Children & Youth Ministry |
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Covid Protocols for Common Worship - UPDATED
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CovidActNow, the website we use to determine our Covid practices, has been updated to reflect the current CDC guidelines. As long as Essex County has a low/green level of community risk and children under age five cannot be vaccinated, these guidelines will remain in effect.
- Congregational singing is approved with reasonable precautions.
- We are now sharing the Common Cup. Nobody is obligated to take from the cup. You can receive just the bread, or a blessing.
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The 8:00 service is back! This is a masks optional, spoken service. Rev. Paula will be masked during the Eucharistic Prayer and distribution of Communion.
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The 10:00am service, which is our principal service will remain masks required for the time being. We will sing, which continues to be a high-risk activity indoors and unmasked. Rev. Paula will be masked except when preaching. The Vestry will review this decision periodically.
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For small groups, masks will be optional if everyone at the table agrees.
- We no longer take temperatures, but we continue to ask for contact tracing information.
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Happening at St. Stephen's This Week... |
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Welcome!
It's wonderful to be with each other in church and celebrate the Holy Eucharist with congregational singing.
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.
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OFFICE NOTES
Maria will not be in the office this week. She will be back in the office on Wednesday, May 4th.
Did you know May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?
Did you know your Parish Admin is Asian Pacific (European) American?
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Please join us for our
Third Sunday of Easter services on Sunday, May 1st
at 8:00am and 10:00am.
ALL are welcome!
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On Friday, May 6th at 9:00am, we will meet with our friends from Christ Church in Short Hills and Temple B'nai Jeshurun to talk about the first two chapters of Jonah.
This will be a hybrid meeting: Zoom and in-person options. Information about both will be sent in next week's newsletter.
Please feel free to join us even if you haven't before.
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Family Promise of Essex County (FPE) is seeking volunteers for a new stabilization initiative – Circles Essex. FPE has partnered with Circles USA to launch Circles Essex, the first chapter of the organization in New Jersey. Circles USA offers a unique relationship-focused strategy based on over twenty years of research that engages the entire community to move from a focus on the management of poverty to a collaborative ownership of the solution. Circles Essex’s mission is to reduce poverty throughout Essex County and to remove barriers that keep people in poverty. We will do this by building bridges of friendship across income lines and community that support individuals and families on their journey out of poverty; from surviving to thriving. Many who are experiencing poverty are hardworking and motivated so when a circle of support forms around them, advice is offered, contacts are shared, and the fears that keep people in poverty begin to disappear.
There are various volunteer opportunities available to support Circles participants (short term/long term). Visit https://www.fpessexnj.org/circles-essex/ to learn more about the Circles Essex program and the various ways you can be a part of building community to end poverty in Essex County or contact Melissa Perales, Circles Coordinator, at melissa@fpessexnj.org.
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PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED. |
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MAY
MAY 1
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 2
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 3
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
MAY 4
8pm - AA Meeting
MAY 6
9am - Interfaith Bible Hour
MAY 7
Christine's Kitchen Lunch Bags due
7:30pm - AA Meeting
MAY 8
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
11:30am - Reading with the Rector
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 9
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 10
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
7pm - Worship Committee Mtg
MAY 11
8pm - AA Meeting
MAY 14
7:30pm - AA Meeting
MAY 15
Communion for All
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
11:30am - Vestry Meeting
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 16
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 17
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
MAY 18
7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting
8pm - AA Meeting
MAY 19
7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting
MAY 21
7:30pm - AA Meeting
MAY 22
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 23
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 24
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
MAY 25
8pm - AA Meeting
MAY 28
7:30pm - AA Meeting
MAY 29
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 30
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 31
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
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JUNE
JUN 1
8pm - AA Meeting
JUN 3
9am - Interfaith Bible Hour
JUN 4
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUN 5
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
JUN 6
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUN 7
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUN 8
8pm - AA Meeting
JUN 11
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUN 12
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
11pm - North Jersey PRIDE Festival
1pm - AA Meeting
JUN 13
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUN 14
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUN 15
7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting
8pm - AA Meeting
JUN 16
7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting
JUN 18
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUN 19
Communion for All
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
11:30am - Vestry Meeting
1pm - AA Meeting
JUN 20
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUN 21
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUN 22
8pm - AA Meeting
JUN 25
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUN 26
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
JUN 27
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUN 28
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUN 29
8pm - AA Meeting8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
11:30am - Vestry Meeting
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 16
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 17
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
MAY 18
7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting
8pm - AA Meeting
MAY 19
7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting
MAY 21
7:30pm - AA Meeting
MAY 22
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 23
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 24
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
MAY 25
8pm - AA Meeting
MAY 28
7:30pm - AA Meeting
MAY 29
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
MAY 30
7:30pm - MA Meeting
MAY 31
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
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JULY
JUL 1
9am - Interfaith Bible Hour
JUL 2
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUL 3
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
JUL 4
Independence Day
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUL 5
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUL 6
8pm - AA Meeting
JUL 9
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUL 10
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
JUL 11
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUL 12
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUL 13
8pm - AA Meeting
JUN 16
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUL 17
Communion for All
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
8pm - AA Meeting
JUL 21
7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting
JUL 23
8pm - AA Meeting
JUL 24
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
JUL 25
7:30pm - MA Meeting
JUL 26
5pm - Women's Lectionary Study
JUL 27
8pm - AA Meeting
JUL 30
7:30pm - AA Meeting
JUL 31
8am - Sunday Worship
10am - Sunday Worship
1pm - AA Meeting
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CHRISTINE'S KITCHEN HOSTING
Saturday, May 7th
It is time again to prepare for our semi-annual Christine's Kitchen hosting! Full service at the kitchen is still on hold, so it remains "lunch to go". Perhaps in the fall if covid cases continue to decline, full service may return.
