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!

Reminders

Serving at the Altar 3/6  & 3/13

NOTICE
Please send all articles and e-mails for the newsletter to Claire by NOON on Tuesday at church@st.stephensmillburn.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

Going Deeper this Lent:
Thursdays  at noon in the Church.
Stations of the Cross and meditations – Join us for this spiritual prayer walk.  We will look at the art from great artists that depict the “stations” and discuss what they reveal to us.

March 3, 10, 17 and 24.
Sunday Lenten Series: Common Room 11:30 – 12:00
Sunday, March 13 – Proclaiming by Word and Example – Vestry Forum

Online resources: Daily meditations delivered to your email box: www.dioceseofnewark.org  click on Online Meditations to read, and to subscribe.

Sacred Art Workshop on Wednesday March 23 – 7-9pm.
Please let us know if you want to sign up.  Strictly limited numbers.  Don’t delay, call  Rev Sheelagh now, or email rector@ststephensmillburn.org.

Palm Sunday Readings
Palm Sunday Passion Gospel readers.  Please let Rev. Sheelagh know if you would like to read a part in the Passion Gospel on Palm Sunday.  Rehearsal after church on Sunday 13th after the service.

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.  Volunteer congregations host families for a week offering food and shelter while the case management team helps them move toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency.

We host next from April 10  to April 17. We will be on hand on Sunday, March 13, 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 – changing the course of them, and their children’s lives.  If you’re an old hand at IHN, come and share your experiences and expertise.

We’ll need volunteers to stay overnight, to cook and serve meals, to entertain children, to run errands and for the set up and take down work to convert classrooms to bedrooms. To learn more, talk to Margo Greenfield or Claas Ehlers. To sign up, click this link. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0845a4ac2ba02-ihnapril

As always, Meal Coordinator Sara Ruth Dorn will conduct signups during coffee hour for volunteers to prepare and serve dinners and purchase the necessary breakfast and snack staples. You can also reach her at 973-467-9847.

SABBATICAL NEWS
How will Rev. Sheelagh’s sabbatical benefit St. Stephen’s?  Sabbatical leave offers opportunity for a more extended learning experience than is possible in the typical week of continuing education.  It allows time for reflection, research, writing and other organized opportunities not possible in a brief educational leave.  When Rev. Sheelagh returns to St. Stephen’s not only renewed, but with a wealth of information and experiences to guide our congregation in Bishop Beckwith’s “going local.” St. Stephen’s is indeed fortunate that Rev. Sheelagh has chosen this as the focus of her sabbatical.

Celebrate Our Kids!

Jadyn Herry will be playing Cello in the pit for Columbia High School’s Musical “Disney’s Beauty & the Beast”
Performance dates are the next two weekends, March 11, 12, 18 & 19 at 7:30 pm and March 13 & 20 at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased online here: https://colhs.booktix.com