St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL November 20th, 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 22nd, 2020 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
I have great news!
This Sunday (Nov 22nd) is Christ the King Sunday and we celebrating with our first in-person worship service. It is also our fall In-Gathering. The service will begin at 11:00am.
Remember the days when drive-thru movies were the ‘thing’? Well, we’re reviving that venue for our worship service in order to keep everyone safe, making it possible for more people to attend.
If you are planning to attend, there are important details you need to know BEFORE you arrive so please read this note all the way to the end.
Here’s what you need to know:
-You must register in order to attend. You can register by clicking here. The link will also be on our website tomorrow. This helps us with contact tracing in case someone tests positive for COVID any time after attending the service.
-Masks will be worn at all times.
-When you come into the parking lot, there will be someone to guide you to one of the parking spaces. Spaces will be safely distanced.
-If you bring your own folding chair and would like to sit outside, you must place your chair(s) next to the driver’s side of the car.
-Bulletins will be handed out to each car using non-contact practices.
-There will be communion in one kind. Janet is baking individual bread pieces that will be given safely (non-contact practices) to each car. If you do not wish to receive bread, cross your hands over your chest and Rev. Karen will bless you from afar.
-Should you need to use the bathroom, the protocol for safe practices will be posted on the door. Please read it before going in, and when you leave.
- At the passing of the peace, there must be no physical contact, unless it is someone in your immediate family. This includes elbow-bumps. A simple bow will do. Please stay in or next to your car.
-It will be chilly, so bring a blanket or wear a warm coat!
-When the service is over, please drive home. There must be no congregating in the parking lot.
-If you cannot or don’t feel comfortable attending, the service will be posted on our website. We are hoping to live-stream so that you can participate in real time, but regardless, the service will be posted on our website that day.
- And last but definitely not least, I invite you to thank those who served on the Re-Entry Team at one time or another: Margo Westfall, Jessica Dickinson Goodman, Dot Remson, Rob van der Molen, Andy Lief, and Eric Samson. They have worked hard to make this happen for all of us!
Thank you for reading this to the end. This will not be like any other worship service we’ve had, but every precaution is for your safety and we don’t want anyone to get sick. I hope to see you Sunday!
Blessings and peace,
Karen+
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Here’s you “Faith-Filled Generosity” reflection for this week:
Where all are queens and kings
By J. Davey Gerhard
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The Church designates the final Sunday of the Church year as the Feast of Christ the King, a day in which the united rule of Christ over all of the universe is celebrated. In many communities, it is a high feast, with altar guilds preparing white vestments, flower guilds celebrating God’s glory in elaborate displays, and hymns filled with alleluias. What a way to end the year, to celebrate stewardship, and to prepare for Advent!
But before we get too carried away with the grandeur of it all, today’s Gospel tells a different story about kingship and leadership: It tells of service. Typical of Jesus, he begins with what we expect — in this case power and triumph – and turns it upside down and in doing so, reminds us that it is through our ministry that we increase the role of the Church in our community. True power doesn’t come through force or wealth or conquest, it is derived from generosity, charity, and love.
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We change the hearts and minds of our neighbors by loving them and serving them.
Throughout this stewardship season we have heard about the mission of our own churches. You have learned about the ways that your gifts impact the life of your church and your neighbors. Perhaps this year you met the challenges of a global pandemic by adapting your worship. Maybe you responded to the needs of your community by increasing your outreach or your ministry to serve your neighbors. What is certain is that you had the opportunity to express your love and your hope for the world through your annual gift to your church.
We seek and serve Christ in all people by serving our neighbors. This is the great commandment of Jesus to his followers and it is one of the promises we make at our Baptism. When we are asked by those we meet on the street or those to whom we minister in our communities if we will offer them drink when they thirst, or visit them when they are lonely, or give them food when they hunger, our answer will be yes! Through our generosity and our faith, we are called to that same royal line as Jesus, leaders in our communities. Now that is a feast worth celebrating!
J. Davey Gerhard is the Executive Director of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship, and lives and teaches his faith in San Francisco, California.
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Sunday Worship
In-person and outdoors!
This Sunday, Nov 22nd, 11:00am
This week our worship service will be outdoors, in the parking lot. We realize that not all of you will be attending so the service will be posted on our website later in the day. More on that to come!
You can download the bulletin here. as you prepare to worship.
Join us for Coffee Hour at 2:00 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
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 24th 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 we discussed reparations.
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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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. This week we turn our pledges and bless them at our in-gathering. You might be reminiscing about the feast we share after this Sunday in years past. This year has been different in so many ways and this is just one small one. But even so, we can give thanks for the new ways in which we have been able to worship together and chatted in our coffee hours, sipping coffee!
If you haven’t already, please prayerfully consider pledging for next year. We don’t know what lies ahead, but we have faith in knowing that God is with us and in us, and that we have much to do to be agents of God’s love! Thank you for your faith filled generosity. If you plan to attend the service, you will be able to safely drop your pledge card in a basket and it will be blessed at the altar.
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Poem from the Garden
The last time you could come to church, an almond tree
arced over the beige shipping container. Three-fifths
of its trunks have been dead for at least 20 years;
we know this because wood dries an inch a year,
and the 20 inch stump was dry to the core
when Arike's father cut them down with his
chainsaw back in August. We've been breaking
down the remains of the tree in one of four ways:
for branches >4": a local woodworker is crafting
them into spoons and bowls; 2-4": the mossy, dried
branches become edging for new garden beds;
1-2": crook-legged bean poles; <1": compost.
We now have 2 strong, healthy trunks shading
a fresh-built bench and years of materials for gardening.
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“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
— Henry David Thoreau
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Kudos to:
-The amazing Communications Guild
-The Re-Entry Team making our outdoor worship service possible
-Andoni and all musicians who give of their gifts in our worship services.
-Wanda and Nancy for assisting in the service last Sunday.
-All who have turned in their pledge cards
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Great News about our Community Garden!
We are so grateful to Jessica for writing and submitting a grant application to St. Andrew’ Opportunity Fund! We were blessed to be the recipients of a large sum of money to help build our community garden! Here is the announcement from the Committee:
“At yesterday night's meeting, the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Vestry approved the Opportunity Fund Committee's recommendation to fund St. Stephen's in the Field's grant application for $5,000. We are glad that the money will be useful to purchase 27 trees in five gallon pots for the community garden, as specified in your grant application. . . You should be receiving a check from the Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church office soon.
Thank you for your dedicated service to our community. We welcome your questions.
Best wishes for your health and peace,
Katy Dickinson and Barbara Merrill
Opportunity Fund Committee Co-Chairs
Please join me in giving thanks to Jessica for her dedication to this ministry and for doing the extra work to submit the grant application!!
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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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