St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL December 3rd, 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: December 5th, 2021
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Dear Friends,
This is my latest knitting project. It’s a shawl that I was going to give to someone as a gift. Notice the past tense in that sentence. I’m going to keep if for myself, I think, because I’ve made numerous mistakes – some small and some rather noticeable. There’s a small one in this picture – can you see it? I do try to go back and fix them, but after trying several times with no luck, I decide to keep going. I’m just a beginner, but I enjoy it and the bottom line is that the shawl will keep me warm with or without the mistakes.
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One of my (many) favorite verses in the Bible is in Psalm 139: . . .’for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God must be an expert knitter because God is God. And yet I am far from perfect. Those are my mistakes I think. But bottom line is, I will keep doing what I do for God, and I’m pretty sure God will use me to do what I was made to do.
What projects are you working on? How are they going? Whatever it is, remember the bottom line.
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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9:30 am indoors at St. John’s
Since we’re indoors, don’t forget your mask. We continue to alternate Sunday services between St. John’s and St. Stephen’s. Future service dates are on our website: www.ssitf.org.
Click below for links to the service and bulletin.
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Lessons and Carols: Sunday, Dec. 19th at St. John’s – 9:30am
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Christmas Eve: Friday, Dec. 24th at St. Stephen’s – 4:30pm
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A Future with Hope – your help is essential! |
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As you know, throughout COVID we’ve been in a kind of exhile, away from our church and friends. Now that we are beginning to re-gather, we can look back and see that God never abandoned us. We figured out how to worship with few resources and faithful helpers. Our vestry continued to meet in order to take care of our church through the storm. The community garden continues to flourish, our labyrinth was finished and the landscaping begun!
Surely God has been faithful - and is not done with us. We have reached 48% of our goal. Our ingathering has been pushed out to Dec 12th. If you haven’t yet sent in your pledge card and would still like to pledge, or if you’d like to change your pledge, it’s never too late. Your giving, no matter the amount, helps us do what God would have us do. Thank you for your generosity!
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Tidings of Comfort and Joy |
This holiday season we are joining with Los Paseos elementary school to help bring some joy to the families and students who need a helping hand. If you feel so moved, please bring canned or dried food items to St. Stephen’s by Sunday the 12th to be blessed before they are distributed to the families. This will help keep full tummies during the school break. Most of the students receive a brunch and lunch while in school which will be absent for 2 weeks while the school is closed.
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We are also collecting unwrapped toys plus the fleece blankets we have made to families who have to choose between providing either shelter or food for their families. The school will distribute the food and toys.
If you need assistance with the shopping, elves are on standby to help.
Order a gift card for Target in whatever amount you want to spend by this Sunday the 5th and let me (Janet) know that it is for toys.
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Share your crèche!
Every nativity scene is different and lovely to uphold. If you have a nativity scene, send in a picture of it to share. Here’s one of mine:
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Bible Study
The Path; A Journey Through the Bible
11:00am - in person at St. John’s.
7:00pm - via Zoom using the following link:
We will be discussing Chapter 7 (12/8) Please join us any time!
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Blanket Blessing
December 12, 2021
Next Sunday (12/12) we will be blessing the blankets that have been lovingly made and are ready to give away. Thank you Janet for coordinating this project!
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Gift Card Orders
we earned $180 in gift card orders
will be Dec 5th.
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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
We're building wheelchair
accessible beds
in the community
garden, to the specs
laid out by two of
our volunteers who
use them. They're 3 feet
high and under 3
feet wide, with 5 feet
between the beds so
they can turn a large
wheelchair. We'll lay the
hardscaping next, large,
flat, and accessible.
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Food for thought:
“Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.”
-Gordon B. Hinckley
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Kudos to:
-Trig for fixing our quirky sound system
-Janet for coordinating our outreach opportunity with Los Poseos elementary school – blanket making and canned food drive.
-Robin for volunteering to assemble the labyrinth benches that arrive this week.
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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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