April 6, 2022 Full Newsletter

April 6, 2022

Message from Rev. Paula

Beloved Community,

We are just about to enter into Holy Week, the last part of our journey to and through the Cross. And in a way that I haven't felt before (or at least not that I remember), the promise of Easter feels, well, more promising. We are making our way into new ways of the old ways of living our faith, of being Church. This week, Palm Sunday, we bring back the Common Cup. Next week, Easter Sunday, we are bringing back an 8:00am Service (mask optional). At 11:30am, after our 10:00am Festival Eucharist, we are having an Easter Egg Hunt and a fun new activity: decorating the sign for the planned "Good News Garden." (Read Grace's note in the "Children's Chapel section.) Although it won't be the same as it was, it feels like our common life is being resurrected after more than two years of disruption and frustration, loss and grief.

I am excited. And I'm curious about how it will feel. Will it feel as familiar as we think it will? Or will we be surprised? Will we feel comfortable and confident? Or will we move forward a bit tentatively, taking baby steps? Will the return to the formerly familiar ways of doing things fill our hearts with gratitude? Or will we mourn the loss of the now predictable patterns of life in a time of pandemic and flood. My guess is that the answer to all of these questions is "yes." I wouldn't expect anything different after so much has happened and for so long.

I had a rather shocking experience while on retreat with the Bishop and other clergy last week. We had been told that we would be receiving Communion in one kind only. I was surprised at the Eucharist Wednesday morning to be offered the Cup, which I gladly accepted. The shock came when I was back in my seat, head bowed in prayer. I realized I was crying, just about sobbing. Though I know that Communion in one kind is fully efficacious, i.e. a complete Sacrament, somewhere deep inside my heart or my soul, I was overwhelmed with the sharing of the Common Cup. The act felt so humbling, so intimate. It filled a void I didn't know existed, which then filled me to overflowing (pun intended) with gratitude.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Holy Week and Easter

We have many options to observe a holy Lent, including additional worship services here and with our sister parishes in the Evelyn Underhill Region; in-person, Zoomed, and online discussion group Adult Formation; a fun at-home activity for children, youth, and families; and more. A special edition of our newsletter has all of the details. You can read it here.

HOLY WEEK AT ST. STEPHEN'S

All services will be in-person and livestreamed to our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Palm Sunday

10:00am

Monday and Tuesday

7:30pm - Evening Prayer

Wednesday

7:30pm - Tenebrae with

Christ Church Short Hills

Maundy Thursday

7:30pm - Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday

12:00pm - Prayer Service

7:30pm - Liturgy for Good Friday with the Solemn Collects

Holy Saturday

10:00am - Liturgy for Holy Saturday

The Great Vigil of Easter

Saturday, April 16 at 7pm

at Christ Church in Short Hills

Easter Day

Sunday, April 17

Spoken Eucharist

8:00am

Festival Eucharist

10:00am

Easter Egg Hunt

and

Good News Garden sign decorating

11:30am

Covid Protocols for Common Worship

New guidelines have been issued by Bishop Hughes and The Episcopal Diocese of Newark and reviewed by your Vestry. See the updated Journey Forward Guidelines below.

Congregation singing is approved with reasonable precautions.

Beginning Palm Sunday, April 10, 2022, we will bring back the Common Cup. Nobody is obligated to take from the cup. You can receive just the bread, or a blessing.

Beginning on Easter Sunday, we will bring back an 8:00am service. This service will be a masks optional, spoken service. For those familiar with the pre-pandemic 8:00am service, it will look a little different in that we can not gather in the chancel, but will be in the pews. I will be masked during the Eucharistic Prayer and administration of Communion.

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. I will be masked except when preaching. The Vestry will review this decision at its meeting on April 27th.

For small groups, masks will be optional if everyone at the table agrees.

We will no longer take temperatures, but we will continue to ask for contact tracing information.

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.

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 Palm Sunday Service

on Sunday, April 10th at 10:00am.

ALL are welcome!

DAILY DEVOTIONS

with REV. PAULA

Rev. Paula will read from Lent for Everyone: A Daily Devotional by The Rt. Rev. N.T. Wright.

"Popular biblical scholar and author N. T. Wright provides his own Scripture translation, brief reflection, and a prayer for each of the days of the season, helping readers ponder how the text is relevant to their own lives today. By the end of the book readers will have been through the entirety of Luke, along with Psalm readings for each Sunday... Wright's Lenten devotional will help you make Luke's gospel your own, thoughtfully and prayerfully, and your journey through Lent a period of rich discovery and growth."

These readings will be posted to our YouTube channel and Facebook before 6:00am each morning through the First Week of Easter.

WEEKLY WOMEN'S LECTIONARY STUDY

Please join us for a weekly study of a new lectionary available to the Episcopal Church and approved by Bishop Hughes. Our next session is on Tuesday, April 12.

We will meet on 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 via Zoom from 5:00 to 6:00pm to study A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year W by Wilda Gafney.

This thought-provoking lectionary invites and challenges us to explore differently the familiar stories of Scripture and how they shape and inform our faith today, while also expanding our understanding of what it means to be made in the image of God through the use of non-gendered language for God.

