The Messenger

A weekly e-newsletter of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

July 7, 2022

In this Issue:

Message from the Rector
Prayer List
Prayer Chain
New AED at St. Stephen's
Weekly Happenings
Monthly Calendar
Worship Volunteer Schedule
Adult Formation Survey
Volunteers Needed
July 9th Thrift Shop Day
Kerr Lake Worship RSVP
July 31st Joint Service with St. Cyprian's
Social Media
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Stay Connected
Rector's Weekly Video
Lectionary Readings
New Parish Emails

Message from the Rector

By The Rev. Dr. Vincent Joseph Kopp

Dear Good People of St. Stephen’s,

Summer draws us to different places—the beach, the mountains, the lake. In them we rest, recuperate, and feel restored. A vacation helps us pause, take stock against a different backdrop, and have a sense of nature, less filtered.

We may need to look past human blemishes to see natural beauties—a sunrise, fog on a stream, light glinting on water—but we benefit nonetheless. That’s because nature—God’s Creation—manifests God’s power and presence in any form or place.

Six days God created, on the seventh God rested, satisfied everything made was good, up to that point. This Sunday, July 10th, we gather at Henderson Point to worship God in our fashion and enjoy God’s creation together, of which we may count ourselves.

Let Us Pray

For Knowledge of God's Creation (BCP, p827)

“Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

In Christ,

Vincent+

Prayer List

† Mary Branch

Cissie Bryan

Kelly Holden

Pam Martin

Dick Taylor

PARISHIONERS:

Rives Hicks

Helen Mitchell

Lucy Landis Moore

Jimmy Winston

NON-PARISHIONERS:

Hodges & Harris Families

Bert Kempt

Janelle Ramsey

Betty Jo White

FOR THE DEPARTED:

The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee

Request a Prayer

Prayer Chain

Do you need prayer but would like to keep it confidential? St. Stephen's has a group of dedicated parishioners who will pray for you or your loved ones in time of need. Contact Pam Muller to be added to the Prayer Chain prayer list or click on "Request a Prayer" above.

St. Stephen's is looking for more participants to join this special ministry. Please reach out to Pam if you are interested in joining.

New AED at St. Stephen's

St. Stephen's has a new HeartSine Samaritan 450P AED, located next to a fire extinguisher near the Parish Hall door closest to the back entrance to the church. Early use of an AED or Automatic External Defibrillator improves out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates.

While easy to use it is intimidating to think about doing so. To learn more, follow this link: HeartSine SAM 450P AED

We thank Joe Sciortino for his hard work and talent in building the white box that houses the new AED.

Weekly Happenings

SUNDAY, JULY 10

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Sanctuary)

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Potluck Lunch afterward (Henderson Point Community Building, at Kerr Lake)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

5:00 p.m. Centering Prayer / Lectio Divina (Parlor)

THURSDAY, JULY 14

8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer Rite I (Sanctuary)

SUNDAY, JULY 17

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Sanctuary)

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Sanctuary)

11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour (Parish Hall)

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Pizza afterward (Pavilion)

Monthly Calendar

Worship Volunteer Schedule

Adult Formation

Parishioners are invited to fill out a quick Survey to submit ideas for adult formation offerings this fall. We will have a three-part series on Estate Planning, Living Wills/DNR Orders, and Funeral Planning in the second half of August; let us know what additional Bible Study and Adult Education you would like to see at St. Stephen's.

Take the Survey

Volunteers

Want to serve at St. Stephen’s in new and creative ways? Going forward we need volunteers to serve in the following ways:

Acolytes
Altar Guild
Bell Ringers
Greeters
Lay Ministers (certification required)
Photographers
Prayer Chain
Readers of Lessons and Prayers of the People
The Bicentennial Planning Committee
The Creation Care Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee

Please give prayerful consideration of where your highest and greatest gifts meet St. Stephen’s greatest needs.

Volunteer

Thrift Shop Day

Saturday, July 9th

9:00AM-12:00PM

This Saturday, July 9th is St. Stephen's Volunteer Day at the Community Church Ministry Thrift Shop. We will have five parishioners helping at the shop that day and all proceeds from sales just this day will go to St. Stephen's. Parishioners are encouraged to stop by to say hello to the volunteers and purchase items between 9:00AM and 12:00PM.

Helpers that day: Susan Foster, Jenny Koinis, Jerry Broyal, Marcia Byrd and Laurel Sciortino

The shop receives a variety of donations, including antiques and collectibles. They have jewelry, children’s items/games, a large book section, and many other items.

CCM Thrift Shop is located at: 108 Critcher Rd., Oxford (off SE Industry Drive)

Directions: From town on Hillsboro St., continue straight onto Williamsboro St (across from Revlon), turn right onto SE Industry Drive, go 250 feet and make a left onto Critcher Road. CCM Thrift Shop is on the right.

Worship & Potluck at Kerr Lake

July 10th at 11AM

Join us this Sunday, July 10th for Worship and a Potluck Lunch gathering at Henderson Point Community Building on Kerr Lake. Worship will commence at 11:00AM with lunch afterward.

Church Life will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks; everyone else is asked to bring a side dish. In order to prepare for lunch without over-purchasing, please let us know if you are coming and the number of people who will be present with you by Thursday, July 7th at 12:00 NOON. Just click on the RSVP button below or call the Parish Office: 919-693-9740

If you are interested in carpooling or following someone, meet in the St. Stephen's parking lot at 10:15AM (and let the Parish Office know by NOON July 7th).

Swimming, fishing (license required), and (we hope) a boat excursion are recreational options. Dress is casual and insect and sun protection is suggested.

Please Note: the 8:00AM Holy Eucharist, Rite I, will be celebrated as usual in the Sanctuary.

RSVP

Joint Service with St. Cyprian's

July 31st at 10:30AM

St. Stephen's welcomes St. Cyprian's for Holy Eucharist, Rite II, on July 31st at 10:30AM. We will have a lunch afterward in the Parish Hall; Church Life will provide the main course and folks are encouraged to bring a side dish.

Social Media

Thank you for being active on St. Stephen's social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube)! We are seeing major improvements in activity levels and it is helping us reach out to and connect with others!