St. Stephen's in-the-Field Episcopal Church
FRIDAY JOURNAL March 5th, 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 Service: March 7th, 2021 |
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Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10:00am online |
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From the Rector
Dear Friends,
This is a picture of what sits on my kitchen counter to the left of the sink – right where I can see it often:
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To give you an idea of the size, the small ceramic bowl is about 4” in diameter. The trinkets were gifts from special people in my life. Can you see the one with words? “This too shall pass” is a phrase of comfort and hope to me that I sometimes need several times a day, which is why it’s on my kitchen sink! For a long time I thought it was from Scripture, until I found out I was wrong. Some attribute it to King Solomon’s time. Lincoln used in his speeches saying “It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and in all situations. They presented him the words: ”And this, too, shall pass away.”
I find it to be true for me. Maybe you too. Sometimes it’s a mini prayer, especially now. “Yes God, I know, this too shall pass. Help me to trust You. Thanks for reminding me.”
What is your mini prayer these days?
You are all in my prayers!
Lenten blessings,
Karen+
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Sunday Worship
Our service this Sunday is Holy Eucharist, pre-recorded at St. Stephen’s. The service will be posted on our website at 10:00 and can be viewed any time after that.
I encourage you to set aside a special place, light a candle as you prepare to worship.
Click HERE for the bulletin
Please send any special prayer requests and/or anniversaries and birthdays to Rev. Karen. (revkaren@ssitf.org)
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Bishop Lucinda’s visit with
St. Stephen’s is coming up,
March 21st!
She will be preaching for our service and wants to join us for Coffee Hour so please plan to attend using the same link provided below.
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Join us for Coffee Hour at 11:00am on Zoom with this link.
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Centering Prayer Workshop
Week 3
Wednesday, 3/3 at 7pm
Plan to join between 6:50 and 7:00. The session will begin promptly at 7:00 and will end at 7:45.
Please keep your microphone on mute unless you are speaking during conversation time.
Topic: Wednesday Lent Centering Prayer
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 814 5982 0033
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WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
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
(Suspended through Lent due to the Centering Prayer workshop on Wednesday evenings)
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. . .
The Rev. Jani Wild and I are facilitating Pastoral Conversations on Racism intended to help us all 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. Please join us next Thursday at 4:30. Whether it’s the 1st time or the 30th 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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RealEpiscopal, El Camino Real’s newest website, is live and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! After years of refinements to previous designs, the website has been completely remade from scratch, simplifying its structure and making it more accessible to leaders, clergy, and parishioners. Check it out!
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Bishop Lucinda to lead "Tuesdays in Lent" online prayers
Join Bishop Lucinda and the diocesan staff during Lent for a weekly series of brief noonday prayers every Tuesday. Each prayer, which will include a reflection from Bishop Lucinda and/or the diocesan staff, will be streamed live at the diocesan YouTube page at 12 pm noon. Subscribe to our YouTube page to get alerts when the prayers begin.
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Poem from the Garden
After one hundred
and eight days in the
purple zone as a
county, this week we
saw light. I'd canceled
our safe, socially
distanced work parties,
back last December
to protect our whole
community, our
elders and younger
volunteers. And now,
we can restart, masked,
careful, and safe, this
Saturday morning,
from nine to noon a
group of a dozen
volunteers, friends will
gather together
to plant the live oaks,
elderberries and
walnuts last fall's
grant from St Andrew's
will allow us to
grow. Come dig holes
with us, plant, or just
sit in communion
and breathe the fresh air.
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A prayer by Nadia Bolz-Weber-
Dear God,
A year ago I didn’t know what we were all about to lose.
All those Sundays last February that I chose to skip church, I did not know that I would go on for so long without the Eucharist.
I did not know that hug I gave my parents, that meal out with friends, that concert ticket I passed on would be the last one for a year or more.
Forgive me for complaining about my travel schedule in 2019. I was busy taking my entire life for granted.
Lord, why didn’t I appreciate then what I long to have back now?
I like to think that when the things I long for return to me, that I will appreciate them more this time. But you and I both know that’s not likely. So today I am asking you to help me practice. Help me practice appreciation today what I may long to have back once the pandemic ends:
Slowness. So much time for cooking new soup recipes. Morning spent, not on one more United Airlines flight, but with my beloved. The ability to watch 7 seasons of a TV show in one week.
Help me savor now what I will miss when it’s gone. Help me practice being the person today I regret not being in the past.
Amen.
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Kudos to:
-Janet for being camera person on Saturday mornings
-Gardeners
-Altar guild for cleaning up the church, prepping for services, and cleaning up afterwards.
-all who make phones calls to check on others
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New 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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