St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL January 22nd, 2021
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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.
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Sunday Service: January 24th, 2021 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
The silence was deafening.
The oxymoron is often used to refer to something uncomfortable – like a conversation where someone says something that leaves others speechless. But it’s not limited to the uncomfortable.
My middle daughter is getting married in October in New York city. I was delighted to be able to witness her try on dresses via facetime this week. One friend gave me a thorough view from her phone camera. With the revealing of each dress, there was a moment of silence – just to take in the beauty. After the brief pause, comments rushed in, flooding that brief, silent space.
I was also taken by another experience of temporary silence this week. I live on a busy street with cars, trucks, motorcycles, and cars with mufflers that make me want to cover my ears, but not on
Wednesday morning. The streets were almost completely empty. The silence was deafening, as if something so horrible had happened that the world was put on hold. Though some would deem it horrible, many saw the inauguration as a joyful, hopeful, exciting event – enough to keep people off the roads.
I didn’t notice the silence right away, but when I did, I walked over to the windows and was awed by the empty streets. For me it was a thin space – where in the middle of an historical event I was profoundly aware of God’s presence in that moment.
I don’t think we can go looking for thin spaces. They aren’t geographical, but experiential, and emerge even in our ordinary days.
I hope you find yourself in a thin space this week and know that God is with you
Blessings,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
Recorded from St. Stephen’s
Our service this Sunday is Liturgy of the Word pre re-recorded at St. John’s. The service will be posted on our website (www.ssitf.org) at 10:00 and can be viewed any time after that.
Click HERE for the bulletin
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle as you prepare to worship.
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen. (revkaren@ssitf.org)
*** Due to the increased rate of COVID diagnosis and deaths, all of our services will be pre-recorded until at least March 1st . Please stay safe, staying home when possible, keeping distant when you must go out, and wear mask to protect yourself and the community.
Giving glory to God together is up to us, wherever we are on Sunday! For most, if not all of us, we can do that in our homes – under a roof that keeps us warm. If you need help finding the service on our website, please let Rev. Karen know!
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Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00 on Zoom with this link.
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ANNUAL MEETING – SAVE THE DATE!
Our Annual Meeting will be January 31st at 11am following the 10:00 service. Come in your pajamas if you’d like, but do come. We need the parish to attend and vote.
Hear about what’s been happening at St.Stephen’s in the year of COVID. The proposed budget for 2021 will be presented, new members of the vestry will be named, and you will meet the new Sr. Warden!
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WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
This is an opportunity to offer our prayers of thanksgivings, for healing for ourselves and others, and anything else on our hearts. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can join the Zoom meeting with your phone.
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WEDNESDAY EVENING COMPLINE
Compline, the last Office of the day. End your day with a beautiful and short liturgy. All are welcome and please feel free to share the link with friends!
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Keeping the conversations going. . .and going. . .and going!
Our conversations are paused for 12/25 and 12/31.
The Rev. Jani Wild and I are facilitating Pastoral Conversations on Racism and yesterday was our 28th week of gathering to learn and talk about a broad spectrum of subjects concerning race in our country.
We follow the same format (a brief introduction followed by a short video, discussion, and prayers ) every week with a different focus. Last week we discussed reparations.
Please come join us next Thursday at 4:30. Whether it’s the 1st time or the 18th time you’ve attended, please come to learn, process, and share together in a safe space with a faith community.
Bring a friend or family member – all are welcome – by clicking the Zoom link below.
Meeting ID: 835 7594 8022
Password: 748467
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,83575948022#,,1#,748467# US (San Jose
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Thanks to last week’s liturgy assistants! |
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Poem from the Garden
There's something called the
project manager's
triangle. It says
a project can be
good, or fast, or cheap,
but you only get
two out of the three.
For the garden, I've
chosen good and cheap:
100 seeds cost
$3 plus some time,
dirt, sun, and water;
but 100 plants
cost $1,000.
A man on Craigslist
tried to sell me fence
boards, $2 a board,
when I can get them
free from others if
I wait. Spring is when
folks in Los Gatos
redo their big yards,
posting thousands of
dollars of stones and
fence boards for free for
anyone who will
haul their past designs
away to become
something cheap and good.
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Gift Cards
GIFT CARD ORDERS DUE SOON!
Gift card orders are due to Janet Thorsrud NLT than Jan 22nd. To view the order form with a list of all the cards available for purchase click here
Send your order to Janet in an email. Your purchase will help St. Stephen’s earn money for the church!
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For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it.
If only we're brave enough to be it.
Amanda Gorman, Poet Laureate
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Kudos to:
-the Labyrinth Guild: Robin Poppoff, Janet Thorsrud, Susan Zaballos
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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.
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Contact information for Rev. Karen: |
Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826
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Editor's Note
Please send any announcements or articles you want to have included, to: evan.bryan1@gmail.com, by Thursday, 10am each week.
Evan Bryan
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St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
7269 Santa Teresa Blvd; San Jose, CA 95139
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