Christmas at St. Stephen's

 

Fr. Jamie on vacation

 Fr. Jamie on vacation

Fr Jamie will be on vacation December 13-19. If there are any pastoral emergencies or concerns, please contact Deacon John or simply leave a message at the church (messages will be checked regularly while Fr. Jamie is gone)

While he is gone, Fr. Jamie will not be checking email, text messages or Facebook messages while on vacation.

 

The weeks of December 9 and 16

 Wednesday, December 11

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

 Fr. Jamie, celebrant 

Deacon John, assisting

Annette Morrow, preacher

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

 

Friday, December 13 – 19 Fr. Jamie vacation

Fr Jamie will not be checking email, text messages or Facebook messages while on vacation. If there are any pastoral emergencies or concerns, please contact Deacon John or leave a message at the church (messages will be checked regularly while Fr. Jamie is gone)

 

 

Sunday, December 15 – 3 Advent/Gaudete

11:00 a.m. –Morning Prayer/Holy Eucharist from the Reserved Sacrament

 Deacon John, officiant/preacher

James Mackay, organist

1:00 PM Greening of the Church

 

Wednesday, December 18

6:00 p.m. – Evensong

Deacon John, officiant

Amy Phillips, preacher

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

 

Sunday, December 22 – 4 Advent

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist 

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

 

We would love to see you in person but if you are unable to attend please join us for Mass livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@st.stephensfargo

 

 

Upcoming Events:

December 24 – Christmas Eve - Mass 7:00 p.m.

Celebration of James Stalboerger’s 1^st birthday will follow

December 25 – Nativity of Our Lord – Mass 10:00 a.m.

December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen – Mass 6:00 p.m.

 

 

Fr. Jamie mini-vacation

Fr. Jamie will be going on a much-needed mini-vacation from Friday, December 13 through Friday, December 19. If any pastoral emergencies come up, please either contact Deacon John or simply call the church and leave a message on the machine

 

 

 

Greening of the Church

Greening of the church – 1:00 p.m. Sunday December 15 - volunteers needed. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in this fun gathering that helps to decorate the church for Advent and Christmas.

 

 

Words of Wisdom:

Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers. ~Kalil Gibran

From the Green Team:

In the winter, experts recommend that you set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're home, and 60 to 65 degrees when you're asleep or away. You can set it higher, but that will reduce efficiency and lead to higher energy bills.

 

The week of December 2

 Wednesday, December 6

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant

Annette Morrow, preaching

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant of Annette’s choice

 

 

Friday, December 6

Fr. Jamie’s day off

*please refrain from sending Fr. Jamie emails, text messages, Facebook messages or phone calls on his day off unless it is a pastoral emergency.

 

 

Sunday, December 8 – 2 Advent

Pledge In-Gathering

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist – In-gathering

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

We would love to see you in person but if you are unable to attend please join us for Mass livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@st.stephensfargo

 

Upcoming Events:

December 13-19 – Fr. Jamie vacation

December 15 – Gaudete Sunday / Greening of the church – 1:00 p.m. - volunteers needed. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to help decorate the church for Advent and Christmas.

December 24 – Christmas Eve Mass – 7:00 p.m.

December 25 – Nativity of Our Lord Mass - 10:00 a.m.

December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen Mass - 6:00 p.m.

 

Advent Wednesday Night Eucharist

This week Annette Morrow will preach about the great Hildegard of Bingen at our 6:00 Wednesday.

Afterward we will go a restaurant of Annette’s choice to celebrate her birthday.

Join us!  

Pledge in-gather Sunday, Dec. 8

This Sunday is PLEDGE IN-GATHERING. If you have not handed in your pledge card, please do so this Sunday.

 

Your pledges are important, and are essential for us to meet our Stewardship goal of $110,000 and to do the work we do here at St. Stephen’s. If you have not done so yet, please consider handing your pledge of financial support and Time-&Talent this Sunday.

 

Fr. Jamie’s vacation

Fr. Jamie will be on vacation December 13-20. If you are in need any pastoral care or have a pastoral emergency during that time, please contact Deacon John Anderson.

 

Good to know:

What is Advent?

