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, August 20th, 10:00am - Holy Eucharist at St. Stephen'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!

From the Rector

Dear Friends,

 

I love a good jigsaw puzzle! They are challenging and satisfying at the same time. When there are hundreds of pieces spread out, many looking the same, and some looking like they don’t belong there at all, it is a triumph to find that one piece you’ve been looking for forever. It takes patience to sort and re-sort as you go along. The biggest challenge for me is being able to step away – even when I haven’t found the particular piece I’ve been looking for. 

I recently discovered that doing jigsaw puzzles with a group of people is a beautiful thing. A thousands little bits are transformed into something whole and often beautiful in a matter of hours. It is a time of quiet conversation, laughter, reminiscing, and even silence. When one person steps away for a break, another steps in to carry on.  There’s no hidden agenda or real competition. Everyone is working toward the same goal and when all is done, it’s celebrated– even by the folks who never touched one piece.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all work together like that when we’re trying to figure things out – trying to make sense of what looks like a mess? 

What if we set up a puzzle in the parish hall? We could work on it together, one piece at a time, no big rush – it could take hours, days, weeks, or months. It will get done and it will be tedious, and fun, and frustrating, and satisfying and it will be beautiful.  



 Blessings,

Karen+

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.



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 our diocesan Social Justice Committee and our special guest leader the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton as we follow God’s call to “awaken to our roots.” 

Rev. Rachel is an excellent, authoritative speaker. She is of mixed heritage (Shackan, First Nations BC, Pennsylvania Dutch and Scots-Irish), Vice President of the House of Deputies, and Rector of Trinity Church, Seattle.

At this meeting at St. Paul’s/San Pablo Episcopal Church (1071 Pajaro St., Salinas) at 9:30am on Sept 16, we will hear from indigenous voices as we seek to restore continuity with the lands we occupy. Register here.

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

Every Wednesday, 11:00am, St. John’s. 

You can join us at any time.

We are reading and discussing “A Rabbi Talks With Jesus” by Jacob Neusner.  

Baskets needed for October-fest

Get ready for the St. Stephen’s fundraiser on Sept 30^th! Woo Hoo! We have a good start on baskets but we need your help. Here is what we have so far:

Puzzles

Coffee

Wine

Houseplant

Desserts and jams

Ice cream Sunday

Chocolate

A few suggestions for other baskets:

Pets, car care, taco, Italian and gardening. We can always use another wine basket also or maybe a whiskey basket.

Let me know if you can think of anything else or if you want to sign up for one of baskets that are suggested.

Don’t forget to ask friends!!

Janet

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!

Contribute to disaster relief efforts for the devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkey-Syria by donating to:

Episcopal Relief and Development at 

https://support.episcopalrelief.org/syria-turkey-earthquake?_gl=1*1ybrxoe*_ga*MTE0NzA0NjQ1OS4xNjYzNzA5NTM4*_ga_5J3W6B8WL4*MTY3NTk3NjYzMi42LjAuMTY3NTk3NjYzMi4wLjAuMA  

Archbishop’s Earthquake Donation Relief Fund at https://afedj.org/give/give-online/

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• August 20 Holy Eucharist - St. Stephen's
• August 27 Holy Eucharist - St. Stephen's

Poem from the Garden

Nearly a dozen 

Calero students

returned to campus

this week, eating ripe

blackberries, spotting

lizards and crows, and

each picking a special 

plant to visit and

follow its growth and 

changes in the next

few months. If you’re here

on Monday or

Wednesday mornings, say

hi and learn something new. 

— Jessica Dickinson Goodman 

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.

 -Author unknown, variation from “The Serenity Prayer” by Reinhold Niebuhr

Kudos:

-The Calero students who will be working at the church this semester.

-Susan for leading the Vestry meeting last week.

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  

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

Kristen van der Molen