WEEKLY UPDATE WEEK OF 02.18.19
Tuesday February 19
7pm Finance Committee meeting (Godly Play room).
Wednesday February 20
7pm Nicho meditation group meeting.
Thursday February 21
7:30am Morning Prayer.
7pm Manager of Ceremonies gathering (Godly Play room).
7:30pm Choir Rehearsal.
Sunday February 24
8am Holy Eucharist Rite I, the Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
9:15am Forum: “Reinventing the Sabbath”. Join Rev. Martin Smith for an exploration of the meaning of Sabbath in scripture, and a discussion of the different forms ‘holy rest’ take in our place and time. How is Sabbath an essential form of resistance and dissent in a culture warped by the demands of incessant work?
10:10am Sharing the Gospel with Loaves and Fishes.
10:30am Holy Eucharist Rite II, the Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
Noon Vestry meeting (Choir room).
5:30pm Misa Alegría (bilingual service). The Rev. Sam Dessórdi Leite preaches and presides.
Welcome Rondesia and Jane!
We welcome two new amazing gifted church leaders, Rev. Rondesia Jarrett-Schell and Mrs. Jane Bishop. Rev. Rondesia is joining us, as affiliated clergy, while Jane Bishop is the new Interim Children’s Christian Education Coordinator for Sunday morning and evening congregations. May God continuously bless their ministries and may we be blessed by them.
Setting up an account to access your information
Last year the church migrated parishioner, pledge, giving and profile information to a new system called Realm. Unlike our previous system, Realm is internet based, meaning you can access only your information (password secured) any time you desire. This system contains many features that improve the operations of the church. To individual parishioners, there are a also a number of benefits. The first two we will take advantage of are: your ability to review your pledge and giving history anywhere you have access to a browser; the second benefit is your ability to review profile information and edit it as needed, (name, address, phone number, email, spouse, children, etc.).
The plan is to roll out invitations to establish an account over the next several months, in roughly alphabetic order. The first invitation emails will go out the week of February 25, 2019. (If you would like to establish your account sooner, please email ˂Mike@SaintStephensDC.org˃.) All active parishioners that have an email on file will be sent an invitation. The email you will receive is below.
Bring back your blessed Palms from 2018!
It is that time of the year when we bring our blessed palms to church. From ancient Christian tradition, we will prepare for Ash Wednesday by burning last year’s blessed palms. Please bring your palms and we will have a ritual for burning them on the last Sunday of Epiphany after each service.
Lent is Coming
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6. Here is some basic information for the upcoming Lenten season with more details to follow.
Ash Wednesday services with imposition of ashes will be held at 8am and noon in English. The 7pm Ash Wednesday service will be in English and Spanish. Our Lenten Friday series will begin on Friday, March 15 with bilingual Stations of the Cross at 6pm followed by a simple supper and bilingual events. The Lent Liturgy Planning Team is offering the theme “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” for the season of Lent. At the heart of our Lenten theme is using the Ignatian imaginative and sensory approach to meditating on Gospel passages.
Come explore the five weeks of Lent through the lens of Psalm 78 verse 19, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” It will be a holy season in our hearts, minds and lives.
Lenten Opportunities-Sign Up Sheets on Bulletin Board in Parish Hall
There will be many offerings to gather as a community during Lent. See sign up Sheets on the bulletin board in the parish hall for:
- Preparing the Sanctuary for Lent on March 5th,
- Liturgy Retreat on March 9
- Friday's in Lent Simple Suppers
If you are not able to sign up send an e-mail to Mary Alcuin Kelly (marykelly9748@yahoo.com) for your area of interest.
Lenten Liturgy Retreat
Our Pilgrimage to Jerusalem - Reflecting and Learning about the Easter Triduum of Holy Week. Save the date, Saturday March 9, 2019, 10am to 3pm, at Saint Stephen and the Incarnation. Lunch included. You can register with Mary Alcuin Kelly (˂marykelly9748@yahoo.com˃) or Fr. Sam Dessordi (˂samdessordi@yahoo.co.uk˃).
Calling all teachers, parents, people at St Stephen’s who want to help our children love God!
Matthew 18:5 – As Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” We use the Godly Play curriculum as our Christian Education program, its an engaging, Montessori style of learning through stories and wondering. We have invited one of the best Godly Play trainers, Arlene Decina from Burke, VA to lead and inspire us in this ministry to our children.
DATE & TIME: Saturday, March 2 Noon to 4pm
PLACE: Saint Stephen’s, Godly Play Room (just off the Auditorium)
CHILDCARE: Provided in the Choir Room (just off the other side of the Auditorium)
REGISTER: Email Jane Bishop, with your name(s), phone number, and names of ages of children who will need childcare) - ˂bishop.jane9@gmail.com˃
QUESTIONS: Contact Jane Bishop via email or call/text: 202-297-8627
Annual meeting and vestry nominations
The Annual Meeting is where we discuss the business of the parish and elect our vestry members. This year’s Annual Meeting will be Saturday, May 18 at 5:30pm, with a dinner to follow. Please mark your calendar!
At this year’s meeting, we will elect candidates for six positions: the Senior and Junior Wardens, the Clerk, and three new members of the nine-person Vestry. The Nominating Committee (Sandra Moore, Tricia Davis-Muffet, Ty Holden, Walter Montoya, and Atiba Pertilla) are currently seeking candidates for these positions. Please let us know if you are interested in serving!
Sunday Forums
Sunday forums are about sharing your interests, your work, your passions with the parish. Forums are a means for building community as we get to know one another and learn and grow in our faith. Please consider how you might offer a Sunday forum in the new year. Contact Rev. Susan Walker at ˂susankwalker2@gmail.com˃ or Fr. Sam Dessordi at ˂samdessordi@yahoo.co.uk˃.
An Invitation to Listen to Bishop Mariann's Reflection of this Week's for the Way of Love Practice: To Go
We began week 5 of The Way of Love-Practices for a Jesus Centered Life. Bishop Mariann has recorded a reflection as a podcast for each of the 7 practices. This week we will listen to Bishop Mariann's reflection on the Way of Love Practice: To Go
You can hear Bishop Mariann's reflection in two ways:
1. Follow this link: Experiencing Jesus with Bishop Mariann | Ep 7: The Way of Love: To Go | Episode 7
2. Go to your podcast player and search: Way of Love Bishop Mariann and select Episode 7, To Go.
