The Messenger

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

November 24, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving!

New This Week:

• Thank you!
• Weekly Happenings
• Lectionary Readings
• Monthly Calendar
• Worship Volunteer Schedule
• AdventWord
• Christmas Boxes
• Vestry Nominees
• Birthdays & Anniversaries

Message from the Rector

By The Rev. Dr. Vincent Joseph Kopp

Dear Good People of St. Stephen’s,

Few of us get through life without a medical problem. Many in the parish know this first hand as they face both acute and chronic conditions that require prayer and care.

Our prayer book is replete with prayers for every condition of health and so I commend them to you in this season of absence. They begin in the BCP on page 458 and run through page 461.

Here are a few of my favorites. Take time to find your own.

For Doctors and Nurses (BCP, p. 460)

“Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

For Trust in God (BCP, p. 461)

“O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

In Pain (BCP, p. 461)

“Lord Jesus Christ, by your patience in suffering you hallowed earthly pain and gave us the example of obedience to your Father's will: Be near me in my time of weakness and pain; sustain me by your grace, that my strength and courage may not fail; heal me according to your will; and help me always to believe that what happens to me here is of little account if you hold me in eternal life, my Lord and my God. Amen.”

For Sleep (BCP, p. 461)

“O heavenly Father, you give your children sleep for the refreshing of soul and body: Grant me this gift, I pray; keep me in that perfect peace which you have promised to those whose minds are fixed on you; and give me such a sense of your presence, that in the hours of silence I may enjoy the blessed assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

In the Morning (BCP, p. 461)

“This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.”

Be well.

In Christ,

Vincent+

Thank you!

A big thanks to everyone who contributed to the Thanksgiving Drive for twenty Seniors in Granville County. St. Stephen's came together once again in the spirit of generosity for others. Each Senior was very happy to receive two boxes filled with shelf-stable food and personal items. Many of them don’t have family nearby so hopefully this will help make

their holidays a little more enjoyable. Thanks to EYC for filling the boxes, to Laura Gabel and Robert Powell for helping deliver them to the Senior Center, and to Lydia Powell for leading the project. And the Senior Center thanks YOU for thinking of our older citizens during the holiday.

Prayer List

PARISHIONERS:

Joan Blackwell

† Mary Branch

† Cissie Bryan

Rives Hicks

† Kelly Holden

Lucy Landis Moore

† Dick Taylor

Jimmy Winston

NON-PARISHIONERS:

Lois Brant

Alex Potapenko

Janelle Ramsey

Gerald Teel

Marcia West

Prayers are requested for The Rev. Dr. Vincent Kopp, Rector

Join us for an Advent Wreath Workshop this Sunday. If you have greenery you can share from your yards (boxwood, etc.), please bring it to the Parish Hall on Sunday morning.

Weekly Happenings

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 - ADVENT I LECTIONARY READINGS

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

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

11:30 a.m. Advent Wreath Workshop (Parish Hall)

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

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28

6:00 p.m. Hope House Board Meeting (Parish Hall)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

6:00 p.m. Strategic Planning Meeting (Parish Hall)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 - ADVENT II

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

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

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

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

AdventWord

This year we will participate in AdventWord, a beautiful online spiritual practice created by Forward Movement in which folks from all around the world offer their reflections on one word each day during Advent. Reflections are posted on social media with images, photos, prayers, etc. We are thrilled to join in, and hope you will also participate with your own reflections either on the St. Stephen's social media pages or on your own. You can read what others are posting by searching #AdventWord on social media.

Lessons & Carols is BACK! St. Stephen's parishioners are invited to participate in this lovely late afternoon service at the historic St. John's Episcopal Church in nearby Williamsboro. We will gather on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.

We also are looking for three readers to help us. Please contact Laura Gabel if you'd like to participate in the service: (919) 210-2842 or lsgabel61@gmail.com

Christmas Boxes

If you would like to sign-up for Christmas Box food donations for families in need, please click on the sign-up button below. Donations can be dropped off on the racks in the Parish Hall during Office hours until December 11th.

We thank David Spitler and his company for once again providing turkeys for the Christmas Boxes this year!

Pledge Sunday

Pledge Sunday is December 11th. As you discern your pledge, be thinking about how your gift can help St. Stephen’s thrive during its Bicentennial season.

