January 26, 2022 Full Newsletter

January 26, 2022

Message from Rev. Paula

Beloved Community,

I love what I do. When I think about why, it almost always comes down to "I love God, I love God's people (especially all of you), and I love that we get to live our faith together every.single.day." I love the beauty of it. I love the messiness of it. I love that there often is such beauty and grace in the messiness and the mundane of it. All-in-all, it's a pretty awesome life.

I've been thinking about that the past couple of weeks as I have spent quite a bit of time focused on some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of parish ministry. This is the time of year when we are taking in financial pledges and preparing year-end statements. I'm a bit more involved in that this year than usual because it's also the time when we are moving forward with a major transition that has both out-front and behind-the-scenes impact. A lot of it is pretty technical and won't be obvious to you so I will spare you the boring details. Some of it will be obvious to you and I hope you will find it fun or exciting, even if just a little bit.

We are making the move from one church management software platform to another more up-to-date and user-friendly platform that will mean better integration of the various aspects of our ministry and the freeing up of time and resources here in the office. While you may not notice those changes, we are hoping there are some that you will notice and appreciate, beginning with the year-end giving statements that will go out today.

Even more exciting, we will be updating our website and newsletter format, and we'll be getting our very own St. Stephen's app! These are works in progress and we'll keep you posted as we make our way through the transition process. We'll be asking you to update your member information so that it includes all of the information that is both required (some of which we haven't captured consistently in the past) and that will enable us to free up some time to focus on the more relationship aspects of our ministry rather than the administrative behind-the-scenes stuff. We don't yet have all the details, but we'll keep you posted!

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Important Changes to our Common Worship

Do what is right for you, while remembering that your decisions impact other people, too. Please worship from home if you are unvaccinated/unboosted, at higher risk for any reason, have been exposed to Covid within the past week, have had a positive test without a subsequent negative test, or have any symptoms of illness.
We will forego Communion for the time being, sharing in the Liturgy of the Word.
We will take temperatures and maintain the contact tracing information in the foyer. If you arrive with a temperature and/or have signs of illness, we will lovingly and gently ask you to take care of yourself and others by returning home and joining in the worship on Facebook or YouTube.
Remain fully masked at all times while in the building.
Maintain physical distance of at least three feet by household/pod. We've made that easier by removing the cushions from some of the pews.
Refrain from any up close contact with anyone outside of your household/pod, including hugging, hand shaking, fist or elbow bumps.
Enjoy listening to our wonderfully talented vocalists, while refraining from singing yourself.
Don't hang around inside after the service to catch up with people. Weather permitting, do spend a few minutes chatting outside, preferably while following the masking and physical distancing protocols.

Financial Stewardship Pledge Campaign

As of today, we have received 31 pledges totaling $113,854! Thank you to all who have made this commitment to give in faith. This means we have only $6,146 to meet our 2022 pledge goal, though it would be great if we could meet our 2020 goal of $132,000. This year, in addition to regular pledges, we have about $10,000 in gifts to help offset flood recovery costs. The generosity of this parish is beautiful and faithful and is a major reason we are able to live our faith in the ways that we do.

We cannot be the faithful, vibrant community we are without all of us doing our part, including financially. Pledging so that we have an idea of how to build our budget for next year, is essential. If you have not received this year's pledge campaign letter, please let us know and we'll be sure to get a copy to you. The easiest way if you have a computer and access to the internet is to pledge online here. You can also give online, using Tithe.ly. If you'd rather submit a pledge by mail or in the offering plate, please let us know.

Happening at St. Stephen's This Week...

REMINDERS: Because of the HUGE increase in the rate of infection, we have moved to The Liturgy of the Word with Music for our Sunday services. The music will be offered by a soloist (or in the case of Peter and Kira, a married couple).

We continue to follow safety precautions and lovingly require that you wear a mask over your nose and mouth at all times while in the building and maintain physical distance. Enter at the Narthex door (Christian Education building). Someone will welcome you and take your temperature. An usher will assist you with seating in the church.

Live-streamed to YouTube, Facebook, and via Zoom. Bulletins are available on the St. Stephen's website. All links can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.

Zoom passcode is SSM119.

