Christmas Eve at St. Stephen's

Christmas at St. Stephen's

The week of December 18 at St. Stephen's

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday December 20   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/Amy Phillips,  preacher

James Mackay, music

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Sunday December 24 – 4 Advent 

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ Sandy Holbrook, preacher

James Mackay, music

No Children’s Chapel

For Coffee Hour, please bring a few of your favorite Christmas treats to share at the " treat potluck" during our fellowship time after the morning service.  Coffee, juice and water will be available to go with the treats.

Christmas Eve

7:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

James Mackay, music

Children’s Tableau

Monday December 25 – Christmas 

10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

James Mackay, music

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Monday December 25 – Christmas 

10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

James Mackay, music

We had some hearty workers to help Green the Church today

Sts. Benedict and Scholastica window installed today

The week of December 11

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday December 13 – St. Lucy

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ Annette Morrow, preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, December 15   

After 7:00 pm – Rectory Christmas Party

Sunday December 17  – 3 Advent/Gaudete

DEDICATION OF STS. BENEDICT & SCHOLASTICA WINDOW

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

12:00 pm - Greening of St. Stephen’s

12:45 – Vestry

Liturgical Calendars

If you would like a liturgical calendar for 2018, please let James Mackay know so he can make sure to order enough.

Please join our very own Steve Bolduc and Amy Phillips whose book, The Prairie Post Office, is  featured at the Writer Wonderland authors' event at Zandbroz Thursday night, December 7.  The event begins at 5:00 and ends at 8:00 pm.  Feel free to drop by! 

The week of December 4

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday December 6 –   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ Dan Rice  preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, December 8   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday December 10  – 2 Advent

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

A Letter from Fr. Jamie

November 29, 2017

 Dear St. Stephen’s friends,

As we all know, there has been so many truly wonderful things happening at St. Stephen’s over the last few years, and definitely over this past year of 2017.

+ We have seen yet more truly wonderful people join us.

+ We had the largest group of people confirmed since 1961.

+ We had two wonderful visits from Bishop Carol Gallagher.

+ We blessed and dedicated more stained glass windows, including our Integrity Window, all of which speak loudly of the great ministries we have done here.

+ There have been many new improvements to our church building.

+ We had a wildly successful Capital Campaign.

+ There are many new and wonderful ministries that are joining our tried and true ministries.

+ People are stepping up the plate and doing the ministry they have been called to do here. 

+ And, most importantly, St. Stephen’s has continued to be a voice and presence of Christ in the community and the world as a place of radical inclusiveness and acceptance. We have also been place for people who are speaking out and standing up against injustice and inequality in our world.

And our future is looking great too. We are now in the process of supporting John Anderson  as trains to serve St. Stephen’s in the ordination process that will lead (God willing) to his ordination as a Deacon. There are new opportunities for ministry and outreach in the coming year. And there are opportunities coming both in our diocese, in the larger church and in the community for St. Stephen’s to stand up and be the voice it has been.

The future is beautiful and bright for us at St. Stephen’s. So, with all these wonderful things happening at St. Stephen’s, how do we respond? How do we respond in a way that will make sure that this incredible momentum continues? 

First, reflect

We should take a few moments and reflect before God about our place at St. Stephen’s. In a congregation that continues to grow, that continues to be a place that practices radical hospitality and acceptance, a place that continues to stand up and speak out and be a voice for justice and inclusion, there are many ways we can help and participate.

Second, pledge.

All Episcopalians are asked to make a financial pledge based upon a percent of their income. This kind of giving is, of course, based on the Scriptural and Episcopal Church standard of what is called the tithe (or ten percent of one’s income). In the Hebrew Scriptures, the practice of tithing was simply a way of returning to God ten percent of all that had been received from God. The early Jews believed that by giving a portion of something away, the remaining part was made holy. This kind of sacrifice was, and is, a very practical way of dedicating all of life to God.

(An Aside: Priest-in-Charge vs. Rector

 Your pledge also helps in making sure your priest (me) keeps working. I do not share this information very often, and, to be honest, I am uncomfortable doing so now, but I share this only because many people at St. Stephen’s do not know this: b but, as your Priest-in-Charge I am not paid for full-time work (A Rector is a paid full-time priest in charge of a congregation). I want to stress: I do not share this information to instill guilt or undue pressure.

 I share this information because we are, as a congregation, close to being to pay for a full-time Rector at St. Stephen's. 

