We the people of Saint Stephen's in-the Field

Seek to know Christ, to share Christ, and to serve Christ,

recognizing his presence in all people, and reaching out in love 

to each other and to the world around us.

From the Rector

Dear Friends,

We had a lovely tea party after the Easter service last Sunday! The weather was perfect, the goodies and tea were delicious, and the tea pots, cups, and saucers were beautiful. It was a first for us and we can all thank Jessica for the idea and making it happen. It was great to once again see folks from both congregations help set-up and clean-up too. That reminded me of the great teamwork at the First Annual Harvest Dinner last fall.

I enjoyed the conversation at the table I was sitting at. At one point we started talking about plants (imagine that!) and I shared the status of my African Violet. It was a gift from my daughter and son-in-law a few years ago. It is a small miracle that I’ve managed to keep it alive and blooming. I had to re-pot it recently. I wasn’t sure it would survive its new home because it seemed so fragile. Lo and behold, it’s thriving! There are even some new buds. I confessed to my table- mates that I’ve been talking to it - something I have never done to a plant before which could be why they all died.  

Seeing new life, after a trying time reminds me of the new life that is always and endlessly offered to us.  Interesting that this is taking place in the season of Easter.  We’ve grown close, my plant and I.  I suppose I should name it at this point-hmmmm.   I think Hope is a fitting name!  Thank you God for Hope and hope-

Blessings,

Karen+

Worship This Sunday:

Sunday, April 16th, 10:00am - Holy Eucharist 

at St. John's

LIVE STREAM WORSHIP SERVICE

BULLETIN

  St. Stephen’s church doors will be open every Sunday for worship. In-person services will continue to alternate with St. John’s but the live-stream from services at St. John’s will be projected at St. Stephen’s. Come to St. Stephen’s every Sunday!

COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEET

Diocesan Newsletter

Read about what’s going on in the diocese!  Click on the link for this week’s newsletter.

https://us3.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=f789930ce7

Contribute to disaster relief efforts for the devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkey-Syria by donating to:

Episcopal Relief and Development at 

https://support.episcopalrelief.org/syria-turkey-earthquake?_gl=1*1ybrxoe*_ga*MTE0NzA0NjQ1OS4xNjYzNzA5NTM4*_ga_5J3W6B8WL4*MTY3NTk3NjYzMi42LjAuMTY3NTk3NjYzMi4wLjAuMA  

Archbishop’s Earthquake Donation Relief Fund at https://afedj.org/give/give-online/

Spring Renewal 2023  

Courage in the Wilderness

April 28-29, Sherwood Hall, Salinas

Spring Renewal, 2023, is the annual gathering for the Diocese of El Camino Real. It is a time of worship, thanksgiving, and celebration. It is a time for shared learning and growth and it is for everyone!  This year we welcome the Rt. Rev. Diana Akiyama, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, as our Keynote Speaker. 

Registration for Spring Renewal is open to all! 

Please click here to sign up!

He is risen! Alleluia!



Holy Week is always special and this year we added another dimension to our worship. We collaborated to provide joint services shared between St. Stephen's, Advent Lutheran, and Morgan Hill United Methodist. It was a blessing to be able to experience worship with folks we don't know well but with whom we share the love of Jesus and neighbor!

There are so many people to thank for their help and participation throughout Holy Week (see Kudos below). Forgive me if I missed some. Our deep gratitude to Ginny for her music leadership, Andoni, Suzanne,Jim, and the handbell ringers, the Altar Guild (Terre, Evelyn, Celia, Jill) and their honorary member, John, Penny for her liturgical leadership, all the lectors in various services, and Jill for her assistance in all the details throughout the week, (like building fires and holding flashlights, and more).  

We also give thanks to Jessica from St. Stephen's for the lovely Tea on the Labyrinth after the Easter Day service and to all the folks from St. John's who contributed food and helped with set up and clean up. We are a blessing to each other which is a joy to see in action! 

Commemorative Wine Glasses! 

This beautiful commemorative glass marks the year St. Stephen’s made Parish Status and you can have one for just $2! There are only 6 dozen left so get them while you can! Your purchase helps St. Stephen’s so buy a few if you can.

Poem from the Garden

A boy named after

a bird came to the

garden Saturday,

German accent subtle

under his sunny

California vowel

shift. He came to take

care of 10 service

hours for high school, had

found us on a list 

and picked us because

we weren’t full up. It’s

a good enough reason

as any to touch the earth. 

Jessica 

Jessica Katherine Creekmore Dickinson Goodman and Matthew Alexander Holmes would like to invite everyone at St. Stephen's in-the-Field and St. John the Divine to their son Alexander Oakes Creekmore Dickinson-Holmes's christening on Pentecost Sunday (May 28th, 2023) with reception to follow. RSVP here. Alexander was born November 17th, 2022 and will be baptized after he gets his COVID-19 vaccine at 6 months old. His godparents will also be attending: Aer van de Water of St. Thomas Sunnyvale, Grace Lane of All Saints' Palo Alto, Laura Holmes of Christ Community Church Milpitas, Sinéad Toolis Byrd of Mountain View and Christopher Holmes of Washington DC. Please plan to wear masks and red!

“New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark.”

• Barbara Brown Taylor, Learning to Walk in the Dark

Kudos to :

-All who participated in the Palm Sunday Passion reading last week: Janet, Trig, Andy, Ruth

-Janet for arranging readers for our Holy Week services

-Ginny, Suzanne, Andoni, Jim, Trig, and Andy for the special music over Holy Week

Contact Information for Rev. Karen.

Please use this new number to contact Rev. Karen for calls or texts:

408-781-1826