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 18th

10:00am - Holy Eucharist

BULLETIN

 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,

Last week I sent out “Postcard from God” and if I’d thought about it earlier, I would have strongly suggested that you write a postcard to God. You can do that this week though. Sometimes it helps to get thoughts out of our heads and onto a piece of paper – be it through journaling, or a ‘brain dump” or a letter. There’s a lot going on in the world, our country, our church, and our personal lives. Try writing a quick post card to God – God wants to hear from you, even if you’re angry. I would suggest ending on a positive note though, not for God’s sake, but for yours. Here’s the original to refresh your memory:

Postcard from God

Beloved,

I’m having a great time here. I know how bad it is when you feel I’m far away, especially when times are rough. I see the headlines from where you are: wars, fires, disease, hatred, all that – and sometimes you yourself are in a hard place. But listen. I’m not “away”. I’m there. Are you breathing? Is there light? Is there gravity? That’s me. Is there even a little bit of love? That’s me. I’m with you. I’m there for you. Always. Unseen, but never letting go, right here. Keep faith.

Love,

God

                       -Steve Garnaas-Holmes

                        Unfolding Light

                        www.unfoldinglight.net 

peace,

 Karen+

Sept 1^st –

Joint Service with St. Stephen’s and St. John’s.

With the wise help of our wardens and planners from St. John’s and St. Stephen’s, we’ve all agreed that our last Sunday service on should be together. There will be a special coffee hour after the service because we know how to do fellowship and it’s a perfect time to do so! 

Goodbyes are rarely easy, but they are important. We Episcopalians are good at liturgy and we have a beautiful service for the leave-taking of a priest. Bishop Lucinda will preside this special service. Please mark you calendar!

The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship and

Leave-taking from the Congregations

A joint service for St. John the Divine

and

St. Stephen’s in-the-Field.

September 3^rd, 2024

4:00pm

(at St. Stephen’s)

There will be a casual reception of sandwiches, chips, and drinks following the service.

Sept. 8^th-

^Canon Martha Korienek will preside Holy Eucharist at St. Stephen’s with a Q&A about next steps during coffee hour.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, October 19th:

Harvest Festival at St. Stephens

More information to come...

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.

Help with Wildfires in Northern California

The Park Fire near Chico is threatening many parishioners in our sister diocese of Northern California. It has grown to 393,012 acres and is only 18% contained. It is the fifth-largest wildfire in California history.

Many feel called to help those who are displaced by disaster. The primary need of people who are evacuated is money, allowing them to eat, travel to safety, settle down where it is safe and comfortable, and contact loved ones. Please prayerfully consider donating to the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California Disaster Resilience Fund if you are able. 100% of your donations go to help those in need. Click HERE to donate.

Presiding Bishop Elect prioritizes

Creation Care from the start . . .

The title of the recent Episcopal News Service (ENS) article reads:

"Presiding bishop-elect to forego installation at National Cathedral; scaled-back event to be held at church’s New York headquarters."

Read the full article HERE.

A Prayer in Times of Transition . . .

Assist us, Lord, in living hopefully into the future. In the face of change, help us to set unnecessary fears aside and to recognize our potential for creative response. Help us to develop a reasonable optimism when confronted by “the new” and to guard against our own defensiveness. Be with us as we remember and celebrate former times, and keep us from unreasonable yearning for them, which takes us from the work you have set before us in our time. All this we ask in the name of your Child, our Savior, Jesus Christ.



Amen.

A prayer for peace in the Middle East

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. Amen.

(by The Reverend Said Ailabouni Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL.) 

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

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

All Services begin at 10:00am, unless otherwise noted.

• Sunday, August 25th, Holy Eucharist
• Sunday, September 1st, Morning Prayer
• Sunday, September 8th, Stay tuned...
• Sunday, September 15th, Morning Prayer
• Sunday, September 22nd, Stay tuned...

Kudos:

• Our faithful Vestry
• Maggie Stedman, our new vestry Clerk
• Catherine L. and gardeners for clearing out the sheds

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