St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL January 29th, 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 31st, 2021 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
Fill in the blank, if you can:
When it rains, it __________.
It’ raining, it’s pouring. The old man is _________.
The rain in Spain falls mainly in the _________.
“So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the _________. (Hosea 6:3)
Did I stump you on that last one? Even if you don’t know the passage from Hosea, you might have guessed ‘earth’, or something like it.
There are many references to rain in scripture. Rain is symbolic of blessing and there are many reference to ‘dry land’ or dry spots that highlight our need for God’s blessing of rain and life-giving water.
As Californians, we know about those dry spaces because we’ve experience drought. We are thankful that this week we’ve been blessed with rain.
Rainy days like the ones we’ve had this week are perfect for reflecting on the abundant blessings God has showered on us too. In those times, ‘when it rains, it pours’, remember the blessings of love God pours on you!
Here’s a poem by Mary Oliver so appropriate for us today:
“Clouds”
All afternoon, Sir,
your ambassadors have been turning
into lakes and rivers.
At first they were just clouds, like any other.
Then they swelled and swirled; then they hung very still;
then they broke open. This is, I suppose,
just one of the common miracles,
a transformation, a vision,
not an answer, not a proof, but I put it
there, close against my heart, where the need is, and it serves
the purpose. I go on, soaked through, my hair
slicked back;
like corn, or wheat, shining and useful.
Blessings,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
Recorded from St. John’s
Our service this Sunday is Holy Eucharist, 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.
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle as you prepare to worship.
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 - TOMORROW!
Our Annual Meeting will be tomorrow, Jan 31, 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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We need your pictures!
If you have any pictures of church events in 2020, please send some to Rev. Karen (revkaren@ssitf.org) for the Annual Meeting presentation.
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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
The black sage has been propagating itself.
It grew some of its arms under the mulch,
set down roots, questing through the deep bark.
and the thing about plants is
they don't know the difference between
leaves and roots.
if they find themselves in darkness
they grow down, and seek water;
if they find themselves in light,
they grow up and out and sideways
seeking air and light. It's a good reminder
that these things are equally valuable
most plants cannot survive
without some roots;
most plants cannot survive
without some leaves
and some plants need a little bit of tending
in order to survive at all. That is why
the black sage is about half the size it was
when I walked into the garden this morning
you're supposed to cut it back a third
to a half to let it focus on roots
rather than leaves in its first year
and then leave it alone after that
it was a good reminder
that sometimes it is tempting to focus
on our leaves, but our roots
are what we need to sustain us long-term.
Unseen and growing,
wiggly like light worms
covered in dirt
they are where the life comes in.
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“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Kudos to:
-Janet for being our camera person last week.
-Maria for managing the music for our service last week
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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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