The week of January 30

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday February 1 – Eve of the Feast of the Presentation
6:00 pm – Mass
Blessing of Candles
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Incense will be offered at this Mass
supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday February 3
6:00 pm – Young(er) Episcopalians – location: TBA

Sunday February 5– 5 Epiphany
11:00 am – Holy Eucharist
Baptism of Julia Marie Breth
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Children’s Chapel

The week of Jan. 24

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s


Tuesday January 24
6:30 pm – Healing Eucharist
Intercessory prayers/laying-on-of-hands/Sacrament of Holy Unction
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Jan Nelson, assisting
Michelle Gelinske, music

Wednesday January 25 –
6:00 pm – Mass
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Incense will be offered at this Mass
supper afterward at a local restaurant

Saturday January 28 –
1:00 pm – Annual Report Assembly

6:00 pm – Occupy-FM Chili feed (sponsored by FM Veg)

Sunday January 29– 4 Epiphany
11:00 am – Morning Prayer/Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Children’s Chapel

1:00 pm Annual Meeting and potluck following

The week of Jan. 16 at St. Stephen's

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s


Wednesday January 18 – Observing Martin Luther King, jr.
6:00 pm – Mass
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Incense will be offered at this Mass
supper afterward at a local restaurant

Saturday January 21 –
10:30 pm – Budget Committee

Sunday January 22– 3 Epiphany
11:00 am – Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/Sandy Holbrook, preacher
Children’s Chapel

The week of Jan. 8

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s


Wednesday January 11
6:00 pm – Mass
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Incense will be offered at this Mass
supper afterward at a local restaurant

Sunday January 15– 2 Epiphany
11:00 am – Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher
Children’s Chapel

5:30 pm – Prasadam (hosted by FM Veg)

Epiphany Mass/Blessing of chalk/Epiphany cake

Join us

Wednesday, January 4,

the observed Feast of the Epiphany,

during our 6:00 pm Holy Eucharist

We will once again have a traditional “Blessing of the Chalk” and “Blessing of the homes of the parish” as well as ceremoniously Proclaim the Date of Easter.

Since the Middle Ages there has been a tradition that on (or near) the feast of the Epiphany we pray for God’s blessing on our homes, marking the entrance with chalk (an incarnational image reminding us of the dust of the earth from which we were made). We mark the main door of our home with the initials of the Magi and the numerals of the new year, connected with crosses:

20 + C + M + B + 12

The initials remind us of the legendary names of the Magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar – and also stand for the Latin motto: Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless this house.” In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this ritual, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God’s presence and blessing into our homes.

It is traditional to write the inscription on the lintel, above the door, but it can be written anywhere near the entrance. The following prayer may be said while the entrance is marked:

The three Wise Men,
C Caspar,
M Melchior,
B and Balthasar followed the star of God’s Son who became human
20 two thousand
12 and twelve years ago.
++ May Christ bless our home
++ and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Date of Easter

The Proclamation of the Date of Easter on Epiphany dates from a time when calendars were not readily available. It was necessary to make known the date of Easter in advance, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on its date. The number of Sundays that follow Epiphany, the date of Ash Wednesday, and the number of Sundays that follow Pentecost are all computed in relation to Easter.

Epiphany Cake

Following Mass, please join is for the traditional Epiphany cake. A nut is baked into the cake and whoever gets the nut in her or his piece of cake brings the cake the next year.

May this Epiphany Blessing be a reminder that Christ is incarnate in the love and care we manifest to each other in our ordinary daily lives together.

Even if you are unable to make it to the Epiphany Mass this year, the chalk will be available for anyone who would like to use it to bless their homes.



The week of Jan. 2

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s


Wednesday January 4 – Observing the Feast of The Epiphany
6:00 pm – Mass
The blessing of Chalk*/The blessing of the homes of the parish
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Incense will be used at this Mass
Dessert first: Epiphany cake* will be served afterward
supper afterward at a local restaurant

Sunday January 8 – 1 Epiphany – Baptism of Our Lord
11:00 am – Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie Parsley, celebrant/preacher
Children’s Chapel

12:45 pm – Vestry