The Messenger

A weekly e-newsletter of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

October 6, 2022


New This Week:



Message from the Rector

By The Rev. Dr. Vincent Joseph Kopp


Dear Good People of St. Stephen’s,


October 1, 2022 marked the start of my third year as Rector at St. Stephens. 


Arriving as I did in the middle of the (still ongoing) Covid-19 pandemic, the first year may have felt invisible. Video readings and sermons, drive through Communions, no in person worship, Adult Formation via Zoom, the absence of children—many of you I only met on the fly or not at all until sometime in 2021. We also experienced lost connections with some previous members along the way and didn’t know how to draw them back.


As 2022 unfolded we first gradually rebuilt our worship structures through winter and spring, then pivoted in summer to plan for what we now have in fall—a full complement of worship, formation, and ministry offerings. We also built out the “electronic front door” of the parish (thank you Lidiya), improving the Messenger, updating our website, and expanding our social media presence on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.


It all feels surreal in retrospect. It also feels fragile in the present. There is no time to congratulate ourselves, only to rededicate ourselves to meeting the challenges of a changing, growing Oxford. The continuance and sustainability of St. Stephen’s as a worship community, one that welcomes all and strives to meet visitors and new members where they are in their journeys of trust, hope, and love in Christ depends on all of us guided by the Holy Spirit.


Welcome the stranger. Don’t be strangers to each other. Overcome any estrangements that exist among friends and fellow parishioners. God means for us to be at one with him and with each other, imperfect creatures though we are. God's love for us knows no limits.


Let Us Pray:


11. For the Parish (BCP p. 817)


“Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”


In Christ,

Vincent+

Prayer List


PARISHIONERS:

† Mary Branch

† Cissie Bryan

Rives Hicks

† Kelly Holden

Lucy Landis Moore

† Pam Martin

† Dick Taylor

Jimmy Winston


NON-PARISHIONERS:

Lene Tarry Cash

Dale Hughes

Bert Kemp

Janelle Ramsey

Courtney Ruth

Betty Jo White

Marshal Wrenn

Request a Prayer
Prayer Chain

Do you need prayer but would like to keep it confidential? St. Stephen's has a group of dedicated parishioners who will pray for you or your loved ones in time of need. Contact Pam Muller to be added to the Prayer Chain prayer list or click on "Request a Prayer" above.

St. Stephen's is looking for more participants to join this special ministry. Please reach out to Pam if you are interested in joining.

Old St. John's Homecoming

October 9th, 11:00 AM


Come this Sunday, October 9th to historic St. John's for the homecoming service at 11:00 AM. The Rev. Brooks Graebner will preach and The Rev. Kopp will officiate. After the service there will be a potluck meal so please bring a side dish to share. St. Stephen’s will have the 8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I as usual but the 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist Rite II will be replaced by the Old St. John’s service.

Weekly Happenings


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Sanctuary)

11:00 a.m. St. John's Homecoming with Meal afterward (St. John's, Williamsborough)

5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer/Bible Study - The Book of Job, Chapters 4-7 (Chapel/Parlor)


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12

5:00 p.m. Centering Prayer / Lectio Divina (Parlor)

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13

8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer Rite I (Sanctuary)


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

5:00 p.m. Parish-wide Picnic and Foyer Kick-Off (The Gabel's)


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Sanctuary)

9:15 a.m. Children's Sunday School (Chapel/2nd Floor Classroom)

9:15 a.m. Love is the Way Book Study - Chapters 4 & 5 (Parish Hall)

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Sanctuary)

11:30 a.m. Directory Photos (Pavilion)

11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour (Parish Hall)

5:00 p.m. EYC Gathering (Parish Hall)

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Pizza afterward (Chapel/Parish Hall)

Monthly Calendar

Worship Volunteer Schedule

Parish Directory & Photos


The deadline to submit changes for the new directory is Sunday, October 16th. Please check your information in the email sent or on the proof sheets in the Parish Hall and notify the Office of any updates.