But I think it is important for the members of St. Stephen’s to know the difference between a full-time and a part-time priest has much more to do than with just the priest themselves.

A part-time priest has the title of Priest-in-Charge. They are essentially a vicar—a vicarious presence of the Bishop in a congregation. The Bishop has the power to appoint (in consultation with the Vestry) a priest to a congregation that has a priest-in-charge; the Bishop also has the power to reassign or “pull” a priest-in-charge  from a congregation (in consultation with the Vestry).

A Rector however is a full-time priest who serves at the behest of the congregation. It is the congregation that calls a Rector (in consultation with the Bishop).

St. Stephen’s had Rectors serving their congregation until about twenty years ago. It is very rare for a congregation that once had a Rector and now has a Priest-in-Charge, to go back to having a Rector. It is quite an accomplishment on the part of he congregation! 

The fact is: the demands of St. Stephen’s are, at this point, for a full-time Rector. The day-to-day pastoral needs of a congregation this size are for a Rector. This is something about which we should rejoice! 

Your pledge helps get us closer to St. Stephen’s having a Rector and for the congregation to have the ability and opportunity to call a Rector to serve when one day (hopefully in the far future)  I move on.

  

Third, our talents.

 Each of us has been blessed by God with various talents. These talents are what make us unique. Some of us have a gift for music, others for the physical upkeep of buildings, others for their artistic vision, others for their gift to make things beautiful, others for teaching. Each of us has something special that we can share with others here at St. Stephen’s.

Fourth, we are good stewards by being faithful ministers. Each of us as baptized Christians is called by God to serve—to serve God and to serve others in love. Ministry here at St. Stephen’s takes many forms—liturgically (in the worship service), musically, in outreach and in sharing God’s goodness and love with others in whatever small ways. Wry should continue to stand up and speak out as we are called to do. We should continue to be prophets

Finally, our gratitude

We should give thanks to God and to each other regularly for the graces we have been granted to us as a congregation. God has been good to us at St. Stephen’s.  God is here, present in the work we do. Christ is present in us as we do the work we have been called to do.

In all these ways, we show our gratitude for the abundance that God has granted to us here at St. Stephen’s. In addition, we also share in the on-going and vital ministry of our congregation.

This Sunday, December 3, we will be gathering in our pledge cards and our Time-and Talent sheets.  Stewardship Season is the time in which we celebrate the exciting ministries at St. Stephen’s and consider how we may show our gratitude for the abundance we have been given.

This Sunday, please plan on attending the 11:00 celebration of Holy Eucharist, and please plan to place your pledge card and your Time-and-Talent Sheet in the offering plate.

As we head into a new year of ministry, please consider tithing from your monetary income. But just as seriously consider the ways in which you serve God and God’s People through the ministry each of us has been called to do here.

Finally, THANK YOU. Thank you to those who have already turned in their pledge cards. Thank you to all of you who have worked so hard and so patiently to make St. Stephen’s what it is.

I am personally so grateful for each and every one of you as I pray for you by name through the course of the week in my daily prayers. I sometimes almost cannot believe that God has been so good to call me to a place where I can serve alongside a community of people who are committed to God’s love, justice and service to others. Thank you again and again!

 -peace,

Fr. Jamie+

The week of November 27

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday November 29 – Eve of St. Amdrew 

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, December 1   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday December 3  – 1 Advent

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

PLEDGE INGATHERING

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Children’s Chapel /St. Nicholas celebration

Coffee Hour following

12:45 – Adult Ed with Mike Morrissey

Thanksgiving Eve

The week of November 20

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday November 22 – Eve of Thanksgiving   

7:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (with St. Mark’s Lutheran Church)

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/Pastor Joe Larson, presider/ John Anderson,  preacher

Pie Social following

Thursday, November 23   

Thanksgiving Day

Friday, November 24   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday November 26  – Christ the King

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

The week of November 13

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday November 15 –   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, November 17   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday November 19  – 24 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

12:45 – Vestry

FM Veg “Gentle Thanksgiving”

The week of November 6

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday November 8 –   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, November 12   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday November 12  – 23 Pentecost

STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Stewardship lunch hosted by the Vestry

Annual Requiem Mass on Wednesday

The week of October 30

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Monday October 30- November 5

All Saints Pre-Octave 

Wednesday November 1 –Eve of All Souls Day   

6:00 p.m. – Annual Requiem Mass

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, November 4   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday November 5  – ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

