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, November 12th

10:00am - Holy Eucharist

BULLETIN

LIVE STREAM

 St. Stephen’s has an in-person worship service every Sunday at 10am. We alternate between Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist. We are not live-streaming Morning Prayer services at this time. All Holy Eucharist services are live streamed. Links to the bulletin and YouTube video are provided for all Holy Eucharist services.

From the Rector

Dear friends,

I had a wonderful time last week on my very first river cruise. The weather was far less than optimal but didn’t take away from the entire experience of meeting new people and making new friends and seeing new places. It was exhilarating! That said, it is good to be home. I am grateful to be able to come home to the comfort of familiar faces and places.

Coming home stories from those who’ve spent a long time away from their families, like veterans, can be moving. Tomorrow is Veterans Day and I know that we have a few veterans at St. Stephen’s and St. John’s, myself included. Not all veterans have a ‘coming home’ story but I’ll bet they have a story to tell about their time in service. This weekend, perhaps at Coffee Hour on Sunday, talk to a veteran about their experience – and don’t forget to thank them for their service!

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen  (The Book of Common Prayer, pg. 823)

Blessings and peace to you,

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.

By now you will have received a letter from Rev. Karen and a letter and pledge card from Andy. This Sunday you will hear someone share their thoughts about their experience with stewardship and pledging to St. Stephen’s. This Sunday we will hopefully have some leaves to add to our beautiful (and bare) tree!  Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten your pledge card, or if you never received yours in the mail, there are extras at church. Please prayerfully consider what you will pledge this coming year. Your generosity has sustained us and we are deeply grateful for all that you give

 to St. Stephen’s!

“To be rooted in abundance suggests that gratitude and generosity are a natural consequence of a loving environment, a space where possibility, generosity, and abundance thrive. Without love for God, self and others, you risk being trapped in an environment of scarcity.”

 |

Dora Currea belongs to the Washington National Cathedral congregation

where she is a Co-Chair of the Sanctuary Ministry advocating and

supporting immigrants

Reflection question: Often those with limited means show great generosity and solidarity. Why do you think that is?

A Prayer for Peace

God of mercy and compassion,

of grace and reconciliation,

pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:

Jews, Muslims and Christians,

Palestinians and Israelis.

Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,

oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,

that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,

and peace and justice could be experienced by all.



- Reverend Said

You can help . . .

If you are interested in making donations to help with the relief efforts in Israel/Palestine, here are the links that were included in Bishop Lucinda's letter:

https://j-diocese.org/wordpress/

https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=d91c439a3d&e=bcc1702497

Sunday, November 19, 2023, 3pm.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Gilroy

651 Broadway St. Gilroy, CA 959020

Bring fruit/vegetable canned item food donation.

Impromtu choir practice at 1:30

Light refreshments

SAVE THE DATES!

Friday December the 8^th at 7 pm

Labyrinth walk with Christmas carols.

We will have a short service on the labyrinth followed by hot beverages and treats rounded out with carols sung around the piano – feel invite others!

December 24^th

Lessons and Carols, 10:00am, St. John’s



 Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist and Pageant, 4:30pm 

All are welcome!

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 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

Weekly Wednesday Bible Study

 11:00am, at St. John’s 

Learn about the Book of Revelation!

The last book of the Bible is more than a foretelling of doom. Come and explore what it's all about! Books are $20 ea. See Rev. Karen if you're interested.

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!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• Sunday, November 12th, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
• Sunday, November 19th, Morning Prayer, 10:00am
• Sunday, November 26th, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
• Sunday, December 3rd, Morning Prayer, 10:00am

Poem from the Garden

In lieu of a poem this week I’d like to share one of the prayers one of my mentee in Gaza posted on Facebook earlier in the month. I thought it was really poignant. The Arabic is first and then the Facebook automatic translation is below.



هلا مننت علينا وجمعت شملنا يا الله بكامل الصحة و العافية، نعيش سويا او نحيا سويا...

اللهم اني أسألك لطفك و رحمتك يا قادرا على كل شيء...

لسنا ارقاما، اذا رحلنا اصبحنا قصصا، و القصص لا تموت ...

Did you thank us and reunited us, O Allah, with full health and wellness, live together or live together...

Oh Allah, I ask you for your kindness and mercy, O Almighty of all things...

We are not numbers, if we are gone we become stories, and stories do not die...

–Esraa M. Yazen, October 10, 2023 (last post on Facebook was on October 13th, 2023)

“We all make errors in our theology: you and me both. So my recommendation is to err on the side of love. Why? Because . . . God is not doctrine. God is not war. God is not law. God is not hate. God is not hell . . . God is love.”

                                                         -Brian Zhand

Kudos:

• Jessica for hanging the beautiful curtain in the Narthex.
• Rob our Jr. Warden
• Andy our Treasurer
• Susan, our Sr. Warden and artist in residence.
• And the rest of our dedicated, very hard working vestry: Janet Thorsrud, Rowena Dizon-Burger, Anthony Francis, Jessica Dickinson Goodman.

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  

Have an announcement?

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

Kristen van der Molen