on the labyrinth followed by hot beverages and treats rounded out with carols sung around the piano – feel invite others!

December 24^th

Lessons and Carols, 10:00am, St. John’s



 Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist and Pageant, 4:30pm 

All are welcome!



Pray for the people of Maui and the destruction and loss caused by the fires.

Donations for relief efforts in Maui and the Diocese of Hawaii can be made to:

https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-you-can-do/give/donate-now/individual-donation/

https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/

https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/a-cup-of-cold-water.html

Join Education For Ministry - EfM

Please consider joining EfM! Education for Ministry (EfM) is a life-changing and unique college-level program in theological education based on small-group study and practice. Weekly seminars are designed to prepare lay persons to live out by word and deed the promises made at baptism: to love God, serve Christ, and proclaim the Gospel. EfM seminars take place online during the pandemic. 

More about EfM:https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry/

If you are interested in joining EfM, please contact the ECR Diocesan Coordinator, Katy Dickinson: katy.dickinson@gmail.com

Wednesday Book Group

Weekly Wednesday Bible Study

 11:00am, at St. John’s 

Learn about the Book of Revelation!

The last book of the Bible is more than a foretelling of doom. Come and explore what it's all about! Books are $20 ea. See Rev. Karen if you're interested.

Updates and opportunities!

We have space available to rent. If you know of any non-profit agencies or schools that need a space, let them know that St. Stephen’s has space. 



While it’s nice to have the flexibility to use the space ourselves, we need the income and so hope to find a new renter. 

Our church, parish hall, and our beautiful grounds, including the labyrinth are all great venues like for a variety of special events like receptions, birthday parties, quinceaneras, etc. Please encourage friends to consider St. Stephen’s as a venue for their special event!  

To reserve a space or ask question, contact the office, office@ssitf.org or click on the link on our website https://www.ssitf.org/facility-rentals. 

Spread the word and pray for St. Stephen’s!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• Sunday, December 10th, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
• Sunday, December 17th, Morning Prayer. 10:00am
• Sunday, December 24th, Lessons and Carols, 10:00am, St. John’s
• Sunday, December 24th, Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist and Pageant, 4:30pm, St. Stephen's
• Sunday, December 31st, Morning Prayer, 10:00am

Poem from the Garden

Kudos:

• Susan for painting our new beautiful Advent Banners.
• Jim for building new doors for the storage shed.
• Andy and Suzanne for playing piano for our services.
• For Janet and Susan coordinating our Advent Labyrinth Walk with cookies and carols tonight.

Contact Information for Rev. Karen.

Please use this new number to contact Rev. Karen for calls or texts:

408-781-1826

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.

Editor's Note  

Have an announcement?

Please send any announcements or articles you want to have included, to: kristenvdm@yahoo.com, by Thursday, 10am each week. 

Kristen van der Molen