The Sunday service will also be broadcast on HTTV (Comcast TV 36 and Verizon TV 33) on Tuesday at 6am and 3pm.

WEEKLY WOMEN'S LECTIONARY STUDY

Please join us for a weekly study of a new lectionary available to the Episcopal Church and approved by Bishop Hughes. Our next session is on Tuesday, February 1st. We will meet via Zoom from 5:00 to 6:00 pm to study A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year W by Wilda Gafney.

This thought-provoking lectionary invites and challenges us to explore differently the familiar stories of Scripture and how they shape and inform our faith today,

while also expanding our understanding of what it means to be made in the image of God through the use of non-gendered language for God.

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

JANUARY

JAN 26

8pm - AA Meeting

JAN 29

7:30pm - AA Meeting

JAN 30

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

JAN 31

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEBRUARY

FEB 1

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

FEB 2

8pm - AA Meeting

FEB 4

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

FEB 5

7:30pm - AA Meeting

FEB 6

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 7

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEB 8

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

FEB 9

8pm - AA Meeting

FEB 12

7:30pm - AA Meeting

FEB 13

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 14

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEB 15

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

FEB 16

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

8pm - AA Meeting

FEB 17

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

FEB 19

7:30pm - AA Meeting

FEB 20

Communion for All

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 21

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEB 22

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

FEB 23

8pm - AA Meeting

FEB 26

7:30pm - AA Meeting

FEB 27

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 28

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MARCH

MAR 1

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

MAR 2

Ash Wednesday

8pm - AA Meeting

MAR 4

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

MAR 5

7:30pm - AA Meeting

MAR 6

1st Sun in Lent

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

MAR 7

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MAR 8

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

MAR 12

7:30pm - AA Meeting

MAR 13

2nd Sun in Lent

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

1pm - AA Meeting

MAR 14

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MAR 15

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

MAR 16

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

8pm - AA Meeting

MAR 17

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

MAR 19

7:30pm - AA Meeting

MAR 20

3rd Sun in Lent

Communion for All

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

MAR 21

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MAR 22

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

MAR 23

8pm - AA Meeting

MAR 26

7:30pm - AA Meeting

MAR 27

4th Sun in Lent

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

MAR 28

7:30pm - MA Meeting

MAR 29

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

MAR 30

8pm - AA Meeting

Other Happenings...

INTERFAITH BIBLE HOUR

On Friday, February 4th at 9:00am, we will meet via Zoom with our friends from Christ Church in Short Hills and Temple B'nai Jeshurun to talk about the Book of Genesis.

Join us via Zoom here.

The password is SSM119.

The meeting ID is 865 4375 6895.

Please feel free to join us even if you haven't before.

If you'd like a copy of the text, please call or text Rev. Paula before 8am on Friday.

READING WITH THE RECTOR

Sunday, February 13

11:30am - 1:00pm

This February we will be discussing

Mad in America by Robert Whitaker.

Robert Whitaker, a medical journalist looks are treatments for the severely mentally ill. Based on exhaustive research culled from old patient medical records, historical accounts, numerous interviews, and hundreds of government documents, he raises important questions about our obligations to the "insane" and what we value most about the human mind.

AA/MA MEETINGS

Weekly AA meetings times

Sunday at 1:00pm

Wednesday at 8:00pm

Saturday at 7:30pm

Weekly MA meetings times

Monday at 7:30pm

These are open meetings presented in a rotating format:

Week 1 - Speaker

Week 2 - Literature

Week 3 - Step

Week 4 - Topic Discussion

Week 5 - Literature (if needed)

AA/MA Meeting Contacts:

Max Turpin

212-203-2542

Deana Loria

908-499-8997

For more information on the newly offered MA meetings, click below:

Marijuana Anonymous District 8

Faithful Outreach

FAMILY PROMISE

Low-income families in this country are facing unprecedented social and economic challenges from the pandemic. Job losses, health care expenses, and child-care have all combined to raise the number of evictions. A donation can help Family Promise of Essex County to remain responsive to families’ emerging needs and its impact in our communities.

To read the Family Promise Newsletter, please click here.

