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Dear Friends,
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
During the months of May, June, and July I will be on sabbatical leave from my duties as Assistant Rector for Ministry with Children, Youth, and Young Families at St. Stephen's Church. My Letter of Agreement, signed when I came to serve at St. Stephen's in 2009, makes provision for this sabbatical leave.
A sabbatical leave is an extended period of time away from the responsibilities of a job. Although it has been joyous and rewarding to work with Pastor Willie and you at this amazing parish, I have to agree that, as is the standard practice for Episcopal clergy, I am ready for a time of rest and renewal. I am deeply grateful that this parish of St. Stephen's is going to make such a leave possible for me.
During my sabbatical time I will travel, spend time with family and friends, and study. I am especially looking forward to a pilgrimage to northwest Spain and to enrolling in General Theological Seminary's Center for Children's Spirituality in New York City.
I know I will miss all of you and will be happy to return to St. Stephen's in early August. Please keep me in your prayers, and you will be in mine.
Blessings,
Reverend Jo-Ann +
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Work Party on Saturday Morning Help to Beautify the Nepenthe Garden!
A beautiful way to improve your Saturday morning might be to meet us at the church and help us make our lovely Nepenthe Garden even lovelier. We will work on maintaining the garden and the breezeway as well as improving the lighting in preparation for our upcoming day and evening events. Bring your own gloves, and see us at any time Saturday morning. We will be in the courtyard adjacent to the church. Coffee will be waiting for you in the Parish Center even if you arrive early, with a light brunch to follow. Both earlybirds and latebirds are welcome. Thanks for helping! If you have questions, please contact Alvaro Coraspe at 305-979-3703. |
Zachary Roncallo to Represent Diocese
Zach will Travel to Philadelphia This Summer Zachary Roncallo has been selected as one of seven delegates from the Diocese of Southeast Florida to attend this summer's National Episcopal Youth Event (EYE-14) in Philadelphia. As of last week with registration still in progress, 750 youth will attend the main event, representing 57 Episcopal dioceses. Zach will be participating in EYE-14 at Villa Nova University in Philadelphia from July 9 to 11. Congratulations, Zach!
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Meet Nevin David Rhyner
Corrine and Matthew bring their 2-week-old to church
Nevin David Rhyner attended church for the first time last Sunday. Born on March 10 to parishioners Corrine and Matthew Rhyner, baby Nevin weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz. and was 21 1/4" long. The Rhyners of course (well actually Nevin) drew a small crowd of admirers, who were delighted with the very new addition! |
And Another New Parishioner! Presented by George and Donna Vazquez
Eagerly awaited by our entire congregation, Emily Cristina Vazquez was born to George and Donna Vazquez on March 15, weighing 7.5 pounds and measuring 19 inches, head to toe. A beauty, yes? "We're so blessed to have her and thankful to God and the entire St. Stephen's community for their thoughts, prayers and support over the years," says George. Congratulations, George and Donna. And it's now official - St. Stephen's is experiencing a Baby Boom. We count four new babies who have become our newest St. Stephen's parishioners this quarter. Congratulations to all the new parents of St. Stephen's! |
Care Resource AIDS Walk April 27th! Churches In The Grove Walk April 26th
The St. Stephen's AIDS Ministry volunteers for this walk every year, and in so doing has consistently raised money for Care Resource, an HIV/AIDS service organization. We volunteer by (a) by working and walking the AIDS Walk Miami, and (b) by staging a Grove Churches mini-walk of our own on April 26th. We need both walkers and pledgers. If you would lik e a walk through Miami Beach on a Sunday morning, please join us. If that is not your thing, the St. Stephen's AIDS Ministry will also hold a mini walk on Saturday April 26. We will meet at Plymouth Congregational Church at 9 am and walk from there to St. Stephen's. At St Stephen's we will hold a short service followed by refreshments. Anyone wanting a morning walk through beautiful Coconut Grove is welcome to join us. General donations to AIDS Walk Miami may be made online; individual sponsorships may also be made online here. To sponsor either the Grove Churches walk or the AIDS Walk Miami, you can also give a check to an AIDS Ministry member on Sunday mornings. |
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 e-file your tax return, because it is their slowest month.
To make an appointment for either, call 786-254-1910 or email [email protected].
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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!
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Urban Adventure. The Middle & High School Youth Group Confirmation Class will be setting off from St. Stephen's at 9:30 am on Sunday morning, April 6, for an Urban Adventure. Accompanied by leaders Daniel Ledo and Yery Marrero, the group will travel around Miami by foot and public transportation, exploring the city usually seen from a speeding car. Participants should bring a water bottle and wear good walking shoes. They plan to be back at St. Stephen's no later than 3:00 pm.
Homeless Assistance Center. On Wednesday, April 9 (note date correction), the St. Stephen's Middle & High School Youth Group Confirmation Class will be going to the Homeless Assistance Center in downtown Miami for a tour and to serve dinner to Center residents. Participants will be meeting at St. Stephen's at 4:15 pm to carpool and will return no later than 7:30 pm. Parishioner Jack Geist and Rev'd Jo-Ann will be chaperoning this event. Parents and Youth Group leaders are welcome to accompany the group.
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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, and 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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ECW to Meet Sunday See film of 12th Century Church with a Lively Past
The ECW will meet next Sunday, April 6, in the Parish Center after the 10:30 am Mass. Kitty Morgan will show a short film about a historic British church which almost went out of existence.
Located in the small Cotswolds village of Didmarton, the church and its nearby holy well are named after St. Lawrence. Originally built in the 12th century, the church was well-supported by many patrons. But by the late 19th century it was barely used, and it was finally declared "redundant" and closed in 1979. The townspeople, however, wanted their church back - so they made repairs and re-opened it, and today it is an active parish.
The interior has medieval elements as well as a surprising collection of ancient wooden box pews, painted with pastel green and gold accents. (See photo). There are numerous finely-embroidered linens, and an interior wooden staircase leads up to a tiny bell-cote. The front of the building has a large gilded clock face, now in good working order.
Music on the soundtrack is "Great Lord of Lords" by Orlando Gibbons. All are welcome and lunch will be served.
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Choir Cabaret IV Coming in May Mark Your Calendars Now
You've been asking for it, you've been crying for it, you've been yearning for it and now your dreams will be coming true! It's Coming..... Choir Cabaret IV - May 10th. Mark your calendars!
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Upcoming Events Don't Forget These Dates
March 29 - Nepenthe Garden Work Party from 8:30 am at the church
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 9 - Middle & High School Youth Group Confirmation Class to serve at the HAC - meet at the church at 4:30.
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
AIDS Walk Miami
May 10 - Choir Cabaret!
May 17 - Thank you, St. Stephen's Volunteers! party/celebration
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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
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5
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