“Advent” (Latin) means, “a coming or arrival”. Advent is more that the preparation of Christ’s birth. It also celebrates the three-fold coming of the Lord:

·       Remembering the events that surrounded the Lord’s coming long ago.

·       Celebrating his coming among us today.

·       Looking forward to his final coming in glory.

When is Advent?

Advent always starts four Sundays before Christmas. This year, in 2024, Advent started on Sunday, December 1.

From the Green Team:

What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing (also known as green sheen) is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. All-natural is an example. Arsenic, uranium, mercury, and formaldehyde are all naturally occurring, and poisonous. All natural isn’t necessarily green. Source: sustainablefashionandtravel.com

 

 

The week of November 25

 Monday, November 25

Ambassador deadline

 

Wednesday, November 27

7:00 p.m. – Thanksgiving Eve Holy Eucharist

(There will be no 6:00 p.m. Mass this evening.)

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

 

 

Friday, November 29 - Fr. Jamie’s day off

*please refrain from sending Fr. Jamie emails, text messages, Facebook messages or phone calls on his day off unless it is a pastoral emergency.

 

 

Sunday, December 1 – 1 Advent

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

James Mackay, organist

Coffee Hour following

We would love to see you in person but if you are unable to attend please join us for Mass livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@st.stephensfargo

 

Christmas Flowers

If you would like to donate Christmas flowers, please use one of the available envelopes on the back table. You may include an intention—in honor, in memory, in thanksgiving. Please include ‘Xmas flowers’ on the memo line of your check.

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events:

December 8 – In-gathering

December 15 – Gaudete Sunday / Greening of the church – 1:00 p.m. - volunteers needed

December 13-19 – Fr. Jamie vacation

December 24 – Christmas Eve Mass – 7:00 p.m.

December 25 – Nativity of Our Lord – Mass 10:00 a.m.

December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen – Mass 6:00 p.m.

 

Words of Wisdom:

Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life. ~Rumi

From the Green Team:

Precycling:

Refuse what you don't need.

Reduce what you do need.

Reuse what you can't reduce.

Recycle what you can't reuse.

Rebuy (buy recycled) whenever possible.

 

 

Stewardship Talk for November 17, 2025

Stewardship Talk

November 17, 2024

 This year for our Stewardship Talk, I am going to share some thoughts from a friend of mine, Pastor Lexy Steinle, the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fargo (where I was baptized).

Pastor Lexy gives some great insights into how important Stewardship is.

“When we give to God, we are giving God what has always belonged to our creator. God calls us into stewardship, God teaches us how to give, not because God needs our gifts (they’re already God’s!) but because God wants us to learn how to give joyfully! To turn our gaze outward, to live fully into God’s abundance! We are children of God—entrusted with time, talents, and treasure from our loving and patient parent—and we choose how we spend and share what God has entrusted to us. We are not the owners of God’s goodness and creation, but joyful stewards of it.

God is at the center of stewardship, because just like giving gifts, stewardship is not about what is given but the Love behind it. We are called to be good stewards, learning a little more each day from our heavenly parent: not to hide away or hoard what we have been entrusted with but invest and share it abundantly; not to worship it but use it as a tool to worship God and serve our neighbor; not to live out of a fear of scarcity but out of abundance. These are lessons we continue to learn throughout our entire lives as children of God.

“God’s place in Stewardship centers us in the life of Jesus. We learn by example, by mentorship. And so we give, because of the One who gave it all for us. We share because of the One who shared this beautiful creation and all that is in it. And we do so joyfully because of the One who takes great delight in us. At the conclusion of the famous prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, we hear, “for it is in giving that we receive.” May we steward what we have been entrusted with the. . .joy and excitement of a child of God . . . May we give with the same exuberance and lavishness as we were taught to give. May we center our stewardship in the loving heart of God.”

So, some basic questions about Stewardship here at St. Stephen’s.

