Weekly Update Week of 9.16.19
Tuesday, September 17
7:00pm Finance Committee Meeting at the Godly Play Room.
Wednesday, Sept 18
6:00pm Building and Grounds at the Godly Play Room.
Thursday, September 19
7:30pm Choir rehearsal (Choir Room)
Sunday, September 22
8am Holy Eucharist Rite I, The Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
9:15am Forum: "Poems to Awaken": Join Martin Smith for another session reading and exploring several poems of faith that provoke and arouse our own spiritual quest.
10:10am Sharing the Gospel with Loaves and Fishes.
10:30am Holy Eucharistic Rite II, The Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
11:30am Vestry Executive Meeting
5:30pm Misa Alegría (Spanish language liturgy). The Rev. Peter Schell preaches and presides.
The Passing of George Frederick Thomas' Aunt, Beryl Jordan
George Frederick Thomas' Aunt, Beryl Jordan, died September 12th, 2019. She was 100 years old. Please keep George Frederick and the family in your prayers.
O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant Beryl and grant her entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
We Need Your Help!
A group of folks picks up vegetables from the Columbia Heights (14th & Kenyon Streets) Farmers' Market every Saturday and takes them to Loaves & Fishes. If you have a car and could spare about an hour (12:30 - 1:30pm), we need help on Saturday, October 5th, 12th, and 19th.
Please contact Michele Lewis-Muzzatti <mlewis0513@aol.com> or Donald Debevoise <donalddebe@gmail.com>
Message from Dr. Ridgely Bennet
Many thanks to the congregation for the book of messages on the occasion of my 90th birthday. Many thanks also to Laura Mol, Mary Alcuin Kelly, Susan Walker, and everyone else who played a part in the creation of the book. I greatly appreciate it and will cherish it.
Liturgical Changes in our 10:30am Service
We ended our summer liturgy format this past Sunday, September 8. We will return to our usual liturgical practice for the 10:30 Eucharistic Liturgy this coming Sunday and going forward for the rest of the liturgical year and into the next.
Families of St. Stephen’s Retreat 2019
Our congregations reserved the past weekend to spend time at the Lutheran Retreat Center, Mar-Lu-Ridge in Jefferson, MD, together for worship, prayer, and fellowship and to reflect on the charisma of St. Francis of Assisi. With 28 participants we had the opportunity to meditate on care for the environment through the lens of Franciscan spirituality. Children and parents explored nature, created colorful rose mandalas, prayed using the words of the ‘Canticle of the Brother Sun’, and worshiped in two languages. One of the gifts of this year’s retreat was the presence of more Spanish speaking families.The Camp Fire with s’mores and music was enriched by the story of the Wolf Gubbio told by Jane Bishop, our Christian Education coordinator.
On Sunday morning, Fr. Sam led a conversation with the parents on the importance of continuing Christian Education programs in our parish. The conversation will continue to include parents who weren’t able to be at the Family Retreat.
Thanks to every one who made the retreat a success, and a special thanks to Jane Bishop, Sarah Padre, Lisa Luceno, Sally Ethelston, Alex Garcia and Juan Caicedo for taking the lead in keys roles for the retreat.
Liturgy Retreat, Saturday, September 28, 10am – 3pm - Theme: Be known to us Lord Jesus, in the Breaking of the Bread
Come and see, Jesus, said. Come and spend a Saturday morning in communal prayer, Bible study, and reflection as we explore the meaning of the Eucharist and the theology of the Sacrament in our personal and communal lives. There will be an opportunity in the afternoon to sign up for a seasonal planning team for the upcoming liturgical year beginning in Advent. We will also invite those gathered who feel drawn to participate in a Sunday liturgical team as thurifer, candle bearers, crucifers, manager of ceremonies, readers and worship leaders to come forward. Training will take place at a later date. For planning purposes, let us know if you are able to attend by e-mailing Fr. Sam at ˂samdessordi@yahoo.co.uk˃, Mary Alcuin Kelly at ˂marykelly9748@yahoo.com˃ or add your name to the “I am Coming to the Retreat” poster on the bulletin board in the parish hall.
Fall Welcome Class
Are you new to Saint Stephen's or have you been here awhile and are interested in a deeper exploration 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, on Thursday evenings, October 3,10,17, 24 and November 7, and on Tuesday evening October 29 (in deference to All Hallow’s Eve). Classes meet from 7 - 8:30pm in the Godly Play room off of the auditorium. Contact Elizabeth Finley at
<ebfinley@verizon.net> to sign up for the class or if you have questions.
Preparation for The Sacrament Confirmation
The first and the second meetings to prepare for Confirmation will happen on Sunday afternoons to create the opportunity for morning and evening congregations to share space and resources.
Adults and teenagers will gather in the Godly Play room from 3pm to 5pm.
Confirmands who are English speakers are invited to participate from 3pm to 4pm. Confirmands who are Spanish speaking will meet from 4pm to 5pm September 21 – Theme: Prayer and the Book of Common Prayer
The times for the other eight meetings will be set in dialogue with the participants and their schedules. Confirmations will take place at the National Cathedral, on November 2.
Mass Meeting of the Congregation Action Network
When: Tuesday, September 24, dinner at 6:30pm, meeting starts at 7pm
Where: Shrine of the Sacred Heart (3211 Sacred Heart Way, Washington DC, 20010) In addition to updates on projects and actions, the next Congregation Action Network mass meeting will focus on the role of network members in fighting a proposed adult migrant detention center in Maryland and detention centers for migrant children in DC and Northern Virginia. These campaigns will be an important focus of the Network for many months and we need to engage as many people as possible to launch effective resistance. You can register here:<https://bit.ly/2k6RlQw>
Christ in Crisis book launch with the Presiding Bishop
Join the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for the launch of Rev. Jim Wallis’ latest book Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus at an event on Wednesday, September 25 taking place at 6pm in Washington, DC, at National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle. Presiding Bishop Curry graciously wrote the foreword to the book. It is going to be a fun and hopefully inspiring event.
The event details can be found (and shared) here on the official event Facebook page and the direct link to register for the event is linked in the below invite image.
