March 22, 2023

A Message from Rev. Paula

Beloved Community,


Before I get to my usual message, I want to correct an oversight. In the newsletter on March 8th, the one following our Annual Meeting, we neglected to thank Sheelagh Clarke and Fran Taber for their willingness to serve as Vestry member and Diocesan Convention Delegate, respectively. I am so very grateful to them for sharing their gifts with us in this way. Thank you, Sheelagh and Fran for choosing to live your faith in these ways.


And now an update on our sabbatical planning: Last Wednesday we hit "send" on an application to the Lilly Foundation's Clergy Renewal Foundation for funding for sabbatical time in the fall of 2024 and the spring of 2025. We won't hear back until August, so I keep reminding myself that patience is a virtue. In the meantime, I want to share just a little bit of the application with you because this will be our time for rest and renewal.


Program Title: Living Faith: Tasting, Seeing, Stilling


From the Rationale: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 38:4) “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) These words are at the heart of this sabbatical – opening paths to experience God more deeply and embodying our faith in ways that are not the ordinary and which delight our senses. This proposal for fourteen weeks of sabbatical is designed to provide time for rest, renewal, and reflection, as we continue to actively discern God’s call to us. It is designed in two parts: the first is a month in the fall of 2024,

shortly after a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land; the second is two and a half months in the spring of 2025. The themes of the sabbatical will continue as a focus of our common life and formation for the period in-between.


From the Pastor's Statement: This sabbatical will be my first in ten years of ordained ministry and ten years after my first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a truly life-changing, faith-deepening experience that gave shape to this sabbatical. It was there that I learned in a way I still cannot describe that the stories of God’s work in the world are more than words on a page or about places in photographs. They have context: sights and sounds, smells and tastes, to engage all of our senses. There are people who lived there, live there now, and will in the future.


Astonishingly, we are connected to all of it. We are part of all of it. As one whose primary gift in ministry is showing up to people and to God as I am, when and where I am, these connections – past, present, and future – remind me of who and whose I am, something I need to know in every fiber of my being if I am to live my best self and be present with those with whom I am walking this incredible path in a way that is balanced and whole.


I am aware that the balance of life was disrupted by the pandemic and the flood. There are times when things feel harder, heavier. Experiencing God in time and space other than my usual: in holy places and sacred spaces, seeing the sights, meeting the people, eating the food, being still in the presence of God, will remind me of my place in the world and the story of God’s love for God’s people and creation throughout all time, for all time.


You can expect to hear more about this year of rest and renewal in the coming months, which will include worship, food, fellowship, and formation. We'd love to hear your hopes for this time, which will be Spirit-filled whether or not we get the grant funding. Please feel free to talk to me about it or to anyone on the Vestry, Finance Committee, or Sabbatical Committee, some of whom do double duty: Maryalice Check, Roger Riedel, Barbara Riedel, Kira Hanson, Steve Moran, Eugene Foley, Fran Taber, John Soughan, Don Stanford, Nancy Sieffert, Alex Cole, or Deacon Karen Eberhardt. And because your year of rest and renewal begins with the Holy Land trip in August 2024, we'd love to have you join us!



Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Financial Stewardship for 2023

We are officially over our baseline goal!


Thank you to those who have pledged financial support of our ministries in 2023. This is a big help to the Finance Committee in building the budget.


A reminder to those who have not pledged yet: ALL of our ministries, both the visible and the behind the scenes ones, rely on your generosity in order to happen. We are at $121,516 in pledges, which is $1,516 over our barebones budget and $8,484 shy of what it will take to be live more fully into our identity as the Church on Main Street, where love begets love. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge to support our ministries AND to express your gratitude to God for all the blessings of this life.


Please use Tithe.ly for online giving, or mail checks to the St. Stephen's Parish Office at 119 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041.

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

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Join us on Sunday, March 26th 8:00am and 10:00am for the

Fifth Sunday in Lent.



ALL are welcome.

Masks are optional.



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

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:

Paul Boegershausen

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.

