Newsletter, November 2

Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week

Pray. Vote. Pray.

One of the gifts of being a person of faith is the power of prayer.  Even when we think there is nothing we can personally do to change things, we can pray.  Saint Paul said we should do it constantly.  It provides us at the very least, a moment of stillness in the busyness and distractions of our day.  It provides us a moment to reflect on what is important for us and our families in the longer term, and as we make significant decisions about leadership and power in our country, it gives us a bigger context and longer lens that does not react on a minute by minute basis, as the newsfeed does.  I invite you to spend some time in prayer this week, before, during and following the election.  We are a people of peace.  That peace may be hard to find, but it is worth praying for.

The Millburn Interfaith clergy group have put together a quiet prayer vigil at St. Rose of Lima on Monday evening  7:30pm – 8:30pm, the whole town is  welcome. Our St. Stephen’s sanctuary will also be open on Tuesday for prayer. There are numerous resources available on the Diocesan website, and in our Book of Common Prayer we have many pertinent prayers you can read if your own fail you – open it at page 814, and begin. Here is one I am using,

“Pray for every human heart Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Reminders

Serving at the Altar  11/6 & 11/13

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fund Raiser
FUNd Raiser at ArteVino, Millburn, New Jersey. To all you artists and those who think you are not artists: let’s get together for a brunch at ArteVino which will help raise fun and funds for St. Stephen’s!! If you think you would be interested in an event like this, please let me know in person, by phone

(908) 686-5489 or email scharff1@lycos.com

Celebration Farewell Coffee Hour for Dr. Rev. Derek Darves
Sunday, November 6      11:30am-12:15pm
Please join us on Sunday November 6 for a special coffee hour as we celebrate Rev. Derek Darves. His two years as Associate Rector has gone by so quickly. We thank him for his ministry and support during this time wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and will be sending him off with prayers, good wishes, and of course an extended coffee hour!! If you would like to contribute please see Denise Price on Sunday or contact her by phone (917) 548-5520 or email at Denise.price75@yahoo.com.

Interfaith Election Prayer Vigil at Saint Rose Of Lima Church
November 7, 2016, 7:30pm-8:30pm
Please join the Millburn – Short Hills Local Houses of Worship community for an Interfaith Election Prayer Vigil.

Christine’s Kitchen on Saturday, November 12
From 10:30am to 1:15pm 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, other foods and volunteers; If you feel like bringing something additional, do so! Food will not go to waste.

Call Claas at (908) 451-0426 if you want to volunteer or contribute or email him at cehlers@familypromise.org.

BECKERATH ORGAN RECITALS 47th Season (2016-2017)

Sunday November 13, 2016, at 4 pm.  Friends of Music at Saint Stephen’s
THE “INSIDE STORY” ON OUR BECKERATH ORGAN RECITAL SERIES

Our upcoming Beckerath Organ Recital by Colin MacKnight on Sunday, November 13, at 4 pm, will celebrate the beginning of the 47th season of St. Stephen’s musical outreach to the wider community through our 1970 Beckerath organ-an amazing record.  How this wonderful and admired tracker organ came to be designed and installed by the acclaimed German organ builder Rudolph von Beckerath in our 1853 Gothic Revival church 25 years after the end of WWII is testimony to the commitment of St. Stephen’s rector, music committee, and congregation, together with a generous memorial gift from a friend of St. Stephen’s-and a favorable exchange rate!

We can enjoy hearing this magnificent instrument every week played by our own John Schucker, plus a whole hour three times a season of noted organ works performed by guest organists and heard by appreciative members of our congregation as well as the wider musical audience.   Do come if you can and enjoy an hour of organ works by gifted composers from the 17th to the 20th century.   And be sure to stop by the reception afterwards to greet our gifted young organist, Colin MacKnight.

Also please consider supporting St. Stephen’s Beckerath Organ Recital series with a contribution to help defray expenses.  Details can be found in the 2016-17 brochures in the holder on the table by the church entrance or the holder on the shelf outside the kitchen.  We also welcome contributions of time and talent, including consumables for the reception!   Just speak to Peggy Thompson if you would like to help in this way.

P.S.  On Sunday we will have some posters to distribute.   See Peggy or Julia Dorn if you can help with this.   And many thanks for anything you can commit to!

NOTICES

Coffee Hour & Altar Flowers
If you would like to sign up for coffee and flowers the sign up sheet is in the Narthex on the bulletin board.

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.

Please note the Parish Office is closed on Mondays