March 2016 – Saint Stephen's Millburn

30 Mar

Newsletter, March 30

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: March 30, 2016

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter! Alleluia!

Reminders

April 3, Sunday Grocery Gift Card Sunday
April 10, Sunday Bread Sunday
April 10-17 IHN Hosting
April 12, Tuesday 11am-2pm Senior Luncheon
April 14, Thursday 7:30pm-10pm Finance Committee Meeting
April 24, Sunday 11:30am-1pm Vestry Meeting
April 24, Sunday 4pm-5pm Beckerath Organ Recital
April 24, Sunday 7:30pm-10pm Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway
Show Choir Benefit Choir Concert Continue reading →

23 Mar

Newsletter, March 23

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: March 23, 2016

Easter is early this year, not quite the earliest which would be March 22 and is extremely rare, but it is pretty early. It’s a snowdrop Easter. As the earth stirs and the creation begins to put forth new growth, we too look to new life in our ministry together. Notice how the darkness of the rock highlights the fresh growth of the snowdrops. Holy Week provides that contrast. Join us if you can, when you can, to enter in real time the last days of Christ’s life on earth. Out of that darkness comes the light.

Continue reading →

16 Mar

Newsletter, March 16

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: March 16, 2016

Palm Sunday brings us to the beginning of Holy week and the journey to the cross. It’s important on this particular day to think of the great joy that the disciples must have experienced witnessing the great crowds that gathered to hear Jesus preaching. We will have drums, we will have palms, we will have streamers, we will process, weather permitting, from the parish hall to the church. It is all symbolic, but it is the beginning of the lead up to Good Friday and of course, Easter. Continue reading →

09 Mar

Newsletter, March 9

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: March 9, 2016

Those who sowed with tears, will reap with songs of joy. Ps. 126

“You know your meditations haven’t been very joyful lately”, said Claire. “Well, that’s the flavor of Lent”, I replied. Claire’s comment got me thinking though. It seems that joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. Like light and dark (two theological themes) we need the one to be able to perceive the other. There is a fragility of joy that is made more poignant by our experience of sorrow. It is, perhaps, the bittersweet of life. Like a good dish, the balance of flavors marks the depth of the experience. None of us likes the sorrow or fear much, but it serves to make the joys and celebrations more exquisite still. So as we head into the darkest days of Lent, let us look towards the light at the end of the tunnel, with hope and joy. “In the Lord, I’ll be ever thankful, in the Lord, I will rejoice. Look to God, do not be afraid, lift up your voices, the Lord is near. Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.” (Taize)+ Continue reading →

02 Mar

Newsletter, March 2

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: March 2, 2016

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new!”

There is something wonderful about being assured that in Christ we get a do-over! This Sunday we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son, an all time favorite of those who see themselves as the Prodigal Son. And that really is the good news. For sure, there is a “prodigal’ son or daughter in each of us, especially when it comes to our faith. For sure, we have taken what we can get, asked for things up front, squandered what we’ve been given, and decided to come crawling back to see if we can get some more. Thankfully, God waits with the porch light on. No matter what, no matter how, if we repent and see the error of our ways and return with a chastened heart, God, the father in this case; comes running to greet us. How wonderful is that. Rejoice, my brothers and sisters, rejoice! Continue reading →