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March 20, 2013
The e-pistle
Your Weekly News Update from St. Stephen's
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
Palm Sunday is Here
Sign Up to Keep the Vigil
Thanks to St. Patty Team
No Potluck Tonight
Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic
Youth Notes
Swords Into Plowshares
Read Our Holy Week Booklet
St. Stephen's Online
Choral Music at the Cathedral
Dom Lamberti to Perform
Event Calendar
Service Times
Find us on Facebook
 



To The People of St. Stephen's

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

  

I love being part of a church which venerates saints -- not just the ones from centuries ago, but also many who were alive during (some of...) our lifetimes.  The Episcopal Church has a calendar of saints' feast days:  Holy Women, Holy Men, to which more people are added at each triennial General Convention.  One of St. Stephen's own, Deaconess Harriet Bedell who worked with the Miccosukee people, was added to our calendar largely through the efforts of Jack Geist in 2006.

 

Many of you have joined in the fun -- and learning -- of Lent Madness, which is based on the saints in our calendar.  Connecting with the lives of these 32 people has deepened my experience of Lent this year.  With many I became re-acquainted, some I learned about for the first time.

 

The importance of the lives of the saints is, of course, summed up in the words of Hymn 293 "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God," the unofficial anthem of our day school.  Phrases such as "They live not only in ages past..." and "...are just folk like me..." remind us that we are each called to serve the world in Christ's name wherever we find ourselves: "church, lanes, shops, tea..." says the song; we can each extend that to our own lives.   

 

At the Great Vigil of Easter next week we will once again reaffirm our baptismal covenant which also reminds us that loving and following Christ must translate into action in the world around us.  

 

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Willie

Palm Sunday is Here!
Meet at The Barnacle This Sunday at 10 am

 

Every year on Palm Sunday we gather at The Barnacle on Main Highway at 10 am and then process in full regalia, incense and all, down Main Highway and around the corner down McFarlane to the church.  Usually, and probably again this year, we are accompanied by Esther the donkey.  This year just to bring things over the top, our Liturgy of the Palms procession will include our adult choir as well.

 

Please join us as we reach out to the entire Grove on this important Feast Day.  Once in the church, our service with Eucharist will begin as usual at 10:30 am.

 

Sign Up to Keep the Vigil on Holy Thursday
Hour-long Opportunities Available

An all-night vigil will follow the 7 pm Eucharist at St. Stephen's.  The Maundy Thursday liturgy commemorates the evening before Christ's death, when he gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Passover, thus instituting the Eucharist.

The main elements of the liturgy are the washing of feet (all members of the congregation are invited to wash one another's feet, but this is optional), the celebration of the Eucharist, stripping of the altar, and the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose in the Nepenthe Garden.

The vigil at the altar of repose is kept all night with hour-long opportunities to keep watch with Jesus on the eve of his crucifixion and death from 8 pm on Thursday, March 28, to noon on Friday, March 29.

You will find a sign-up sheet on the church windows at the back of the church.

St. Patrick's Day Dinner Tremendous Success Thanks to Many
Over $1200 raised for Mission Trip

The third annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner was our best yet, with attendance over 100 and more than $1200 raised for the coming mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
 
Dozens of volunteers contributed time and money to make the event such a success. The many people to thank include:  Russell Corbett; Tara O'Brien; Bob, Kylie, Ciara and Danny Coulombe; Deborah Roncallo; Erin Clancy & Alvaro Coraspe; Chris Steinmetz (pictured above); Marilyn Jackson; Paul and Tatiana Cantrell; Julie Moxley; Lynette McGuinnes; Ross and Martha Galiano; Tom Pafford and Laura Collins; Maria and Jeff Brosco; and last but not least, Francois Murat who put everything back in its proper place after we were done.

The lovely baskets auctioned off were contributed by: Dianne Green, Vivian Hale, Bill Ritzi, Pastor Willie, David Hitt, Russell Corbett, Nicola Brown, Julie Moxley, Maria Serrano, Marilyn Jackson, Joy McIntosh, Steve and Colleen Naclerio, Conchita Ramos, and Reverend Jo-Ann.

Other contributions include:  Wine from the AIDS Committee, berries and assorted fruits & vegetables from Alpine Fresh.

The culinary surprise of the evening was the Brussels Sprout and Kale Salad- healthy and delicious!  We've had many requests for the recipe, and here it is.

Finally, the support of the congregation and the friends and families of the volunteers ensured record attendance.  Many thanks to all!

No Wednesday Evening Potluck Supper and Program Tonight
Final Meeting Next Week

The Bible.  What are we to make of this venerable book in our postmodern, post millennial, sophisticated, technological age?  Join us next Wednesday, March 26, at 6:30 in the parish center for the final Wednesday evening Lenten pot luck supper and program about the authority of the Bible. 

Questions?  Call the parish office at 305-448-2601.  Child care will be provided if requested in advance.

 

Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic
Adults and Teens to Form a Team

A team from St. Stephen's will be going to the Dominican Republic in June on a week-long mission trip.  The team will be painting and repairing a small Episcopal Church outside Santa Domingo and helping with activities for a children's Vacation Bible School (see children above).  Adults and teens ages 12 and older are welcome to go on this mission.  Thanks to the parish's enthusiastic support of last weekend's St. Patrick's Day Party fundraiser, scholarship help is available for those who want to go and need financial assistance.

