St. Stephen's Weekly Touchstone 
 
August 30, 2011
 
The Week Leading up to The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
[This Week's article has been composed by Vestry-person Laura Johnson.]
 
Thought of the Week

 

As summer draws to a close and the days start to get noticeably shorter, we reflect on the last couple of months and look ahead with both apprehension and excitement.

 

The summer allows us a time to break from routine. Maybe it is the end of the school year and all the after school activities that keep us so busy, or maybe it is summer hours at the office that help bring us into the lazy days of summer.

 

Children are off experiencing so many wonderful new things in day camps, sleep-away camps (they sound so fun it is really something they should have for adults), or at home. They have the chance to run around and play, swim, get together with friends or lie on the ground and look up at the clouds - something Allison and I did recently and we had a wonderful time. And yes, sometimes children get bored but I have found they find new things to do like make a lemonade stand or find old toys that they had forgotten about and are so excited to rediscover. Adults hopefully get the chance to have a slower work schedule, take a dip in a pool, play some tennis or golf, see family and friends, travel or maybe get to that home project that seems to always be waiting.

 

As fall approaches, we know there are many changes and possibilities that lay ahead both known and unknown. Camps are over, vacations taken, school is getting ready to start, and regular church hours will resume as will Sunday school. These events allow us to get back into the routine that we were so glad to leave for a short while. Restarting our routines seems to add a certain semblance of structure to our day to day life.

 

Our summer has gone out in a rather unexpected way with Hurricane Irene hitting us this week. I am thankful that we have all survived the hurricane even though we may still be without power or our lawns littered with debris. I hope everyone is safe and I will keep you all in my prayers. I am looking forward to another unofficial start to the year, the familiarity and the new experiences that inevitably await all of us. I look forward to everyone being back at St. Stephen's and talking with everyone about summer activities as well as what lies ahead.

 

Contributed by Laura Johnson
Pictures of the Week
I had hoped to include pictures from the two nights of post Irene company at the Rectory, but we were having such a great time that  I forgot to take pictures.  So, I thought I would include pictures of the very minor damage to the rectory backyard and mention that there was no damage to the church.  I hope everyone has power again soon and I look forward to seeing you all in church.
 
 
photos by Fr. Josh

 

 

Hurricane Irene

 

FOR THOSE OF YOU WITHOUT ELECTRIC

The Condons, The Baumanns and the Weisners all have electric and they have offered their homes if any of you would like a nice,  hot shower!  If you want to take any of them up on the offer, you may call Fr. Josh on his cell; 917-753-1997, MaryBeth at 522-1928 or the Baumanns at 273-6698.

Special Announcement

 

 

 St. Stephen's Church, Armonk

presents

 

 FAURÉ

 REQUIEM

 

   Baritone ~ Howard Davies

 Conductor ~ James Turner

 Soprano ~ Claire Turner

 Piano ~ Preston Smith

 

  Also featuring

 Organ Music

 Organists ~ Preston Smith & James Turner

 

and

 

The Renaissance Vocal Ensemble

 ~

 Thursday, September 22, 2011

 at 8:00pm

~

 St. Stephen's Church,

 50 Bedford Road, Armonk, New York 10504

 Free Admission

Weekly Announcements

 

TREASURES OPENING

Treasure will be opening on Tuesday, September 6th for their 43rd Year!   Please stop by and see all the items that are for sale! Treasures hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 - 2 PM.  You may drop off donations during shop hours or call 273-2051 to schedule other arrangements.

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 CONCERT OF CHORAL AND ORGAN MUSIC Please join us here in church at 8pm on Thursday, September 22, for a performance of Fauré's Requiem by our greatly expanded choir. The concert will also include organ music from our guest organist and accompanist, Preston Smith, and choral items sung by The Renaissance Vocal Ensemble.

 

FALL SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE SCHEDULE RESTARTS SEPTEMBER, 18th

On September 18th we will go back to our 10 am service.

 

SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE TO MOVE TO SUNDAY EVENING

In lieu of our Saturday Evening Services, we will be starting a Sunday Evening Service at 5:30, and September 18th will be our first Sunday Evening Service.

 

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS

Because many of our young people will be running the race across the street on Sunday morning September 18th, we will be Blessing the Backpacks at the Evening Service on the 18th and immediately following the service we will be having our Welcome Back to St. Stephen's Fall Cookout. If you wish to donate a side dish or dessert, a sign up sheet is on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

 

COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES

We will once again be collecting for Dr. Todd Herold's foundation and we ask that you bring in school supplies for children of the Dominican Republic by September 18th. For more information about where the supplies go, visit Dr. Herold's foundation website, www.chiromission.org.

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 25th

Sunday school for the children will begin at 9:45 this year. Please meet downstairs in the Sunday school classrooms prior to Services on September 25th.   Adult Education will also begin on September 25th. We will meet at 9am in the Bethany Room. Fr. Josh will be leading a class about stained glass windows! More to come about our Adult Ed offering.

 

FRIENDSHIP SUPPER

The Desmarais Family has graciously offered to host the next Friendship Supper on Friday, September 30th at 7pm.  Please join us at their home at 26 Deer Creek Lane, Mt. Kisco.  Please RSVP to Laura Johnson at ljohnson6@metlife.com.

Weekly Readings

 

Our first reading of the week will be Exodus 12:1-14

See the reading here:   http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=181717917

 

Our Gospel reading of the week will be Matthew 18:15-20

See the reading here:   http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=181717878
                                           Sunday Servers
 

 

Ushers:   Gail Sarfati and Annlee Milani

Acolyte:  Charlie Hoyt

Chalicist:  Jeffrey Elliot

Reader:  Carol Mortell

Altar Guild:  Annlee Milani

Flower Guild:  Sarah Hoyt

Sunday Iced Tea on the Lawn:  Brown

Saturday Refreshments on the Lawn:   TBA

For any questions or needs, you may contact Fr. Josh Condon;  office - 914-273-3812, rectory - 914-273-4570, cell phone - 917-753-1997 or by e-mail:  jcondon.ststephens@gmail.com. You can also contact MaryBeth Weisner in the office at office.ststephens@gmail.com.