May 3, 2023 Full Newsletter

May 3, 2023

A Message from Rev. Paula

If you love a child who has completed second grade or higher, or are a family with kids of any age (could be parents and kids, or grandparents and kids, or however your family looks) and enjoy spending time outdoors having fun while exploring your faith, you want to read this message.

Beloved Community,

I am so excited that we will welcome our friend, Anthony Briggs from Cross Roads, for Camp Sunday on May 14th at the 10:00 service! I'm also excited to share (share again?) the news that Cross Roads made Newsweek's "Best Summer Camps 2023" list, which is just as impressive as it sounds. As you know, I could talk about Cross Roads for hours (and I probably have), so I'm going to leave it to Anthony to tell you more about that amazing ministry, though if you want to talk before then, I'll be more than happy to do that. Right now, I want to talk a little bit about this photo. I promise this is more than just a trip down memory lane...

The girl in the yellow shirt on the left side of the photo with the long blond hair and yellow shirt is none other than your Rector on what was the last day of choir camp in July 1973. I'm deep in conversation, likely the somewhat dramatic conversation of tweens and teens who couldn't bear to be parted from friends and were sure their lives would be over as soon as they got into the car with their parents (even though they would see some of these friends the next day in church or hang with them at the park later in the week). Drama aside, the friendships I made and nurtured during these annual weeks at camp were life-changing. Though it is 50 years later, I maintain friendships with many of the people in this photo, even though we live all over the country and our lives are very different. Whenever we touch base, whether in person or via social media, someone will start the conversation about how this time we spent together having fun and learning to negotiate relationships with ourselves, each other, and God was some of the best time in our lives. We are all aware that we would not be who we are and where we are if not for camp.

If you look closely, you can see that I am holding a pair of shoes - tap shoes - and a book, which, if I remember correctly, was the journal in which I wrote poetry. I mention these details because they are a visual reminder of one of the many reasons camp was such a formative experience. I was at camp with a bunch of people who liked to sing, spend time outdoors, and, for most of us, were regular church goers with our family. But we were also different people with varied interests. What made camp so special was that the young girl who loved to dance and write poetry was just as welcome as her friend, KT, who won trophies in archery and riflery every year. We learned in both obvious and more subtle ways that who we were was not just okay or good enough, it was to be celebrated.

And, of course, we explored our faith, but in ways that made sense to us as we went about living our young lives and navigating all that was happening in our communities and the world, all while trying to figure out who we were and how we wanted to live those lives. There is something about camp that gets to the heart of who and whose we are in ways that are more vivid and transforming than any church service or Sunday School program.

Camp is a beloved community, one that becomes a part of you and you it so that even 50 years later the relationships matter and the things you learned about yourself and being a child of God continue to shape your faith and your life. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving in only the best of ways.

Shalom,

Rev. Paula+

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

Join us on Sunday, May 7th at 8:00am & 10:00am for

The Fifth Sunday of Easter.

ALL are welcome.

At Communion, you may receive the wine by sipping from the cup, reverently touching the base of the chalice, or you may choose Communion in one kind only

(the bread).

You are invited to Coffee Hour and Fellowship in the Parish Hall immediately following our

10:00am service.

Coffee Hour host for Sunday:

Jackie Ross

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.

ST. STEPHEN'S GARDENING

& CAMPUS CLEANUP DAY

Saturday, May 13th

8:30am - 2:30pm

Our plans to double the size of our Good News Garden are underway.

Join us on May 13th and show your love for this lovely piece of God's creation.

Bring a pair of gardening gloves, a shovel, a rake, or just yourself, your family and friends! Come for the day, or just an hour or two. We'll be beautifying the campus, doing a little building, filling the beds with soil, and spreading mulch.

Cold drinks and lunch provided for all volunteers.

+++

Planting Day to be announced soon.

Don't forget to sign up and let us know which plants you will donate and how many. We're going with square foot and companion gardening again this year to get the most we can out of the space.

We'd like all of the plant donations

by Sunday, May 14th.

SignUp to donate plants today!

