Weekly update week of August 27
Wednesday August 29
7:30am Morning Prayer in the Chapel of the Incarnation.
Sunday September 2
8am Holy Eucharist Rite I, The Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
10:10am Sharing the Gospel with Loaves and Fishes.
10:30am Holy Eucharist Rite II, The Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
5:30pm Misa Alegría, (Spanish language liturgy), The Rev. Sam Dessórdi Leite preaches and presides.
Date change for Liturgy Retreat - “Do this for the remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 15, 9am to 3pm and join us for a two-session liturgy retreat. The morning session will focus on the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, and also reserved for a Bible study on The Way to Emmaus. The afternoon session will include training for Managers of Ceremony, Worship Leaders, Eucharistic Ministers, readers, and acolytes. Also in the afternoon we will invite anyone interested to sign up for liturgy planning teams for the up-coming liturgical year beginning in Advent.
This retreat is designed for participation in the whole day or if you are interested in more study and reflection to stay just for the morning session. More details will follow closer to the date. All are welcome. The retreat will have simultaneous translation to Spanish.
If you can join us on September 15th for the Liturgy Retreat, please add your name to the signup sheet posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall or e-mail Mary Alcuin Kelly at <marykelly9748@yahoo.com>.
10:30 Service Choir Rehearsals Begin
Though the 10:30 Service Choir does not rehearse during the summer months, it doesn’t mean that singing at St. Stephen and the Incarnation stops. The “summer” choir has been there each week; and, our largest “choir” is there each Sunday morning (that means all of us), and there is a great sense of community each time we sing together. So each Sunday you come to church, you are part of that choir, but if you need more singing in your life and fellowship with good parishioners, please consider coming to the first choir practice of the fall on Thursday, August 30, at 7:30 in the auditorium. We rehearse until 9:15, ending with Compline, a brief service of sung prayers in the church. For the first rehearsal we also have some refreshment before heading home.
We also meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 to prepare for service. If you have been to church, you also know that we are not a “vested” choir. All you need to join us is a willingness to sing, and we can help you with the rest. If you are interested in coming, please speak to Michael Salmon <oriolefish@gmail.com> or any choir member to find out more. All of our voices help build community each week, and I look forward to singing together with you soon.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is the sacrament of maturity. With the gesture of laying on of hands and unction with chrism by the bishop, the power of the Holy Spirit fills the newly confirmed to proclaim the Good News in Christ, to give strength in faith and to lead people into the world. For that reason, our church is offering a Confirmation Class during the fall for those interested in taking this new step as part of the journey of faith. The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place at Washington National Cathedral, on November 3rd, 10am. Those interested, please contact Fr. Sam Dessórdi Leite, our Senior Priest, at ˂samdessordi@yahoo.co.uk˃.
Welcome Class
Are you new to Saint Stephen's or have you been here awhile and are interested in a deeper exploration with others of the Episcopal/Anglican tradition, Saint Stephen's history, liturgical and spiritual practices, and ways of living into your faith? Join us for the six-session Welcome Class, starting September 11 and meeting every Tuesday evening through October 16. Classes meet from 7 - 8:30pm in the Godly Play room off of the auditorium. If you have questions or if you want to sign up to attend, contact Elizabeth Finley ˂ebfinley@verizon.net˃, Father Sam Dessórdi
˂samdessordi@yahoo.co.uk˃, and Laura Moye ˂soymoye@yahoo.com˃.
2nd Quarter 2018 Giving Statements are ready
Giving Statements for the 2nd quarter of 2018 were distributed the 2nd quarter giving statement to those who were present at the services. Statements not distributed will be mailed out later this week.
This is the first giving statement from our new software system, called Realm. We have moved our Parishioner/Giver database to the new software, which looks different from the old statements, but includes the same information, organized differently. Parishioners who have seen the new statement find it easier to read and understand than the previous format. We have employed multiple layers of auditing to ensure the information is correct, but if you have a question or concern, please email Mike in the office at ˂Mike@SaintStephensDC.org˃ or call the office at 202-232-0900.
Generous gift from the Bou Foundation
As some of you may know, the Bou foundation has been a steady and generous supporter of the Loaves and Fishes program for many years. In late July, the convection oven in the dining room kitchen went out, and needed either expensive repairs or replacement. Without the convection oven, because it cooks much faster than a conventional oven, it is very difficult and in some cases impossible to cook all of the hot food needed to serve all Loaves and Fishes guests. As a result, Loaves and Fishes was unable to provide hot food for a couple of weekends.
Stephen Bou found out from his son, who had recently volunteered at Loaves and Fishes, about the convection oven situation. Br. Bou contacted Bill MacKaye and offered to pay for the new oven. What a wonderful gift from the foundation! The oven, its installation and removal of the old equipment was a bit over $5,000. Wow!
Last Morning Prayer on Summer, Wednesday 7:30am, August 29
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20.
Join us for Morning Prayer and meditation this Wednesday beginning promptly at 7:30am and ending by 7:55am. Morning Prayer is also streaming live on our Facebook page.
Participate in Completing Your Emergency Contact Form
Recent experience has shown the importance of knowing whom to call if you became ill or had an accident in church. The form is simple to complete. It requests a name and phone numbers of individuals someone could call on your behalf in the event of an emergency or other need. The forms will be kept in a binder in the church office. If you have not yet been able to complete a form, extras are available in the back of the church today. Greeters can assist you. When your form is complete it can be placed in the collection plate.
Blessings and a different beat, September 9, 10:30am
September 9 is a Sunday for blessings. We welcome students and teachers of ALL ages to bring their backpacks. We'll set them by the altar during the service and bless them at the end. But we don’t stop there: we'll also offer a blessing for bikes and bikers in the church labyrinth area. Bring your bike and invite your friends.
And, the PanTones are coming! The liturgy will be filled with drums and upbeat music from the PanTones, a community steel pan band based in Hyattsville. Come and be part of this beautiful celebration.
Seeing the Face of God in Each Other Anti-Racism Workshop, September 28 & 29
This workshop on September 28 from 12:30 - 8pm and September 29 from 8:30am - 4pm at Washington National Cathedral (map at shorturl.at/eyKX7) provides an opportunity for people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds to explore the history of institutionalized discrimination in our society. The training satisfies canonical requirements for anti-racism training in the Episcopal Church upon completion of both days. To learn more and register go to https://bit.ly/2M7EkSR
