I enjoy the summertime at St. Stephen's because it means that I get to spend some time under the tent outside with many of you.  Something about standing out in the shade and beauty of our grounds makes for great conversation and people seem to hang around a little longer than normal.  Sure I love cheese, and the occasional chance to eat and drink something sweet and cold is nice, but what I hold dearest is getting to hear about how everyone's Summer is going.  I like to hear where people are heading for vacation and try to imagine them there.  I like to relax and have some time to share what is going on in my life with my fellow Christ-bearers.  This sort of time shared reminds me of so many of the stories of Jesus sharing meals with people.  Sometimes he ate with religious leaders and sometimes he ate with tax collectors or people of ill repute.  These stories are so often brought to our attention in the Gospels because who one ate with was who one associated oneself with.  The fact that Jesus ate with everyone means that he associated himself with everyone.  He associated himself with people like you and me.  He also associated himself with people like those whom you or I might not like, whatever label we put on them.  Ultimately this means that no matter who we are, we are the sort of people that Jesus wants to eat with, and that is why h shares his table with us every week in Holy Communion.

As you know I will be away on vacation starting this Sunday (I will be here Saturday night).  While away, I will miss sharing the Holy Eucharistic feast with you and sharing the cheese or cookies with you afterwards.  No matter where Sarah, Neil, and I are though, we share a table guest in common as Jesus joyfully chooses to associate himself with us.

See you in Church (on Saturday night)!

Fr. Josh

Fr. Josh's sermon on Sunday revealed the trouble (maybe it hasn't been hot enough this year?) and trauma (backing into them with the car didn't help) that has led to skimpy tomato plants. After the service we arrived home to plants that had magically generated tomatoes and even a pineapple (thanks to Neil Sarfati!)

Weekly Announcements

 

SUNDAY SERVICE BEGINS AT 9:30AM.

Our Summer worship schedule has begun.  Sunday Service begin at 9:30am.  Our Summer Schedule of 9:30 services will last through September 11, 2011.

 

SIGN UP SHEET FOR SATURDAY EVENING REFRESHMENTS.

If you wish to provide refreshments after one of the Saturday Evening Services, there is a sign up sheet in the back of the Church by the bulletins.

 

SIGN UP SHEET FOR SUNDAY ICED TEA ON THE LAWN.

If you wish to provide refreshments on a Sunday morning, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

 

FR. JOSH'S VACATION SCHEDULE.

Fr. Josh will be on vacation Sunday, July 17th through Friday, August 12th.   While Fr. Josh is out of town please contact Fr. Gawain de Leeuw at 914-572-4962 with any Pastoral Emergencies that may arise.  We wish the Condon family safe travels as they enjoy visiting their friends and family!  

 

12:00 NOON WEDNESDAY SERVICES.

Tomorrow will be the last Wednesday service before Fr. Josh goes on vacation.  There will be no 12 Noon Wednesday Services while Fr. Josh is away; July 20th, 27th, August 3rd and August 10th.  The 12 Noon Wednesday Service will resume on August 17th.  

Weekly Readings 

 

Our first reading of the week will be Genesis 28:10-19a

See the reading here:  http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=177487634

 

Our Gospel reading of the week will be Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

See the reading here:  http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=177487735