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April 29, 2014
The e-pistle
Your Weekly News Update from St. Stephen's
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In This Issue
Volunteer Appreciation Party
Help Nepal's People
Grove AIDS Walk
Invest 2 May 3
ECW May 3
Youth Notes
Cook-off winners
Prosperity Center
Countdown to Sabbatical
Event Calendar
Service Times
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To The People of St. Stephen's
Dear Friends,

On several occasions recently I have come in contact with the feeling of anxiety -- both my own and that of others. The occasions were all different, but the underlying reality was the same:  something is about to change (or may be about to change...).  When the unknown looms on the horizon it makes us really, really anxious.

So I Googled "anxiety" and a plethora of information popped up. First, Google has 35 pages on the subject.  Second, much of the information is about how to treat anxiety, and as might be expected, much of that is pharmacological. Which is a wonderful resource to have, particularly when anxiety becomes chronic and incapacitating.  

Next I Googled the question "Does anxiety ever have a useful purpose?" and found this in which Buddhist writer Ariella Baston writes "Anxiety is not the real issue. It's the voice of something else lying beneath that's calling out to you."  She invites us to search for the underlying cause of our anxiety and then:
 
1. Welcome it.

2. Write about it.

3. Laugh (Bringing  more laughter in your life will help you take life less seriously).

4. Love.

5. Help others with their anxiety.

6. Meditate.

7. Realize that you are enough.

  

Jesus often said "Do not be afraid."  I don't believe he was telling us to suppress our feelings of fear/anxiety. Rather, I believe Jesus would endorse the seven steps above, adding:

  

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you." (Is 43:1-3).

  

In Christ's love,

Pastor Willie Allen-Faiella

It's this Saturday!
A way to help Nepal's earthquake victims
Help through Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)

 

 

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on the morning of April 25, causing severe damage and loss of life across the small nation. ERD will help meet urgent needs such as food, clean water and shelter, as well as support for assessment and search and rescue teams in the initial phase of the disaster, through the ACT Alliance in Nepal and with its own partners in surrounding areas including northern India and southwest China. Following the initial relief phase, this fund will continue to support longer-term recovery efforts with local partners.

 

You can donate by clicking here.

Grove AIDS walk
A group of local walkers brought the message home

Plymouth Church held  the annual Grove AIDS walk on Saturday April 25th. A group from several churches, including St. Stephen's, walked from Plymouth to across the Carrollton campus for a prayer service by the bay and back to Plymouth on that Saturday morning.

Many thanks to all who participated.

 
Additionally, eight members of our parish participated in the 27th annual AIDS Walk Miami in Miami Beach on Sunday.  Thanks, everyone, for helping to raise awareness and money for this worthy cause.  AIDS Walk Miami is sponsored by Care Resource.

Invest 2 continues Sunday
Pastor Jorge leads discussion    

Invest 2
continues on May 3 with Pastor Jorge Sayago-Gonzalez, SSEDS Chaplain (shown at left with Pr Willie), leading the second of a five-week series  entitled "Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy."  This video and discussion series is based on Franciscan Monk Richard Rohr's study of the legacy of St Francis. 

This class meets in the Parish Center.

 

ECW to show film about medieval church
Sunday, May 3

The next meeting of the ECW will be in the Parish Center after the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday, May 3.  Kitty Morgan will show a short film about St. Giles, Coberly, a medieval English church located within the walls of a manor house.  One enters through a doorway, which is not clearly marked, and walks across a courtyard past other buildings to find the church.  It is well-maintained by the present owners of the house, and is an active parish.

Of particular note are stone carvings of a variety of faces, which adorn both the inside and the outside of the building. (See photo).  The faces are at eye level and are in good condition-- it is as if a gallery of former church-goers peer down as visitors draw near.

A former Lord of the Manor was a distinguished soldier and especially devoted to the church; there is a memorial to his grave, and also a marker for the faithful horse who served him in battle, and was buried in the churchyard nearby!    Music for the films is "Agnus Dei" from a Mass by Thomas Tallis.  Lunch is served and all are welcome.

 

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Infant and Toddler Nursery, Sunday School, Youth Group, and Children's Chapel Schedule

St. Stephen's Sunday School classes and Sunday morning youth group will meet on all the Sundays next month, May 3rd, 10th, 17th, and May 25.  On May 25, the Day of Pentecost, we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit with a special craft project and a parade.  Children of all ages are welcome.

