July 13, 2022 Full Newsletter

July 13, 2022

Message from Rev. Paula

Beloved Community,

Greetings from Cross Roads, where our theme for the week is Boundless: God Beyond Measure. We started the week talking about how God welcomes everyone. The Scripture reading for that day was John 6:1-14, often known as the "feeding of the 5000" or the "miracle of the loaves and fishes." In Discovery Time, a.k.a. Bible study with a group of intelligent, inquisitive middle school girls, we talked about ways that we can help others feel welcome, which for many of us (as it did for Jesus) includes sharing a meal. Our craft was making welcome placemats and they were all beautiful expressions of the personalities of the group.

I'll admit that I am rather fond of mine. I happened to be handed a piece of paper with the words "live your best life," which is another way of saying "be your best self," something you've probably heard me say a time or two in a sermon. To start the week with that reminder in a place that is dedicated to nurturing, encouraging, and celebrating young people as they grow in faith and more fully into who God created them to be seemed to be a sign -perhaps not as big a sign of God's love as the miracle of feeding thousands with a couple of fish and few loaves of bread - but a sign nonetheless. Being at camp always reminds me of the best we can be as people of faith committed to acknowledging God's love for us and sharing God's love with each other.

This week feels especially special (if that is possible). Some of you may remember Charlotte, who came to church with her mother, Jane, for just a couple of months before we closed the building at the start of the pandemic. Charlotte is at camp this week! It is so good to see one of our young people here. I'm hoping that more families give Cross Roads a try because it really is a place unlike any other. Lots of fun and fresh air, and the opportunity to form lasting friendships, while exploring what it means to be people of faith, with no pressure to define that in a particular way. Check out the camp Facebook page to see what it's like. And if you have any questions (including about help with tuition), text, call, or email me.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Our Good News Garden

Our Good News Garden sign has been hung and our garden beds are looking full and lush this week. Thanks to Ron Toland's nifty watering system, lots of sunshine and God's love, our veggies are coming along quite well.

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

Welcome!

It's wonderful to be with each other in church and celebrate the Holy Eucharist with congregational singing. Masks are optional at our 8:00 service. Masks are required at our 10:00 service. We are committed to this level of caution until the Community Risk Level for Essex County is green/low.

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.

Please join us for our Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Service

on Sunday, July 17th at 8:00am and 10:00am.

ALL are welcome!

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

JULY

JUL 17

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 18

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUL 19

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

JUL 20

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

JUL 21

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

JUL 24

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Drumming Camp Staff Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

JUL 25

7:30pm - MA Meeting

JUL 26

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

JUL 31

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

AUGUST

AUG 1

7pm - Small Group Summit

7:30pm - MA Meeting

AUG 2

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

AUG 7

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

AUG 8

7:30pm - MA Meeting

AUG 9

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

7pm – Worship Committee Meeting

AUG 13

8pm - Jessica Valiente in Concert

AUG 14

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

AUG 15

Drumming Camp

7:30pm - MA Meeting

AUG 16

Drumming Camp

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

AUG 17

Drumming Camp

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

AUG 18

Drumming Camp

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

AUG 19

Drumming Camp

AUG 21

Communion for All

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

AUG 22

7:30pm - MA Meeting

AUG 23

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

AUG 28

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

AUG 29

7:30pm - MA Meeting

AUG 30

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

SEPTEMBER

SEPT 4

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

SEPT 5

Labor Day

7pm - Small Group Summit

7:30pm - MA Meeting

SEPT 6

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

SEPT 10

Christine's Kitchen Hosting

SEPT 11

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

SEPT 12

7:30pm - MA Meeting

SEPT 13

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

SEPT 15

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

SEPT 18

Communion for All

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

SEPT 19

7:30pm - MA Meeting

SEPT 20

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

SEPT 21

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

SEPT 25

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

SEPT 26

7:30pm - MA Meeting

SEPT 27

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

Other Happenings...

DRUMMING CAMP 2022

We are excited to be hosting our

Annual Drumming Camp

on August 15 to 19 this year.

Join us on July 24 at 11:30am

in the Common Room

if you are on staff or would like to volunteer during Drumming Camp.

New York Landmarks Conservancy's 12th Annual Sacred Sites Open House

on July 23rd & 24th

Participating religious institutions throughout New York will open their doors to the public to share their art, architecture, and history via lectures, musical performances, and special guided tours.

Click here for details.

This free in-person lunch & learn event is offered at Bradley, Haeberle & Barth Funeral Home located at 415 Morris Ave in Springfield.

Wednesday, July 27

11:30am - 1:00pm

All guests will enjoy a complimentary lunch, receive free resource materials & giveaway items, and a chance to win a $25 Dunkin Donuts gift card raffle prize.

Seating is limited. RSVP by July 26 by clicking here. For more information, call (973) 635-2428, ext. 140

JESSICA VALIENTE

IN CONCERT

Saturday, August 13

8:00pm at St. Stephen's

With works by Telemann, van Eyck, Valiente, and more.

Complimentary tickets will be available

for St. Stephen's parishioners.

Details coming soon.

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.

Faithful Outreach

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

Finding middle ground - 7/6/22

After multiple shootings over the Fourth of July weekend, including the horrific mass shooting in Highland Park, Bishop Hughes reflects, "We have protested, we have written letters, we've stood firmly, we've prayed. And if there's a thing that I feel that is missing, and it is not ours to do alone, it is when a community comes together and works for the common good."

The VOICE Online Link - 7/6/22

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

Pride. Celebrate. Retreat. Celebrating LGBTQ+ Communities Retreat

September 6 - 8, 2022

This September, Trinity Retreat Center is offering an opportunity for members of the #LGBTQ+ communities to come together for guided prayer, rest, reflection, walks, the sharing of stories, and contemplation.

Learn more here.

Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries

CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center is a welcoming and inclusive community providing life changing and sacred adventures for renewal, growth, and joy.

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

For employment opportunities at Cross Roads, click here.

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 popupym on Instagram and Facebook.

Resources During Covid

NEW: Journey Forward Guidelines

There are many, many resources available to parishes and individuals to help sustain our faith practices during this unprecedented time.

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

Donna Riggi

The Blanchard Family

The McManus Family

Bernard & Nathan

Lucille B.

Jack Moreno

Joseph G.

Jane Rossiter

Ningyu Liu & Family

Mike Losito

Evan D. & Family

Donna Stadler Hostetler

Liliane Khouri

Drew

Shirley

Theresa Scharff

Virginia Whatley

Ed Roman

Emma Simonich

Scott Landers

Inge Bass Mills

Agi Lowe

Jessica Rana

Cathy Zimmerman

Catherine Phan

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

July 17, 2022

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

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.