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St. Stephen's Episcopal Church of Mullica Hill
Email Newsletter
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July/August 2009
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Issue #4
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In this issue:
Editor's Note
Vicar's View
From The Senior Warden
From The Junior Warden
Deacon-In-Training
Mission Board Minutes
Committee Notes
Community Ministries
Parish Life
Children's Activies
Evangelism
Christian Formation
the Lighter Side
Community Information
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Epsico-Speak
Service Times:
8 AM Rite II
10 AM with Music, Rite II
10 AM with Music, Rite I on the third Sunday of the month
Healing Service on 10 AM on Wednesdays, except June 10 when there will be no service.
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Editor's Note:
Well with all this rain, it may not feel like summer, but the calendar says it is here. Personally, I think summer is one of my favorite times at church because it is quieter and we can experience Sunday mornings in a less rushed manner.
Please note that this issue covers July and August. And don’t forget to check out St. Stephens’ commercials, now airing on ComCast's Soap network and the Discovery network in Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester counties. Happy Summer!
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 Vicar's View:
This July 15th will mark my 4 year anniversary at St. Stephen’s. While it is only a small fraction of this church’s 219 year history, my time as the first full-time minister serving this community has been full of blessings, some challenges and a lot of joy.
I will be the first to admit that I have had a steep learning curve of what it means to be a priest and pastor. While seminary is great for instructing one on matters of faith and liturgy, it taught me nothing about taxes and building codes. I am still learning how to juggle the sacred and the secular, and probably will for the rest of my life.
Through mutual support, we have grown in number as well as commitment, and I thank each of you for all you have taught me – including the children. I am truly blessed to be your companion on this journey.
We have accomplished much, including the refurbishment of the classrooms and offices in the Parish Hall and the kitchens in rectory and Parish Hall, and compliance with fire codes. You also graciously allowed me to change the altar to be free-standing and joyfully accepted the hymnals and music introduced by Fr. Fred Guyott. We have acolytes (!), many people who serve as Lay Readers and Eucharistic Ministers and are blessed by the ministry of our Deacon, The Rev. Carmen Viola. We have a growing Sunday school. There are “hands-on” ministry opportunities through St. Paul’s in Camden and Interfaith Hospitality Network. All of these things could not have happened without your commitment to Jesus Christ and your willingness for God’s grace to work within and through you.
It is heartening to review our successes, but there is much more to do to continue our legacy of being Christ’s body in South Jersey. From my Master’s coursework about church management and leadership at Villanova, I have been learning about “defining moments” and how to make good decisions in one’s circumstances. I believe that St. Stephen’s is in a defining moment (please note that term “moment” is not a specific amount of time) and we have a wonderful opportunity and responsibility to strategize for the future. This includes a dynamic approach to evangelism through TV commercials and the website (special thanks to Jim and Sheila Combs!), as well as asking people to come join us for worship. We are being called to be more thorough and thoughtful about all aspects of stewardship. Our worship should be open to the needs of the community while honoring our tradition. And we need to create partnerships with the town and other religious communities to know what work we are being called to do.
Some of the groundwork for these initiatives is already happening. Others are taking shape over the summer, such as training for Children’s Chapel to start in September. However none of this will succeed without your help and participation. Over the summer, I invite you to take some time to consider both what you would like to see happen at St. Stephen’s AND what needs to be done in order for that to become a reality. All ideas are welcome and the community will discern where God is calling us. This is not an idle exercise – we will have the opportunity to talk about our vision for the future of St. Stephen’s in the Fall.
In the meantime, I thank you once again for the incredible privilege to serve you and ask you to join me on Sunday, July 19th for Sundae Sunday after the 10 AM service. Supposedly the gift for a 4th anniversary is an appliance, so let’s make it a freezer full of ice cream! Bring your favorite topping and let’s celebrate each other’s ministry with some ooey-gooey goodness!
In Christ’s Love,
Valerie+, vballing@comcast.net
Note: Rev. Valerie will be away on vacation from 8/7-28. During that time, please call our Deacon, Carmen Viola, for any pastoral issues. His number is 267-236-5163
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Save the Date:
July 8-17 in Anaheim, California General Convention of The Episcopal Church http://njgcresources.webs.com/, The General Convention Resource site prepared by the NJ General Convention Deputation, also has a place where clergy and lay members of the Diocese can send comments to the Deputation on issues that will come before General Convention.
