 |
|
A Message from Rev. Paula+
|
Beloved Community,
I don't know about you, but my prayer life is changed since the onset of the corona virus. In part that's because this virus and the ways it has impacted daily life provide lots and lots and lots of opportunity to pray all the time. In part it's also because the changes in my daily routine have meant changes in the times, ways, and places I pray. Though I'm not a huge creature of habit and can typically go with the flow pretty easily, the reality is that thinking about all of this is encroaching on all areas of my life, including the time I spend just me and God. It can be so hard to still my mind and go to that contemplative, meditative place, that sometimes I want to scream. (Okay, sometimes I do scream, and that's okay because lamentation is a form of prayer.)
Today I was reminded of a fabulous book, Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God and its companion, Praying in Color Kids' Edition. The original was published in 2007 and I remember loving it and then using it in several different ways over the years, by myself and with groups of various ages. I was inspired to give myself a break and get a bit creative in my prayer time this afternoon. I hope you enjoy the picture below. (Thanks to Illustrated Ministry for the free download.) It is what was created when I was praying for you and this faith-filled community. Each and everyone of you is a part.
Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
|
Bishop Hughes' vlog for April 22nd may be found
here.
This week's
The Voice Online may be found
here.
To read Bishop Hughes' Covid-19 guidelines, as well as other news from around the diocese, look
here.
|
|
Connection and Common Worship
|
All of the information you need to remain actively connected to St. Stephen's can be found on the website under the "Living Our Faith in a Time of Pandemic" tab on the top left. In addition, the ways to join in worship and other activities is also available on the Events Calendar on the website, under News & Events. Our worship services will be posted to Facebook every Sunday morning and will be available on our new
YouTube channel.
NEW!!!! Beginning this Sunday, April 29th, our worship service will be broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) at 6:00 am and 1:00 pm. Please be sure to spread the word to your friends and family who do not use the internet.
Audio recordings of the homilies are found
here.
|
|
Family Fun from Cross Roads
|
Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center is offering up some family fun on their Facebook page during this time of social distancing, including virtual campfire nights, crafts and games. It is a great resource for families looking for activities for the kids or the whole family together.
You can find their Facebook page here. Enjoy!
|
|
Resources from the Diocese and Beyond
|
There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time. This is by no means a complete list, though it does cover many areas of need.
The Diocese of Newark has a page dedicated to pastoral messages, informational updates and directives, and resources for use by parishes and people of faith. You'll find it here.
The Episcopal Church, nationally and internationally, has information on its website, including pastoral messages from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry. You'll find it here.
The National Cathedral livestreams worship and hosts podcasts, all of which can be accessed here.
The Church Publishing Group has made available a free downloadable copy of The Book of Common Prayer. This is a wonderful way to encourage both a personal prayer discipline and as a support to online worship in which the liturgy is from the BCP.
Church Publishing has also made available until April 15th a wonderful children's book about Compline, Candle Walk by Karin Holsinger Sherman. If you listened to Rev. Paula's very first Facebook Live event the evening of March 20th, you heard her read this story. You'l find these and other resources on the company's website or here, an Episcopal News Service link.
Now might be the right time to sign up for a daily, weekly, or monthly devotion. A couple of our favorites are:
- The Society of St. John the Evangelist. The brothers offer wisdom in many ways so please do explore their website.
- The Center for Action and Contemplation, home of Richard Rohr. As with SSJE, this is a rich offering of resources so it is best to explore the website.
|
|
St. Stephen's Prayer List
|
Please keep the following
St. Stephen's family members
and friends in your prayers...
|
Jeff Loggins
Jimmy Hasenkamp
Ian Janeczko
The McManus Family
The Blanchard Family
Donna Riggi
Bernard & Nathan
Donna Cuddeback
The Fitzgerald Family
Pedro Sousa
|
Jamie Forgacs
Colette Ehlers
Roy Williams
Jack Moreno
Gail Pavlik
Stephanie Gubin
Sue Macbeth
Francis
|
|
|
A Death in Our Diocesan Family
|
With sadness we share the news of the death of Anthony Denys Harris, 89, father of the Rev. Sheelagh Clarke, on April 10, 2020 after struggling for many years with dementia.
A memorial service will be held when the U.K. emerges from the current lockdown due to the Coronavirus. An address for condolences was not included in the announcement.
To read the Diocesan announcement, please click here.
|
|
Links to the Wider Church
|
 |
|
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Giving with Tithe.ly is easy, with options for one-time or recurring donations. We encourage you to consider it at all times, but especially when you are away for any reason, like all of us now with the restrictions due to coronavirus.
There are two ways to do it: thru
tithe.ly.com
or the
tithe.ly
app on your smart phone. You'll want to search for St. Stephen's Church Millburn. Be sure to have the correct punctuation. You'll know you're there when you see: St. Stephen's Church Millburn and the address. Once you're at the church's page, follow the prompts.
|
|
Office Hours and Contact Information
|
|
Office hours: Until we are through this public health emergency, there are NO office hours. Please call Rev. Paula to arrange for pastoral care or if you have any reason to come to the office. She'll work with you to figure out a safe way to manage this.
Website: ststephensmillburn.org
Main email: church@ststephensmillburn.org
Doreen Schindler, Parish Administrator
can be reached at ext. 32 or
church@ststephensmillburn.org.
The Rev. Paula J. Toland, Rector can be reached at ext. 21 or
rector@ststephensmillburn.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
