St. Stephen's Weekly Touchstone
 
May 3, 2011
 
The Week Leading up to The Third Sunday of Easter

Thought of the Week

 

Just a couple of months ago I visited Sarah's Memaw in Rosedale, Mississippi.  Across the street from Memaw's house is the only house in the neighborhood that survived the 1927 flood.  Behind Memaw's house is a huge hill.  It wasn't long until I realized that the hill I was looking at was the levee itself and that I stood just a few hundred yards away (and below) the mighty Mississippi River.  As I listened to farmers in Missouri on the radio this morning I realized what great power I was close to standing below the Rosedale levee.  The farmer was looking out at miles of water where the levee had intentionally been breached to save another town down river from the possibly devastating situation of a flooded Mississippi River.  My mind went to images that were forever ingrained in my consciousness six years ago when the river flooded a city I love and am proud to have lived in for short time, New Orleans.  One river, so much commotion. 

 

The truth is, water is powerful.  It can knock a house off its foundation, it can consume in the form of tsunamis, it can carve canyons, and carry mountains to the sea.  But it can also make us clean.  This Sunday we gather for the positive force of water as we baptize my son, Neil.  The living water that we wash him with will make him new in ways that can only be understood in terms of Grace.  Baptism is a gift freely given by God.  He will live in a world of complexity, a world filled with powerful forces of good and bad.  Just as the water that purifies his soul is life giving in the font but dangerous near the lip of the levee, his life will come with mountain highs and valley lows. 

 

My hope is that you can join us for his baptism.  We live this baptized life together and he needs your support.  There is a part in the Baptismal service in which the whole church is asked "Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person in his life in Christ?" and everyone says (loudly please) "WE WILL!"  Let us gather to witness the power of water that points to the power of the Holy Spirit. Join us as we wash Neil and support him in his first steps in faith this Sunday.

 

See you in Church!

Fr. Josh

 

 

 


Picture of the Week
Easter Lilies and Hydrangeas
Easter Flowers
Picture by Fr. Josh

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BAPTISM  Please join us for Mother's Day as we Baptize Neil Francis Condon at the 10:00 am service.  We will be joined by guest preacher Canon Andrew Deitsche.  Your presence would bring the Condon family much joy

 

NEW ADULT EDUCATION SERIES  Next Sunday, May 15 we will start a new Adult Education series focusing on different sermons by well known liturgical preachers concerning Easter.  Each time we gather we will either watch, hear or read a sermon and then discuss.  Please join us Sunday mornings at 9:00 in the Bethany Room for these fun and informative discussions. 

  
WEDENSDAY SERVICES RESTART  Please join us on Wednesdays at Noon for a simple service of Holy Eucharist.  We will no longer be having lunch and Bible Study afterwards, but instead will have a chance to gather for a short midweek respite.  

 

MT. KISCO INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY  Our next opportunity to serve at the Mt. Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry will be on Tuesday May 24th, from 5 - 7 pm.  Please contact Sheila Varughese at [email protected] if you will be able to participate. 

 

FRIENDSHIP SUPPERS  If you are interested in hosting a Friendship Supper in the future, please contact Laura Johnson at [email protected]

 

VERTICAL TOUR OF THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE The Youth Group will be attending a private Vertical Tour of the Cathedral on Saturday, June 4th at 10 am.  We would like to extend an invitation to the congregation as well as friends; you are all welcome to participate.  Please RSVP to [email protected] by Sunday, May 29th if you plan on joining us.

 

EVENSONG Please join us on Sunday, June 12th at 5 pm for a special Choral Evensong.

 
  

Weekly Readings 

 

Our first reading of the week will be Acts 2:14a, 36-41

See the reading here:    http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=171442266

  

Our  Gospel reading of the week will be Luke 24:13-35

See the reading here:  http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=171442304


Sunday Servers

 

Ushers:  Nat Hoyt and MaryBeth Weisner

Acolyte: Julia Desmarias

Chalicist: Jeffrey Elliot

Reader: Kyle Ramsey

Altar Guild: Sheila Varughese

Flower Guild: Meg Gregg

Coffee Hour: Weisner

 

 


For any questions or needs, you may contact Father Josh Condon; office - 914-273-3812, Rectory - 914-273-4570, cell - 917-753-1997, or by e-mail: [email protected].