CALENDAR WITH LINKS
SATURDAY, JULY 2
8:00 AM - Rosary Group
SUNDAY, JULY 3
8:30 AM - Spoken Eucharist (Mask Required) In-person &
9:30 AM - Adult Formation (In-Person & Online) - Zoom Link
2:00 PM - Presence Group meets in-person at Havens Center and via Zoom.
MONDAY, JULY 4
Office will be closed for the 4th of July Holiday.
TUESDAY, JULY 5
6:30 PM- In Person Bible Study in the Gathering Area.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6
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Astros vs. Seattle Mariners
July 28, 2022, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Enjoy a free pre-game cookout at Christ Church Cathedral. Event begins at 5 p.m., and everyone will head to the ballpark around 6:15 p.m.
Free parking in the Cathedral’s parking garage (511 San Jacinto).
Cost: $11.00
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The Seamless Garment Shows Its Loose Ends
In 1983 Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago, used the biblical image of Jesus’ tunic which was saved by his executioners, a seamless garment, as recorded in John 19:23, to illustrate the moral principle of the sanctity of human life. Bernardin insisted that issues such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, war, social and economic injustice demand a consistent application of moral principles which protect the dignity of every human being.
Last Friday, the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a ruling which had articulated a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion. This decision is a source of rejoicing for many Christians and an occasion for deep lament for many others.
While recognizing that abortion is a tragedy, the Episcopal Church has always supported legal, safe abortion. Further, our church has held that the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be between a pregnant person, their doctor, and when desired, a member of the clergy. To choose is a matter of conscience. In 2018 the General Convention added that our church supports legislation which would ensure health care for all, regardless of ability to pay or gender. We also voted to support research into safe, effective contraceptives and health care matters specific to women.
Laws that restrict the exercise of a woman’s conscience regarding her body violate her dignity as a human being in our church’s theology. Such is the impact of the rescinding of Roe v. Wade.
We as Christians cannot proclaim the sanctity of life when we ignore the humanity of women, LGBTQIA people, and people of color. We cannot proclaim that we are pro-life when we refuse to pay higher taxes to make provision for children who will be born with gross anomalies, as progeny of incest and rape or “merely” in poverty. We cannot turn a blind eye to the privatization of foster care where profit will be made off the backs of black and brown children; just as was done to their fathers in our prisons.
As Christians in Texas, we will have to decide how to hold our state government accountable for the impact of fraying the seamless garment through the passage and implementation of laws that turn us against one another. Whether we are rejoicing or overcome with grief, together we will have to decide how we respond to our neighbors who will now find themselves suffering and alone.
The Reverend Lisa Hunt, Rector
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WHAT'S NEXT FOR OUR NEW DEACONS?
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Last Saturday, Lizzie Robbins and Josh Kulak were ordained to the diaconate. Here is a sneak peek of what's next for them in their ministry:
Starting in September, Lizzie will be serving in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, at Our Little Roses (OLR) Home for girls. There, she will teach a curriculum she has created that combines yoga, prayer, literacy skill-building, scripture, storytelling, and social-emotional development. She has been named a Trinity Leadership Fellow in its inaugural class; she is in the first cohort of this program sponsored by Trinity Wall Street.
Josh is currently completing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Ascension Seton hospital in Austin, TX. After a short holiday in England, he will begin his curacy at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Austin where his ministry will focus on outreach and spirituality.
If you would like to support them, click the link below to donate to their Ordination Purse:
Thank you!
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Foyer Groups are beginning to gather as we deepen relationships and share our lives in meaningful ways over food and drink, and just good company. Each group has established a regular meeting time and place, so if you haven’t heard from your group Captain, make sure to reach out to them.
We’ll also be launching a new group, specifically for folks who are new to the community.
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As we re-engage the practice of gathering in community, we value a culture of radical welcome. We’re rebuilding roles and teams and we need your help to bring that to life – from opening doors with a smile on Sunday morning to brewing coffee, bringing treats, and all the little ways we create a spiritual home.
If you’re looking for a way to support the church and extend what you love about St. Stephens to others (or maybe you really like doing the background things that makes church go), add your name to our list of people who are interested here.
Leaders will be reaching out in coming weeks to connect and equip you.
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In case you missed it, we released the final episode of our first season of Faith from the Margins. Listen to our conversation with James Ozga, were we talked about the role of St. Stephen's during the AIDS/HIV epidemic, his life as a gay man, his faith, and more.
Listen here and suscribe on your favorite podcast platform!
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Sunday, July 3, 2022
8:30 & 10:30 AM -Holy Eucharist
(In-Person & Online)
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Children's Worship
Youth Group
The St. Stephen’s Youth Group will be taking a break for the summer and resume in the fall.
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St. Stephen's offers many learning and spiritual growth opportunities each week.
Rosary Group at 8:00 AM on Saturdays
All are welcome to join us on Zoom every Saturday morning.
Zoom Link or Dial In +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 835 1486 4293
Passcode: 070834
Adult Formation at 9:30 AM on Sundays
We continue our conversation about what does an online community looks like or could look like. Join us in the Havens Center or on Zoom!
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Bible Study at 12:00 PM on Mondays
Join us to study and reflect on Scripture together. No preparation is required.
Race & Land Series at 6:30 PM on Wednesdays
On Wednesdays, we are researching our history with the assistance of archivists, lawyers, planners, other neighborhood leaders who have embarked on this trail before us.
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Please feel free to share with us your prayer requests. To do so you can submit them here.
This week we pray for:
- Nat and Kathy
- Bill C.
- Jeanne C.
- Katy J.
- Skip M.
- Larry Malone
- Elizabeth Ebert James
- Susan Hoak
- Ida Robson
- Randy Goswick
- Terry & Troy
- Carol Szulc
- Penny Barker
- Sylvia & Swain Family
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HOW TO KEEP OUR WORK GOING?
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Please text the word "CURIOUS" + the amount to 73256 (for example, CURIOUS + $500).
Alternatively you can pledge online or mail a check to: Hugo Banda, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1805 W. Alabama, Houston, TX 77098.
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Great efforts are made to ensure our communication is as accurate. Mistakes can happen and we do apologize for when they occur. Spot a correction or an update? Let us know.
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