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March 19, 2013
The e-pistle
Your Weekly News Update from St. Stephen's
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In This Issue
St. Patty's Party a Success
Our Newest Parishioner
Lent Madness Coming Soon
Movie Night Returns
Bishop's Search Committee
Youth Notes
Prosperity Center Note
Fast for Families
Evensong at the Cathedral
Event Calendar
Service Times
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To The People of St. Stephen's
Dear Friends,

In my sermon on Sunday I invited everyone to experience seeing things from a different perspective by switching where you "normally" sit in church.

The next day I went to "my" Publix for the weekly shopping to discover that things had been switched around!  That store has been under renovation for weeks now but it never occurred to me that part of the renovation process involved moving things from where they were "supposed" to be. 

I was not amused, to say the least.  Water is supposed to be in a right-hand aisle, bread is supposed to be near the cereal, etc.  But after I accepted that the store was not going back to the way things were "supposed" to be I relaxed into the experience to think about how it was affecting me.

Silly me, I thought -- how often have I preached about "change" (and even inflicted a brief experience of it on the congregation just the day before!).  Just maybe the new layout would actually be more appealing and more efficient when it was finally completed.

I also noticed that I had to depend on other people a lot more than I am used to.  "Hey!  Where did you get that bread?" I eagerly asked another shopper, along with other questions for several store employees I had to flag down.

Small event perhaps, but a good reminder that change is inevitable.  And getting through it is a whole lot easier if we seek help along the way.  Help from other people.  Help from God in that form of conversation we call "prayer." 

In Christ's Love,

Pr Willie Allen-Faiella +
 
St. Patty's Party Serves 115 Irish Dinners
Thanks to All Who Worked So Hard!

Corned beef and cabbage may sound like a humble meal and unlikely party food, but the way our Clancy-O'Brian team of Irish chefs serve it up is famously good.  "It's by far the best Irish meal in town," said one guest.  "I don't even like corned beef, or at least I thought I didn't, but this is out of this world!" said another.

        
     

The party was enjoyed (as you can see) by well over 100 happy guests who lingered into the night, thanks to good planning and hard work by over 20 parishioners and live music by The Cool Ol' Dudes.  It was a financial success as well, bringing in over $2,000 for future St. Stephen's mission trips.

Thanks to all who made it a success:  Tara O'Brien, Bob Coulombe, Erin Clancy, Alvaro Coraspe, Rev'd Jo-Ann Murphy, Julie Moxley, Jeff and Maria Brosco, Lynette McGuinness, Chris Steinmetz, Debbie Roncallo, Russell Corbett, Robin Lawrie, and Ross and Martha Gagliano. 

Thanks also for the generous donations of baskets which were raffled off at the party - Nicola Brown, Bill Ritzi, Joy McIntosh on behalf of the Day School, Jo-Ann Murphy, Julie Moxley, Katherine Villano, Lauren Barrington, and Willie Allen-Faiella.

Since so many were involved in making this party happen, we've probably missed a few of you.  If you're one of them (or even if you're not), we're terribly sorry.

Here are some of the yummy recipes you've requested:

Click here for a recipe for Erin's salad.
Click here for a recipe for Julie's shortbread.
Click here for a recipe for Lynette's soda bread

Meet Elizabeth Yvonne Gabriel
Now Three Months Old

Julie Hill and Brian Gabriel brought their beautiful new daughter, Elizabeth Yvonne, to church last Sunday.  Born on December 23 and weighing 5 lbs, 4 oz, Elizabeth has been growing quickly and enjoying every day, says Mom.  This was Elizabeth's fourth visit to church.  Welcome Elizabeth! 

Brian, remember well the day you could hold your daughter in the palm of your hand.
 
This Sunday:  Lent Madness!
Join the Fun Sunday at 9:30 am

Lent Madness, inspired by college basketball tournaments, pits 32 saints against each other in a bracket, as each saint seeks to win the coveted golden halo. 

Throughout Lent fans (including you and me) vote for their favorite saints each week at lentmadness.org.  Plan to join in the fun at St. Stephen's on Sunday mornings in Invest 2 at 9:30 as parishioner Chris Steinmetz facilitates learning about the saints in the contest.  "Saints" are both well-known and unknown personages from ages past and present.  The fun continues each Sunday through April 6.

Our very own Deaconess Harriet Bedell is one of the contenders this year!
 
