St. Stephen's Weekly Touchstone
The Week of the 24th Sunday after Pentecost  
 November 6, 2012 

Thought of the Week

 

The winds have subsided, many people are starting to get power back, and the lines at the gas station appear to be getting shorter. There are some who will be rebuilding for quite a while. There are some who will forever be impacted by the loss of a loved one in the midst of this tragedy. Regardless of the impact, we have seen the imperfection and impermanence of this world. This is a disconcerting insight. It can make us feel off balance. Maybe it shines light upon imbalance that was already in our lives or our world views. Whatever the precise effect, it is not an easy experience.   

 

A biblical theologian named Walter Brueggemann has found that a common pattern in the Psalms is Orientation- Disorientation- Reorientation. Most psalms start with a particular world view, something happens to turn that world view upside down, and then the writer of the psalm comes to find a new clearer understanding of reality. Enter Sandy. Like any other major event, Sandy has clarified for us the imperfection and impermanence of our life here. That is disorienting. The things we took as normal before are no longer normal. We are now seeking a new normal and as painful or scary as that may be, with God's help we can find balance again. This is the hope of the resurrection, because after the disorientation of the cross, the reorientation of the resurrection of Jesus shows us a new way of understanding this world. It is my prayer that we may allow ourselves to reorient towards compassion and love. As Christians, we know we can no longer place our trust in the impermanent world, but in the eternal life of God in Christ.  

 

See you in church,

Fr. Josh 

 

Images of the Week
                         

THIS SUNDAY: Please welcome our guest preacher and celebrant the Rev. Katy Herron Piazza. Katy was the assistant at St. John's Church in Larchmont, New York. In the past few years she has been a full time Mom to her boys, Christopher and Jonathan. She is pictured above with the boys and her husband, Mario Piazza. Welcome Katy this Sunday!

 
 
Corey Carroll has offered to hook up a couple of generators for parishioners (one of which was his own) so that some of St. Stephanites can stay warm in the coming cold weather.  Here he is helping Dorothy Lander.  Well done Corey!
 

Click above for more details!

 



Announcements at St. Stephen's Church

                                                            

PAGEANT REHEARSAL TO START  November 18th our pageant rehearsals will begin.   We thank Vicki and Jeff who have agreed to direct the pageant again this year. If you play an instrument Jeff is inviting you to take part in the pageant ensemble.  Also, the parts will be chosen by age and so Vicki and Jeff are asking you to consider what part you might want this year. 

THE BIBLE THROUGH ART  This week Adult Education is canceled as Fr. Josh will be out of town. But mark your calendars for our upcoming trip to the Cloisters! All can join us even if you have not been a part of the class.  For more information, click here.

YOUTH GROUP EVENT: SECRET SANTA Join the Youth Group on November 18th  as they go Christmas shopping for needy children in Westchester County. For more details, click here.

CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR Want to see dates for Adult Education, the Blessing of the Animals, and all of the other programming St. Stephen's will offer this fall? Check out our website calendar: http://www.ststephensarmonk.org/calendar

 


Last Sunday's Sermon

preached by the Rev. Joshua Condon
November 4, 2012

Weekly Readings
First Reading: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28 
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 

Sunday Servers
Ushers:   Sheila Varughese and Mike Lee
Acolyte: Julia Desmarais
Chalicist: Laura Desmarais 
Reader First Lesson: John Desmarais
Reader Second Lesson:
Rich Fontaine Altar Guild: Tina Wolf 
Flower Guild: Meg Gregg
Coffee Hour: The Johnson Family    

Services are on Sunday at 10 am and Saturday at 5:30 pm.
Nursery care available at the 10 am service.
More information can be found at our website:

 For any questions or needs, you can contact the church office

at 914-273-3812 or [email protected].

Office hours: Mon. 9-11, Wed. 9-11, and Thur. 9:00-3:00   


For pastoral emergencies contact Fr. Josh Condon
rectory - 914-273-4570

cell phone - 917-753-1997