St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL June 25th, 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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From the Rector
Dear Friends,
Do you know what a “Pink Pearl” is? Hint: It doesn’t come from oysters or clams.
It’s an eraser – that pink rectangular slanted cut eraser that most of us have used at some point in our lives. I was mesmerized by a video of how those pink erasers are made and wondered if the demand has decreased over the years. Once the student’s best friend, perhaps the eraser has taken a back seat to the delete key.
We learn at a very young age that it’s easy to rub away mistakes. We also learn that erasers don’t work on people or the mistakes they’ve made throughout their lives. We can’t go back in time and erase the things we confess on Sundays – the things we’ve done and left undone. And that might not be a bad thing because we usually, or hopefully anyway, learn from our mistakes.
But have you ever been hard on yourself for making mistakes or being anything less than perfect? Do you love yourself? If it were possible, would you take an eraser and wipe out some of those things you don’t like about yourself or mistakes you’ve made? Do you love yourself exactly as you are?
It occurred to me that God would never have need for an eraser. Psalm 139 tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are [God’s] works;” (v14). We might (do) need improvement and we certainly make mistakes, but when God looks at us, God sees someone beautiful and beloved. No erasers needed!
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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9:30am at St. John’s
Our service this Sunday is at St. John’s and is in person and outdoors. Everyone from either St. Stephen’s and St. John’s – and VISITORS TOO of course - are welcome to attend all services. They will also be live streamed so that if you are not physically at church, you can participate from home with the rest of the congregation gathered at the church.
Click below for links to the service and bulletin.
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COFFEE HOUR
Begins at 11:30am
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We receive you into the household of God. . . . |
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Congratulations on your baptism Kaylyn and Joseph! |
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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
In celebration of the LGBTQ community and Pride Month, we raised the Pride and Transgender flags in the Community Garden. Thanks to Jessica and all the gardeners!
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Cardboard needed!
Please bring in all that cardboard you know you’ve been wanting to get rid of! The landscapers (Jessica & Co.) need it for weed control on the embankment.
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THE LABYRINTH IS COMING!
And the work continues . . .
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Poem from the Garden
We built an arbor
in the garden for
the grapes to climb
and grow on, to drip
down, flushing to a
deep early advent
purple as we cross
from summer into
fall. Our gardeners
named this vine “salve”
since we saved her from
the massive, sprawling,
fence-eating jasmine
vine two winters back.
Back then, her fruits were
tiny, stony, sour,
and tough. But, year by
year, as she’s grown and
healed and we’ve spent hours
untangling her old
branches, cutting back
the deadwood that bore
her down, she’s begun
bearing more, larger,
better grapes, enough
for us all to eat;
freedom has only
made her fruits sweeter.
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Food for thought:
“There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”
― G.K. Chesterton
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Kudos to:
-Maria for helping with video camera and livestream for our service last Sunday.
-Janet for donuts.
-Robin for serving as Deacon last Sunday
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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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