If you have not done so, please send any names of any departed loved ones you would like remembered to Fr. Jamie at apium@aol.com and he will make sure that their names placed on the altar on All Saints Sunday and that they are remembered at the Requiem Mass

Please take a moment and listen to this inspiring story about Tremble Clefs, led by our very own Michelle Gelinske. We are so proud of you, Michelle!

http://news.prairiepublic.org/post/tremble-clefs-choir#stream/0

The week of October 23

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday October 25 –   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, October 27   

Fr. Jamie’s day off

Sunday October 29  – 21 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

All Saints Octave begins

Beginning on Sunday, October 29^th, a list will be placed in the Narthex for you to write the names of your deceased loved ones so they may be remembered at the special Requiem Mass we will celebrate on Wednesday November 1. You can also send any names to Fr. Jamie at apium@aol.com and he will make sure that their names placed on the altar on All Saints Sunday and that they are remembered at the Requiem Mass.

+ A special altar will once again be placed in the Narthex. Please bring a photograph or other memento of your loved one to be displayed there from October 29 through November 5.

Diocesan Convention 2017

St. Stephens's delegates to the Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota following the Convention Mass at St. George’s.

St. Stephen window installed

Our 5^th stained glass window in honor of our patron saint, St. Stephen, was installed this morning, just in time for its Dedication and Blessing on Sunday by Bishop Carol Gallagher.

Bishop Carol Gallagher visit THIS SUNDAY

The week of October 16

 Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday October 18 – St. Luke 

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, October 20-Saturday October 21   

Diocesan Convention in Bismarck

Sunday October 22  – 20 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Bishop Carol Gallagher, celebrant/preacher

Children’s Chapel

Baptism

Confirmations/Receptions into the Episcopal Church

Dedication of the St. Stephen window

POTLUCK following

Please pray for our Convention Delegates as they head to Bismarck for  Diocesan Convention:

John Baird

Steve Bolduc

Sandy Holbrook

Catherine McMullen

Amy Phillips

Dan Rice

Gin Templeton

Leo Wilking

The week of October 9

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday October 11 –   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday October 13   

Fr. Jamie day off

Saturday October 14   

Wedding (off site)

Sunday October 15  – 19 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

A PASTORAL LETTER FROM FR. JAMIE IN THE WAKE OF THE MASS SHOOTING IN LAS VEGAS ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2017

October 2, 2017

Dear Members and Friends of St. Stephen’s

In the wake of the violence of October 1st in Las Vegas, I ask your prayers for Las Vegas, for the victims who died, for those who are injured, for those who survived. For family and friends and all those affected by this violence.

Please pray. But, please don't stop at prayer. Rather, let prayer be the motivating factor in our lives at this time.  Prayer should ignite the fire within us to stand up and act.

And so, I also ask at this time for your actions as well.

I ask for your action as followers of Jesus and peacemakers for the Kingdom of God.

Speak out!

Work hard in any way you can to prevent violence and counteract hatred.

I ask you not to let your anger win out, because anger caused this violence.

I ask that you not let your fear win out, because fear fed this violence.

Speak out loudly and clearly. And let the whole world hear you.

The people of St. Stephen’s represent a wide spectrum of political belief. In this divisive time, those beliefs often separate us from each other. However, in this moment, we are united.

I ask you to do anything and everything you can to bring about real change in this moment of darkness, hatred, violence and fear. This is what it means to be a follower of Christ in this world.

And may the Peace of God which passes all understanding be with us and remain among us now and always.

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

-peace,
Fr. Jamie+

The Week of October 2

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Tuesday October 3

6:30 – Ken Bennett reading at Zandbroz

Wednesday October 4 –   

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

(October Healing Mass postponed to October 18 – the Feast of St. Luke)

Friday October 6   

Fr. Jamie day off

Saturday October 7   

9:00-3:30 - Jumble/Bake sale/Book Sale at the Wilking’s (1115 South 8^th Street, Fargo)

Sunday October 8  – 18 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Children’s Chapel

Coffee Hour following

Blessing of Animals

The week of September 25

Join us this week at St. Stephen’s

Wednesday September 27 – Eve of St. Michael & All Angels 

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Incense will be offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday September 29   

Fr. Jamie day off

Sunday October 1  – 17 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Children’s Chapel

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Coffee Hour following

1:00 pm – Blessing of Animals