The last day to get a photo for the directory is Sunday, October 16th. Mary Hicks will be available to take your photo at the Pavilion after the 8:00 AM service and after the 10:30 AM service. Don't miss it! Old photos will not be included in the directory to keep the new look consistent.

Bible Study

2nd & 4th Sundays, 5:00 PM


Evening Prayer/Bible Study is offered on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 5:00 PM in the Chapel/Parlor. In our next session on October 9th we will look at Job, Chapters 4-7.

Love is the Way Book Study

September 18-November 20

Sundays at 9:15 AM


Next Sunday, we will look at Chapters 4 & 5 in Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s book Love is the Way. Even if you don’t have a book, please plan to attend when you can. We will not meet this Sunday, October 9th, due to the Old St. John’s Homecoming.

Children's Sunday School

1st & 3rd Sundays, 9:15 AM


Children’s Sunday School will meet next on October 16th from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM in the St. Francis Chapel to start. Initially Sunday School will meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays until a stable schedule can be established. Our first gathering had eight children!

Lay Leadership Opportunities


Bible Study, Children's Sunday School, and the Nursery are areas of ministry waiting for Lay Leadership. Please discern if you feel called to serve in one or more of these recurrent programmatic activities. The strength of our parish depends on the participation of our parishioners. Please email rector@ststephensoxford.org to answer the call. 

Parish-wide Picnic &

Foyer Kick-Off

October 15th, 5:00 PM


On Saturday, October 15th we will have a Parish-wide Picnic and Foyer Kick-Off at the Gabel's, during which time folks will have a chance to sign up for Foyer Groups. All are welcome, including children. Bring a chair, a side, and your own adult beverages; burgers and hotdogs will be provided. We will eat by 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there!

Duplicate Bridge Tournament

October 17th, 11:30 AM


The Duplicate Bridge game has been reschedule to Monday, October 17th at 11:30 AM in the Parish Hall. Lunch begins at 11:30 AM sharp.

Lobster Sale

October 29th, 4:00-6:00 PM


The annual Lobster Sale is back! Purchase your 1.5lb lobsters for $25 each, live or cooked. Advance sales only. Contact the Office to purchase yours by October 23rd. Lobsters can be picked up Saturday, October 29th, 4:00-6:00 PM in the church parking lot. If you are interested in selling lobsters, contact Dawn at: 919-482-6083


Also, thank you all for the newspapers! We still need many more. Newspapers can be dropped off in the designated box to the left as you enter the Parish Hall.

Joint Worship with St. Cyprian's

October 30th, 11:00 AM


Its official: St. Stephen’s is invited to St. Cyprian’s on October 30th for Worship at 11:00 AM followed by a Potluck Lunch in their Parish Hall and Grounds. Main courses will be provided; please bring a side or dessert to share.

Lost & Found


We have a kid's rain jacket that was recently found at the church. Please contact the Office with a short description to claim the item.

October Birthdays


4 Lyn Dartt 

5 Jane Reid Dickerson

8 Daisy Manning

9 Dottie Snyder

13 Ann Burke Anderson

13 Samuel Spitler 

13 Marlene Spurr

14 Anna Kathleen Spitler

15 Tammy Howard

24 Dick Taylor

27 Jenny Koinis

30 Chip Hughes

Join the Birthdays & Anniversaries List

Stay Connected


Diocese:

Children & Youth Ministry Calendar '22-'23

Please Note Newsletter

North Carolina Disciple Magazine

Adult Formation Newsletter


Other:

Episcopal News Service

Rector's Weekly Video

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 9, 2022

View the Lectionary Readings

The Rev. Vincent Kopp (Rector): rector@ststephensoxford.org

Lidiya Potapenko (Parish Office): admin@ststephensoxford.org

Jim Branch (Sr. Warden): srwarden@ststephensoxford.org

Bernard Nelson (Jr. Warden): jrwarden@ststephensoxford.org

MISSION STATEMENT: We are dedicated to sharing the Gospel and love of Christ Jesus through service to our Church, community, and world.

919-693-9740  admin@ststephensoxford.org

Office Hours: M-Th 9AM-4PM

www.ststephensoxford.org

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