SUPPORT FOR CHRISTINE'S KITCHEN AND OUR EVELYN UNDERHILL NEIGHBOR,

ST. GEORGE'S MAPLEWOOD


When donor fatigue hit our sister parish and a call to help was issued, St. Stephen's stepped up!


Thanks to all who offered to bridge the donation gap and make over 60+ "lunches to go" for

Christine's Kitchen on April 1st.


Thanks to Deryck Rugbeer for alerting us to the situation and for coordinating our collection

and delivery.

Lent + Holy Week + Easter

We have many options to observe a holy Lent this year, including additional worship services here and with our sister parishes in the Evelyn Underhill Region.


See all Lent and Holy Week offerings here.


April 2 - Palm Sunday

8:00 am - Spoken Holy Eucharist

10:00 am - Holy Eucharist with Procession of the Palms


April 5 - Wednesday in Holy Week

7:30 pm - Tenebrae


April 6 - Maundy Thursday

6:30 pm - Holy Eucharist and Agape Supper

Please email Maria at church@ststephensmillburn.org so that we can plan food.


April 7 - Good Friday

12:00 noon - Contemplative Prayer Service

7:30 pm - Solemn Collects with Veneration of the Cross


April 8 - Holy Saturday

10:00 am to noon - Liturgy of Holy Saturday and Quiet Day

Please email Maria at church@ststephensmillburn.org so that we can plan supplies.





April 9 - Easter Sunday

8:00 am - Spoken Holy Eucharist

10:00 am - Festival Eucharist

11:30 am - Easter Egg Hunt

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

MARCH


MAR 26

Fifth Sunday in Lent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

 

MAR 27

7:30pm - MA Meeting


MAR 28

5pm - Life Transformed: Walking the Way of Love in Lent



APRIL

 

APR 2

Palm Sunday

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Holy Eucharist with Procession of the Palms

1pm - AA Meeting

 

APR 3

Monday in Holy Week

7:30pm - MA Meeting


APR 4

Tuesday in Holy Week

5pm - Life Transformed: Walking the Way of Love in Lent


APR 5

Wednesday in Holy Week

7:30pm - Tenebrae Service


APR 6

Maundy Thursday

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

6:30pm - Holy Eucharist and Agape Supper

APR 7

Good Friday

12pm - Contemplative Prayer Service

7:30pm - Solemn Collects with the Veneration of the Cross


APR 8

Holy Saturday

10am - Liturgy of Holy Saturday and Quiet Day


APR 9

Easter Sunday

8am - Spoken Holy Eucharist

10am - Festival Eucharist

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting


APR 10

7:30pm - MA Meeting


APR 16

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship Intergenerational Worship & Zorn Baptism

11am - Golden Halo Coffee Hour

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting


APR 17

7:30pm - MA Meeting


APR 19

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting


APR 20

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting


APR 23

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting


APR 24

7:30pm - MA Meeting


APR 30

Family Promise Hosting - groceries due

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

1pm - AA Meeting

MAY


MAY 1

7:30pm - MA Meeting


MAY 7

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting


MAY 8

7:30pm - MA Meeting


MAY 14

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Crossroads 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 - Sunday Worship

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

CLERGY RETREAT WITH THE BISHOP 2023


Rev. Paula will be away at Clergy Retreat with the Bishop

on Tuesday, 3/28 through Thursday, March 30th.


You may email or text Rev. Paula and she will reply when able.

Other Happenings...

DONATIONS FOR EASTER FLOWERS


Due: March 31, 2023


Please help make St. Stephen's especially joyous this Easter!

 

​All donations will assist in the purchase of flowers for our Church and all donors will receive acknowledgement in our Easter bulletin.


Donations can be made via Tithe.ly (Fund: Special Gifts Flowers), or sent to the Church Office at 119 Main Street, Millburn

by Friday, March 31st.


​If you have any questions,

please email

church@stsstephensmillburn.org.

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EASTER EGG HUNT


St. Stephen's is bringing back the Easter Egg Hunt! The hunt will take place on the front lawn at 11:30am following our Easter Service on Sunday, April 9th.