 
What is a pledge according to The Episcopal Church?
It’s a commitment to give one's time, talents, and money as an expression of faith and a personal response to God's generosity. Parish members are encouraged to make an annual stewardship pledge. This pledge represents their specific Christian commitment to "work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God" (BCP, p. 856). Parish budgets are prepared in light of the pledges received from the members. A pledge is a statement of intent, not a legal obligation. It can be changed at any time.[And we understand that people’s financial situations change, and change regularly]
 
Do I have to fill out a pledge card or can I just keep putting money in the plate each week?
We do understand that making a pledge commitment can be a bit uncomfortable for some depending upon personal and financial situations. It feels like a permanent commitment for the year. Our wish is that those who have been making weekly plate contributions to make a formal pledge in order to give us an idea of total expected income. Just like any business, we cannot plan for expenses unless we understand our income. This is necessary for our overall financial health and day-to-day operations.

What if I do make a formal pledge and then I lose my job or my finances take a turn for the worse, and I cannot fulfill my original pledge commitment?
No worries. Unexpected events happen all the time. This situation happens every year and we adjust. Losing a job and having to reduce a pledge or even put it on hold until you’re able to get your finances back can be an uncomfortable topic and even embarrassing to some. There is no disgrace in this, and your church family has your back. We want to help, especially in times of personal strife and challenge. This is when you need support the most. Please never hesitate to reach out to the rector for help and support through dark times, whether it’s about a pledge adjustment or anything else.

What if I’m financially unable to support St. Stephen’s with a pledge?
As Christians we are called to be good stewards using our time, talents and treasure. If you can only give of your time and talents this year instead of a financial pledge, that is your personal situation and we respect you for that. We encourage everyone to enter into the life of our parish as much as possible through the sharing of their time and talents. If you are looking for ideas on how to get more involved, please reach out to the clergy.

Am I expected to give a portion of my pledge every week?
Some give a portion every week, while others give monthly, quarterly or even annually. The preference is to evenly distribute your giving throughout the year as much as possible to mirror how we pay our expenses.

How much should I give?
Giving is a spiritual practice that should be prayerfully considered. Scripture encourages proportionate giving (giving a percentage of one’s income as an act of worship). Many of our pledges start their pledge journey by committing to a percentage level that seems doable, and then gradually moving up. There is a Biblical tithe – ten percent of what you make. If you can’t give ten percent and still meet your basic needs, give what you can. But do think about giving in proportion to your income as an offering in thanksgiving for how you have been blessed. Start with one or two percent if that is what you can do, and let it grow year by year

Who sees my pledge amount?
Your giving is a very private matter of conscience between you and God. Pledges are received annually by the rector via the pledge basket in enclosed envelopes during the service or via her direct email. The treasurer and bookkeeper are also aware of your pledge as part of the financial planning process and to record your contributions for income tax deduction purposes. But other than those few people, your pledge is confidential information.

How exactly do I make my pledge payments?

 Some put their pledge in the plate every Sunday via check or cash. Others make regular deductions from their bank accounts online. Some even donate stock. Some donate by using the Donate button on our website (just make sure you designate it as a “Pledge”).
  
Last thoughts on how and where to start your 2025 pledge.
 
1. Pray. This vital step is often overlooked in giving. Take some to time to ask for God’s help to guide you in this decision. Hold this question and consider including it in your daily or weekly prayers as you think about your financial commitment for the coming year.

2. Consider the many blessings in your life. Giving should come from our gratitude and with a sense of joy, not out of guilt or obligation. Our culture teaches us to focus on what we don’t have, but Jesus teaches us to love and serve others with what we have already been blessed with. Begin each day by thanking God for all the blessings in your life, and ask yourself if your giving reflects your gratitude.

3. Ask why St. Stephen’s is special to you. Each of us has come to call St. Stephen’s our spiritual home for different reasons. For many, it’s our commitment to the full inclusion of all of God’s children. For some of us, it’s the liturgy and music, for others it is our commitment to outreach. For many it’s simply been a safe haven after experiencing difficult church environments elsewhere.    As you consider your giving for 2025, remember that your pledge enables St. Stephen’s to be the place it is and make God's intention a reality.

4. Challenge yourself. Ask if your pledge reflects your values and priorities. God is calling us to connect more deeply in our relationship with God and one another. Does your pledge move you closer to God? Many have noted the life-changing impact that a simple pledge can have – and how little they missed the money – as they received so much more in return. At the end of the day, giving is about letting go of our agenda, so that we can say yes to God’s. This year, why not try “shocking yourself” with your generosity and then see how this connects you to God's kingdom?