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November 18, 2015
The e-pistle
Your Weekly News Update from St. Stephen's
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In This Issue
Prayers for the world
Repose of the soul
Diocesan Convention
Labyrinth guild meeting
Family trip to the Everglades
Casa Valentina
Thanksgiving
Christmas Trees on sale soon
Family Advent Wreath making
Event Calendar
Service Times
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To The People of St. Stephen's




Dear Friends, 

We are all, I am sure, still reeling from the terrorist attacks last Friday in Paris, the bombings in Lebanon just a few days before, and the news revealed yesterday that the Russian plane was, in fact, brought down by a bomb.  All our prayers are with the victims and their families just as we lift continuing prayers for an end to this violent madness.

At times like these it is natural to feel fear - "Are any of us safe anywhere?" may be on our minds.  But, as followers of the One whose most recurring words were "fear not!" we must work to overcome our fear and not let it dictate how we live our lives.  Fear is an emotion; what we do with it is a choice.

Years ago I was preparing to take a long-anticipated trip to the Holy Land with seminary classmates and others.  A few weeks before departing a terrorist attack occurred and I was inundated with calls from family and friends all begging me not to go.  My response to them?  "If I cancel this trip out of fear, the terrorists will have won."

So, yes:  If, out of fear, we change who we are as followers of the Fearless One, if we change how we act, if we change our plans, if we change our attitudes toward people of other faiths - or refugees trying to escape that very same violence - in short, if we allow fear to hold power over us, the terrorists will have won.

In the words of hymn #811 in Wonder, Love, and Praise:
 
"Be not afraid. I go before you always., come follow me. And I will give you rest."  Hear the full song here.

In Christ's Love, 
 
Pastor Willie

We pray for an end to violence
Powerful prayers give hope to the world

Please join Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in prayer for the whole world, and especially for the victims of the Paris attacks.

Prayer gives solace to those of all faiths as we turn to God for guidance.

"Dear Jesus, we know you understand evil, because you stared it in the face as you were terrorized on the cross. Give us your courage to choose love. Show us a 'third way' that is neither submission nor assault, neither passivity nor war. Help us to oppose evil without mirroring it. Help us resist our oppressors without emulating them."

-- Shane Claiborne, Red Letter Christians

"What does it mean when we say 'terror won't win?' It means that we are commanded to live every second to its fullest, to devour with delight the marrow of life, to allow the sun to reach us through closed, grateful eyes, to see the light in each other's Divine Image, to urge the world one millimeter closer to fairness and justice, and to banish despair from our souls."

-- Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA

"Dear God of infinite mercy and wisdom, we are all Your people so help us know one another. Give us courage to conquer our fears, faith to lay to rest our doubts, and strength to defeat the forces of hatred and evil that seek to divide and pit us against one another."

-- Zainab Chaudry, Maryland Outreach Manager, Council on American Islamic Relations

"We turn to the peace-loving peoples of the world to take back their religions, their nations, our world, from those who are motivated by hatred and are wrecking our world through their unholy wars. Another world is possible, and we must build it together - through love." 

-- Sunita Viswanath,  Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus

"May we open our hearts and hands to help their recovery, as we are all in this together. In these days of shock and sorrow, may we continue to develop courage and wisdom to believe in humanity and work together to build a peaceful earth community for all of us."

---
Rev. Doyeon Park, Won Buddhism of Manhattan

Pray for repose of the soul     
For Dr. Lars Jensen

sunrise Longtime parishioner Dr. Lars Jensen passed into God's greater glory early on the morning of November 14, his birthday.  A memorial service will be held at St. Stephen's Church at 3 p.m. this Saturday, November 21.  May Light perpetual shine upon him.
Diocesan Convention, November 13,14
Reports, farewells, elections, and some fun

As you heard in the church this past Sunday, Pastor Willie, Rev. Jo-Ann, Julie Gabriel and Bryn Gabriel attended our diocese's annual convention, held this year in Key West.  It was bittersweet, as it was Bishop Frade's last convention; he preached a moving sermon during the Eucharist about how different captains steer a ship during different phases of its journey, but the destination remains the same.  And so it will be with the Diocese of Southeast Florida where Jesus Christ is "the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow." 

During the convention Pastor Willie's election as dean of the South Dade deanery was ratified; she will serve in this capacity for three years before passing the purple cincture on to someone else.  There were several resolutions:  one was tabled concerning the use of alcohol because it slightly differed from the wording of the same resolution passed by General Convention in July, and that resolution holds sway over our church.  The text may be found here.
 