Help is needed planning for the mission trip.  If you would like to offer a hand -- whether or not you think you might want to be on the mission traveling team -- please contact Jeff ([email protected]) or Maria Brosco ([email protected]), or Rev'd Jo-Ann ([email protected]) or click here for additional information.

Youth Notes
Intermediate Youth Group's Shake-A-Leg Adventure

Seven St. Stephen's Intermediate Youth Group kids and their leaders, Julie and Brian Gabriel, enjoyed a sunny Saturday morning adventure at Shake-a-Leg on March 16.  The outing was organized and led by Daisy Lewis Salazar

The group members -- several of whom had never kayaked previously -- took their boats out to the small islands offshore in Biscayne Bay.  They followed scavenger hunt clues and earned points which turned into dollars and were donated to benefit the Shake-a-Leg programs that allow disabled kids and adults to learn water sports.  First place winner was 8 year-old Ciara Coulombe.  Second place point champion was fourth grader, Alia Cornett.  The adventure was such fun the kids asked for an encore and we hope to plan one later in the spring.

 
 

 Pictured above are Gracie Carreno, Kylie and Ciara Coulombe, Caroline Carlson, Alia Cornett, Liam Pafford, and Marissa Gagliano. The leaders were Julie and Brian Gabriel.   

 

Swords Into Plowshares March 30
Gun Buy-Back at St. Stephen's


Please spread the word about our first gun buy-back which will be held on Holy Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm in the McFarlane Road parking lot.  We are partnering with the Miami Police Department in this effort.

We are also in need of donations to help this effort.  If you would like to contribute funds to help make our buy-back successful, please contact the parish office or
Read Our Holy Week Booklet
Meditations by An EfM Group

The EfM Group led by Krisan Lamberti has created its annual Holy Week booklet, called "Palm Sunday to Easter, a Time of Reflection," which will be distributed on Sunday.  It contains lovely pictures and meditations especially for this time of year.  If you would like to read it in advance, please click here.
 
St. Stephen's Online
Follow The Fun for Lent, Catch Up with the Vestry, Like Our Facebook Page, Check Out the Prosperity Center and More

Did you know you can read the minutes of every Vestry meeting for the last year online?  You can.  And you can also find the latest reports by our Rector, Assistant Rector, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Stewardship Chair and others.  Explore the Vestry Pages in the yellow right-hand column of our senior warden's blog called Tending the Garden.  It might be an interesting site to explore and bookmark if you think you might ever want to consider Vestry service, or if you are just curious about what your Vestry does.

Our Prosperity Center has an interesting and informative Prosperity Center Free Tax Prep Facebook page - if you use Facebook, please be sure to visit and like this page.

For Lent, Pr Willie is blogging about Lent Madness in her blog titled Saintly Shenanigans.

And of course you knew about our St. Stephen's website and our St. Stephen's Facebook page, right?

If you are just not an online person, don't worry.  You'll still get the e-pistle news via old-fashioned email, like always.
 
"Spirituals and Shadows"
Choral Music for Palm Sunday

This year the Anglican Chorale's Passiontide presentation at Trinity Cathedral will feature "Tenebrae Responsories for Good Friday" by Tomas Luis de Victoria, and "Five Spirituals (from "A Child of our Time") by  Sir Michael Tippet.  Spanish Renaissance polyphony will alternate with arrangements of familiar spirituals, including "Steal Away," Go Down Moses," "By and By" and " Deep River."  The performance will be on Palm Sunday, March  24, at 6 pm.  Free-will offering.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is located at 464 NE 16th St. (Bayshore Dr. / Venetian Causeway).
 
Miamians to Perform at Christ-the-King
Dominic Lamberti to Sing on Sunday

On Sunday, March 24, at 4 pm, come with your blankets and snacks, relax outdoors on the Church's lawn, and enjoy the final free concert of the 2013 Music InsideOUT Series, featuring The Miamians, with our very own Dominic Lamberti, performing barbershop harmony.

The concert will be held on the lawn at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11295 57th Ave, Miami.

Upcoming Events
Don't Forget These Dates     

 

reminderMarch 24  - Palm Sunday: 

8:00 Low mass and palms
10: Blessing of palms and procession from the Barnacle
10:30 High mass and reading of Passion Narrative

Help for Parents with Adolescents, discussion with Dr. Jeff Brosco, in the new Peacock Room at noon.

"Spirituals and Shadows" at Trinity Cathedral at 6 pm

March 27 - Final Lenten Potluck and Bible discussion at 6:30 pm

See below for Holy Week services

March 30
- Swords Into Plowshares Gun Buyback, 9 am to 1 pm

April 22 - Organ Concert at FIU featuring Dr. Dan Hardin, 7:30 pm

At St. Stephen's All Are Welcome 

 
Sundays 
Said Mass at 8 am
Sung Mass with choir at 10:30 am,
with child care for children under 3
and Children's Chapel for children 7 and under  
Wednesdays
Healing Mass at noon in the side chapel.

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday, March 24
10 am Procession from the Barnacle on Main Highway
10:30 am Mass in the Church

Tuesday, March 26
7 pm Stations of the Cross

Maundy Thursday, March 28
7 pm Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
and
Vigil in the Garden
from the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday service
until the noon Good Friday service

Good Friday, March 29
Noon Service with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament

The Great Vigil of Easter, March 30
7 pm, with Holy Baptism

Easter Day, March 31
8 am and 10:30 am Mass
Easter Egg Hunt for Children
 
 2750 McFarlane Road
Just west of Peacock Park
Coconut Grove
305.448.2601

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5