Newsletter, December 13
Prayer for Guidance in finding a new Rector (BCP)
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a new Rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Events
Date | Time | Event |
| Dec 13, Wednesday | 7:30pm-10pm | Finance Committee Meeting |
| Dec 17, Sunday | 11:15am | Angel Tree Gift Collection |
| Dec 17, Sunday | 11:30-1pm | Vestry Meeting |
| Dec 21, Thursday | 7pm | Blue Christmas Service |
Dec 24, Sunday Christmas Eve Schedule of Services | 10am 5pm 10pm | Eucharist Service Family Service Candlelight Service (Pre-service music, Organ & Harp starts at 9:40pm) |
Dec 25, Monday Christmas Day | 10am | Eucharist Service |
| Dec 31, Sunday | 10am | Lessons & Carols |
| Jan 6, Saturday | 10:30am-1pm | Christine’s Kitchen |
| Jan 14, Sunday | 10am | Church School |
Serving at the Altar 12/17 & 12/24
Dec 17, 2017 8am Reader: N. Sieffert | Dec 24, 2017 No 8am Service |
10am Readers: 1. J. James 2. M. Barakat 3. F. Young | Readers: 10am, 5pm & 10pm TBD |
| Chalicist: J. Soughan | Chalicists: 10am & 5pm TBD 10pm R. Riedel |
Ushers: S. & L. Landers | Ushers: 10am TBD 5pm E. Maurer & TBD 10pm P. Boegershausen & B. Riedel |
Altar Guild: N. Sieffert & J. James | Altar Guild: 10am TBD 5pm A. Cole 10pm J. Dorn |
Coffee Hour: S. Clarke | Coffee Hour: The Soughan Family |
Altar Flowers: No altar flowers during Advent | Altar Flowers: No altar flowers during Advent |
NOTICES
St. Stephens Retreat, Saturday, December 2, 2017, at the Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham
Sister Barbara Jean welcomed six of us and served as our host and mentor throughout the day. She and the nuns cared for us, and fed us with a light breakfast and a simple delicious lunch. Our day started with readings from Isaiah when he was angry with God, and from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
It was a wonderful opportunity to prepare ourselves for the frenzy and rush of life at this time of year. And particularly to talk about life at St. Stephens in this time of transition.
Sister Barbara Jean had prepared and collected materials about the work and history of St. Stephens in the town and community of Millburn, and helped us explore our hopes and fears for the future of the church we love.
The Retreat houses are situated just outside of the town of Mendham surrounded by woods and fields, so different from suburban Essex County. We were able to see Downy woodpeckers and tiny Chaffinches feeding outside the windows. We also patted the wild rescue pony and followed the stations of the cross as we walked through the woods after lunch. God was our guide and with us. As we returned home I felt His Peace in my heart.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
You will find small envelopes in the pews which can be used to make donations for the greens and poinsettias with which we will be decorating the church. These may be made in memory of someone. Please print legibly the names on the envelopes. The names will be included in the Christmas bulletins. Place the envelopes in the collection plate or turn them into the office by Dec. 17. Thank you for your assistance.
Alex Cole, Altar Guild Member
Food Barrel
The food items collected in the barrel at St. Stephen’s are distributed by the food pantry at Apostles’ House in Newark, which provides grocery support to people referred to the pantry by social agencies. Those given support are unable to afford adequate food for themselves and their families. We can help by FILLING OUR BARREL! The Advent season is a great time to start!
Our food barrel is located in the Narthex by the rear door to the Church, ready to be packed with nonperishable items such as: CANNED MEAT, CANNED BEEF STEW, CANNED TUNA, PEANUT BUTTER, JELLY, CANNED FRUIT, PLAIN RICE, DRIED BEANS, 100% FRUIT JUICE, CANNED VEGETABLES, POWDERED MILK or PARMALAT, COLD and HOT CEREALS, CANNED SOUPS, MACARONI and CHEESE, CANNED OR INSTANT POTATOES, COFFEE and TEA.
