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ST. STEPHEN’S NEWSLETTER February 2012 Issue
EDITOR’S NOTE Do you have any suggestions or comments about the newsletter? Would you like your birthday or anniversary listed in the newsletter? You can send information to me at allendj42@verizon.net Dorothy Allen  Service Times Regular Sunday services are held at 8AM and 10AM. A healing service will be held every Wednesday at 10AM. Save The Date St. Paul’s, Camden: We go to Camden the first Sunday of every month. For information, contact Valerie and Don LaBarr. Signup sheets are at the back of the church. Monday, February 6 - God Talk will be held at 7PM. Monday, February 13 – God Talk will be held at 7PM. Monday, February 20 - God Talk will be held at 7PM. Tuesday, February 21 - Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be held at 6:30PM. Tuesday, February 21 - The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will meet at 10AM at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Pitman. Monday, February 27 - God Talk will be held at 7PM. Friday, March 9 - We will have our first Chinese auction. Saturday, May 12 - St. Stephen’s goes to a Riversharks game. click to view our calendar page MESSAGE FROM THE WARDENS Dear Friends in Christ,  If you were at church on Sunday and/or attended the annual meeting, then you know that the Vestry has voted to pursue a partnership with Trinity Episcopal Church in Swedesboro for the purpose of hiring a priest. We were delighted that Cecilia Alvarez, Canon for Transitional Ministry, at the New Jersey Diocese, was able to join us for the parish meeting. We had a good discussion, I think, and in general, everyone at the meeting seemed to understand and be supportive of this course of action. As you know, if you have been following this story, we have been discussing and gathering feedback for the past five months. You have all been forthcoming in your questions and concerns, and I think we have had a healthy debate around this idea. In the end, we all come back to the financial reality of the present time. So, we have decided to explore this partnership, we will make it for a limited time, perhaps a three-year period, and we will see where we are then. Our goal is that we will continue to grow and that hopefully at the end of three years, we could afford our own full-time priest. However, that will mean a significant growth, at approximately 35-40 new members of the church, and between $35-40,000 more in pledges per year. But it is a worthy goal for which to strive.We will begin the process to search for a priest immediately. As I understand it, the steps are: - Hire a transition consultant - Vestry to call a discernment and self study committee - Prepare Self-Study - Post position and begin to interview Diocese-approved candidates Our first step is a meeting between the wardens of the two churches and Cecilia. We are in the process or trying to arrange that for as soon as possible. I will keep you posted as this process unfolds. In advance, thank you for your good wishes and prayers. Finally, I am happy to say that Father Salmon has agreed to stay with us until the end of May, at which point, I hope we will be fairly well along in this process.
I am also happy to update you as to new members of the Vestry. First, I am delighted to welcome Sharon Patterson as new warden. She brings an enthusiasm for outreach ministry and experience as a business person and teacher. I know you will enjoy getting to work with her in the year to come. I am also pleased to welcome Jean Immler to the Vestry, who has worked so wonderfully with her mother, Nell Immler, on the St. Stephens’ Music Program. And finally, I am pleased that David Poponi has agreed to serve a new term on the Vestry. His experience and history with St. Stephens will serve us well. Also, I know you will all welcome Linda Worman, who joins us as Treasurer for the coming year. And I am delighted that Rachel Rowe will stay on as our Office Administrator. Thanks as well to Polly Leonardi, Valerie and Don LaBarr and Karen Urie-West, who continue on the Vestry, and to Karen, who will serve as Clerk this year.
