Newsletter, April 19
Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week
Alleluia Christ is risen! The week after Easter is depleted, but it is also filled with a deep, abiding peace. The heavy lifting is done; the objective is achieved; the services are completed – and God showed up, because no matter how well we sang, or didn’t, the Lord is Risen indeed!
This week we encounter a meeting between Jesus and Thomas, and I offer a prayer for when we, like Thomas, doubt a little…
” Lord Jesus, help us in our unbelief. In a technical and scientific world that is so obsessed with proofs of truth, help us to expand our intellect to accept the unknowable, the unprovable, the awesomely miraculous. Forgive us the probing fingers of our doubt, and protect us from the bigotry of being unable to imagine that we might just conceivably lack what it takes to understand.” +
Events
Date | Time | Event |
| April 23, Sunday | 11:30am-1pm | Vestry Meeting |
| April 23, Sunday | 7pm | Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir |
| April 30, Sunday | 4pm | Beckerath Organ Recital |
| May 3, Wednesday | 7pm-8:45pm | Pilgrim |
| May 4, Thursday | 7pm-9:30pm | Preschool Committee Meeting |
| May 9, Tuesday | 11am-2pm | Senior Luncheon |
| May 17, Wednesday | 7:30pm-10pm | Finance Committee Meeting |
| May 20, Saturday | 10:30am-1pm | Christine’s Kitchen |
| May 21, Sunday | 11:30am-1pm | Vestry Meeting |
Serving at the Altar 4/23 & 4/30
Apr 23, 2017 8am Reader: N. Sieffert | Apr 30, 2017 8am Reader: C. Francis |
| 10am Readers: 1. O. Owolabi 2. P. Wick 3. K. Wade | 10am Readers: 1. K. Conway 2. B. Riedel 3. F. Taber |
| Chalicist: S. Macbeth | Chalicist: S. Clarke |
Ushers: E. Maurer & C. Jeter | Ushers: T. & K. Conway |
Altar Guild: N. Sieffert & J. Dorn | Altar Guild: C. Francis & J. James |
Coffee Hour: H. Rooney | Coffee Hour: C. Francis |
Altar Flowers: Rev. Sheelagh | Altar Flowers: A. Walker |
NOTICES
Good News
Dear Fellow Episcopalians of the Diocese of Newark,
We just received good news that Catalino Guerrero was granted a one-year stay with the help of our rallying over the past few months. Good work, everyone.
But the work is, of course, not done; there are many other peoples and families threatened.
We are hoping to gather over 500 clergy and people of faith on Thursday, May 4, 7-9 p.m. to help other undocumented families and people along with the organizing efforts of Faith in New Jersey. See the registration link below for more information.
Please let Brent Bates, Joseph Harmon, or John Mennell know you are coming and register at https://noonestandsorfightsalone.eventbrite.com for the May 4th event. And register and bring along your friends, family and fellow parishioners.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Book Reading
Hello Local Friends, Hope you can come to my reading of my new poetry book,Abloom & Awry, at Words Bookstore in Maplewood at 7:30 p.m., this Saturday, April 22. Hope you can make it!
Thanks,
Tina Kelley author, Abloom & Awry, (CavanKerry Press, April 2017)
co-author, Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope(Wiley, Oct. 2012)
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The Papermill Broadway Show Choir
Sunday, April 23, 7pm
Click on the link for a sneak preview! https://vimeo.com/212664004
The Papermill Broadway Show Choir will perform a benefit concert at St. Stephen’s Church this Sunday, April, 23 at 7pm. The congregation provides snacks (savory and sweet) during the intermission. If you would like to contribute food or drink please let Susan know. sdinan@pace.edu.
Tickets available at the door by cash or check only. Prices are as follows:
$20.00 adult, $15.00 senior, and $10.00 child.
Wednesday April 26, 7:30 PM at
St. George’s, 550 Ridgewood Rd, Maplewood NJ
IMPORTANT – New Bishop Search and Transition Committees
A call has gone out to every parish to send a lay and clergy representative to elect the members of the committees that will search for the next Bishop of Newark. St. Stephen’s needs a lay representative to attend the meeting at St. George’s Maplewood on Wednesday April 26 at 7:30pm. If you can be that person, please let Rev. Sheelagh know immediately.
Beckerath Organ Recital
April 30, 2017 at 4pm
For our final BECKERATH organ recital of the 2016-17 season, Friends of Music at St. Stephen’s are excited to welcome DARYL ROBINSON, Assistant Professor and Head of the Organ Program at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, a prize-winning organist who has won critical acclaim as a solo and collaborative artist across America and abroad.
His recorded performances can be heard on the Naxos, Pro Organo, and Albany record labels. Mr. Robinson’s program at St. Stephen’s will feature selections spanning five centuries of organ works, highlighted by Johann Sebastian Bach, plus Buxtehude and Mendelssohn, with a taste of the modern in selections by Jason Roberts and David Conte. DON’T MISS IT!
Pilgrim
Pilgrim is a program of spiritual growth and reflection on Scripture.
The second session of Pilgrim will begin on Wednesday, May 3 from 7pm – 8:45pm and continue throughout May into the second week of June. New members are welcome – participation in the first session is not required to join. Also, while consistent participation is a plus, it is not required that you attend every meeting. If you are interested please notify either Rev. Sheelagh or Theresa Scharff so that sufficient materials will be ordered. Thanks and hope to see you in May!!
Christine’s Kitchen
May 20, 2017 from 10:30am-1pm
If there is anyone from St. Stephen’s who would like to take over this Ministry, or if you would like to volunteer or contribute, please call Claas Ehlers at 908 451-0426.
We serve neighbors in need at Christine’s Kitchen at Holy Trinity in West Orange. Holy Trinity is located at Washington and Main Streets in West Orange. Parking is on the street. We can use entrees, fruit, and other foods, as well as volunteers. If you feel like bringing something additional, do so! Food will not go to waste.
Save The Date, June 25, 2017 At 7:30pm
The trip on June 25 to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival is in the planning process. Please let me know if you are interested by Wednesday, April 19. If you have any questions give me a call at 908 686 5489. Thanks!! Theresa Scharff
Please note the Parish Office hours are as follows:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9am-4:30pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9am-4:30pm
Friday: 9am-1pm
You may leave a message by phone or e-mail when the office is closed, we will respond to your message when we return.
Thank You.
Dates & Deadlines
If you have any dates or events that need adding to the St. Stephen’s Calendar please send them to Claire, and all articles and e-mails for the newsletter by NOON on Tuesday to church@ststephensmillburn.org.
Thank You.