Movie Night Returns!
Join us for The Grand Budapest Hotel on Friday




"The Grand Budapest Hotel" is playing at 6:50 pm at the Paragon Theater in Coconut Grove.  If you'd like to join us in watching this movie, please meet Chris and Willie Faiella in the lobby by the concession stand at 6:40.  Afterwards we'll go out for dinner and discussion.  All are welcome!

Click here to watch the trailer.
 
Bishop's Search Committee Needs Your Input!
Survey and Two "Listening Sessions" for Our Deanery

EDSEF As you have heard during our prayers every Sunday we are praying for God's guidance for our diocese as we begin the search for our next bishop.

The fist step in this process is to collect information from the whole diocese in two forms:  an online survey (click here to take the survey) and a series of "listening sessions" sponsored by the search committee.

Two listening sessions will be held in our deanery:
Saturday, March 22, 10:00 - 11:30 am, St. Philip's,Coral Gables
Saturday, March 29, 10:00 - 11:30 am, St. John's Homestead

Please take the survey and plan to attend one of these sessions.  Your input is extremely important to the development of our diocesan profile which will be available to prospective candidates.

And please keep our diocese in your prayers during this time of new beginnings. 
 
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Middle/High School Youth Group participants will want to mark their calendars for two upcoming events.  On Sunday, April 6 the group will leave St. Stephen's at 9:30 am for an urban hike around Miami and on Tuesday, April 8, they will assist with dinner at Miami's downtown Homeless Assistance Center (HAC). Youth Group parents are encouraged to help with the HAC service project.  Specific details on each of these trips will be published at a latter date.

The Middle High School Youth Group meets each Sunday morning at 9:30 am in the Hingston Youth Cottage.  Daniel Ledo and Yery Marrero are the leaders of the Sunday morning program.

A Note from the Prosperity Center
Sign-up Deadline for "Obamacare" March 31

There is an approaching deadline of March 31 to sign up for health insurance through the Marketplace (healthcare.gov, or "Obamacare").  Please pass this on to those you know who might need this information. 

Our Prosperity Center has volunteer Certified Application Counselors who can help.  March is also a great month to have the Prosperity Center prepare and efile your tax return, because it is their slowest month.   

To make an appointment for either, call 786-254-1910 or email [email protected].
 
Fast for Families Campaign in Miami Soon
Prayer Service at Trinity March 20

Trinity Cathedral The Fast for Families campaign (read more here) officially ended the fast in December, charging Americans to continue to act, fast and pray until immigration reform is achieved.

The Fast is now touring the country, to help keep immigration reform in the news. The tour will be arriving in South Florida this Thursday, March 20th.

The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice will be welcoming the group with a prayer service at Trinity Cathedral at 7:30 pm on Thursday.  Let's join them in prayer, not just for our families but also for the fasters as they continue their journey.
 
Read about the entire journey HERE.

Evensong at the Cathedral March 23
Anglican Chorale to Sing the Service

The Anglican Chorale of Southeast Florida will be singing its regular Choral Evensongs on the second and fourth Sundays in March.  One will be held at Trinity Cathedral on March 23 at 6 pm. This short service is sung or chanted, and features traditional Anglican cathedral music.

If you have not visited recently, you should come to see our newly renovated cathedral and hear the historic Aeolian-Skinner organ, which has recently been restored.  An extra treat from now through May is a highly acclaimed organ series  by guest organists from some of the world's most prestigious cathedrals. Please go to www.trinitymiami.org for more information.

Upcoming Events
Don't Forget These Dates     

 

reminder

March 22 - Listening Session, 10:30 am to noon, St. Philip's,Coral Gables

March 23 - Lent Madness, an Invest 2 offering in the Peacock Room at 9:30 am

March 29 - Listening Session, 10:30 am to noon, St. John's Homestead

March 30 - Lent Madness, an Invest 2 offering in the Peacock Room at 9:30 am

April 6 - Lent Madness, an Invest 2 offering in the Peacock Room at 9:30 am

Middle and High School youth to leave for Urban Hike through Miami at 9:30 am

ECW meeting in the Parish Center after the 10:30 am Mass

April 8 - Middle and High School youth to serve at the Homeless Assistance Center, 4:30 to 7 pm

April 24 - Mercedes Corporate Run at 6:45 pm

April 20 - Easter Day

April 26 - SSEDS School and Home Association GALA

April 27 - Beach Mass at Bill Baggs State Park, 10:30 am

May 17 - Thank you, St. Stephen's Volunteers! party/celebration

AIDS Walk Miami

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

  2750 McFarlane Road
Just west of Peacock Park
Coconut Grove
305.448.2601  

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5