July 11th – Faith and Family Night at the Camden Riversharks
July 19th – Sundae Sunday following the 10 am service
July 20th – Children’s Chapel Training, 6:30 PM , Parish Hall
August 15th is Diocese of New Jersey Day at Six Flags Great Adventure. You get admission to both parks and a catered lunch for $40 or less (depending on how many tickets are purchased). Check out http://www.newjerseyyouth.org/nj_day_at_six_flags for more information or to purchase tickets
Mission Board Minutes
Mission Board Minutes - June 15, 2009
Meeting was opened with prayer
Mutual Invitation Bible Study - Luke 20:9-19 - Led by Heather Holt-Gofrey
Minutes from the May 18th Meeting were approved
Leadership Topics
(1) Stewardship - Committee met on June 4th.
Planned Fall Campaign - Cottage meetings will be scheduled
Theme of campaign will be "Vision for St. Stephen's"
Next meeting, July 15th
(2) Evangelism - Committee met on June 2nd.
Debriefed outdoor event to see what could be added/changed next time.
Reviewed commercial that will begin airing shortly.
Welcome packets are complete and in the back of the church
Increase of over 100% "hits" on new and improved website.
Community Ministries
$300.00 donation will be sent to Trinity Cathedral to sponsor golf outing
$200.00 donation will be sent to St. Paul's to support Camden Camp Faith
$100.00 donation will be sent to Province II Education MDG Venture for Haiti
Checks that were presented were ratified.
Members shared where they had met God recently
Meeting was closed with prayer
- Carole Misinkavitch, andrewmisinkavitch@comcast.net
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From the Senior Warden:
April in Paris.
That’s how I started my writing last month but I only wrote about Brittany and visiting my sister.
On Friday I left my sister in St. Malo and took the train to Paris. I arrived in Paris a little after 4:00 p.m. It was warm and humid. I took a taxi to my hotel and paid about what I expected.
After checking into the Villa de Pantheon and going up to my room, it was time to go for a walk and find a place to eat. Around the corner from the hotel was an Orthodox church. It didn’t specify if it was Greek, Eastern or Russian. Just Orthodox. There were people setting up pictures and I wasn’t sure what that was all about. I peeped in and saw that it was a nice little church. I went on my way and walked quite a distance looking occasionally at the menus of restaurants along the Boulevard St. Germaine. Finally I turned around and walked back to one that I liked.
Dinner was delicious and ended around 8:00 p.m. I walked back to my hotel and settled in for the evening. I was watching television and around 9:30 p.m. I heard some singing and it was obviously coming closer to the street where my hotel was. It was lovely and I got up to look out the window to see what this was all about. There was a procession coming from the Orthodox Church headed by a large cross that about 10 people were carrying. It suddenly dawned on me. This was their Good Friday. I watched until they rounded the corner and walked away from the hotel.
On Sunday of course they celebrated Easter and there were flowers strewn around the church and it looked like they had a party.
In the afternoon I did a lot of walking and ended up at Notre Dame which was about five blocks from my hotel. I’ve been there a few times before and I went in and sat with some people who were quietly praying and/or meditating.
I started to pray and I found myself fixated on the cross at the altar. I’m not exactly sure what happened but suddenly I was overcome by a great wave of emotion and I began to cry. I realized I had prayed with groanings too deep to be heard. It was wonderful.
I love Paris and special things happen every time I’m there. It’s a wonderful city.
- Lisa Redfield, redfieldlisa@aol.com
From the Junior Warden:
The new Welcome! packets are completed and available for use in the back of the church in the literature rack (4x6 white envelopes in the second row). If you notice a new person at one of the services please take a moment to make sure they get one of the envelopes. If you think of something else you think we should include in the packet please let me know.
I will have a contact list copied for everyone to pick up by the end of June. They will be left in the back of the church for you to pick up. If you still need to get me your contact information please send it to me at ninianende@verizon.net. Thanks to everyone who has gotten their information in so far.