Sharon and I encourage you to contact us or any of the other members of the Vestry with questions and concerns. There are many exciting things on the horizon for St. Stephens. Once again, thank you for what you have already done and for what we will all do together in the year ahead. May God continue to bless St. Stephens and all of you, Sheila Raman Combs,sheilaramanhome@gmail.com Warden Sharon Patterson,twinfish2@comcast.net Warden  THE DEACON’S CORNERYou are the Body of Christ There’s an old story that’s been around since the French Revolution called Stone Soup, perhaps you’ve heard it…
A kindly, old stranger was walking through the land when he came upon a village. As he entered, the villagers moved towards their homes locking doors and windows. The stranger smiled and asked why are you all so frightened? I am a simple traveler, looking for a soft place to stay for the night and a warm place for a meal. "There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "We are weak and our children are starving. Better keep moving on." "Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his cloak, filled it with water, and began to build a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a silken bag and dropped it into the water. By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come out of their homes or watched from their windows. As the stranger sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their fear. "Ah," the stranger said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat." Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a small cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Wonderful!!" cried the stranger. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king." The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for everyone in the village to share. The villager elder offered the stranger a great deal of money for the stone, but he refused to sell it and traveled on the next day. As he left, the stranger came upon a group of village children standing near the road. He gave the silken bag containing the stone to the youngest child, whispering to the group, was not the stone, but the villagers that had performed all the magic." This story really illustrates to power of all of us when we each just share a small portion of ourselves and our possessions focused for a common purpose. St. Paul talks of this synergy as the Body of Christ. St. Paul tells us that we all have different gifts and parts to play in building up the kingdom of God – right here and right now. We are all different, but when working together we become Christ in the world for others. Since Valerie has left and through our adult formation classes I have gotten to l know many of you much more deeply in a spiritual sense. What I see, and have sensed all along, is the strong Christian spirit that runs through this parish as manifested in each of its members. Each of you has gifts and has in many ways already put them to God’s use. Like the story Stone Soup, St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians outlines how the Church functions much in the same way - bringing everyone’s gifts into focus. St. Paul then goes on to say that all that we do must also be done with love. The formula for growth and change is simple. If we combine our passions, talents and gifts, in love, and focus them on changing the world for Christ we cannot fail. We become incorporate the “Body of Christ” acting in and through the world. This is what the church at its heart should always strive to be: Christ acting in the world as the Church through its members. Part of my calling as a Deacon is to match up your passions with the world’s needs. Some of you may even have felt a tug towards doing or championing a particular ministry and we’d like to help you with the resources and connect you with other parishioners that may share your passions. Perhaps you are currently doing your passion in your job or your hobby, or perhaps you have always felt a love a something that you just haven’t been able to follow through with. We may be able to connect you to others and resources. Our goal is to enable you in your calling and purpose in serving God and one another. Here’s a real life example from my time Deacon Training at St. Andrew’s in Mt. Holly. I got talking to a woman there whose real passion was quilting. After talking with her about it; I asked her if she considered quilting for the Church. She wasn’t sure what I meant so I helped her envision her and other parishioners that might share her passion for quilting working together for God’s purposes. So we began to announce the formation of a Quilters club which got five women together for this calling. One of our parishioners identified a need at a local hospital for which the “comfort” quilts were made. By Christmas they had made five quilts…During the mass we consecrated these blankets to God’s service and they were delivered to patients the next day. The following week during the service we had these women give witness to their ministry as they told their stories of how touched the recipients of these blankets had been, many of which were used as lap blankets for cancer patients confined to a wheel chair. God’s presence was overwhelming! Closer to home, our Camden ministry to feeding the poor in Camden is championed by Valerie and Don with many others supporting by cooking and serving the meals. Before them it was Sharon and Jean championing the effort. Since our Vicar has left many more of our members are coming forward leading ministries for our Church…and that’s how it should be – You are the Church! You are the Body of Christ…don’t ever forget that! 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. Being a Church, then, is a way to re-connect with one another and with God through fellowship and communion; by giving of ourselves to one another. Getting back to the story of the Stone Soup you can begin to realize what we can accomplish if we all combine our small offerings together. Even small contributions can yields GREAT results in service to God and his church; for together we can do much more than any one of us alone can do. Little is much when God’s in it! Think of us, St. Stephen’s Church family, each adding something to the kettle that produces the wherewithal which allows our faith to be nurtured and our community enriched by our Christian witness and service to God and one another here in South Jersey. Like the soup it is amazing what can be accomplished when we all work together! God bless you all! Your faithful servant, - Carmen Viola viola@dla.mil IMPORTANT NOTICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION
