Advent Greetings from the Treasurer to all my fellow Parishioners. I am asking for your help. 

We are trying to create the 2015 Budget but have run into a really big obstacle.  Only about 60% of our families who pledged last year have actually sent in their pledges for 2015, which makes it nearly impossible to plan for next year.  So far we have solid pledges for only $210,000.  If that were the final number, we would have to lay off half the staff next year.  I don't think anyone wants us to do that.  And we all know that the $210,000 figure is not reality.  We also appeal to our newer members who weren't here yet to pledge last year.

So please help us!  If you have not sent in your pledge yet, please do it by this coming Sunday.  It's real easy to do, you can even pledge online.  If you are not sure and want to verify that you have pledged, send an email to Pastor Willie and she'll confirm it with you. 

Thank you very much for your assistance. 

Love and Peace,

Dominic Lamberti
Treasurer!

The AIDS Ministry elves at work in the Great Hall, sorting and packaging toys and cosmetic bags for delivery to Food for Life, a subsidiary agency of Care Resource.

Many thanks to Nancy Denton, Susie Blair, Sally James, Virgin and Peter Van der Vlugt, Margaret Long, Dick DiRenzo, Martha and Marissa Gagliano, George Fisher, Manny Garcia, Chris Smith, Russell Corbet, Vivien Hale, Valerie May, Nicholas Winset, Robin Lawrie, Joyce Harrington, and the entire St. Stephen's AIDS Ministry for organizing the Angel Tree effort and for your work all year on behalf of those affected by HIV/AIDS in our community!

Vestry Nominees

Thank you for agreeing to serve

These St. Stephen's members have agreed to stand for Vestry election at our annual meeting on January 18.

Margaret Long is a long-time member of St. Stephen's. She is currently the treasurer of the St. Stephen's AIDS Outreach Ministry, sings in the choir, and serves at the Homeless Assistance Center.   Semi-retired with over 30 years' experience in retail customer service, Margaret has served as Vestry member and Junior Warden at St. Bernard de Clairvaux where she was active for 20 years. 

Julie Gabriel began attending St. Stephen's in 2005 while studying at the University of Miami School of Law. With her husband Brian, Julie leads our Intermediate Youth Group. Julie and Brian welcomed their first daughter, Elizabeth, in December 2013, who was baptized at St. Stephen's in the Spring. Julie is the Director of Everglades Policy at Audubon Florida where she manages litigation efforts and advocates for Everglades restoration before federal agencies and Congress.

A.R. Barrington has been attending St. Stephen's since 2010. He has participated in the Christmas tree sale and art show, cooked turkeys for our Thanksgiving community dinner, hosted a cocktail party for new families, hosted a reception for last years annual campaign, and audited the church's financial statements.  A.R. works for Barrington Heritage, a family-owned real estate development company.  A.R. and his wife Lauren have two children: Trip (4 yrs) and Ben (2 yrs).

If you would like to order flowers for the altar on Christmas in honor of a loved one, please order soon by calling Anna Rosas in the parish office at 305.448.2601.

The deadline to place orders is December 19.

Thank you!

 

Under director Analy Mendez, our children's choir has become quite accomplished.  Last Sunday they provided us with a wonderful rendition of "A Star, a Sing, a Sign," sung in harmony and with confidence and skill.  It was a lovely addition to our service, particularly welcome at this time of year.

Congratulations, kids!  Thanks for being choir members.

The St. Stephen's Community Brunch Closet distributes clothing and toiletry items to those in need during our Community Brunch each month. 

The Closet is in need of lady's pants medium and large size, tooth brushes, wash cloths, and for the coming cold weather socks, sweatshirts, jackets and blankets, any size.

They also need two heavy duty rolling clothing racks, single-rod if possible.

 

Save the date

Each year our rector, Pastor Willie, hosts a holiday open house for all parishioners and friends at her home.  All are invited to taste her wonderful home-made food (perennial favorites such as caviar mousse and beef-horseradish dip) and enjoy the company of other parishioners.  Come any time after 5 pm on Saturday, January 3, and stay as long as you like.

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