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.

From the Rector

Dear friends, 

Many of you have asked, “How was your trip?” and my response has repeatedly been, “It was great!” or something along that line, and it was – thank you for asking. Having never been to London, I enjoyed seeing so many of the things that most tourists go to London to see.  I was especially awed by being in Westminster Abbey and worshiping at St. Paul’s Cathedral on New Year’s Day morning.

Another highlight of my trip was, of course, a stop in Chicago to see my son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.  We did a lot of things, included bowling, which I have not done in probably 40+ years!  I was a little embarrassed to roll numerous gutter balls.  But here’s what I remember most about the games:  My 5 ½ (not 5, she consistently emphasizes) granddaughter gave me a fist bump with every roll, saying, “Nice try! It’s okay Mimi, you get to go again!”  

Her encouragement and comfort gave me great joy and hope!

I was reminded that God says the same thing over and over to us when we mess up or are defeated in our efforts to do what it good and right. God says ’Keep trying. You can have another go. I still love you!  I can almost feel a fist bump from God!  All the things I’ve said that I wish I could take back, every mistake that’s left me feeling ashamed, every time I’ve been defeated, every evil thing I’ve done, or has been done on my behalf, is an opportunity and an invitation from God to try again with perseverance!  Thank you God!

Blessing and peace,

 Karen+

Worship This Sunday:

Sunday, Jan 15th, 10:00am – Holy Eucharist at St. John'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!

COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEET

While I was away . . .

Thank you to our Sr. Warden, Janet, for ‘holding down the fort’ in my absence.

Thank you to Janet and Susan for leading the Epiphany pot luck, leading prayers, and making Star Words available!  Thanks to Susan for playing piano too!

Thank you to Andy for stepping in at the last minute to play piano when Suzanne was not able to attend last week!

Thank you all for welcoming The Rev. John Buenz who presided the Holy Eucharist and gave a great sermon for the New Year.

Thank you to Janet for managing the live-stream while Jill was away.

As they say, it takes a village and we’re a wonderful village!

Annual Meeting next Sunday, Jan 21st, after the service. 

Please plan to attend to hear about all that we’ve done in this last year to serve God and our community. The 2023 budget will also be presented and the Sr. Warden will be announced.

Your votes and voices are essential to the life of St. Stephen’s!

Vestry opportunities

If you would like to serve on the Vestry for 2023, and would like more information of what that entails, please contact Rev. Karen, Janet Thorsrud, or any member of the current vestry. The most important requirement is that you love St. Stephen’s and care about our ministry! 

Donations for people impacted by the severe weather:

Santa Marie Urban Ministry (SMUM) takes food, clothing, essential items like toiletries, new underwear, etc. . . year round.   

Compassion Center in the South Valley is in need of:

-men’s boxer briefs

-women’s underwear 

-women’s and men’s socks

-travel size shampoo

-plastic grocery bags (can be used by must be clean and not torn).

You can leave your donations at St. Stephen’s (Tues. or Thurs. morning) and someone from St. John’s will deliver them to Compassion Center.

Poem from the Garden

The wildflowers in

whites and creams and pale,

pale blues have begun

to spring from the seeds

we planted 4 weeks 

ago in freshly

delivered compost, 

dark behind the old

railway ties. They’ll be

growing up for spring 

and summer bloomings,

and reseed readily 

at their roots, ready

to greet us next year.

— Jessica Dickinson Goodman 

Tomorrow we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  His work for Civil Rights must continue through us.  This is one of his prayers from Prayers of Martin Luther King Jr: A Brief Collection :

“Dearest Jesus, come and sit with us today. Show us the lies that are still embedded in the soul of America’s consciousness.  Unmask the untruths we have made our best friends. For they seek our destruction. And we are being destroyed, Lord. Reveal the ways the lies have distorted and destroyed our relationship.  They break your Shalom . . . daily.  Jesus, give us the courage to embrace the truth about ourselves and you and our world.  Truth: We are all made in your image. Truth: You are God; we are not. . . .And Jesus, give us faith to believe: Redemption of people, relationship, communities and whole nations is possible!  

And let us pray the Rite II Collect for the Feast Day of Martin Luther King, Jr.  from A Great Cloud of Witnesses: A Calendar of Commemorations.

“Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may strive to secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with your and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Kudos to :

-Andy and Trig for replacing lights around the outside of the church.

-The Van der Molen Family for opening up the church every other Sunday when the service is at St. John’s.

-Susan and Janet for cleaning up the sacristy.

Contact Information for Rev. Karen.

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

(669)270-7479