St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL March 12th, 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: March 14th, 2021 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear Friends,
Whether wedding, birthday, death, or graduation, anniversaries mark significant times in our lives and some people are great about remembering them. I have friends that take note of anniversaries that I wouldn’t think of, like the day they met their partner for the first time, the day they became a Christian, the date of their child’s graduation from kindergarten (even though that child is now 32), the first tooth, first kiss, or babies first steps, etc. . . I’m doing well if I remember my children and grandchild’s birthday.
Historic dates like D-Day and the assassination of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy are significant anniversaries for some. March 11th. 2020 has been in the news a lot this week – it is the one-year anniversary of the day COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Some of you will remember that day. I won’t be marking the 11th, but I have marked March 2nd on my calendar as an anniversary that had a big impact on my life. That was the last day I saw my daughter Tessa after the pandemic started. Tessa, who is 28 and has autism, lives in a residential care home nearby. I was used to picking her up every other Sunday. I wondered if she understood what was going on or if she even missed me. It was too hard to read on a Facetime call that only last 4 minutes or so. For me, some days were harder than others.
I understand better those people who have memories of dates that don’t seem that significant to me. Over the course of this past year, do you have any particular anniversaries that come to mind- things that are fresh in your mind now but that you don’t want to forget because they had an impact on your life or are just worth remembering? Go ahead, mark it on your calendar. Someday it might be included in a story that is passed down for generations to come!
God’s peace be with you as you remember what was, and look ahead to what is to come.
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
Our service this Sunday is Holy Eucharist, pre-recorded at St. John’s. The service will be posted on our website 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
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen. (revkaren@ssitf.org)
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Centering Prayer Workshop
Week 4
Wednesday, 3/3 at 7pm
Plan to join between 6:50 and 7:00. The session will begin promptly at 7:00 and will end at 7:45.
Please keep your microphone on mute unless you are speaking during conversation time.
Topic: Wednesday Lent Centering Prayer
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 814 5982 0033
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Bishop Lucinda’s visit with
St. Stephen’s is coming up,
March 21st!
She will be preaching for our service and wants to join us for Coffee Hour so please plan to attend using the same link provided below.
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Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00am on Zoom with this link.
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Vestry Update
The vestry met yesterday via Zoom. A good time time was had by all! Our faithful treasurer, Gregg Hall, reported that our revenues continue to keep pace with expenses. Due to various endowments, grants and one-time donations, the vestry now also has the ability to judiciously allocate funding for a couple of large capital projects. The first concerns the building of a labyrinth near the oak tree. This project has finally picked up enough steam - and money - to look like it will soon come to fruition. Second, we need to undertake a second round of dead pine tree removals. Karen reported the schedule of Holy Week services so stay tuned. Services will include opportunities for live, in-person worship in an outdoor setting!
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Thanks to last week’s liturgy assistants! |
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RealEpiscopal, El Camino Real’s newest website, is live and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! After years of refinements to previous designs, the website has been completely remade from scratch, simplifying its structure and making it more accessible to leaders, clergy, and parishioners. Check it out!
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Bishop Lucinda to lead "Tuesdays in Lent" online prayers
Join Bishop Lucinda and the diocesan staff during Lent for a weekly series of brief noonday prayers every Tuesday. Each prayer, which will include a reflection from Bishop Lucinda and/or the diocesan staff, will be streamed live at the diocesan YouTube page at 12 pm noon. Subscribe to our YouTube page to get alerts when the prayers begin.
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Poem from the Garden
We planted the last
pomegranate tree
this evening, she came
mail-order in a
poster tube and joined
her sisters, fresh with
amber leaves ready
to bloom. We'll prune off
their heavy red fruit,
encourage them to
grow deep sustaining
roots; we'll do that for
the first few years as
caregivers of trees.
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On July 29, 1974, in Philadelphia, 11 women broke rank and were ordained as the first female priests in the Episcopal Church. They became known as the “Philadelphia Eleven.”
The Rev. Merrill Bittner The Rev. Marie Moorefield Fleischer
The Rev. Suzanne Radley Hiatt The Rev. Eleanor Lee McGee-Street
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Kudos to:
-The vestry
-Gardeners
-Susan for purchasing new candles for the altar.
-Maria for paying bills
-Trig for working on the sound system
-Andy for writing the vestry update this week
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New Contact Information for Rev. Karen!
Please use this new number to contact Rev. Karen for calls or texts:
(669)270-7479
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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: (669)270-7479
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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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