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September 23, 2015
The e-pistle
Your Weekly News Update from St. Stephen's
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In This Issue
Youth Group Kayaking
School-Church Planning Symposium
Invest 2 Adult Education
Children's programs have resumed
Stewardship message
Website Directory
Blessing of the Animals
Our New Nursery Aide
We need ushers!
Regatta Park Opening
8 a.m. Mass has returned
Day School Open Houses
Event Calendar
Service Times
Find us on Facebook
 
To The People of St. Stephen's




Dear Friends, 

"Why does God make people suffer?"  This is a question I am asked, particularly in times of personal or global tragedy.  And it is a question that cuts right to the very core of our understanding of who God is.

First, let me tell you who God isn't:

God is not a master puppeteer arbitrarily (or, God forbid, intentionally...) pulling strings to control the universe.

God is not Santa Claus handing out goodies to some and withholding from others.

What God is, is love.  

I know, we hear that so much that perhaps it has lost all meaning like a word that we say over and over again until it sounds like gibberish. So what do we mean by "God is love"?

Parents can tell us something about this.  The job of a parent is to let go; never to stop caring deeply, loving their children more than life itself.  But ultimately a parent's job is to let go.

We believe that in God's case, that "letting go" is the gift God gave all creation:  the gift of free will.  From the level of cells having free will to become toxic, to the global level of nations choosing to care for their own, welcome the stranger, and respect the neighbors beyond their borders -- or not.

But God, like a parent, never ceases to care deeply, loving his creation more than life itself.  Loving it so much that God became one with it in Jesus Christ.  Living and dying as one of us to help us find meaning in our suffering, the ultimate meaning being the Cross transformed into Resurrection.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Willie Allen-Faiella

Youth Group Kayaking on Saturday
Deadline for registration is TODAY!

All 6th-12th graders and their families are invited to a kayaking outing at Oleta State Park in North Miami Beach on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is free for St. Stephen's families.  Guests are welcome, but there will be a $25 per person charge for guests.  Lunch will be provided. 

The deadline for registration is TODAY.  If you would like to go, be sure to email or call Daisy TODAY at [email protected] or 786-399-9669.
 
Parishioners, don't miss the sign-up deadline this Friday!
Joint Church-School Planning Symposium October 3



On October 3, our Day School invites invites us all to participate in their five-year Strategic Planning Symposium, regularly held each five years to ensure a bright future for our school.  It is essential that our parish be part of the planning process this year, as plans for the joint use of buildings and grounds will be discussed. In particular, discussions will begin on renovations which will impact the buildings within the yellow box at the top left of the map.

You must sign up to attend, and the deadline for registration is THIS FRIDAY, September 25.  You are strongly urged to Register now.

Invest 2 Adult Education this Sunday
Pastor Willie wraps up 3-part series on her sabbatical

Please join Pastor Willie again this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Center.  She will share more of her beautiful pictures from the 78th General Convention and a six-week trip to the countries of former Yugoslavia, Greece, and Italy.

Children's programs have resumed
You may register at any time for several youth programs

Sunday School classes at 9:30 a.m. began on September 13.  Registration for Children's Choir, which will be singing at the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 4, and our acolyting program, along with Sunday School, is ongoing.

Questions?  Contact Rev. Jo-Ann Murphy at
[email protected] or 305-537-1297


Have you pledged to St. Stephen's?

Our 2016 pledge campaign is now in full swing.  Please consider pledging before Ingathering Sunday on November 1 so that our vestry can budget wisely for the coming year. 

Pledge cards are now available in the back of the church.

Please click here to see a slideshow of our parishioners who make such a great difference!   The slideshow uses photos from a wide variety of sources and was created by parishioner Kristin Fonseca.
 
Use our website as a directory
Phone or email a fellow parishioner

Did you know you can go online to find a fellow parishioner's email address, phone number or address?  Here's how.

