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.

Worship This Sunday:

Sunday, September 17th,

10:00am - Holy Eucharist

BULLETIN

LIVE STREAM

 St. Stephen’s has an in-person worship service every Sunday at 10am. We alternate between Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist. We are not live-streaming Morning Prayer services at this time. All Holy Eucharist services are live streamed. Links to the bulletin and Youtube video are provided for all Holy Eucharist services.

From the Rector

Dear Friends,

The new iPhone 15 is coming out very soon. From the little I’ve read, it sounds like the major change is in the charging port. And of course, the camera gets better and better with every new release. I’m not sure I’d notice the difference honestly. 

These days, we easily share pictures from our phones. In a very recent conversation among friends, as we viewed photos of grandchildren, we reminisced about old cameras, old photos, developing film – yes film – at the drug store, and even images you need a slide projector in order to view. Chances are, you have more pictures than are what’s stored in your phone or in the ‘cloud’.

Taking out old photos can be fun – a ‘blast from the past’ or can sometimes be painful – missing someone, a bad memory.

Good and not so good, they tell your story – full of people, places, and feelings that have had a part in forming who you are today.

Our gospel this Sunday talks about forgiveness. If you have time to look at some old photos, you might come across some that remind you of forgiving – someone you want to forgive you, someone you have not yet been able to forgive, someone whose forgiveness you can’t accept.  

Come to church on Sunday and let’s talk about it. 

 Blessings,

Karen+

COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEET

Diocesan Newsletter



Read about what’s going on in the diocese! Click below to subscribe to the diocesan newsletter that is emailed every two weeks.



Pray for the people of Maui and the destruction and loss caused by the fires.

Donations for relief efforts in Maui and the Diocese of Hawaii can be made to:

https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-you-can-do/give/donate-now/individual-donation/

https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/

https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/a-cup-of-cold-water.html

Join our diocesan Social Justice Committee and our special guest leader the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton as we follow God’s call to “awaken to our roots.” 

Rev. Rachel is an excellent, authoritative speaker. She is of mixed heritage (Shackan, First Nations BC, Pennsylvania Dutch and Scots-Irish), Vice President of the House of Deputies, and Rector of Trinity Church, Seattle.

This meeting is at St. Paul’s/San Pablo Episcopal Church (1071 Pajaro St., Salinas) at 9:30am on Sept 16. We will hear from indigenous voices as we seek to restore continuity with the lands we occupy. Register here.

Join Education For Ministry - EfM

Please consider joining EfM! Education for Ministry (EfM) is a life-changing and unique college-level program in theological education based on small-group study and practice. Weekly seminars are designed to prepare lay persons to live out by word and deed the promises made at baptism: to love God, serve Christ, and proclaim the Gospel. EfM seminars take place online during the pandemic. 

More about EfM:https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry/

If you are interested in joining EfM, please contact the ECR Diocesan Coordinator, Katy Dickinson: katy.dickinson@gmail.com

Wednesday Book Group

Every Wednesday, 11:00am, St. John’s. 

You can join us at any time.

We are reading and discussing “A Rabbi Talks With Jesus” by Jacob Neusner. 

REMINDER

All raffle baskets are due to be delivered to St. Stephen’s on Sunday Sept 17^th.

Baskets needed for October-fest

Get ready for the St. Stephen’s fundraiser on Sept 30^th! Woo Hoo! We have a good start on baskets but we need your help. 

Here is what we have so far:

Puzzles

Coffee

Wine

Houseplant

Desserts and jams

Ice cream Sunday

Chocolate

Picnic

A few suggestions for other baskets:

Pets

Car care

Taco

Italian

Gardening

We can always use another wine basket or maybe a whiskey basket?

Let Janet now if you can think of another theme or if you want to sign up for one of baskets that are suggested.

Don’t forget to ask friends!!

Pride Potluck Cookbooks for Sale at Harvest Fundraiser Dinner

Thank you to everyone who brought dishes to our Pride Potluck last summer! I put together a draft cookbook with pictures from the event and recipes, formatted in 2 different sizes to see what folks like. I'll bring them to service on Sunday for everyone to give any edits during coffee hour, then at the Harvest Fundraiser you can sign-up to buy a copy of the edited version, then I'll get them printed and hand-deliver them.

Updates and opportunities!

We have space available to rent. If you know of any non-profit agencies or schools that need a space, let them know that St. Stephen’s has space. 



While it’s nice to have the flexibility to use the space ourselves, we need the income and so hope to find a new renter. 

Our church, parish hall, and our beautiful grounds, including the labyrinth are all great venues like for a variety of special events like receptions, birthday parties, quinceaneras, etc. Please encourage friends to consider St. Stephen’s as a venue for their special event!  

To reserve a space or ask question, contact the office, office@ssitf.org or click on the link on our website https://www.ssitf.org/facility-rentals. 

Spread the word and pray for St. Stephen’s!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• Sunday, September 17th, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
• Sunday, September 24th, Morning Prayer, 10:00am
• Sunday, October 1st, Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
• Sunday, October 8th, Morning Prayer 10:00am

Poem from the Garden

I asked the students

from Calero what

they wanted to feel

when they went outside

to work. We were just

planning a mural

to propose to the full

vestry on Thursday,

and I expected them

to say: happy, full,

satisfied, tired. But

they said: thunderstorm,

rainbow, fresh air, good,

breezy, rain, warm and

my favorite: Welcome

And Love. More fool me

thinking the only feelings

that mattered are

the ones under the

skin, they reminded me

that the world touches

our skin first, then our souls.

— Jessica Dickinson Goodman 

“I don’t understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”

                                                                  -Ann Lamott

Kudos:

-Trig, Dan, Rob, and Andy for fixing the bell tower!    

-Jessica for leading Morning Prayer last Sunday.

-Our faithful and courageous vestry.

-All the basket makers for the Harvest Dinner.

Contact Information for Rev. Karen.

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

408-781-1826

NEEDING PRAYER SUPPORT?

Prayer is one of those things we often think about, might feel inadequate about, believe in but might be unsure how to proceed. How we pray is sometimes unique to each of us. The Church provides help in many ways. If you find yourself in need, of any kind (emotional, physical, spiritual, guidance, etc) consider how St. Stephen's can support you:

*   there is a prayer chain of committed pray-ers (who maintain confidentiality). 

*   tell people about your answers to prayer! and the miracles you witness, or how prayer changes YOU.

 Please submit prayer requests to Rev. Karen.

Editor's Note  

Please send any announcements or articles you want to have included, to: kristenvdm@yahoo.com, by Thursday, 10am each week. 

Kristen van der Molen