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, September 3rd,

10:00am - Holy Eucharist

Guest Preacher Rev. Dcn. Bertram Nagarajah

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,

There will always be things that catch us by surprise – some good, some not so good. I know three people who’ve experienced significant medical events this week that seemed to come out of the blue. Not good surprises. Nothing that anyone could have foreseen. It’s a reminder of just how vulnerable we all are. 

I ran across a Facebook post this week of 20 positive things to do, or ways to be, that might make life better for you or for someone else. Have a read. Maybe something will resonate. 

1. Compliment three people every day.

2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.

3. Be the first to say, “Hello”.

4. Live beneath your means.

5. Treat everyone like you want to be treated.

6. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen.

7. Forget the Joneses.

8. Never deprive someone of hope. It may be all he has.

9. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.

10. Be tough-minded but tenderhearted.

11. Be kinder than necessary.

12. Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

13. Keep your promises.

14. Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don’t feel like it.

15. Remember that overnight success usually takes about 15 years.

16. Leave everything better than you found it.

17. Remember that winners do what losers don’t want to do.

18. When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone’s day.

19. Don’t rain on other people’s parades.

20. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

I pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of God’slove for you no matter what happens today!

 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.

This meeting is 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. 

***There is no book study on 9/6 or 9/13*** 

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

Picnic

A few suggestions for other baskets:

Pets

Car care

Taco

Italian

Gardening

We can always use another wine basket or maybe a whiskey basket?

Let Janet now if you can think of another theme or if you want to sign up for one of baskets that are suggested.

Don’t forget to ask friends!!

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

• Sunday, August 27th, Morning Prayer, 10:00am (If you are interested in viewing the Holy Eucharist service at St. John’s you can visit their website here.)
• Sunday, September 3rd, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
• Sunday, September 10th, Morning Prayer, 10:00am
• Sunday, September 17th, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am

Poem from the Garden

The trees that were seeds

are logs that will become

benches, places for

kiddos to sit on,

the mulch in the pile

that was trees, were seeds,

is soil for growing 

things to live in, and

the soil that was mulch,

was trees, were seeds,

was empty of planned

plants but is now full,

a rich life underfoot,

a seedbank of wildflowers.

— Jessica Dickinson Goodman 

“Religion is at its best when it makes us ask hard questions of ourselves. It is at its worst when it deludes us into thinking we have all the answers for everybody else.”

                                                                  -Archibald Macleish

Kudos:

-All who come to worship together on Sundays.

-Deacon Bertram Nagarajah for preaching this Sunday.

-Suzanne for playing piano for our worship services.

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