*NO NUT* donations of Hershey kisses, tootsie rolls, starbursts, sweetarts, or other non-nut & individually wrapped candy would be greatly appreciated.


Donations can be brought to church on Sunday 3/26 & 4/2 and placed in box marked Candy Donations in the church, or dropped off in the bins outside the education building doors at anytime.


Please email Maryalice Chech at

maryalice_chech@yahoo.com

if you have any questions.

GROW THE GOOD NEWS


Help us expand our Good News Garden this year!


We will be doubling the size of our garden to build on the success of last year and provide more produce to the Interfaith Food Bank of the Oranges.


We will "Grow the Good News" and hope you will choose to join us by donating plants or by helping with the build out and the planting when we’re ready.


SignUp here.

LUNCH & LEARN


You are invited to a complimentary "Funeral Planning" lunch & learn on Wednesday, April 12 at 11:30am at Marco Polo Restaurant in Summit.

 

Seating is limited!


RSVP by April 11 by calling Austin at

(973) 635-2428 ext. 140.

COFFEE HOUR 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.


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

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HOME BOROWING SERVICE


The Millburn Free Public Library has launched a new "Home Borrowing" service in order to better serve members of our community who might not be able to physically visit the library due to illness, mobility issues,

or other reasons.


If you would like an application, please reach out to the Parish Office - church@ststephensmillburn.org.


You may also apply online at millburnlibrary.org.

Click on Services and choose Home Borrowing.

Evelyn Underhill Region.. and beyond

Christ Church in Short Hills Presents

The Requiem of Gabriel Fauré: A Concert of Remembrance

Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 4:00pm 


A Special Concert of Remembrance featuring Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine at Christ Church in Short Hills commemorates its 140th Anniversary and honors those lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. 


The Concert will feature the Christ Church Festival Choir, Orchestra, Organ and vocal soloists conducted by guest conductor and Christ Church parishioner George Mathew. The Christ Church Festival Choir, under the direction of Christ Church Organist and Choirmaster, Dr. Andrew Moore, will include choristers from the Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Millburn, Temple B’Nai Jeshrun and other area institutions. The Festival Orchestra will comprise distinguished artists from major New York orchestras including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Orpheus. Short Hills resident and soprano Tharanga Goonetilleke, and baritone Charles Schneider will be the featured soloists for this performance of the Fauré Requiem. 


The Concert is presented free of charge; however, free will donations are welcome. Parking is available and a reception will follow the performance in the Parish Hall.


Full details are available here.

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: Bishop Hughes’ sermon at Bishop Croneberger’s funeral - 3/22/23


This past Saturday, March 18, Bishop Hughes preached the sermon at the funeral of Bishop Croneberger, 9th Bishop of Newark, at Christ Church, Reading in the Diocese of Bethlehem.


NEW: Bishop Hughes' sermon at St. Thomas on 5th Ave. - 3/22/23


This past Sunday, March 19, Bishop Hughes traveled to the Diocese of New York to preach at a Festal Evensong at St. Thomas Church on 5th Ave.


NEW: The Voice Online Link - 3/22/23

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

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

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

CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER


Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center is an inspiring and relaxing year-round retreat center offering comfortable facilities and professional programming for secular and spiritual groups of all ages. Located on 250 glorious acres atop the stunning mountain landscape of northwestern New Jersey, our cozy retreat centers and cabins house up to 300 people. Guests enjoy our beautiful hiking trails and an abundance of outdoor and indoor recreational areas including basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, and open space for field games.


To view Cross Roads' offerings,

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 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

Jessica Rana

Cathy Zimmerman

Juliet Tranberg

Lind Hostetler

Mary Ruth Stone

Nancy Landers

Anne Grenda

Eugene Foley

Evie Larson

Sandra Swan

Ron Gadbois

The Roberson Family

Darla Shaw

Eve Anderson

Adam Moran

 Gail Geyer Lewis

Paul

We give thanks for the life of Mike Losito. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

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 in Lent


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

Passcode: SSM119


To call in, dial by your location:

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

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