St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL May 1st, 2020
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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 Services: May 3rd, 2020
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The 10:00 service will be via video on our website Sunday morning at 10:00
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Sunday Worship
I hope that you are worshiping at the 10:00 service virtually! Last week I was planning to do Holy Eucharist from my home to yours, but due to technological glitches, I decided last minute to go to the church and thankfully Robin assisted. This Sunday we will do Holy Eucharist from the church as well. Our remote readers will be Dottie, Eric, and Edy. Come join us!
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle, and participate in the liturgy with the bulletin. Consider trying one of the bread recipes sent in a previous email. Then, simply go to our St. Stephen’s website (
www.ssitf.org
) and scroll down to see the video. There will be a link for the bulletin on the website. I will also send a separate email with links to the bulletin and our virtual coffee hour. More people join every Sunday. If you don’t have a camera, consider joining by phone. If you need help with any of that, let Rev. Karen, Jessica, or Maria know.
Special prayer requests to be added to our Sunday worship service can be sent to Rev. Karen or Dcn. Robin.
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A new COVID-19 update from Bishop Lucinda:
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Dear people of the Diocese of El Camino Real,
I write to express to you my amazement at your leadership during COVID-19. As
“Easter People,”
you are walking with faith during uncertain times, seeking new opportunities, and “being church” in your homes and through use of technology. Thank you for sitting in this uncomfortable place and finding Easter joy.
While we are all still on shelter-in-place, there is a palpable push, really a rush, to return to a sense of “normal life.” Really it is a desire to go back to the way things were before March, yet we know that is not going to happen. COVID-19, while a biological virus, has impacted many parts of our lives—economically, socially, spiritually—and going back isn’t an option. Instead, like Jesus’ followers, we face forward to a new way of being, open to possibility and discovery. But the culture around us has a different view; the almost desperate push to physically re-engage, and soon, drives some risky behaviors.
The Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real will remain shelter-in-place, practicing non-risky behaviors and tending to our worship and pastoral care virtually. As your Bishop, I am committed to our well-being and the well-being of those we serve. Heeding the guidance and mandates of our State Government, and our respective County Health Departments, we will not alter our policies until such time as health and science tell us that is safe to do so—and then we will proceed with caution.
I have appointed a Phase III Task Force to evaluate documents and information that will serve to guide us into re-gathering, when the time comes. This document will be available to you in mid-May. Until then, the following will help you to begin to plan ahead:
Phase I: Shelter-in-Place.
This is where we are now:
- Hold only Virtual Worship Services
- Allow for no more than 3 persons to film and produce Virtual Worship services
- Maintain physical distance, at least 6 feet between persons
- Wear masks as guided by the County Health Department
Phase II: Preparation.
Following Diocesan, County Health, and Statewide orders and guidelines, we plan to:
- Clean the entire facility
- Organize a team to clean before and after each worship service
- Coordinate with those who share the plant to follow mandates and guidelines
- Establish guidelines for church staff, rotating presence on-site
- Discuss what-if scenarios, including how to roll-back when needed
Phase III: Gradual Re-entry.
This is the next part of the plan once we have met the requirements of the State and Local officials for religious organizations. For the Diocese of El Camino Real, this will include:
- A completed re-entry plan, with approval from the Bishop
- Gather in groups of 10, 25, 50, 100 in a gradual roll-out, with 14 days of no new cases in-between each incremental step; we will roll out by deanery
- Use only the Daily Office or Liturgy of the Word for in-person worship
- Wear masks (required), maintain physical distancing protocols
- Maintain virtual worship and education for those unable to attend
- Be prepared to roll-back, when cases increase
Phase IV: Being New Church.
In this phase, we would have successfully navigated the requirements of Phase III and show that we can all safely gather and resume activities.
- Establish and maintain safe practices for in-person Eucharist
- Maintain virtual worship opportunities for those unable to attend
- Resume in-person education programs
- Resume weddings, baptisms, funerals
- Resume and increase outreach programs
- Explore new learnings, new opportunities for ministry and mission
We will walk through these phases together, with care for each other and for our communities.
