December 7, 2022 Highlights Newsletter

December 7, 2022

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

EPISCOPAL VISITATION

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Please join us on December 11th at 10:00am for our Sixth Sunday of Advent and Episcopal Visitation by Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes,

XI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Newark.

ALL are welcome.

Masks are optional.

Bishop Hughes will be the preacher and presider of the Eucharist and will spend some time with us in Coffee Hour.

At Communion, you may receive the wine by sipping from the cup,

or you may choose Communion in one kind only (the bread).

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.

COOKIE EXTRAVAGANZA

Sunday, December 11

The congregation is invited to bring a plate of cookies for Coffee Hour on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Please set aside/wrap (2) cookies for Bishop Hughes. Cello bags and ties will be available if you would like to wrap them here.

Cookies can be homemade, or store bought. Drop off your cookies in Fellowship Hall

on your way into church.

We’ll have a cookie exchange with the leftovers. Ziploc bags will be provided.

GIFT CARD COLLECTION DRIVE

Due: Sunday, December 11

As part of our Christmas celebration,

we are delighted to be supporting our Drumming Camp children!

We are kindly requesting donations

of VISA or TARGET gift cards

(in denominations of $10, $20 or $25) this year for approximately 10-13 children.

Please forward your gift card donations to the St. Stephen's Church office at 119 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041 by Sunday, December 11th.

Please email Maryalice at maryalice_chech@yahoo.com

if you have questions.

Many thanks!

Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will help bring joy to these children during the Christmas season.

THE NEW LECTIONARY

We will begin using the new lectionary, A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church by renowned Hebrew scholar and womanist theologian, Dr. Wilda Gafney this Sunday.

Building upon the conversations that we started at the beginning of last Advent, we will meet every month, on the second Tuesday from 7:00-8:00pm, to have a Monthly Women's Lectionary Discussion.

We'll be meeting in-person and via Zoom on Tuesday, December 13 at 7pm:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84131953178?pwd=RkNMUWEyaXJQTjFoY0ZRbUxLd0hmUT09

Meeting ID: 841 3195 3178

Passcode: SSM119

Financial Stewardship for 2023

Your invitation to participate in the financial pledge campaign to support the mission and ministries of the parish will be mailed this week. Copies of the letter will be available on greeters' table at the services on Sunday. You may pledge online using the "Give" tab or using the pledge card that will accompany the letter. We are asking each family/household to prayerfully consider their pledge and to let us know what it is by December 15th.

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

DECEMBER

DEC 11

Sixth Sunday of Advent

Bishop Hughes visitation

10am - Second Sunday Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

DEC 12

7:30pm - MA Meeting

DEC 13

7pm - Monthly Women's Lectionary Discussion

DEC 14

7pm - Finance Committee Meeting

DEC 15

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

DEC 18

Seventh Sunday of Advent

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

DEC 19

7:30pm - MA Meeting

DEC 21

Longest Night

6pm - Coalition of Religious Leaders' Interfaith Service

7:30pm - Longest Night Service

DEC 24

Christmas Eve

5pm - Family Service

9pm - Candlelight Service

DEC 25

Christmas Day

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

DEC 26

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JANUARY

JAN 1

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

JAN 2

7pm - Small Group Summit

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JAN 5

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

JAN 8

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Second Sunday Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

JAN 9

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JAN 10

7pm - Monthly Women's Lectionary Discussion

JAN 15

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

JAN 16

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JAN 18

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

JAN 19

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

JAN 22

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

JAN 23

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JAN 29

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

JAN 30

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEBRUARY

FEB 2

9am - Interfaith Bible Hour

FEB 5

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Second Sunday

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 6

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEB 12

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship Intergenerational Worship

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 13

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEB 14

7pm - Monthly Women's Lectionary Discussion

FEB 15

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

FEB 16

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

FEB 19

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 20

7:30pm - MA Meeting

FEB 26

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Youth Group

1pm - AA Meeting

FEB 27

7:30pm - MA Meeting

PASTORAL CARE

Rev. Paula will be attending a diocesan workshop on December 5 - 9. She will not be in the office, but will respond to all calls and messages when able. In the event of Pastoral Emergency during the day, please call the Parish Office at

(973) 376-0688, ext. 32. Maria will be able to reach her.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday through Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED:

December 12 - 16 and 27

Other Happenings...

DONATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

Due: December 20, 2022

Please help make St. Stephen's festive this Christmas!

Your donations will assist in the purchase of flowers for the Church and

all donors will receive acknowledgement in our Christmas bulletin.

Donations can made online, or delivered to the Parish Office at 119 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041 by Tuesday, December 20th.

If you have any questions, please email

church@stsstephensmillburn.org, or call 973-376-0688, Ext.32.

Events in the Evelyn Underhill Region

Advent through Epiphany

As we did last year, we will be joining our siblings in the Evelyn Underhill Region for Advent observations, with weekly videos and an Epiphany party at Calvary, Summit.

Each week, there will be a short video from the clergy in the Evelyn Underhill Regional Ministry Network introducing the themes for the week. Here is the week two video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6-psgechSY

We will also be offering a video Advent calendar from December 1st thru Christmas morning. Several members of the parish will join Rev. Paula in reading from All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss. We will hear the ancient wisdom of Advent through Boss' reflections on how wild animals adapt to darkness and cold. A link to these videos will be sent out separately in December.

Calvary Church, Summit

Tuesdays at 5:00pm

Evening Prayer featuring meditations based on 'A Way to the Manger'

December 11, 5:00pm

Community Christmas Party

Grace Church, Madison

Wednesdays at 10:30am & 7:30pm

Bible Study: The Scriptures of Charles Wesley's Advent Hymns

December 18, 4:00pm

Advent Evensong and Reception

December 21, 7:00pm

Blue Christmas Candlelight Tazie Service

St. George's Church, Maplewood

December 11, 5:00pm

Service of Lessons and Carols

December 21, 7:00pm

Blue Christmas Service

St. Stephen's Church, Millburn

December 1st thru Christmas Day

Video Advent Calendar from 'All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings'

December 21

Longest Night Observances

6:00pm Interfaith Service

7:30pm Traditional Contemplative Service

December 24

Christmas Eve

5:00pm Family Service

9:00pm Candlelight Service

December 25

Christmas Day

10:00am Worship Service

EPIPHANY PARTY

Friday, January 6th

6:30-8:30pm

Calvary Episcopal Church

31 Woodland Avenue

Summit, New Jersey

Everyone is Welcome.

Light Refreshments and Drinks will be provided.

Activities for the Whole Family.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church

THE BISHOP'S VLOG

NEW: Cherishing the gift of relationships - 12/7/22

"Every Sunday when I go to church, one of the first things I say as I open the service is, what a joy it is to be together face to face," says Bishop Hughes, reflecting on the past two-plus years when COVID made gathering difficult or impossible. This Advent is especially joyful because our gatherings are starting be restored.

And so, she urges us to cherish the gift of relationships, and spend some time discerning how to take care of them going forward.

NEW: The Voice Online Link - 12/7/22

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Sign up to receive important news, events and seasonal meditations from the Diocese of Newark. Find out more and subscribe here.

Resources

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

A/MA MEETINGS

Weekly AA meetings:

Sunday at 1:00pm

Contact: Rob H. (516) 860-9062

For more information about Alcohol Anonymous, click here.

Weekly MA meeting:

Monday at 7:30pm

Contact: Max T. (212) 203-2542

Contact: Deana L. (908) 499-8997

MA meetings are presented in a rotating format:

Step - Speaker - Story from Life with Hope - Topic

For more information about Marijuana Anonymous, click here.

Prayer List

Please keep the following St. Stephen's family

members and friends in your prayers...

Peggy Thompson

Donna Riggi

The Blanchard Family

The McManus Family

Bernard & Nathan

Lucille B.

Jack Moreno

Joseph G.

Jane Rossiter

Mike Losito

Evan D. & Family

Donna Stadler Hostetler

Ed Roman

Emma Simonich

Inge Bass Mills

Jessica Rana

Cathy Zimmerman

Juliet Tranberg

Lind Hostetler

Mary Ruth Stone

Nancy Landers

Anne Grenda

Eugene Foley

Evie Larson

Sandra Swan

Cherie Donze

Ron Gadbois

Linda Clark

The Roberson Family

Darla Shaw

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

December 11, 2022

Sixth Sunday of Advent

We are using the new lectionary,

Wilda Gafney's A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A.

Ruth 4:11-17

Psalm 78:1-8

Galatians 4:1-7

Matthew 1:1-16

Our bulletins are available 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.