St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL November 6th, 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: November 8th, 2020 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
This Sunday is the Sunday closest to Veterans Day and we will hear a little bit about two veterans – one from St. Stephen’s and one from St. John’s. They are two very different stories and yet they served our country in meaningful ways.
As we await the results of an important election, as nail biting as it might be, I hope that we can remember that there is much to do in the Kingdom of God, regardless of who wins.
As we say in our baptismal covenant, we will strive for justice and peace. That is our calling as Christians. It is also part of the calling of our veterans who, however they served, have helped to move the world towards peace.
Stories always tell us more than anything a book can teach. They connect us to people in a different way – a good way, built on trust and truth. Come and hear their stories.
In the meantime, enjoy the next message in our series on Faith Filled Generosity!
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November 8, 2020
The gifts of faith
By The Rev. Matthew Woodward
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The parable of the wise and foolish virgins brings back so many rector wedding memories. I have to say, virgins trimming wicks are few and far between in early 21st century Bay Area weddings; you are more likely to find mason jars liberally strewn around the barn venue and handwritten chalkboards offering tri-tip, which you can eat perched on a bale of hay. But the frenetic last-minute energy of things needing to be fixed is just the same today as in scripture.
If you get stuck in the anxiety, keeping company with the wedding planner and their staff, you are going to miss the point of the event.
Weddings confer the blessing of companionship. We can get stuck in the mechanics of delivery and all of the anxiety it generates. Or we can acknowledge that love is a great gift, and we should be grateful for it.
I once oversaw a wedding in which the couple forgot to get a license.
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I took a deep breath, made sure they had a wonderful day, and secretly remarried them a month or two later. Their love for each other was a gift. We found a way to fix the paperwork.
Faith is a gift, Christian community is a gift; worship, children’s choirs and that moment when teenagers suddenly make a profound connection with their faith: These are all gifts. We could get caught up in the anxiety of paying for it all, or we could just say thank you and write the pledge that shows how grateful we are for all we have received.
The Rev. Matthew Woodward is an Englishman on the West Coast of America and the Rector of Transfiguration Episcopal Church in San Mateo California. He is a recent puppy parent, and loves comics. He has also found stewardship ministry to be a real joy, rather than the other thing, in recent years
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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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. . .and going. . .and going!
The Rev. Jani Wild and I are facilitating Pastoral Conversations on Racism and yesterday was our 21st 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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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
As we wait, and breathe,
many of us have
begun to focus
on what we can control.
The ground squirrels are not
on that list. They ate
the morning glories,
the coast buckwheat; they
ate the candy flower,
the elders' beans, and
a substantial swathe of
my own heart's patience.
So, we'll stop planting
those, and plant something new.
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"Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting."
-Joyce Meyer
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Kudos to:
-Jessica for providing the recording for our services this week
-Andoni and all musicians who give of their gifts in our worship services.
-Kent and Katie for assisting in the service this week.
-Hal and Dan for their stories
-The Communications Guild
-all who have given generously of their time, talent, and treasure – that’s YOU!
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Episcopal leaders urge prayer, patience as nation awaits election outcome
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As Americans woke on Nov. 4 with the outcome of the presidential election far from decided, Episcopal leaders called for prayer and patience as the process unfolds over the coming days and weeks.
As election officials work to finish counting the large volume of absentee and mail-in ballots, driven to record levels by the coronavirus pandemic, the remaining uncertainty adds to an already tense political climate. Washington National Cathedral, which on Nov. 1 hosted a pre-election online interfaith service featuring Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, followed up the day after the election with a noon-hour “Service of Healing, Unity and Hope After an Election.”
“The campaigning is done. The votes have been cast. And now we wait for our democratic process to fulfill itself; and during that time, as people of faith, we gather to pray,” the Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, dean of the cathedral, said at the beginning of the service. Hundreds of people watched the livestream on YouTube, and video of the service is available online (click image below). Read the full Episcopal News Service story here.
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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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