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

MAY

MAY 7

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

MAY 8

7:30pm - MA Meeting

May 13

8:30am-2:30pm

Gardening/Campus Cleanup Day

MAY 14

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Crossroads Camp Sunday & Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

MAY 15

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MAY 17

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

MAY 18

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

MAY 21

8am - NO SERVICE

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

MAY 22

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MAY 28

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

MAY 29

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUNE

JUN 4

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

1pm - AA Meeting

JUN 5

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUN 11

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

12pm - NJ Pride

1pm - AA Meeting

JUN 12

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUN 15

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

JUN 17

Christine's Kitchen Hosting Day

JUN 18

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

JUN 19

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUN 21

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

JUN 25

8am - NO SERVICE

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

JUN 26

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JULY

JUL 2

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 3

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUL 4

Parish Office Closed

JUN 9

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 10

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUL 16

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 17

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUL 19

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

JUL 20

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

JUL 23

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 24

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUL 30

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 31

7:30pm - MA Meeting

Other Happenings...

READING WITH THE RECTOR

Sunday, May 14th

11:30am - 1:00pm

in the common room, or via Zoom

We will be discussing:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

by Maya Angelou

The 1969 autobiography describing the young and early years of American writer and poet Maya Angelou. The first in a seven-volume series, it is a coming-of-age story that illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma.

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED

Please consider hosting!

St. Stephen's provides the coffee, tea, juice, water, sugar/sweeteners, cups, plates, utensils, and napkins.

The host(s) provide milk and food

(sweet -or- savory | bought -or- made).

Our cleaning person will do the setup/cleanup, so we can all enjoy the fellowship & goodies!

The Coffee Hour sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

PREPLAN A FUNERAL

Learn how to preplan a funeral or cremation for yourself or loved ones.

Lunch will be provided by Bradley, Haeberle & Barth Funeral Home.

All attendees will receive complimentary planning and resource materials.

Wednesday, May 17

Cioffi's Restaurant, Union

Seating is limited!

RSVP by May 16 on SignUpGenius or call Austin at (973) 635-2428.

CIVIL WAR VETERANS IDENTIFIED

AT ST. STEPHEN'S CEMETERY

Maria has been working with Bob Gula, a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW)/Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), in locating the graves of Civil War Veterans at

St. Stephen's Cemetery.

Thirty two (32) Civil War Veterans have now been officially identified and

recorded in the National Graves Registration Database (SUVCW).

The American Legion has been contacted about placement of flags

at these graves for Memorial Day.

More details to follow in the next week or two.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Bob Gula is a 30 year resident of Short Hills and is a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). He is the Patriotic Instructor and Monuments and Memorials Officer for the Philip Kearny #20 camp of the SUVCW. His responsibilities as Officer of the SUVCW are to preserve the history and legacy of the heroes who fought to save the Union during the American Civil War. This includes ensuring that all Civil War graves are properly cared for and maintained, and are appropriately decorated for Memorial Day. As part of the SUVCW National Grave Registration Project, he has located the final resting places of all Union Civil War Veterans in Millburn/Short Hills, and has entered that information into the National Graves Registration Database. He frequently conducts educational sessions on local American History in the Millburn Elementary Schools in the hope of preserving the memories of the brave soldiers who have served our country.

Evelyn Underhill Region.. and beyond

Calvary Episcopal Church - Summit, NJ

Hymn Festival

Sunday, May 7th at 3pm

Come ready to sing old hymns, new hymns and requests as well.

All are welcome.

Calvary Episcopal Church - Summit, NJ

Dash Duo at Calvary

Friday, May 5th at 7pm

The guest artists for the Woodworth Concert of 2023 are Mary Elizabeth Bowden and David Dash, collectively known as the Dash Duo! They will present a concert of familiar favorites and new works, one of which they commissioned, and one composed by Calvary's own music director and organist, Dr. Evan Cogswell.

Come hear an evening of organ and trumpet music.

Reception to follow. Free will donations are welcome at the door.

Christ Church in Short Hills

Paul Jacobs Organ Concert

Sunday, May 21st at 4pm

Christ Church welcomes Grammy-award winning organist Paul Jacobs for a solo recital concert on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 4:00 pm. The special, one-day only concert will feature a selection of works, including J.S. Bach, and showcasing the church's historic Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1347 pipe organ, which is the largest of its kind in New Jersey.

A Reception will follow the performance in the Parish Hall.

