St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL February 18th, 2022
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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: February 20th, 2022
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10:00 AM Holy Eucharist
at St. Stephen's
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Dear friends,
Here’s a wonderful prayer by Bryan Doyle, condensed a wee bit:
“Prayer for the Reader Who Photocopies This Prayer and Shares It with Friends and Sisters
Dear Coherence: Thank You for beer and friends and pencils and socks and the Red Cross and cellos and Paul Desmond’s saxophone and Wiffle balls and elm trees and woodpeckers and . . . men who are fishing for bass and perch but also keeping one ear on the baseball game. Thank You for suspenders and Larry Bird. Thank You for . . . window panes and coffeepots. Thank You for Rosemary Clooney’s voice especially in her later years. Thank You for . . .friends and sister and the refrigerators on which we pin up small lovely strange things people we love send us in the mail. Thank You for teeth and earphones. Thank You for sand crabs and seat belts. . . Thank You for the way people defer to each other while boarding the bus. Thank You for all the little things that are not little. Absolutely beautiful work there. If you had a supervisor I would so be writing a letter of commendation for Your personnel file, but. . .And so:amen.” (A Book of Uncommon Prayer)
Little things mean a lot.
Today I give thanks for my laptop and the gazillion things it does for me every day. Don’t forget to give thanks today for the little things you just might take for granted. Maybe God will appreciate it.
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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Sunday, Feb. 20th, 10:00am, indoors at St. Stephen’s
Holy Eucharist,
Confirmation, Reaffirmation
(Coffee Hour following the service)
Bishop Lucinda will be there!
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Since we’re indoors, don’t forget your mask!
(Next week’s service will be at St. John’s)
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February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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Each week one person will be highlighted in our Friday newsletter. Today we remember Absolom Jones (1746-1818),.
February 13 is the feast day of Absolom Jones the first black priest in the Episcopal Church.
Born a slave in Delaware, Jones taught himself to read, purchase the freedom of his wife, Mary, and later purchased his own freedom. He became a lay minister at a Methodist Episcopal Church, where he helped establish the Free African Society to aid in emancipating slaves and caring for those in need. Refusing to worship in a segregated church building, Jones established his own church, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia. At 56, he became the first Black Episcopal priest.*
Collect for the feast day of Absolom Jones:
Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
*Episcopal News service article, 02/22/21
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Bible Study
The Path; A Journey Through the Bible
Our next session will meet
Wednesday, Feb 23rd.
11:00am - in person at St. John’s.
7:00pm - via Zoom using the following link:
We will be discussing Chapter 16. Please join us!
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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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Poem from the Garden
The grandmother oak
is starting to leaf
out this week, a haze
of green and yellow
flowing from the
tips of her branches
down to ball and droop
from the lines of her
long limbs. She's starting
earlier than some
younger trees, drawing
on deep roots, old veins
to hide the newly
nesting birds for Spring.
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Food for thought:
“Having enumerated the mercies of God to our nation, it becomes us to ask, what shall we render unto the Lord for them? Sacrifices and burnt offerings are no longer pleasing to him: the pomp of public worship, and the ceremonies of a festive day, will find no acceptance with him, unless they are accompanied with actions that correspond with them”
-Absolom Jones, A Thanksgiving Sermon, preached January 1, 1808.
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Kudos to:
-Jessica and friends for tidying up the grounds in preparation for Bishop Lucinda’s visit.
-Susan for serving as Bishop’s Chaplain, Wanda for serving as LEM, Andy and Colin Lief for reading the lessons this Sunday,
Nancy for coordinating Coffee Hour and taking pictures, and Rob for helping with set up and anything else that needs doing.
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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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