- Nicole Buehler, ninianende@verizon.net
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Committee Notes
Buildings & Grounds
Thanks for Antonio Godfrey for cutting the lawn before the church picnic!! Volunteers are still needed and if you can donate some time, please sign up at the back of the church. We save $50.00 each time we do not need the landscape company to cut the grass.
- Andy Misinkavitch, andrewmisinkavitch@comcast.net
Community Ministries:
School Supplies - Fill a Back-Pack
Once again, over the summer, we will be filling backpacks and collecting school supplies to be delivered to New Visions Homeless Shelter in Camden.
Please fill a backpack with a variety of school supplies. Also, socks and underwear for children are always needed. Backpacks and supplies should be at the church by August 23rd so that we can get them to New Visions before school starts.
Thanks for your generosity.
- Carol Misinkavitch
Evangelism:
The Evangelism Committee met on June 2. topics for discussion included: follow up on the May 2 Harrison Township booth, preview of the commercial, discussion about other concepts for future commercials, and updates on ongoing initiatives such as the website (hits in May were up 100% over May, 2008!), the new welcome packet and the directory.Look for St. Stephens’ commercial to air on the soap network and the Discovery channel staring in July!
Next meeting: July 14 at the Combs house. 6:30 for pizza, 7 pm for meeting.
- Sheila Raman Combs, sraman@upenn.edu
Fundraising
KEEP BUYING THOSE SHOP RITE GIFT CARDS!
Our Shop Rite gift card fundraiser continues to be a successful money maker for St. Stephen's. We earn money for the church just for buying groceries! We have sold 7 orders through May of 2009 which is a profit of $390! We are averaging 1 order per month, but in March we went through 3 orders of cards. I would love to see us sell 2 orders per month. We make $60 profit per order. We all need to buy groceries, so please stop by the church to see either Rev. Valerie or Gladys Bailey.
The Lighter Side:
A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the little girl replied, "They will in a minute."
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Deacon's Corner:
Thoughts On Stewardship
(One in a series of reflections by members of our congregation)
I am very excited to now be a part of St. Stephen’s family. I think it’s appropriate that I have been asked to write an article on Stewardship since one of the deacon’s role is to help match the gifts and passions of our congregation with the needs of the world. Coming this fall, it is our hope to envision together the future of our Church in service to Christ.
The summer is now upon us, a time for rest and reflection on our busy lives. I invite you also to reflect on your service to Christ as well. In this especially troubling time of economic heartache, it is vital for us as Christians to show our faith in our actions. There are many people out there with real needs; people having such difficulties that they don’t know where their next meal is coming from, people that are unemployed, people that are having a crisis of faith: in their nation, and possibly in God. How do we then as Christians become Christ for those in need? Stewardship is a great way to let others see Christ in you.
For each of us, Stewardship takes on many guises. To one, it’s donating to a church, a children’s hospital, or to a charitable organization. To another, it’s caring for someone in need, or caring for our planet. The word Stewardship means to take care of that which belongs to another. In the Christian sense, this means we are responsible to care for all of God’s creations - ourselves, our neighbors, and our world.
We all have special gifts and talents. Each of us is unique and has something very special to offer. We all have a song to sing, and no one should leave here with that song unsung. We are all part of God’s creation—fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. We are joined and share the same spirit. Stewardship, then, is a way to re-connect with one another and with God through fellowship and communion; by giving of ourselves to one another.
Now is a good time to reflect on how best to serve one another by giving of ourselves—our time, our money, our talents, and especially our spiritual gifts.
My vision is to provide each of you with opportunities to use your gifts in service to Christ by matching your passions and gifts with the world’s needs - whatever they may be! God works through us all in many different ways. Our God is a God of love and abundance. There is always enough when we share our blessings with one another.
I ask each of you this summer to reflect upon how you can be a good steward with what God has entrusted you with. For example ask yourself:
- What is my profession?
- What are my hobbies?
- Am I an "at home Mr. Fixit"?
- Do I like to cook?
- Do my friends think that I’m the most organized person they know?
- Am I great with kids/teens?
- Do I love to plan events?
- Am I tithing the resources God has graciously blessed me with?
- Do I have an idea for ministry, or a cause I would like to champion?