Our target is 150 bagged lunches and as of today, we have 105. If we can each give 10 to 15 lunches each (see guidelines below), we can make the 150 that is the current ask from the soup kitchen director. The reason for the increased amount is now they have expanded the program to a home delivery program for the folks who are shut in or those with underlying health issues who don’t want to risk exposure to covid by standing in line.
Flexibility: No need to commit to all items below if for instance you can only do drinks and not sandwiches, we can fill in the gaps and take care of the bagging too if needed.
Please reach out to Deryck Rugbeer at 201-452-9068, or turkeyen@gmail.com if you would like to provide lunches.
If you are unable to contribute to this spring event, our next hosting is in the fall - September 10.
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SOUP KITCHEN GUIDELINES FOR LUNCHES TO GO
Sandwich lunches to go
- In each lunch, there should be at least a sandwich, a fruit, a snack, a dessert, and a drink.
- There should be at least three types of sandwiches (e.g. roast beef, turkey, ham, Italian, corned beef, tuna, chicken salad, salami – you decide).
- Label each bag with the type of sandwich. Group the sandwiches by type.
- Include plasticware (fork, spoon, napkin) in each lunch, even if your menu doesn’t require utensils.
- Lunches can be dropped off at Deryck's home before 10:30am on May 7th, or the night before.
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations are gratefully accepted. Make checks out to Holy Trinity Church or donate online on our website: http://www.holytrinitywo.org/. General Fund (unrestricted) gifts are the most powerful, since they can be used where the need is greatest.
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READING WITH THE RECTOR
Sunday, May 8
11:30am - 1:00pm
This month we are discussing:
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
In the Bible, Dinah's life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that tell of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons.
The Red Tent begins with the story of the mothers—Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah—the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past.
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FREE MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR
Sunday, May 1
4:00pm - 5:00pm
St. Paul's, Morris Plains
Feeling stressed, overwhelmed and isolated? ALL are welcome to this free seminar on surviving and thriving in a tumultuous world.
Dr. Carol McCrea, Lic. Psychologist
Calming Ourselves in Troubled Times
The Benefits of Meditation
Attend in person, or register for the virtual webinar at:
Registration Deadline:
Friday, April 29 at 4:00pm
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Wilda Gafney is coming to the diocese!
Thursday, May 19
7:00pm - 9:00pm
The Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, author of A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, will join us in person for a series of talks on her work developing this lectionary.
You can attend the entire 3-day series, or a single day. The cost for the entire series is $50.
Thursday, May 19, 7-9 PM
Introduction of the Women’s Lectionary and Overview
(cost: $10)
Friday, May 20, 9 AM-4 PM
Translating the Texts: Theory and Practice; Gendered Language
(cost: $20; includes box lunch)
Saturday, May 21, 9 AM-4 PM
Building a Lectionary: Text Selection and Reading; The Women’s Lectionary for Preaching and Devotion
(cost: $20; includes box lunch)
For full details about this event, click here.
The deadline to register is Wednesday, May 11 at 5:00pm
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AA/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.
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From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church |
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A Message from Bishop Hughes for Easter 2022
Dear Companions on the Journey,
Suddenly it is Holy Week! What a gift and blessing to observe Holy Week services in person this year. As importantly, we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a changed people. God has been generous, and we are grateful. Read more here.
DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS
Sign up to get e-newsletters and important announcements directly from diocesan headquarters. Find out more and subscribe here.
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Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries |
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OPENING DAY AT CROSS ROADS
Saturday, May 21
9:00am - 3:00pm
This fun work-day event is open to youth, families, and congregations. Come and volunteer for the day to help get camp ready for the summer season! The day will include begin at 9 am with a light breakfast followed by projects for all skill levels, a lunch, and a closing outdoor worship. It is a great opportunity for high-school students looking for volunteer hours, families looking to give back while spending quality time together, or congregations to help support Cross Roads.
Rev. Paula and Ron Toland will be there.
Pease come out to support of Cross Roads and represent St. Stephen's!
More information can be found here.
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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
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Please keep the following St. Stephen's family
members and friends in your prayers...
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Peggy Thompson
Felder Dorn
Donna Riggi
The Blanchard Family
The McManus Family
Bernard & Nathan
Lucille B.
Jack Moreno
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Mary Jo Zarance
Joseph G.
Jane Rossiter
Ningyu Liu & Family
Mike Losito
Evan D. & Family
Donna Stadler Hostetler
Liliane Khouri
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Drew
Shirley
Theresa Scharff
Virginia Whatley
Lance Hochmuth
Nicole Salvetti
Marianne Jacobs & Family
Ed Roman
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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.
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May 1, 2022
Third Sunday of Easter
If you'd like to read the full lectionary for the week, you may do so here.
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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.
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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. |
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Zoom passcode: SSM119
To call in, dial by your location:
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 864 1664 1640
Passcode: SSM119
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Links for Sunday Worship Live-Stream & Social Media |
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St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
119 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041
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Church
Parish Administrator, Maria T. Card
973.376.0688, Ext. 32
church@ststephensmillburn.org
Rector, The Rev. Paula J. Toland
973.376.0688, Ext. 21
rector@ststephensmillburn.org
Fax: 973.376.4002
Website: ststephensmillburn.org
Preschool
Director: Nancy Siracusa
Phone: 973.376.3534, Ext. 20
Email: sspsmillburn@gmail.com
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