In his
Pastoral Letter to the Episcopal Church
, this is what our Presiding Bishop refers to as “sacrificial love”—putting common good before individual desire. I would add that the word “sacrifice” means a holy offering. Your adherence to these policies and procedures in the months ahead is your holy offering to our diocese, our towns and cities, and all of God’s people.
With a grateful heart for your leadership, sacrificial love, and patience,
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The Right Rev. Lucinda Ashby
Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real
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COVID-19 Fund established
In response to questions of how to give to the diocese following the Virtual Easter Service, a special Easter Offering has been established to support people in our diocese whose livelihoods have been impacted by shelter-at-home requirements. Donations can be made to the “Donate” web page at realepiscopal.org (
click here
). Choose "Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund" when making your online gift.
Or, mail checks to the diocesan offices at the address below. Please state “Bishop’s COVID-19 Fund” in the memo area of checks.
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
PO Box 689
Salinas, CA 93902
Thank you for your support of those in need!
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Mother’s Day is May 10
th
!
Submit your pictures of your mother, someone who is like a mother to you, and/or yourself and those whose mother you are to Jane in the office (
office@ssitf.org
) and we’ll post them next week!
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Thanks to our readers last week!
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Financial realities and how you can help . . .
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Having virtual services means that your generous offerings cannot be put in the offering plates on Sunday. We do have to continue to pay our bills. Please mail your pledge checks or any other donations to the church office, or you can use the ‘Donate’ button on our website and pay with a credit card. Thank you very much!
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Virtual Coffee Hour!
A few more people joined in our virtual coffee hour and it was great to see familiar faces. It would be so nice to see many more of you! There is no limit to the number of people. The link for Coffee Hour will be in a separate mailing with the bulletin! You are welcome to call me (Rev. Karen) before the meeting if you’re having trouble with the link.
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Poem from the Garden
Since the shelter in place began, over a dozen people
from inside the church and outside of it have agreed to help foster plants.
Since they are doing all of us a kindness, I wanted to
introduce them to you all here in this our weekly poem.
Linda M. of Alameda helps run a global mentoring
program for women working in tech, funded by the State
Department. She is caring for corn, beans, squash, native grasses.
Zoe T. works at a nonprofit providing food, shelter,
and support to those most impacted by the COVID-19
outbreak and is caring for corn, beans, squash and sunflowers.
Beverly M is a graphic designer, memoirist and
mother of two teens. Sinéad T is an artist, community
organizer, and web designer. Arike W is a
community organizer, poet and educator.
Katy D is a chaplain at Elmwood Jail, a masters student
at the Graduate Theological Union, and parishioner
at St Andrews. Laura H is a writer, transcriptionist,
and dog sitter who is caring for zucchinis. Nancy H.S.
is a program manager for a tech company,
and Vice Mayor for Sunnyvale. Ashley S is a call-center
worker, and renter, and is caring for corn, beans, and squash.
Jun A is a special education aide, children’s role playing game manager.
Our deployed community garden brings people together
and soon I hope we can all gather within it again.
In the meantime, the garden grows.
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Food for thought:
"We cannot attain the presence of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness."
–Richard Rohr
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Kudos to:
-Jessica and Maria for their tech help
-Janet for doing altar guild tasks to prepare for services
-all who continue to send in your pledges
-the Vestry for their continued support of our community
-The Finance Committee
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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 Biddings book at the back of the sanctuary where you can write in things before the service starts
* there is a prayer chain of committed pray-ers (who maintain confidentiality). Contact Robin, our Deacon, who will initiate that for you
* there is prayer at the altar every Sunday, where we all join you in the privacy of your need with the Priest
* there is a kneeling prayer station at the side of the church with candles, prayer book, all available anytime, not just Sundays
* turn to your neighbors and friends in church to share what's on your heart, ask for support in speaking to God about your needs (and tell them the updates next week!)
* tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.
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Contact information for Rev. Karen:
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Personal phone for emergencies or urgent matters: 408-781-1826
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Contact information for Deacon Robin:
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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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