St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL December 18th, 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: December 20th, 2020 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear friends,
Have you set up your crèche this year (you might know it as a Nativity scene)? What is it made of – plastic, wood, beads, stone?
Do you know who made it – perhaps a family member, or a glass blower, or anonymous hands? Does it reflect a certain culture or ethnicity?
If everyone actually answered these questions in a zoom chat, I’m sure we’d find that there is a variety. If you’ve ever been to or seen an exhibit from around the world, you’d see a huge variety. Some might take your breath away, some might pique your curiosity, and some might not catch your eye at all. Regardless, the diversity shows the universality of Jesus’ birth across the globe! What a wonderful sign of hope in times like these!
If you can, go online and find some videos of Nativity scenes from around the world. Think about the ones you’ve seen yourself, the one you have out in your home, or the ones you’ve seen in other’s homes. Think about the hands that made them, even if in a factory. Be filled with hope as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace!
Advent blessings,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
Recorded from St. Stephen’s
Our service this Sunday is Lessons and Carols! Pre-recorded at St. Stephen’s, come to hear the story through scripture and music. See some familiar and new faces read lessons, and hear beautiful music. The service will be posted on our website (www.ssitf.org) at 10:00 and can be viewed any time after that.
Communion wafers will be distributed via drive-by on Saturday morning from 10:30-11:00. There is no need to get out of your car. Rev. Karen will be masked and hand out prewrapped wafers.
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.
Coming up:
Dec 20th - Lessons and Carols will be a recorded service with lots of music and lessons from both St. John’s and St. Stephen’s.
Dec 24th – Christmas Eve, 3:30pm will be in-person Holy Eucharist with Communion and a children’s pageant! It will be held at St. John’s but Registration is open to both churches and is required in order to attend. We are limited to the number of people who can attend due to COVID restrictions. The registration link will be sent out tomorrow in a separate email.
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Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00 on Zoom with this link.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
There will be no morning prayer on 12/23 or 12/30. We will resume on 1/6.
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
There will be no Compline on 12/23 or 12/30. We will resume on 1/6.
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!
Our conversations are paused for 12/25 and 12/31.
The Rev. Jani Wild and I are facilitating Pastoral Conversations on Racism and yesterday was our 27th 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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*Joseph also assisted with playing music files during the recording. |
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We need your help. . .
Thank you to all who have sent in your pledge cards! We need to create our budget for 2021 and close out our records for 2020. If possible, please send in the remainder of your pledge commitment for this year. Also, if you intend to pledge for 2021, please send in your pledge as soon as possible. Any amount you can offer is helpful. As it stands now, severe cuts will need to be made.
If you intend to pledge but haven’t yet, or if you would like to increase your pledge, please do so as soon as you can. If you don’t have a pledge card, no problem! You are welcome to send a note by mail to the church marked “Pledge” or drop it in the mail slot in the office door. You can also use the ‘Donate’ button on our website being sure to indicate what your donation is for. 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 needed and deeply appreciated.
Thank you very much!
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Blue Christmas services offer hope, healing |
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To see the Washington National Cathedral Blue Christmas, click on the picture above. |
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St. Andrew’s, Saratoga on Sunday, December 20 at 7 pm. (via Zoom --
Meeting ID: 862 6861 8960
Password: 972940
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Poem from the Garden
I was thinking about arching limestone nave
of Winchester Cathedral, the English church
that the National Cathedral is modeled after.
I've visited there three times: once, when I was
13 and loved the garden; once, on my way home
from Sierra Leone; and once, just after Christmas.
I was thinking about aggregate holiness, about
how a thousand years of hymns can seep into rock,
the unheated air seeming to echo without voices.
I was thinking about how new California is,
how new our churches, our gardens, are.
No old stones here; our churches are cored in wood.
But the thing is, all stones are old, most older than the
oldest churches, no matter the build. The rocks we lined
Wanda’s rose-bed with, from Myrta Gilmont, the quartz
and petrified wood, bright aggregate and curved limestone
that she collected with her own two hands for decades
before her passing reminded me — they’re all old stones.
As a gentle reminder, we're not doing any garden work parties
until after the New Year; then we'll resume. The garden is doing well
in our intentional absence.
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"Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races. He was born in Bethlehem, yet He belongs to all countries."
George W. Truett
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Kudos to:
-All musicians, lectors, producers, and actors who are contributing to our worship services this week!
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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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