The 2012 altar flower signup poster has been hung in the church. There are plenty of openings available. The cost of weekly flowers is $25. You can pay in a flower envelope. Be sure to include the dedication. Parish Pray List-If you would like to add a name to the parish prayer list, email that information to me. Coffee - We need coffee hour host/hostesses after the 10AM service. You can sign up on the clipboard in the kitchen or email me. Chinese auction - We are holding the event here in the parish hall from 7-10 pm. Ticket prices are $10 and include soup and subs, desserts and soft drinks. What a great night out! Raffle tickets for the auction items will be available for purchase as well – 15 tickets for $10, 7 tickets for $5 and 1 ticket for $1. We will have a 50/50 raffle for cash too. If you would like to donate a basket or items for a basket, please let me know. If you work for a big company and they donate sports tickets or anything, let me know and I can give you a letter to take to them. Please email me separately for more information.  Lighthouse Hospice is looking for volunteers to work alongside hospice staff. They have patients in all counties. If this is something you feel called to do, please email me and I will provide you with the coordinator's information. Pet Calendars - Please see a vestry member on Sunday if you would like to purchase, or email me. You can go directly to this link if you would like to purchase online and pay through PayPal:click here http://ststephensofmullicahill.com/donations.cfm Pledge cards - It's not too late...........If you have not already turned in your pledge card and would like to, drop it in the plate this coming Sunday, or in my box in the parish hall basement office. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Meeting - I am not sure if anyone is still involved with this or would like to be! Please let me know if you are interested in attending the short business meeting on 2/21 at 10 AM at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Pitman. I think it would be nice if we resumed a presence at these meetings if no one has been going. Contact Rachel Rowe for any of the above, Rachel Rowe rrowe13@comcast.net  St. Stephens Night at the Riversharks- Kathy Knight will be organizing a trip to the game. She will reserve seats for Saturday, May 12th for a 5:35 game followed by fireworks. Adult tickets will be $16.50. Tickets for children under 12 are $14. This price includes food vouchers. Kathy will be taking orders at the Pancake Supper. If you can’t attend, contact her at Kathygoodnight@comcast.net
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 LIGHTER SIDE Too Much Prayer Johnny, a very bright 5 year old, told his daddy he'd like to have a baby brother and, along with his request, offered to do whatever he could to help. His dad a very bright 35 year old, paused for a moment and then replied, "I'll tell you what, Johnny, if you pray every day for two months for a baby brother, I guarantee that God will give you one!" Johnny responded eagerly to his dad's challenge and went to his bedroom early that night to start praying for a baby brother. He prayed every night for a whole month, but after that time, he began to get skeptical. He checked around the neighborhood and found out that what he thought was going to happen, had never occurred in the history of the neighborhood. You just don't pray for two months and then, whammo- a new baby brother. So, Johnny quit praying. After another month, Johnny's mother went to the hospital. When she came back home, Johnny's parents called him into the bedroom. He cautiously walked into the room, not expecting to find anything, and there was a little bundle lying right next to his mother. His dad pulled back the blanket and there was -- not one baby brother, but two!! His mother had twins! Johnny's dad looked down at him and said, "Now aren't you glad you prayed?" Johnny hesitated a little and then looked up at his dad and said, "Yes, but aren't you glad I quit when I did?" BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Birthdays
February 2 Cecilia Combs February 3 Megan Evans February 5 Ethan Evans February 11 Pat Reeves February 20 Carole Misinkavitch February 22 Brooke Ryder February 28 Matthew Evans Anniversaries February 27 Carole & Andy Misinkavitch EPISCO-SPEAK Miracles
Miracles are described in the New Testament as powers, signs, portents, and strange things. A miracle is an event in time that is perceived by the senses of those who witness it. Miracles reflect the direct activity of God which transcends the usual order of nature for a religious purpose. In New Testament times, miracles were not considered to be breaches of the natural law. Jesus' miracles were "deed events" of the coming Kingdom of God. The New Testament includes accounts of Jesus' healing miracles, nature miracles in which he exercises power over the forces of nature, exorcisms, and occasions in which a miracle illustrates an important saying or pronouncement by Jesus. The Sunday gospels of the Book of Common Prayer lectionary use miracle stories from Jesus' ministry to proclaim the saving message of the gospel made present in word and sacrament. They are especially featured in the Sundays after Epiphany in Year B. In this context the miracles are understood as epiphanies or manifestations of the divine Christ. *** February 2012 Edition
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