March 24, 2021 Newsletter

March 24, 2021

A Message from Rev. Paula

Beloved Community,

Ordinarily, this edition of the newsletter would just be highlights, with no message from me. This is not an ordinary time, however. We are poised on the brink of Holy Week, the week in which we journey with Jesus from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey through his arrest, trial, and execution through the empty tomb into Easter, the realization of the promise of our salvation by grace, by God's perfect love, for all eternity. Not an ordinary time, not at all.

As we approach Holy Week this year, after more than a year of living with Covid-19 and all the ways it has changed our lives, we need this journey perhaps more than any other time in our lives. As we face the troubling reality of not one, but two, mass murders in this country in the past week, we need this journey perhaps more than any other time in our lives. As we reckon with all of the ways - big and small, meaningful and mostly insignificant - that we repeatedly express our brokenness rather than celebrate the promise and reality of grace, we need this journey.

Undertaking this journey with Jesus while prayerfully reflecting upon the ways in which we are both part of the ongoing story of human brokenness and deeply desiring of living our faith in ways that change this story for us and all people is an opportunity. In this other than ordinary time we are reminded yet again of God's extraordinary love for us and for all creation. We are reminded that belovedness is both a state of being and of becoming.

I invite and encourage you to worship with us each day of this Holy Week. The services are listed in the "Highlights for Holy Week" section of this newsletter. Take care of yourself by setting aside this time this week to prepare for Easter, which is more than an annual holiday of remembrance. Take the time to prepare to celebrate the beautifully awesome and completely irrational reality of God's love for you as if for the very first time after what has not been an ordinary year, not an ordinary year at all.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

P.S. The office will be closed next week. Doreen is on vacation and I will be devoting all of my time to prayer and worship, with the exception of Sacred Ground on Tuesday evening and the Intentional Small Group gathering on Wednesday afternoon. If you have a pastoral emergency, call me. Our next newsletter will be the Wednesday of Easter week.

A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Hughes

On Tuesday, March 23rd, Bishop Hughes issued a pastoral letter in response to the recent murders of eight people in Atlanta and ten in Boulder. The link to the letter is here.

Rev. Paula preached about the Atlanta shootings on Sunday. In that sermon she mistakenly said that eight Asian American women were killed, which is not accurate. Six of the eight victims were Asian American women. A non-Asian woman and man were also killed. There is no excuse for inaccuracy during sermons. Rev. Paula apologizes that in the moment she got caught up in the overall message and misspoke. She appreciates the attentiveness with which you listen to her preaching and the trusting relationship that enables the constructive comments that called this error to her attention.

Highlights for Holy Week

3/28 - 10 AM - Palm Sunday Liturgy of the Word with Virtual Procession

3/28 - 12 PM - Coffee Hour

3/29 - 7 PM - Evening Prayer

3/30 - 7 PM - Evening Prayer

3/31 - 7 PM - Tenebrae with Christ Church Short Hills

4/1 - 7 PM - Maundy Thursday Agape Supper via Zoom

4/2 - 12 PM and 7 PM - Good Friday Stations of the Cross

4/3 - 10 AM - Holy Saturday Liturgy of the Word

4/3 - 7 PM - The Great Vigil of Easter with Christ Church Short Hills

4/4 - 10 AM - Easter Sunday, an Easter Celebration in Word and Music

REMINDER: A Special Edition Newsletter was emailed on Sunday, March 7th. Please refer to this newsletter for all of the details regarding Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter services and events. The newsletter can also be found on the St. Stephen's website.

PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION: Don't forget to send us your short 10-15 second video of your neighborhood or favorite place to walk! We will be using them as a virtual procession at the beginning of our Palm Sunday service. Details are in the Special Edition newsletter. Please send your video to Rev. Paula by Thursday, March 25. If you cannot take a video, a still photo will work too.

PLEASE NOTE: The parish office will be closed during Holy Week. There will be no newsletter next week and there will be no Coffee Hour on Easter Sunday.

Connection & Common Worship

WORSHIP, Sundays, 10 AM

Live-streamed to YouTube, Facebook, and via Zoom. Bulletins are available on the St. Stephen's website. All links can be found at the bottom of the newsletter. Zoom passcode is 225839.

To call in, dial by your location:

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 864 1664 1640

Passcode: 225839

The Sunday service will also be broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) on Tuesday at 6 AM and 3 PM.

COFFEE HOUR

Sundays at 12 PM via Zoom

Please note: There will be no Coffee Hour on Easter Sunday, April 4.

Link is at the bottom of this newsletter.

To call in, dial by your location:

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 895 5857 6382

READING WITH THE RECTOR

Sunday, April 11, 1 PM

Our next book selection is Jesus and the Disinherited by African-American minister, theologian, and civil rights leader Howard Thurman. In the book, Thurman interprets the teachings of Jesus through the experience of the oppressed and discusses nonviolent responses to oppression. The book developed out of a series of lectures that Thurman presented at Samuel Huston College in Austin, Texas, during April 1948.

