Newsletter March 18
Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week:
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”
The cross of St. Damiano depicts the image of Christ on the cross drawing all to himself. Christ is victorious, his arms outstretched in a gesture of welcome, iconic images of his healings and those who came to faith around him. It is an image that counters the brutality of the crucifixion, and gives the scripture passage above meaning for me. Our faith offers us a paradox. Without the crucifixion there could have been no resurrection and thus no Christianity. +
Youth Group
CORRECTION:
Oops! The Taize service with the Brothers of Taize is to be held at the UMC church in Chatham, is on THURSDAY APRIL 16th – not this Thursday, my mistake.
We are hoping to send a busload of our under 35s to an all-day worship and Taize service event at St. John the Divine Cathedral in NYC on Saturday April 18th. Details from Denise Price.
Lenten Drumming Circle ** TONIGHT MARCH 18TH AT 7:30 PM**Listening to the Rhythm of the Spirit: A Lenten Drumming Circle
NORTH PORCH collection THIS SUNDAY – please bring your donations for the North Porch collection this Sunday and we welcome Gwyn Munn, who will be speaking at the 10:00am service about the work of North Porch in our diocese.
Items needed for Moms and their infants: diapers, baby wipes, baby formula (Enfamil), baby toiletries. You can also donate by check.
St. John’s Team of Youth Ministers
With helping hands and hearts, we will be feeding the St. John’s Community.
Details below:
Address: 61 Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Date: Sunday, March 22nd
Departure Time: Noon from St. Stephen’s
Event Time: 1PM at St. John’s
We will continue our attempts to make it as easy and quick to feed about 70-90 people. The theme will be Chili and Sandwiches.
Thank you so much in advance for your help. It is because of our caring and giving community that we are able to bring smiles and full stomachs to the St. John’s community. Below is a list of what we will have available.
Susan Dinan – Vegetarian Chili
Dina Marto – Beef Chili, 2 bags of rolls, 1 dozen hard boiled eggs
Barbara Winson Riedel – 3 Dozen hard boiled eggs/foil containers
Carole Francis – Turkey Chili, Sour Cream
Reverend Sheelagh – Bananas, power surge
Denise Price – Dinner rolls
Linda Soughan – Beef Chili
Sue Macbeth – 12 Sandwiches
Muriel – Chili/hard boiled eggs
Margo/Dan – 20 Sandwiches/bowls
Alex Cole – 2 Dozen hard boiled eggs
Therese – 15 Sandwiches
Eric Maurer – Condiments – ketchup, mayo, mustard, shredded cheese
All dishes should be warm since we have very little prep time between the morning service to the time we will serve them. Crockpots are preferred.
HOSPITALITY IS WHO WE ARE
In 1987 St. Stephens became one of a few dozen congregations involved with a new ministry to homeless families-IHN – the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless. Since then, another 6,000 congregations have done the same, involving more than 160,000 volunteers and collectively serving more than 600,000 children and adults. Alex Cole has led the efforts here since day one and this ministry has helped define us as a church and a community. This year, Alex has had to step aside. So-how do you replace Alex Cole? It takes a village!
We host next from April 5 (Easter) to April 12. We will be holding a forum after 10am services on Sunday, March 15, to share more about IHN, family homelessness and how small acts of kindness can support families in distress and enrich our own. If you are newer to the church and the program, come to learn how simple things like cooking a lasagna, reading to a 3 year old and sleeping overnight help families stay together at a time of crisis and move into sustainable housing-changing the course of their, and their children’s lives. If you are an old hand at IHN, come and share you experiences and expertise.
To learn more talk to Margo Greenfield or Claas Ehlers. To sign up, click this link: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/ 20F0845A4AC2BA02-ihnapril
In our Family: Ellie Wisner Gural’s memorial service is this Friday, March 20th at 11:00 am, at Calvary Church in Summit. The Reverend Sheelagh Clarke is presiding, the Reverend Dr. Robert Morris is preaching. All are welcome to attend. Her obituary is posted on NJ.com and was in last Sunday’s Star Ledger. Donation to Puppylovenj.com.
May light perpetual shine upon her+
Easter Flowers
You will find small envelopes in the pews which can be used to make donations for the flowers 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 EASTER bulletin. Place the envelopes in the collection plate or turn them in to the office.
Thank you for your assistance,
Alex Cole, Altar Guild Directress
Spring Auction May 16th
With spring upon us we are looking forward to our eleventh auction. Why not make this an auction of both treasures and talent? We continue to need your donations of new and next to new unusual items, lamps, china, paintings, frames jewelry, small pieces of furniture, vintage linens, and small new items for our baskets.
Here is a new way for items to be donated:
Dinner at peoples homes (theme dinners) dessert for special occasion, a care package for a college student, make a craft, flower arranging, cooking demo, rides to and from the airport, a golf lesson, knitting or crocheting. Your family could put together a wonderful variety of items to be auctioned off. Use your talent and imagination.
Please leave all donations at the church after services or during regular church office hours.
Calendar of Events:
http://ststephensmillburn.org/calendar/
CONTACT REV. SHEELAGH CLARKE:
Email: rector@ststephensmillburn.org
Tel.: 973-376-0688 Ext. 11
Emergency number: 908-456-3290