Bicentennial Committee

The St. Stephen's Bicentennial Committee has had a couple of meetings so far and plans are coming right along for a "season of celebration" beginning SOON!

This committee is discussing several projects and programs to present to the church and to the larger community. But we need your help and input to generate interest and participation in 2023 as we observe and celebrate 200 years. After Thanksgiving, you will find small packages of index cards and pencils in the pews, and this is where you come in. Please take a moment before or after the service to jot down a special memory or two that you have of St. Stephen's. You can include your name if you'd like, but it's not necessary. If a particular date is involved, please include the year - we're planning to post a timeline of key dates in the parish hall soon, and we can add your special date!

A list of committee members is located on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall - take a moment to see who is investing their time to help make 2023 a memorable "season of celebration."

Vestry Nominees

We have six nominees for the Vestry Class of 2025. The Vestry Elections will take place on December 11th at 9:15AM in the Parish Hall.

Each candidate was asked to answer three questions (their answers are below):

1. Why are you running to be on the Vestry?
2. What has been your involvement at St. Stephen's?
3. What would you like to see the Vestry focus on in the next 3 years?

John Anderson

1.Commitment to ensuring the health of our church and congregation

2.Long standing member – for the past 40 years; have led stewardship campaign in the past; participated in outreach through mission trips to Central America

3.How best to create value for existing members and attract new membership; opportunities to extend the “reach” of St. Stephens into the community; opportunities to partner with other churches in the area; sustainability for St. Stephens

Nina Cheatham

I was raised in Oxford and was a member of Oxford Baptist Church. I visited St. Stephen’s as a kid with close friends and went to Girl Scouts in the old Parish Hall. In 1990 I began attending St. Stephen’s and was confirmed in June, 1991.

I have served as the Vestry recorder, a member of the Vestry and Senior Warden. I am currently a member of the Choir and the flower group for Altar Guild. I have been on Altar Guild for about 20 years.

My hope is that the Vestry will work together to bring energy, excitement and new members to our church. I am certainly willing to do my part if elected.

Clarence Lemons

1.To give support for needed upkeep of parish property and support to church membership

2.Church Life, Community Outreach, Choir member



3.Financial stability, increasing attendance, and membership

Robert Powell

1.To support our minister and his vision for our parish

2.Have served on the Vestry several times and as Senior Warden twice. Have been involved in Global Missions and local missions, such as the Boys & Girls Club



3.Long-term planning and support of the strategy being developed by the Strategic Planning Committee

Clayton Ramsey

1.I think it’s important to be involved in the life of the church in the ways I can, and this is one way. It’s also a vital part of civic engagement.

2.My family and I have attended regularly for about 12 years. Also, I have read during services from time to time.



3.Serving the spiritual, social, and economic needs of community members.

Andrew Swanner

I am ready to answer the call to serve, if chosen by the church membership. My family and I are committed to the success of this church, in which I intend to continue the effective support and oversight of current and previous Vestry classes.

As a member of St. Stephen’s over the past 11 years, I have served as a reader, greeter, member of the strategic committee, and an EYC leader.

I would like to assist the Vestry in an effort to invest our resources and practices to yield an increase in church membership and presence in the community.

November Birthdays

5 Lindsey Swanner

11 Vincent Kopp

12 Noel Moore

12 Joe Tartamella

14 Jerry Broyal

15 Kenny Manning

16 Mark Bostic

17 Leslie Johnson

19 Frip Wester

24 Susan Foster

26 Rives Hicks

28 Jimmy Watkins

29 Sherry Kohn

30 Patti Gregory

November Anniversaries

3 Robert & Lydia Powell

4 David & Frances Mathews

18 Vincent & Katherine Kopp

20 Walter & Chip Hughes

26 Michael & Lauren Currin

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 Medical Leave

The Rector’s medical leave started October 30 and will continue for as long as is necessary after surgery on November 17. The Rev. Lorraine Ljunggren and the Rev. Jim Melnyk (pictured here) will share supply clergy duties during the interval through Christmas and the end of 2022. If you need pastoral care, please contact Jim Branch (see email below) and he will arrange for clergy response.

The Rev. Dr. Vincent Kopp (Rector): on leave

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

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

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

919-693-9740  admin@ststephensoxford.org

Office Hours: M-Th 9AM-4PM

www.ststephensoxford.org