1.  Go to the St. Stephen's website.

2.  Click on MEMBERS in the upper right-hand corner.

3.  Enter your User Name (Your User Name is your last name or, of there are two families with the same last name, your last name followed by your first initial.)

4.  Enter your Password (SSEC2013 for most; if you've recently joined us your password might be SSEC2014 or SSEC2015, depending on when you came).  Click LOG IN.

5.  If prompted, give the answer to a simple math problem.  This is to prove you're not a robot.  Apparently robots can't work simple math problems.  Click LOG IN again.

6.  Click "View our Member Directory."

Please note:  It is a good idea to change your password!  (Just tell it you forgot your password.)

Would you like a printed copy of our directory?  Just ask by emailing [email protected]!  Please bear in mind, though, that while the online directory is updated regularly and often, your printed copy will shortly be out of date.
 
Blessing of the Animals
St. Francis Day, October 4

 
Meet our new nursery attendant
Welcome Rae Andrews!

Stop by our infant and toddler nursery at the rear of the church on Sunday morning and welcome our new attendant, Raeshona Andrews.

Rae was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to Miami at age 11. She attended local schools and gained child care experience working as a live-in nanny as well as managing a daycare program for the YMCA in Painesville, Ohio.  She is employed as a project manager at Idea Design Studios. 

The nursery is staffed each Sunday morning from 9:15 until 11:45 and is open to infants and toddlers under 3.

And speaking of the nursery . . .

Is hospitality your forte?



Are you passionate about St. Stephen's?  Would you love to help others also feel at home here?  Can you smile, say "Good morning!" and hand out a bulletin?  Can you help pass the collection plate?  Can you help create an orderly procession to the altar rail (or would you like to learn)?  Then Chris Faiella wants YOU to serve as an usher at St. Stephen's.

If you are interested in serving your parish as an usher once a month, or if you have questions, email Chris at [email protected]
Regatta Park Opening Saturday
Parishioner Eric Wagner to perform


Come join the celebration!-the Grand Opening of Regatta Park on Saturday, September 26, at 3400 Pan American Drive, Coconut Grove, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. SOLAR DOGS will be performing from noon until 2.

The day promises lots of other fun too, with children's activities, face painting, games, prizes, balloon artists, and much more.  Make sure to get there early because the first 200 attendees will also enjoy a free barbecue. Click here for more information.

8 a.m. Sunday Service has returned
Get an early start on your Sunday

After a summer-long hiatus, our Sunday morning 8 o'clock service has returned.  This is a simple spoken Eucharist without music.  If this worship style and the time of day appeal to you, this is your service!  All are welcome.
 
St. Stephen's Day School Open House
For Parishioners on Wednesday, September 30

Our Day School is holding open house for parishioners, alumni, and families who have siblings of current students on Wednesday, September 30, at 9 a.m.

Open houses for other prospective families will be held on Thursday, October 1, Tuesday, October 27, Wednesday, November 18, and Friday, December 11, at 9 a.m.

The application deadline for school registration is January 8, 2016.  Please RSVP by scanning the QR code below or at sseds.us/oh16.

Upcoming Events
Don't Forget These Dates     
 
reminder
Saturday, September 26 - Youth group kayaking outing for 6th- to 12th-graders and their families, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesday, September 30 - Day School open house for parishioner families.

Saturday, October 3 - Joint School-Church Planning Symposium

Sunday, October 4 - Blessing of the Animals

- ECW meets in the Parish Center after the 10:30 a.m. Mass

Saturday, October 17 - Nursery Families' Party, 4 p.m.

Sunday, October 18 - "Love Wins," an interfaith service of music and prayer at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Pinecrest at 4:30 p.m. 
 
Sunday, November 1 - celebration of All Saints Day and baptisms at the 10:30 Mass.

Saturday, November 7 - Choir Cabaret!

At St. Stephen's All Are Welcome 
 
Sundays 
Spoken Mass without music at 8 a.m.
  Sung Mass with music at 10:30 a.m.,
with child care for children under three


Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 1.