Pentecost (Greek: Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], Pentēkostē [hēmera], "the Fiftieth [day]") is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the remaining eleven Apostles of Christ (Judas had hanged himself), included in the 120 Disciples in the Upper Room, after the Resurrection of Jesus.  The feast is also called Whit Sunday, Whitsun, or Whit, especially in the United Kingdom, where the following Monday was traditionally a holiday. Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after Easter Sunday, hence its name. Pentecost
falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday. 

Among Christians, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Twelve apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-31.  For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described as the
"Birthday of the Church." (Wikipedia)  

Join us on Sunday May 27th, at 8 or 10 for a special Holy Eucharist and celebration of Pentecost! There is a tradition of wearing red on this special day
so let's fill the church with Pentecost RED.

Fr. Max+

The Youth Group will occupy St. Stephen's  

from 6: 00 p.m. Sat. May 5th overnight  

until Sunday May 6th at 8 am.  

What: There will be fun, a youth service, games,
food, prizes and mid-night laser tag!

Who: This is for youth group members and friends  

(all attending must abide by the Youth rules!)

Bring: A sleeping bag (Yeah - who's going to sleep?!?)

Ordination to the Priesthood

Deacon Dana Solomon

June 16, 2012

Dear St. Stephen's friends,

The road to ordination takes many paths...mine has been circuitous!  A few terrifying hair-pins, some hills, some long stretches of smooth road, and at last the finish line is in sight.  I am thrilled to announce that I will be ordained to the priesthood on June 16 at the Cathedral.

For many years, my call in ministry has been to chaplaincy, both in end of life care and in the hospital.  While chaplaincy is very diaconal in its aspect of service to the sick, the suffering and the dying, it is also sacramental in nature.  A chaplain is often called to perform funerals, baptisms, anoint, and hear confession, which at times conflicted with the diaconal charism.  Ordination to the priesthood will enable me to be aligned with the orders of the church and be in integrity with what I feel called to do sacramentally and pastorally.  I hold a Masters of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology, so I did not have to go away to seminary as most priestly candidates do.  I was also able to show canonical proficiency in a series of General Ordination exam questions to the Board of Examining chaplains.  Thanks to the support of a congregational discernment committee, the vestry, Fr. Max, and Bishop O'Neill, the transition from the diaconate to the priesthood has proven to be a stretch of smooth road, for which I am most grateful.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who spent many a Saturday morning with me in discernment.  Their collective wisdom was clarifying for me, and I am most grateful for their selfless time and energy commitment!  Many thanks to Anne Bailey, Mike Jones, Chuck O'Brien, Betsy Rogers, and Janet Strickler.

While I don't have a firm plan for future deployment, my hope is to remain at St. Stephen's for the time being.  We plan to have a reception/party following my first celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday June 17.  Check the next issue of the Witness for more details.

If I can answer questions of you, I am happy to.  Feel free to call or write. It will be my great joy and privilege to serve you as priest at St. Stephen's for this next part of our journey together!

In God's everlasting love,

Dana Solomon

303 523 1516