Sunday, November 29, 2009

Wednesday nights in Advent at St. Stephen's

Come celebrate Advent at St. Stephen's, Fargo.


Wednesday December 2 - Bl. Channing Moore Williams
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist

Wednesday December 9 - Observing the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist
(Incense will be used at this service)

Wednesday, December 16 - Observing the Feast of St. Lucy
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist

Wednesday, December 23 - Observing the Feast of St. Thomas
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist
(Incense will be used at this service)

Wednesday, December 30 - Observing the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist
(Incense will be used at this service)

All Wednesday night Eucharists will be followed by a meal at a local restaurant.



And looking ahead to the Feast of the Epiphany in January...

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – The Feast of the Epiphany
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist
(Incense will be used at this service)
“Epiphany cake” and coffee following

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Bishop Smith's visit to St. Stephen's on Nov. 22

Bishop Michael Smith
will make his annual visitation
to St .Stephen's this coming Sunday,
November 22.
Please take this opportunity to come and greet our Bishop.
Holy Eucharist will be at 11:00 a.m. - as usual –
with Children’s Chapel during the Liturgy of the Word
and a time of food and fellowship will follow.
We look forward to seeing you.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

November at St. Stephen's

Join us for these worship opportunties.

Wednesday, November 11*
The Feast of St. Martin of Tours
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist

Sunday, November 15
24 Pentecost
11:00 AM – Holy Eucharist
Guest Celebrant: Fr. Charles Cherry
Preacher: Sandy Holbrook
Children's Chapel

Wednesday, November 18*
The Feast of St. Hilda of Whitby
6:00 PM – Holy Eucharist

Sunday November 22, 2009
Christ the King Sunday

11:00 AM – Holy Eucharist
Celebrant and Preacher: Bishop Michael Smith
Children's Chapel

6:00 PM
Gentle Thanksgiving at St. Stephen’s
(hosted by FM Veg)

Wednesday, November 25
Thanksgiving Eve
7:00 PM - Holy Eucharist
(at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church)
Celebrant: Pr. Mark Strobel
Preacher: Fr. Jamie
Assisting: Pr. Sue Koestermann

Sunday, November 29
1 Advent
11:00 - Holy Euchairst
Children's Chapel

Pie will be served following this Eucharist

*All Wednesday night Eucharists (except for November 25) will be followed by a meal at a local restaurant.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

New green altar frontal








Made by our very own Gin Templeton. Thanks, Gin!


Thursday, November 5, 2009

Michelle Gelinske/Tim Eischens recital


An Evening of Arias, Art Songs and Duets

Featuring:
Michelle Gelinske, Soprano
Tim Eischens, Baritone
&
Sue Nagel, Piano

University of Minnesota, Moorhead
Fox Recital Hall
Saturday, November 14th, 2009, 7pm
This November 14th, long-time friends Michelle Gelinske (St. Stephen's Cantor extraordinaire) and Tim Eischens are presenting a recital years in the making. They will perform arias by Handel and Mozart, art songs by Copland, Schubert, Schumann, and Hahn and duets by Lehar and Mozart. We'll be joined by pianist Sue Nagel. It should be a lovely evening of music.Since this is one of the rare chances they get to show what they're actually doing with their singing, they'd love it if you could join them on this adventure.
The event is free, but small donations to raise money for the Fargo-Moorhead Music Teachers Association scholarship fund will be greatly appreciated!
They've chosen the wonderful (& familiar) performance space at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Fox Recital Hall. You should find plenty of parking . There will be appetizers and refreshments at the recital.
Who: Tim (baritone) and Michelle (soprano)
When: Saturday, November 14th, 7-9 pm
Where: Minnesota State University Moorhead -
Fox Recital Hall
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563
(parking lot available)
Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Stewardship Letter

October 19, 2009
Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist

Dear members and friends of St. Stephen’s,

This past year at St. Stephen’s has been a very exciting one. We have seen great growth and expansion in our congregation. In addition to the many ministries we have been continued doing faithfully, this year also saw the addition of some new things:

+ Our Wednesday night Eucharist has taken off and has become a vital part of many people’s spiritual lives.

+ The Children’s Chapel on Sunday mornings has been a dream realized for many of us who have longed to hear the joyous sound of children during our Sunday morning Eucharist.

+ Our Average Sunday Attendance is up (and is continuing to go up).

+ Our membership at St. Stephen’s continues to grow by the moment, with 12 new members in the past year.

+ After not having had a wedding at St. Stephen’s since 1996, we had 3 weddings in 2009.

+ We celebrated 4 baptisms in 2009.

+ Of course, we have continued our outreach to the wider Church and Community through the various ministries we do here at St. Stephen’s.

As you can see, we have much to be thankful for here at St. Stephen’s.

As we prepare for Pledge Sunday on November 8, take a moment to think and pray a bit about Stewardship. Although most of us associate Stewardship with giving money to the church, it is so much more than that. Stewardship is also a matter of perspective. It is a way for us to take into consideration what we have and, through prayer and reflection, to consider how best to use what we have been given for God’s greater glory and service to one another.

One way to do so is, of course, through the act of tithing from one’s monetary income. Doing so is of course a very important and vital part of stewardship and it helps make
sure that our congregation continues to function in its ministries and basic day-to-day functioning.

In addition, it is a time to consider giving of our time and talent to the church. Each of us are blessed with gifts that, when used in ministry, benefit all of us. Some of us have talents in teaching and guiding children (which would be perfectly suited for our Children’s Chapel). Some of us enjoy sharing Scripture through reading and instruction (a perfect opportunity to serve as a lector, acolyte or worship leader on Sunday mornings or on Wednesday evenings). Others have hands-on talents in dealing with the physical structure of the church building (the church building is always in need of supervision in these areas). Some feel called to serve on altar guild. All of these are important ministries and each should be responded to as a response to ministry.

As we near Pledge Sunday, please do consider tithing from your monetary income, but just as seriously consider serving God and the People of God through the ministry you have been called to do.

On Sunday November 8, please plan on attending 11:00 Eucharist on Pledge Sunday. Also, plan to stay for the lunch following the Eucharist, which will be hosted once again by the Vestry.
As we continue our journey together, let us work together to fulfill the potentials, and look forward in hope and joy at the potentials that await us at St. Stephen’s. I look forward to that journey and I hope you do as well.

-peace,
Fr. Jamie Parsley+

Sunday, November 1, 2009

WEDNESDAY NIGHT EUCHARISTS IN NOVEMBER

November 4
6:00 PM
Observing the Feast of Bl. William Temple

November 11
6:00 PM
The Feast of St. Martin of Tours

November 18
6:00 PM
The Feast of St. Hilda of Whitby

November 25
7:00 PM
Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist
At St. Mark’s Lutheran


All Wednesday night Eucharists (except for November 25) will be followed by a meal at a local restaurant.