Children & Youth Ministry

"After what seems like months of hard work and dedication the time has finally come. I am extremely pleased to say that the Children's Chapel room has been renovated entirely. That being said, there are finishing touches that need to be finished. To capitalize on this momentum there will be some exciting events on Easter Sunday. There will be a traditional egg hunt for individuals of all ages. There will also be sign decorating for the upcoming Good News Garden. Please contact childrenandyouth@ststephensmillburn.org or the office if you plan on coming so we can plan accordingly. If you decide to come the day of, there will be more than enough to go around!" -Grace Savoia-Di Gregorio

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

APRIL

APR 7

10:30am - Lenten Series

APR 10

Palm Sunday

FP Donations Due

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

Apr 11

7:30pm - MA Meeting

7:30pm - Evening Prayer Livestreamed

APR 12

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

7:30pm - Evening Prayer Livestreamed

APR 13

Flower Donation Due

7:30pm - Tenebrae

APR 14

Maundy Thursday

10:30am - Lenten Series

7:30pm - Eucharist with Foot Washing

APR 15

Good Friday

12pm - Noonday Service

7:30pm - Solemn Collects with the Veneration of the Cross

APR 16

Holy Saturday

10am - Liturgy Livestreamed

APR 17

Easter Day

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

APR 18

7:30pm - MA Meeting

APR 19

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

APR 20

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

APR 21

7pm - Preschool Committee Meeting

APR 24

2nd Sunday of Easter

8am - Sunday Worship

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

APR 25

7:30pm - MA Meeting

APR 26

5pm - Women's Lectionary Study

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

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

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 Meeting

Other Happenings...

DONATIONS FOR EASTER FLOWERS

Due: April 13, 2022

Please help make St. Stephen's especially joyous this Easter!

All donations will assist in the purchase of flowers for our Church

and all donors will receive acknowledgement in our Easter bulletin.

Donations can be sent to the Church Office - 119 Main Street,

or made via Tithe.ly. There’s a "Special Gifts: Flowers" option.

CALLING ALL ANIMAL LOVERS

PLANNING COMMITTEE NEEDED FOR OUR

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

& PET FAIR IN OCTOBER

We're exploring the possibility of increasing the fun of the annual pet blessing with a pet-themed fair. Modeled after a hugely successful pet fair at Holy Spirit Verona, we would invite vendors, crafters, and other providers of pet-focused products and services to join us. We'd have animal-themed activities and music for the humans.

If you are interested or think you might be interested in helping to plan and coordinate this fun, community-focused event, please email Maria -church@ststephensmillburn.org.

Have questions?

Please ask Rev. Paula.

AA/MA MEETINGS

Weekly AA meetings:

Sunday at 1:00pm

Contact: Rob H. (516) 860-9062

Wednesday at 8:00pm (TEMP CANCELLED)

Contact: Steve B. (201) 452-8375

Contact: Dave (908) 451-8919

Saturday at 7:30pm (TEMP CANCELLED)

Contact: Steve B. (201) 452-8375

Contact: Dave (908) 451-8919

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

FAMILY PROMISE HOSTING WEEK

APRIL 10 - 17

Calling all cooks!!! As you know, during Holy Week, we have the opportunity to show our hospitality ministry to seven homeless families through Family Promise. On Tuesday April 12th, we will be providing a meal for each family along with some grocery items and and Shop Rite gift cards.

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered. We still need a few cooks to make a meal for four families. If you would like to provide a meal, please sign up on the Google Sheet (link below) or reach out to Linda Soughan at lindasoughan@comcast.net.

All donations should be dropped off at our Church service on Sunday, April 10th. If you are unable to deliver items to Church, please contact Linda Soughan to make other arrangements.

For those volunteering to provide meals, Family Promise has asked that the meals be stored in square plastic containers marked with the Family number (indicated on the sign up sheet).

The link to the Google Sheet is:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16C0bJ0uPes1TTpJmMKitG4wtYRB5yT8oPSnUr1i0Uno/edit?usp=sharing

If you have any questions on sign up sheet, please reach out to Blair Majtyka at blairmajtyka@me.com or Linda Soughan.

Thanks for volunteering!!

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

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 - Week of 3/30/22

What we can focus on this Easter

“As you head towards the end of Lent and into Holy Week and towards Easter,” says Bishop Hughes, “I think it's important for all of us to be preparing to share this thing that we love so much: that we know that God is here for us, that God cares for us, and God is here for every single person.”

The VOICE Online Link - 3/30/22

Upcoming Diocesan Events Link

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Sign up to get e-newsletters and important announcements directly from diocesan headquarters. Find out more and subscribe here.

EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT

2022 Lenten Meditations

This year, the Lenten Meditations will focus on those who were transformed. These Lenten Meditations are now delivered only via email and as a downloadable PDF.

Subscribe to receive your daily email meditations, or download a PDF of all of the 2022 Lenten Meditations here.

HELP FOR UKRAINIAN FAMILIES

Your support will help Episcopal Relief & Development and other Anglican partners provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine.

Your gift will help provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance to families from Ukraine. To help, click here.

TRINITY RETREAT CENTER

Trinity Retreat Center is an Episcopal mission of Trinity Church Wall Street. The Retreat Center offers in-person and online retreats for individuals and groups to pray, reflect, make space for grace and God.

For further information, go to the Trinity Retreat Center's Facebook page or click here.

Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries

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.

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

Felder Dorn

Donna Riggi

The Blanchard Family

The McManus Family

Bernard & Nathan

Lucille B.

Jack Moreno

Mary Jo Zarance

Joseph G.

Jane Rossiter

Ningyu Liu & Family

Mike Losito

Evan D. & Family

Donna Stadler Hostetler

Liliane Khouri

Drew

Shirley

Theresa Scharff

Virginia Whatley

Lance Hochmuth

Nicole Salvetti

Marianne Jacobs & Family

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

April 10, 2022

Palm Sunday

Luke 19:28-40

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16, Gafney Year W

Luke 23:1-49

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.