The book is available through Amazon, Target and Cokesbury, as well as other book outlets.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church

Bishop Hughes Vlog Link

Sermon at the Service of Remembrance and Gratitude and

"You Are Good" Video

The VOICE Online Link

Upcoming Diocesan Events Link

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Sign up to get e-newsletters and important announcements directly from diocesan headquarters. Find out more and subscribe here.

REGIONAL MEETING WITH THE BISHOP - Save the Date!

May 13, 6:30-8:30 PM

Bishop Hughes is inviting our congregation to join her on May 13th to reflect on what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us. Please mark your calendar to save this date!

Please note: Spanish language interpretation will be provided in real time for the meetings held on 3/13 and 4/15. It does not matter what region you are in. If you need this service, please let us know so you can register for one of these dates.

Faithful Outreach - Family Promise (IHN)

HOSPITALITY IS WHO WE ARE!

Join us in our 32nd year fulfilling our Easter commitment

by offering hospitality to homeless families.

The pandemic has hit hard Newark-area families already at higher risk of infection, loss of employment and housing.

The Interfaith Hospitality Network, which recently changed its name to Family Promise of Essex County (FPE), continues to provide case management and has pivoted to housing families at extended stay hotels. This year we must open our arms remotely, providing gift cards to families to allow them to feed their families as they know best.

If you’d like to join us, please send your contribution by March 31st:

By check mailed or dropped off at the church, with “gift card” noted in the memo line. (119 Main St, Millburn 07041) or
Electronically through Tithe.ly, here or through our website.
Please note that contributions in increments of $10 and $20 best allow for distribution according to family needs.

Please email Rev. Paula to let her know to look out for your gift.

Thank you, Margo Greenfield

Faithful Outreach

SAVE THE DATES!

CHRISTINE'S KITCHEN

June 19 & August 7

St. Stephen's has confirmed these dates to provide 150 lunches-to-go for Christine's Kitchen. Details and any updates will be forthcoming as we get closer. In the meantime please mark your calendar to save the dates. Thank you!

APOSTLES' HOUSE & NORTH PORCH

Collection bins are located outside the Narthex doors in the parking lot. Donations can be dropped off at any time.

Apostles' House needs: canned goods and non-perishable food items.

North Porch is in URGENT need of Enfamil Infant Formula 12.5 oz containers (yellow label), baby wipes, and diapers size 4, 5, and 6.

Online Donations - If you are unable to drop off items at the church, and would like to contribute, you can make purchases and/or donations directly to these organizations at the following links:

North Porch Donation Link

The Apostles' House Donation Link

Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center

WEDNESDAYS AWAY

A time of spiritual renewal one Wednesday a month from 10 AM - 12 PM. Upcoming dates: April 7, May 5 and June 2.

For details and to register, visit the Cross Roads link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Teen and Youth Ministries

POP UP YOUTH MINISTRY

Pop Up is a welcoming ministry of the Diocese of Newark bringing together youth for fun activities, community, and faith formation.

All youth grades 6-12 are encouraged to join the monthly events. Follow the YM on Instagram and FB at @popupym.

Next Event is Sunday, April 11 at 3 PM. Register here.

CROSS ROADS SUMMER CAMP

Registration is now open!

Click here to read the current Cross Roads Summer Camp newsletter.

Resources During Covid

There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time. We have moved the list to our website here. This is by no means a complete list, though it does cover many areas of need.

St. Stephen's Prayer List

Please keep the following St. Stephen's family members and friends in your prayers...

Ian Janeczko, Peggy Thompson, Felder Dorn, Hailey Rose Fout, Donna Riggi, Blanchard Family, McManus Family, Bernard & Nathan, Fitzgerald Family, Lucille B., Jack Moreno, Jim Freeman, Grisette B., The May Family, Sue K., Walter Fields, Alexandra Shuss, Addie Cassar, Mary Jo Zarance

Holy Week Lectionary

PALM SUNDAY - March 28, 2021

Mark 11:1-11

Philippians 2:5-11

Psalm 31:9-16

Mark 15:1-39

EASTER VIGIL - April 3, 2021

Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21

Isaiah 55:1-11

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 114

Mark 16:1-8

EASTER SUNDAY - April 4, 2021

Isaiah 25:6-9

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Acts 10:34-43

John 20:1-18

Giving with Tithe.ly

TITHE.LY

Giving with Tithe.ly is easy with options for recurring donations or one-time use for when you are away or not able to be in church (like all of us now due to COVID restrictions).

You can access Tithe.ly via their website or their app on your smart phone. Be sure to search for the correct account - "St. Stephen's Church Millburn." Once you have accessed the account page with our address, you will be instructed to follow the prompts.

Office Notes

Due to COVID restrictions, only teachers and staff are allowed to be in the building during school hours. If you need to visit the parish office/building for any reason, please contact us for an appointment. Thank you.