We welcome all your talents "great and small". Your gifts, talents, and passions will be used in the service of Christ by serving St. Stephens, your community and the world! A recent USA Today poll showed that the happiest people on our planet were those who volunteered their time in service to others! Let us know how you can be of service; even in a small way; even with limited resources or time. Little is much when God’s in it! Prayerfully consider God’s purpose for you in serving His church.
Working for God may not seem to pay much money, but the fringe benefits and His retirement plan are out of this world!
…and don’t be shy in letting me know how I can be of service to you as well!
Your faithful servant,
Carmen, Carmen.Viola@dla.mil
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Christian Formation:
Ages 4-7
Sunday School is on hiatus for the summer. We will resume in September. We would like to start a class for ages 8+ but need teachers. If 2-3 people volunteer for once/month, with Reverend Valerie, we would be fully staffed. Note that we use a pre-written curriculum so preparation need not be onerous. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Redfield.
Nursery
Nursery will be offered through the summer at 9:45 AM on Sunday mornings in the Parish Hall. A rotating group of parent-volunteers staffs the Nursery. The children rejoin their parents in church following the peace and in time for communion.
- Sheila Raman Combs, sraman@upenn.edu
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Ryan Allen – 7-1
Joshua Jacob – 7-10
Betty & Wayne Bailey – 7-11
Peter Combs – 7-13
Howard Sharpley – 7-16
Doug Camann – 7-19
Janet Mastronardi – 7-20
Heather Holt-Godfrey – 7-21
Eric Bailey – 7-22
Heather & Antonio Godfrey – 7-24
Jean Immler – 7-25
Pat Saunders – 8-3
Eda Lou Higgins – 8-10
Melissa & John Poulson – 8-12
Norma & Carl Simpson – 8-14
John Cerquitella – 8-31
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Community Information
Speaking, Hearing, Walking . . . In the Spirit
A Series of Retreats September 2009 – January 2010
Sponsored by the Right Onward Vision Committee ~ Spiritual Renewal Initiative
September 12, 2009
Basic Spirituality - An Invitation to Christian Spiritual Teaching: How God Loves, Transforms, and Makes People Whole
Leader: Dr Elizabeth Koenig
Location: St. George’s, Rumson
October 10, 2009
Urban Ministry Retreat
Leader: The Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye Wilson
Location: St. Paul’s, Camden
November 7, 2009
Young Adult Retreat
Leaders: The Rev. Greg Bezilla and The Rev. Dr. Deborah Meister
Location: St. Andrew’s, Mt. Holly
November 14, 2009
Deepening Spirituality
Leader: The Rev. Ed Zelley
Location: Holy Trinity, Wenonah
December 4-5, 2009
Overnight Silent Retreat: A Sampler of Prayer
Leader: The Rev. Ann Holt
Location: St. Marguerite’s Retreat House, Community of St. John Baptist, Mendham
January 9, 2010
Spiritual Growth through Music
Leader: The Rev. Phil Carr-Jones
Location: Trinity Cathedral, Trenton
Simultaneous Spanish translation available upon request.
See the Fall Ministry Institute catalog for further descriptions and registration information (also online) or contact Annette Buchanan at annbuc2000@cs.com or The Rev. Sheelagh Clarke at sheelaghclarke@hotmail.com.
- Valerie Balling
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Episco-Speak
Sabbath
The seventh day of the Jewish week, our Saturday. It was marked by a total prohibition of work (Ex 23:12). In Christian liturgical usage, Holy Saturday is called the Great or Holy Sabbath, the day when Christ rested in the tomb. Early Christians rejected the celebration of the Jewish Sabbath and the restrictions on activity associated with it in the OT. It was considered as part of the ceremonial law which was abolished in Christ. Instead they kept the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, the day of the Resurrection, as their day of worship. Seventh Day Adventists and a few other Christian groups continue to worship on the sabbath. Sabbatarians are those Christians, usually Scottish or English Calvinists, who apply the OT prohibitions against work to Sunday, deeming it the Christian sabbath. This was a point of conflict between Anglicans and Puritans in the seventeenth century. The "blue laws" in many localities forbidding various activities on Sunday are inherited from Puritan sabbath-keeping. Some Christian groups also forbid various forms of recreation on Sunday in order to keep the Sabbath.
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Copyright © 2009 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church of Mullica Hill
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