APOSTLES' HOUSE

Apostles' House is devoted to providing comprehensive social services to homeless women with children and families at risk of homelessness in Newark and

Essex County.

Apostles' House is in need of canned goods and non-perishable food items.

A collection bin is located outside

the Narthex doors in the parking lot. Donations can be dropped off at any time.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to Apostles' House, please click here.

NORTH PORCH

North Porch provides emergency aid, in the form of baby supplies, to mothers and infants in northern New Jersey, to help them stabilize and improve the quality of their lives.

North Porch URGENTLY needs:

Enfamil Infant Formula 12.5 oz containers (yellow label)
Baby wipes
Diapers size 4, 5, and 6
Jars of baby food – all ages – fruit, veggie and 1st foods

A collection bin is located outside

the Narthex doors in the parking lot. Donations can be dropped off at any time.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to North Porch, please click here.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church

THE BISHOP'S VLOG - Week of 1/19/22

Jesus revealed through us

"An important thing for us to remember in this season of Epiphany," says Bishop Hughes, is "the many ways in which Jesus is revealed, including the ways that Jesus is revealed through us. Everywhere we go, in every interaction that we have with every person that we see, we have an opportunity to present Jesus to the rest of the world."

The VOICE Online Link - 1/19/22

Upcoming Diocesan Events Link

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Sign up to get e-newsletters and important announcements directly from diocesan headquarters. Find out more and subscribe here.

TRINITY RETREAT CENTER

Trinity Retreat Center is an Episcopal mission of Trinity Church Wall Street. The Retreat Center offers in-person and online retreats for individuals and groups to pray, reflect, make space for grace and God.

For further information, go to the Trinity Retreat Center's Facebook page or click here.

Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries

CROSS ROADS

CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

Check out all the fun and interesting year-round programs for children, adults and families.

Click here for more information.

POP UP YOUTH MINISTRY

Pop Up is a welcoming ministry of the Diocese of Newark bringing together youth for fun activities, community, and faith formation. All youth grades 6-12 are encouraged

to join the monthly events.

Follow YM on Instagram and Facebook at @popupym.

Resources During Covid

Journey Forward Guidelines

There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time. See resources here. This is by no means a complete list, though it does cover many areas of need.

In this time of Crisis, there are resources that can help if you or someone you know needs assistance. Please contact NJ Mental Health Cares for free helpline telephone counseling or assistance. Call 866-202-4357.

TTY: 1-877-294-4356.

E-mail: help@njmentalhealthcares.org

Other resources are:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line, 741741

NJ Hope Line (suicide prevention)

855-654-6735

Prayer List

Please keep the following St. Stephen's family

members and friends in your prayers...

Peggy Thompson

Felder Dorn

Donna Riggi

The Blanchard Family

The McManus Family

Bernard & Nathan

Lucille B.

Jack Moreno

Mary Jo Zarance

Joseph G.

Kelly Olson

Linda Moran

Jane Rossiter

Nicole & Emma

Ningyu Liu

Jamie Stack

KT Thalin

Mike Losito

Evan D. & Family

Alexandra Shuss

Donna Stadler Hostetler

Brian Roland

Renee Kleppinger

Therese Card

Colleen Shaughnessy

Liliane Khouri

Bob Martel

If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please email us at church@ststephensmillburn.org, or call (973) 376-0688 Ext. 32.

Anyone for whom we are praying will be on our prayer list for six weeks. If prayers are still needed beyond that time period, please let us know. Thank you.

Sunday Lectionary

January 30, 2022

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Jeremiah 1:4-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30

Psalm 71:1-6

If you'd like to read the full lectionary for the week, you may do so here.

Giving with Tithe.ly

TITHE.LY

Giving with Tithe.ly is easy with options for recurring donations or one-time use for when you are away or not able to be in church (like all of us now due to COVID restrictions).

You can access Tithe.ly via their website or their app on your smart phone. Be sure to search for the correct account - "St. Stephen's Church Millburn." Once you have accessed the account page with our address, you will be instructed to follow the prompts.

Office Notes

Due to COVID restrictions, only teachers and staff are allowed to be in the building during school hours. If you need to visit the parish office/building for any reason, please contact us for an appointment. Thank you.