Our food barrel is located in the Narthex by the rear door to the Church, ready to be packed with nonperishable items such as: CANNED MEAT, CANNED BEEF STEW, CANNED TUNA, PEANUT BUTTER, JELLY, CANNED FRUIT, PLAIN RICE, DRIED BEANS, 100% FRUIT JUICE, CANNED VEGETABLES, POWDERED MILK or PARMALAT, COLD and HOT CEREALS, CANNED SOUPS, MACARONI and CHEESE, CANNED OR INSTANT POTATOES, COFFEE and TEA.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Angel Tree Reminder
December 17, 2017
- Barbara Reidel will be collecting gifts at coffee hour.
- Gifts for PATCH children should be wrapped and labeled for appropriate age and gender.
- Gifts for IHN should be in a gift bag, labeled by child’s name.
Thanks,
Margo
Blue Christmas December 21, 7pm
For the third year, St. Stephen’s will offer a Blue Christmas Service of prayer and reflection on December 21 – the winter solstice. This date, the longest night of the year, reminds us of the darkness of loss that sometimes feels overwhelming during the season when we celebrate light, joy, and hope. The Blue Christmas Service offers participants the opportunity to acknowledge feelings of loss, reflect on these, pray with others, and to give and receive comfort. You are invited to join St. Stephen’s choir and parishioners at 7pm on Thursday, December 21. Please consider extending this invitation to friends, family, and neighbors who may also find the service helpful at this time of year. This is an opportunity to extend our ministry to the community. Comfort snacks will be served following the service.
Christine’s Kitchen January 6, 2018
St. Stephens is hosting the next Christine’s Kitchen on Saturday, January 6th once again. We need volunteers for serving and providing food. If you know college or high school kids looking for volunteer hours, you can let them know. 12 – 15 volunteers
Food: Protein dishes are a premium if possible, if you are unable to attend you can still send the food, should be delivered between 10:30 and 11:30 AM or earlier if dish needs to be heated.
We will make arrangement to pick up the food if you can’t drop it off.
Frozen food should be defrosted. If you can’t decide on the food to bring, you can pick from the list below
1. Mac and Cheese
2. Veggies
3. Chicken – baked or barbecued or your own recipe.
4. Pork dish – ham or pork chops etc.
5. Pasta and meatballs
6. Pizza
7. Dessert
You could use your imagination as whenever St Stephens hosts, their guests look forward to the wide variety of dishes.
- We also need, 1 Volunteer for picking up bread/cakes donation from Essex Green ShopRite by 7:20 am on January 6th.
- 2-3 people to come by 9:45am to help with setup and the rest can trickle in between 11am and 11:30ish. Lunch is served from 12pm thru 1pm.
Supplies needed:
- Drinks – could be a few gallons of juice/ice tea etc.
- Disposable coffee cups/plates/knife & fork
- Milk for coffee
- Sugar, 1 lb pack
- Tea bags
- Splenda
Please let me know if you can volunteer to serve or not so I can plan accordingly. If you can provide food only please list the dish if possible or just say entrée or dessert etc.
The soup kitchen is located at Holy Trinity Church, but it is the product of a group of over a dozen churches, youth groups and synagogues which take turns hosting. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 315 Main Street at the intersection of Main and Franklin streets in West Orange, opposite the Washington Elementary School.
Contact Deryck Rugbeer at 201-452-9068 or Deryck.Rugbeer@UBS.Com or turkeyen@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer to help or just donate a meal(feeds 6 to 8 people.)
Church School
Sunday, January 14th
Church School will be starting Sunday, January 14th during 10am service in the classroom off the Parish Hall. The curriculum will be lectionary-based including special projects. Also, learning to appreciate the presence of God around us
and learning why we do the things we do when we gather in God’s name. Any questions please email Carol Francis: bearhousecf@aol.com.
Parish Office Hours
Mon & Wed Closed
Tues & Thurs 9am-4:30pm
Friday 9am-1pm