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, March 31st

10:00am - Holy Eucharist @ St. John's

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,

I thought I'd share Bishop Lucinda's Easter Message that came out earlier this week (when the weather was a bit nicer).

I will have a few messages for you myself in these last days of Holy Week - in the form of sermons. I hope to see you today for Stations of the Cross, this evening for the Good Friday liturgy, and on Sunday, that glorious day of resurrection when we sing and shout A . . .a!



Dear Beloved of El Camino Real:

It is a beautiful spring, with flowers in bloom, birds chirping, and lovely weather—a time when it is good to feel our hearts lift in song and cry out with praise to God.

Those who greeted Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem experienced this same lifting of their hearts. The Liturgy of the Palms, which opens our service outside on Palm Sunday, is a simple reenactment of that scene in the Holy Week story; that part of the service concludes with the Sursum Corda or “lift up your hearts,” as we prepare to enter the nave for the next part of the liturgy.

As we progress through Holy Week, our hearts at first lifted, come crashing down in the dark human experiences of betrayal, denial, falsehood, and rumormongering driven by greed and lust for power. Holy Week puts us, as followers of Jesus, deeply in touch with our darkest selves, in the places of both the inner circle and the crowd, as we walk along the way of pain, La Via Dolorosa.

The ups and downs of Holy Week are emotionally and spiritually reminiscent of the chaos of Jesus’ walk through that time. Probably, as with many others, we would rather step away or even run from the highs and lows of that journey. Yet, amidst the chaos is an invitation to sit quietly and touch the parts of our lived experiences as they connect with the Holy Week story.

Being in Holy Week means to be in discomfort. It is an essential place of being, as Mary Oliver reminds us in her poem, “When Death Comes,” with the words, “I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.”

This week is a time to fully engage, to walk not as a tourist, an observer, or a visitor but as a participant, calling up from within those things that are difficult and lifting them toward God for forgiveness and grace.

But first, we need to “go there.” May this Holy Week be for you both a blessing and a lesson as you walk with Jesus

Blessings and peace as we make our way to the cross, 

 Karen+

Come and join us during the lent season. 

We have a beautiful space to worship.

March 28, Maundy Thursday, 7:00pm – St. Stephen’s

March 29, Stations of the Cross, 12:00pm – St. John’s*

Good Friday Evening Service, 7:00pm – St. Stephen’s

March 31, Easter Sunday, 10:00am – St. John’s*

*(St. John’s is located at 17740 Peak Ave. in Morgan Hill)

UPCOMING EVENTS

With our Dancin' Shoes and BBQ fundraiser fast approaching we need to start working on raffle baskets. Here are some suggestions for basket themes:

·     Puzzles and games

·     Coffee

·     “May the 4^th be with you”

·     Wine

·     Baking

·     Chocolate

·     Picnic

·     Gardening

·     Bird basket

·     Italian

·     Car care

·     Taco basket

·     BBQ

These are just a few ideas. Let Janet know what theme you will be using for your basket!

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.

Hadil ElBurai is in the pink and white headscarf on the left, she and her family are currently trapped in Rafah. This is us standing together outside of a senior Republican member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, whose staff I brought her to speak directly with back in 2019.

Parishioner Jessica Dickinson Goodman is hosting a fundraiser over Easter Weekend with local artists and a pop-up museum, all benefitting women and families she knows and has worked with for years who are trying to escape Gaza. Many of the women are alumnae TechWomen, the U.S. State Department professional exchange program she has volunteered with for over a decade. The fundraiser is at 823 Villa St, Mountain View, CA 94041, right in the heart of downtown Mountain View, from 4-9pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 100% of proceeds will go to the women's fundraisers. 

Learn more, donate directly, and read their stories and the stories of other families in need here: 

http://linktr.ee/jessidg

She hopes you can come!

A prayer for peace in the Middle East.

God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation, pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East: Jews, Muslims and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis. Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope, oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation, that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces, and peace and justice could be experienced by all. Amen.

(by The Reverend Said Ailabouni Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL.) 

You can help . . .

If you are interested in making donations to help with the relief efforts in Israel/Palestine, here are the links that were included in Bishop Lucinda's letter:

https://j-diocese.org/wordpress/

https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=d91c439a3d&e=bcc1702497

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 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

Weekly Wednesday Bible Study

 11:00am, at St. John’s 

Learn about the Book of Revelation!

The last book of the Bible is more than a foretelling of doom. Come and explore what it's all about! Books are $20 ea. See Rev. Karen if you're interested.

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

Holy Week:

• Maundy Thursday, March 28th, Holy Eucharist, 7:00pm
• Good Friday, March 29th, Stations of the Cross at St. John’s, 12:00pm
• Good Friday, March 29th, Holy Eucharist, 7:00pm
• Saturday, March 30th, Easter Vigil & Holy Eucharist at St. John’s, 8:30pm
• Easter Sunday, March 31st, Holy Eucharist at St. John’s, 10:00am

Kudos:

• Susan and Janet, for creating a beautiful worship space for Holy Week.
• Kristen for sending out our newsletters.
• All the readers for the dramatic reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday: Susan, Andy, Colin, Janet, Maggie, Matthew, Dan, Rowena, Wanda.

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  

Have an announcement?

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

Kristen van der Molen