But your two clergy and two lay delegates did have a bit of time to experience life, Conch Republic style.  In the photo above, the intrepid four are making their way back from dinner with the annual boat show parade in the background!
 
Labyrinth Guild to meet tomorrow
Help Zach, the Eagle Scouts, and our labyrinth project

The St. Stephen's Labyrinth Guild will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, and you are invited.  Join the St. Stephen's Labyrinth Guild, organized to support the Eagle Scout project of Zachary Roncallo, to construct a permanent labyrinth in front of St. Stephen's Church. The Guild will help with design ideas, publicity, and fund raising, and in several other ways as this exciting project progresses.

Current Guild members include Bonell Denton, Jenifer Briley, Humberto Casariego, Russell Corbett, Bob Coulombe, Daisy Holcombe, Forrest Jones, Krisan Lamberti,  Robin Lawrie, Pastor Willie Allen-Faiella, scoutmaster Hector Urzua, and Rev. Jo-Ann Murphy, coordinator.  Please contact Rev. Jo-Ann at [email protected] or 305-557-1297 for additional information or with questions.

A family trip to the Everglades
Saturday, November 21

All St. Stephen's families are invited to our second family outing of the fall, a November 21 trip to the Everglades' Ahinga Trail.  We'll meet in the St. Stephen's parking lot at 9 a.m. and return after lunch.  R.S.V.P. to Julie Hill Gabriel at [email protected] or 786-246-2903.  

Meals for Casa Valentina 
Please help with this wonderful ministry

Casa Valentina is a wonderful organization that serves young adults who have aged out of foster care, providing them assistance with life skills, education, and housing.

The St. Stephen's church and school community provides dinner for a life skills meeting on the second Tuesday of each month to a group of twelve young women living in Coconut Grove (the location has moved from the Roads area).  A big thank you to Mariela Martinez-Cid, Haidy Jensen, Vivian Giulliani, Rev. Jo-Ann Murphy and the daytime EfM group, Alvaro Coraspe, Amalia Suarez, Claudia Lanz, and SSEDS 4th & 5th grade volunteers for helping to provide delicious meals for Casa Valentina over the past year!  

You can prepare a meal with your friends, family, group, or even lead a cooking session at the Parish Center. If you would like to prepare the meal but cannot deliver, we can make other arrangements for delivery.
   
The Tuesdays we need to provide dinner are:

January 12, 2016
March 8, 2016
April 12, 2016
June 14, 2016
July 12, 2016
August 9, 2016
September 13, 2016
October 11, 2016
November 8, 2016
December 13, 2016

You can prepare a meal with your friends, family, group, or even lead a cooking session at the Parish Center. If you would like to prepare the meal but cannot deliver, we can make other arrangements for delivery.

If you can prepare a meal, please contact Julie Moxley here.
All are invited to share Thanksgiving!
Volunteers are needed

Thanksgiving As always, St. Stephen's will partner with others in our community to provide a Thanksgiving feast for all, right after the 10:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day service on Thursday, November 26th, here in our Great Hall.

We need volunteers to bring already-cooked turkeys to the Great Hall on Wednesday evening.  We also need food servers and other volunteers on Thanksgiving Day.  If you would like to volunteer or have questions, please email Alvaro Coraspe at [email protected] or call him at 305 979 3703.

As is our long-standing tradition, we begin Thanksgiving Day with a Mass which we share with our friends from Christ Church.  The Mass begins at
10:30 a.m.  Christ Church's rector, Father Jonathan Archer, will be the preacher this year.

Christmas Tree sales begin soon
We need your help right after Thanksgiving!

St. Stephen's church and school cooperate in selling fresh Christmas trees every year, starting just after Thanksgiving.

Would you like to get into the Christmas spirit by helping to sell Christmas Trees?


Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/N5FBmN

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.

3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

We'll see you there to share the fun!
 
Plan ahead to make an Advent Wreath
Reserve your spot now

advent wreath Believe it or not, Advent is just three weeks away!  On Sunday, November 29, at 9:30 a.m., St. Stephen's families are invited to make a family Advent Wreath to take home.  Reserve your spot by letting Rev. Jo-Ann know you plan to join in this intergenerational event.  R.S.V.P. to her at [email protected] or 305-537-1297.
 
Upcoming Events
Don't Forget These Dates     

reminder
Saturday, November 21 - Family trip to the Everglades, 9 a.m. to noon. Email [email protected] to confirm.

Thursday, November 26 - 10:30 a.m. Thanksgiving service followed by a community feast

Sunday, November 29 - Family Advent wreath-making at 9:30 a.m. Contact Rev. Jo-Ann at [email protected] or 305-537-1297 to reserve your spot. 

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.