Free will donations are welcome at the door.

Faithful Outreach

North Porch Women & Infants' Centers provides emergency aid, in the form of baby supplies, to mothers and infants in northern New Jersey, to help them stabilize and improve the quality of their lives.

Our collection bin is located outside the education building doors year-round. Donations can be dropped off at any time. Items of urgent need are:

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

If you would like to make a monetary donation to North Porch, please click here.

FAMILY PROMISE

Family Promise of Essex County helps homeless and at-risk families achieve self-sufficiency by providing shelter, social services, and housing assistance through a community-based approach.

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 throughout 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 and 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: Stay together, pray together, and listen for the Holy Spirit - 5/3/23

Noting that Jesus' instructions to his disciples after his resurrection were to stay together, pray together, and wait for the Holy Spirit, Bishop Hughes reflects on how this is also good advice for us now, as we become the church that God needs us to be at this time.

NEW: The Voice Online Link - 5/3/23

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

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

JUNETEENTH PILGRIMAGE 2023

WITH BISHOP HUGHES

Save the date(s)!

Two half-day trips with Bishop Hughes, coordinated by the diocesan Justice groups,

will visit sites in our diocese with a history

linked to slavery.

Saturday, June 17

Monday, June 19

Time TBA

Each trip will have different destinations

- attend one or both.

More information, and the registration link,

will be posted as soon as it is available.

SENIOR MINISTRIES SURVEY

The Senior Ministries of The Diocese of Newark, believes it is time to take stock of their ministry and are asking for input from people throughout the diocese.

Please take a moment to take this brief

(5) question survey here.

TRINITY RETREAT CENTER

Trinity Retreat Center, located in the Northeast in West Cornwall, CT, offers a place of spirituality and gracious, authentic hospitality—where you can slow down, connect deeply with nature, experience the rhythm of a community, enjoy farm-to-table meals, discern direction for your life, and go home ready to make an even greater impact on the world.

Trinity Retreat Center is an Episcopal mission of Trinity Church Wall Street and is open to everyone, regardless of denomination or faith.

For more information, go to the Trinity Retreat Center's

Facebook page or website.

Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries

OPENING DAY AT CROSS ROADS

SATURDAY: MAY 20

Join us for an exciting day of community and service at Cross Roads! Our annual Opening Day work day is a beloved tradition that brings together volunteers from all walks of life to help prepare our campus for the upcoming summer camp season.

This year's Opening Day will take place on Saturday, May 20. We'll have a variety of projects for volunteers of all ages and skill levels, so whether you're handy with a hammer or just looking to lend a helping hand, there's a place for you at Cross Roads.

Together, we'll tackle tasks like clearing trails, painting buildings, and getting our facilities ready for the arrival of campers. And as we work, we'll have plenty of opportunities to connect with each other and learn more about the important work that Cross Roads does to support our community.

But it's not all work and no play!

We'll also have plenty of fun activities, delicious food, and great company to make the day even more special. It's the perfect way to give back to your community while enjoying a day of fun and fellowship.

So mark your calendars for Opening Day at Cross Roads and join us for a day of service, community, and fun.

See full details here.

Exciting news! Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center has been named one of America's Best Summer Camps for 2023 by Newsweek!

Experience the adventure, growth, and community that Cross Roads has to offer this summer.

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 many 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

AA meetings are presented in Big Book format.

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

Jane Rossiter

Donna Stadler Hostetler

Ed Roman

Emma Simonich

Cathy Zimmerman

Juliet Tranberg

Lind Hostetler

Mary Ruth Stone

Nancy Landers

Anne Grenda

Eugene Foley

Evie Larson

Bruce and Sandra Swan

Ron Gadbois

The Roberson Family

Darla Shaw

Eve Anderson

Adam Moran

Gail Geyer Lewis

Paul

Irene Poirier

Gesine Ehlers

Melanie Cohn

Bruce Mailman

John Gadd

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

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 7, 2023

We are using the new lectionary,

Wilda Gafney's A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A.

Our bulletins are available 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.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm

Important Links

Zoom Links

Sunday Worship

Meeting ID: 864 1664 1640

Passcode: SSM119

To call in, dial by your location:

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Adult Formation

Meeting ID: 878 3014 4448