St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL October 23rd, 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 Service: October 25th, 2020 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
Here is your Faith-Filled Generosity reflection for this week. Before you read it, ask yourself “How might faith-filled generosity flourish in your life”? Enjoy!
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There’s a saying that the chicken who lays an egg makes a contribution, but the chicken who makes a sandwich offers a sacrifice. One could say that Jesus was alluding to the latter when he responded to the question as to which was the greatest commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of who you are.” He was asking for more than a contribution; he was asking for the sacrifice of our all.
As the Latin root of the word suggests, a sacrifice — a sacrum facere — makes one holy. Giving generously of that of which you are a steward — your heart, soul, mind and all your possessions — is life giving. And it is countercultural. As the bumper sticker declares, “S/He who dies with the most toys wins.” That’s a powerfully seductive statement. Only with God’s help can we avoid being allured into thinking that it is in acquiring possessions that our life gains meaning. May we grow in the wisdom that a rich life results in trusting that it is in God we live and move and have our being.
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This reflection is written while visiting Green Bough House of Prayer in Scott, Georgia. Here the three residents, with the company of 77 associates, have dedicated their lives, their all, to God and have taken on a Rule of Life to embrace silence, prayer, simplicity and living in the present moment, and accept all as coming from God. Do all for God. Offer all to God. This to me is a beautiful example of Faith-Filled Generosity.
Very few members of the Church dedicate themselves to full-time contemplative living, but all of us are invited to learn to live Jesus’ greatest commandment, trusting that in so doing, Faith-Filled Generosity will flourish in our lives. As we move back into our church buildings, remembering only too well the COVID-19-caused absence of normalcy, may we re-enter with a renewed commitment to freely giving our all to God and faithfully loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Rob Townes received his Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and has spent his professional career as a nonprofit and church fundraising consultant.
One more question for you: “What do you love about the St. John’s community and how has St. John’s influence your life?”
Blessings and peace to you,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
***New update - links to the bulletin and coffee hour are below!***
A separate email with links will no longer be sent out Saturday evening.
(The links will be in your Friday journal and on the front page of our website: www.ssitf.org)
This week Rev. Karen will preside the Holy Eucharist at St. John’s and shared with St. Stephen’s. The service will be posted on both our websites (www.ssitf.org and www.stjohndivinemorganhill.org) at 10:00am but is available any time after that.
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle, and download the bulletin here as you prepare to worship.
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen.
Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00am on Zoom with this link.
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Nov1 is All Saints’ Day and this year it falls on a Sunday. On this principal feast day of the church, we commemorate all the saints, known and unknown. Please send the name of family members or someone you are close to who has died. I will write them in the Necrology Book and they will be named at that service.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
Weekly Wednesday prayer group at 11:00am.
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
Begins at 7pm
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 . . .
The Rev. Jani Wild and I are facilitating Pastoral Conversations on Racism and yesterday was our 18th 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, because we’re in the middle of an election cycle, we learned about Gerrymandering and Voter Suppression throughout history.
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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Healing and Wholeness
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 1:00-2:30 p.m. PST. In the midst of pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The service will feature an ecumenical and multifaith array of voices, musical offerings, and prayers, streamed in English and Spanish. Full details and link are here
Sunday, October 25
75th Anniversary of the United Nations
Presiding Bishop Curry invites Episcopalians to join him on Sunday, October 25, in praying the “Prayer for Peace Among the Nations.” honoring the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations on October 24. Read that announcement here.
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Your faithful giving. . .
We rely on you to keep us current in paying our bills. If you haven’t yet, 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. We certainly understand if you are experiencing financial hardship at this time. If you are able, we appreciate any small offering you might consider making. Your financial stewardship is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
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Blankets
Hello my friends,
It's that time of year when we start
thinking about people without a place
to call their own, might need a blanket.
This year we can't meet together so I
will leave some blankets, a guide for
cutting the strips to knot and the St.
Stephen's labels to be sewn on each
blanket.
I'm hoping each family can put together
4 blankets. If not, do what you can.
Email me to let me know you are coming
by to make sure you have some choices on
the blankets you want to put together.
See you soon.
Janet
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Gift Cards
St. Stephen's earned $170 in gift card
orders this month!
The next order will be placed on Nov 10th.
This should include any cards you might need
for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Thanks
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2020 STEWARDSHIP Campaign
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 1Timothy 6:18-19 NRSVA
“Faith Filled Generosity” – that’s our theme for this year’s stewardship. Though we’ve had many setbacks this year, we are very stable financially. Part of that is because your dedicated vestry has been watchful of our resources. The other part is that YOU have been faithful and generous in your giving. Thank you! As we look ahead to a new year, please keep in mind that your gifts are essential to St. Stephen’s. With deep faith, please consider pledging again this year.
This has been a difficult year in many ways and for some of you, the difficulty includes financial hardship. We fully understand that!
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Poem from the Garden
Alexi stands about 3 feet tall
and loves to dig in the garden dirt pile.
He'd brought his bright plastic construction trucks
and toddler-sized shovels when I met him.
His Mom said she was always worried
she was going to get kicked off
of our campus when she brings her kids
there to play. She said it’s Alexi’s top favorite place
in the whole world and her mother takes him
to our garden every day of the week while
she's working. I told her they were welcome anytime.
Alexi wanted to help the garden work party
last Saturday, so he helped Debbie carry
the branches of evening primrose to plant,
and then helped Margo kick the bark flat in
the new "basketball bed," wearing his mask dutifully.
After an hour Alexi and his Mom and his
stroller-riding sib needed to go home. Before
he left, he watched Maria and Paul and I use
our saws to break down the deadwood of the
almond tree -- real construction tools! -- then he
waved goodbye. I hope to see him next time,
though I suspect he’ll be back in the garden before I am.
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What I believe in is love your neighbor as yourself and don’t call him stupid because they don’t agree with you politically.
-Bill Maher
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Kudos to:
-Jessica for creating our pre-recorded service this week.
-All musicians who give of their gifts in our worship services.
-Community Garden helpers
-all who have given generously of their time, talent, and treasure – that’s YOU!
-The Re-Entry Team
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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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