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December 18, 2013
The e-pistle
Your Weekly News Update from St. Stephen's
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In This Issue
Christmas Services
Invest 2 on Sunday
Youth Notes
Order Christmas Flowers
Merry Christmas!
Invest 2 Bibliodrama
Rector's Annual Open House
Family Square Dance
Lessons & Carols at Trinity
Event Calendar
Service Times
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To You and Those You Love 

O Come, All Ye Faithful
Enjoy a Moment of Fun, Learning and Preparation

Invest 2:  9:30 am on Sunday

Advent 4,
December 22 - Part 4 of "A Tree-mendous Advent" - A Partridge in a Pear Tree:  Epiphany, an exploration of the 12 Days of Christmas beyond the song and popular Internet myth.

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Advent Schedule Changes 

The Middle/High School Youth Group will not meet on Sunday, December 22.

The Children's Choir will practice upstairs in the Great Hall's Music Room at 9:30 am on Sunday, December 22, to prepare for their musical offering during the 10:30 am Mass that day.  

The Godly play Sunday School class will meet as usual.
 
Children's Chapel will be held at 10:30 in the parish center as usual.

Christmas Pageant

pageant angel Chris Faiella is holding practice for the annual Christmas Pageant immediately after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday in the Great Hall.  All children are invited to participate, and lots of adult help is needed.  Contact Chris (305-799-7287 or [email protected]) for additional information.

Godly Play Open House: Celebrate the Feast with Your Children

It's "Back-to-School" time!  Parents (and other interested adults) are invited to attend Sunday School with our children on Sunday, January 5, from 9:30 to 10:20 am.  Come meet the St. Stephen's Godly Play story-tellers and door-keepers; wonder what part of the story we could leave out and still have all we need; choose your response work -- will you paint a picture today? or write a poem?  Will you use the desert box? or the Legos?  There are many choices, and we have all the time we need. 

Celebrate the feast with your children.  Here is your chance to get a close-up look at our Sunday School curriculum.  Don't miss it on Sunday, January 5th, at 9:30 am -- see you then!

Is There Someone Special You Want to Remember?
It's Time to Order Altar Flowers for Christmas

If you would like to remember, honor, or give thanks for someone special,  you can do so in our Christmas bulletin by contributing to the Altar Flowers for Christmas.  Simply send a donation of $20 or more to our church office, 2750 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove, 33133.  Make the check payable to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and be sure to tell us the name of the person you are honoring.
 
Church Office Celebrates the Season
No e-pistle, reduced office hours over Christmas

Next Wednesday being Christmas Day, and the following Wednesday being New Year's Day, we will all be focused on the joy of the season.  Therefore, there will be no e-pistle on those two Wednesdays; your next e-pistle will arrive on Wednesday, January 8. 

Also, our church office will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week and next.  A priest will be on call, should you have a pastoral emergency.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Explore the Bible through Bibliodrama
Invest 2 Program Led by Nancy Kirsner, Ph.D.

Nancy Kirsner, a licensed marriage and family counselor who uses psychodrama in her work, will lead us in exploring the world of the Bible through Bibliodrama on January 5th. 

Nancy has led Bibliodrama experiences at her synagogue, Temple Beth Or (House of Light).  She is a board-certified trainer, educator and practitioner of psychodrama and group psychotherapy as well as a licensed marriage and family counselor.

Please join us at 9:30 am on Sunday, January 5th, for a powerful and enlightening experience.
 
Rector's Annual Open House
Mark Your Calendars for January 5 at 5 pm!

christmas cookies Can you smell the cookies, the Serbian cheese pie, the dried beef/horseradish dip and the caviar mousse (to name just a few of the perennial favorites)?

Then you are ready for the annual Rector's Open House on Sunday, January 5, at the home of Pastor Willie Allen-Faiella and Chris Faiella.  Come any time after 5 pm; children are welcome.

Watch for your email invitation with address and driving directions, coming soon.

Your Family Needs to Do-si-do!
Get Your Tickets on Sunday
 

Our AIDS Ministry has planned another Square Dance, this year with a focus on family fun. 

And what could be more fun than coming out with your whole family - and other St. Stephen's families - to square dance?  A professional caller makes it easy to learn.  A chuck-wagon dinner of chili, corn bread and other fixin's will fill our bellies.  A 50-50 Raffle will make it exciting, and a cash bar will make it fit the bill for a little adult relaxation.

Tickets are available Sundays after church (show them to the parking attendant for free parking) and include everything but the cash bar. $20 Adult, $25 Couple, $5 Children up to 10, $10 Youth 10 to 18.

Proceeds will benefit those dealing with HIV/AIDS in our community.
 
Choral Festival of Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 22, at 5 pm

The Anglican Chorale of Southeast Florida and the Singing Sons Boychoir will sing its traditional  Lessons and Carols at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on Sunday,Dec. 22 at 5PM.  The service is patterned after the Christmas Eve observance at King's College in Cambridge, England. This annual musical celebration is followed by a reception.

Trinity Cathedral is located at 464 NE 16 Street, downtown, across from the Omni. Parking is available in the Omni garage for a reduced rate.

Upcoming Events
Don't Forget These Dates     

 

reminder

December 22 - Fourth Advent Adult Invest 2 event at 9:30 am

Choral Festival of Lessons and Carols at Trinity Cathedral, 5 pm

December 24 (Christmas Eve) - 4 pm Pageant Mass; 10:30 pm Festival High "Midnight" Mass

December 25 (Christmas Day) - 9 am, Low Mass

December 29 (Christmas I) - 10:30 am, Lessons and Carols and Holy Eucharist

January 5 -  Godly Play Open House, 9:30 am

Invest 2 - Bibliodrama at 9:30 am

Rector's Annual Christmas Open House, 5 pm

January 10-11 - Florida Keys Celtic Festival presented by St. Columba Episcopal Church, at Marathon Community Park

January 12 - ECW Meeting after the 10:30 am Mass

January 18 - Family Square Dance from 6 pm in the Great Hall

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  

The Noon Healing Mass on Wednesdays
is on hiatus.
 
 2750 McFarlane Road
Just west of Peacock Park
Coconut Grove
305.448.2601

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5