Children's Chapel will be on recess May 25, 31, July 5, during the month of August, and on Labor Day weekend.  Children are welcome to worship at the 10:30 am Mass with their families.  From July 7 through July 26 our Children's Choir director, Analy Mendez, will offer a casual, relaxed summer music program for children and youth three and older.  "Sing and Rejoice" will meet on Sunday mornings from 10:30 until 11 for music, crafts, and games in the Parish Center.  Stay tuned for additional details.

Our Sunday morning Nursery in the back of the church will be staffed on every Sunday morning in May, June, July, August, and throughout the fall.

Cook-off for St. Stephen's youth last Saturday   
Which team made the best dish?

Two teams vied for the cook-off win based on teamwork, creativity, using all the surprise basket ingredients, taste and presentation.   


Sophia Jarjour, Kylie Coulombe, and Liam Pafford's pasta Alfredo garnered $25 iTunes gift cards and a free pass on cleanup for each team member.  The Alfredo's taste and inclusion of all ingredients put the team over the top. 



Daniel Coulombe, Natalia Gagliano and Zack Roncallo's pasta primavera was excellent also, but nevertheless took second place, resulting in $15 iTunes cards for each participant.

This was the last challenge before summer break.  Save room for a "Bake-Off" in the fall!

This and other youth events are sponsored by our youth themselves, who raise money through car washes and other fundraising events.  Thanks kids!

Thank you, Prosperity Center!
We're so grateful for your hard work; you make a difference!

Once again our Prosperity Center, led by parishioner Julie Moxley and staffed by trained volunteers from our parish and wider community, has completed a tax season serving those with lower incomes in our community with free tax preparation and Affordable Care Act application assistance.

This year the Prosperity Center e-filed or mailed 163 2014 tax returns.  This was up more than 10 percent from last year. 
 
Volunteers also provided assistance for Marketplace health insurance until the regular enrollment deadline of 2/15.  The community needed less assistance in this than last year, an encouraging sign.  We heard from many taxpayers that they were able to enroll on their own.

Thank you to this year's volunteers: 
Christopher Brandon, Erin Clancy, Kristin Fonseca,
Christopher Harrison, Lisa Little, Rick Little, Liz Marquardt, Deborah Roncallo, and Ingrid Usaga.

Countdown to Sabbatical
Some FAQ's about our sabbatical:

(Note:  this article appeared in last week's e-pistle; we are reprising it in case you missed it)

* How long will Pastor Willie be away?
Pastor Willie will be gone from May 23 - August 23.  Her last Sunday is May 10th; her first Sunday back is August 30th.

* And what will she be doing?  She will be traveling to the countries of former Yugoslavia to reconnect with her heritage and to meet with organizations working toward reconciliation in the wake of the ethnic wars of the 1990's.  Her family will join her for some of the time.  The Faiellas will also visit Greece and Italy, and Pastor Willie will travel to Washington, DC, to reconnect with members of the Serbian community there.

Though technically not part of her sabbatical, Pastor Willie will also be attending the Episcopal Church's Province IV Synod in early June and General Convention in late June/early July.  She is the first clergy alternate delegate from our diocese to General Convention.

*  And how is this being funded?  We received a grant from the Lilly Foundation which covers the entire sabbatical. This grant also covered the honoraria for our Lenten Invest II speakers as well as a supply priest for the two Sundays Rev'd Jo-Ann will be away.

* Who will be "holding down the fort" while Pastor Willie is gone?  Per Episcopal canon law, the Senior Warden is responsible for conducting the affairs of the church in the rector's absence.  Bob Coulombe will be "in charge" of the parish.  He will conduct the weekly staff meeting, convene vestry and finance committee meetings, interface with SSEDS and tend to other administrative functions as they may arise.

* What about worship and pastoral care?  Rev. Jo-Ann will oversee our worship and pastoral care.  We have also just commissioned four Lay Eucharistic Visitors to help bring communion and pay visits to the sick and shut-in members of our parish community.  They are:  Joyce Harrison, David Hitt, Marilyn Jackson, and Krisan Lamberti.

Upcoming Events
Don't Forget These Dates     

 

reminder


May 2 - Volunteer Appreciation Party

Sunday, May 3 - Invest 2 in the Parish Center at 9:30 am

- ECW to meet in the Parish Center after the 10:30 am Mass

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 three
and Children's Chapel for children seven and under
1st & 3rd Sundays
@Our Table, a dinner church 
 at 5:30 pm (child care available)
Parish Center
 

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.