The week of November 11

 Monday, November 11 – Veterans’ Day

Office closed

 

Wednesday, November 13

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Friday, November 15 - 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, November 17 -26 Pentecost/STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

Stewardship Luncheon – hosted by the Vestry

3:00 p.m. – Gentle Thanksgiving (hosted by FM Veg)

 

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:

November 17 - Stewardship Sunday - Vestry providing lunch 

November 27 – Thanksgiving Eve Mass - 7:00 p.m.

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

December 8 – In-gathering

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

December 13-19 – Fr. Jamie vacation

December 15 - Gaudete Sunday

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:

Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder. ~E.B.

From the Green Team:

There’s more than one way to keep your wardrobe growing while reducing waste. Repairs, swapping with friends, and shopping secondhand can help you reuse your clothes in new ways.

 

 

From Fr. Jamie following the Election

 Dear St. Stephen’s Family---

 

In the wake of last night’s election results, I have already heard from several people who are devastated and numb with shock. Some of us feel helpless today. Some of us simply feel numb.

 

Once these initial emotions start to fade, please remember that now is not the time for hand wringing. It is a time to do what we always do when difficulties befall us: we square our shoulders. We recommit ourselves to doing what we feel is right. And we move forward.

 

Having said that, it is important to remember (this being a paraphrase of something I found this morning on social media):

We are awakening to the same country we fell asleep to. The very same country.

Let us pull ourselves together.

How do we get through the next four years?

Continue to do the good work.

Continue to build bridges not walls.

Continue to lead with compassion.

Continue the demanding work of liberation for all.

Continue to dismantle the broken systems, large and small.

Continue to set the best example for the children and others.

Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.

Continue to support your gay and lesbian sisters and brothers. 

Continue to hold up your transgender companions.

Continue to support educators.

Continue, right where you are. 

Continue to stand up and speak out.

Right where you live into your days. 

Do so in the name of our God who expects nothing less form each of us. And if we are "continuing" ALL of the above, in community, partnership, collaboration? 

What is it we have been doing?

What is it we are waiting for? 

Please also be assured: St. Stephen’s will remain a place of inclusion and safety. It will be a place in which the love of God and of one another is upheld.

 

We must continue to strive to uphold this radical inclusiveness. We must strive to be living, breathing presences of God’s love and acceptance of all. We must strive to be the hands, feet, face and heart of Christ in a world that truly needs Christ’s all-accepting love.

 

Please pray for our nation.

 

Please pray for our leadership.

 

Please pray for our future.

 

And let us not let our fears and anxieties defeat us.

 

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,

Jamie+ 

From Fr Jamie on the eve of Election Day

 Dear St. Stephen’s family--

I am hearing from so many people expressing their anxiety, their fear and their “nauseous optimism” as we approach Election Day. I too am feeling all of those emotions at any given moment.

        If you’re anything like me, when there is nothing more to do, I just try to do “something.” Let us channel our emotions into constructive endeavors.

Let us remain steadfast in our prayers and in serving others.

If you have not voted, PLEASE do so.

And please keep our nation and each other in your prayers as we head into the big day.

                                                -peace,

                                                Jamie+

 

Everlasting God, source of all liberty, before whom every earthly ruler must bow and bend the knee, we lay our nation before you as we prepare for an election. Breathe upon us your Spirit of wisdom and discernment. Grant all who seek public office the mind of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life for the freedom of the oppressed. Hold before us those who face uncertain futures, or who have no voice in our political process. Uphold and safeguard poll workers and election officials in their work. Spare us from the crushing weight of cynicism. Give us grace to speak courageously, but with love, without which our words are noise and we are nothing. Gather us together under the cross, where, in all of our difference, we can stand as one people, redeemed in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

The week of November 4

 Wednesday, November 6

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

 

Friday, November 8 - 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, November 10 – 25 Pentecost

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

Coffee hour following Mass

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:

November 17 - Stewardship Sunday - Vestry providing lunch 

December 8 – In-gathering

December 8 - Greening of the church - volunteers needed

December 13-20 – Fr. Jamie vacation

 

Words of Wisdom:

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

From the Green Team:

There is no such thing as “away”. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.

 

The week of October 28

 Monday, October 28

Ambassador deadline

Wednesday, October 30

6:00 p.m. – ANNUAL REQUIEM MASS

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Procession to the Memorial Garden

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Friday, November 1 - 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.

 

Saturday, November 2

10:00 a.m. Investiture service for Presiding Bishop-Elect Sean Rowe livestreamed at St. Stephen’s

 

Sunday, November 3 – All Saints Sunday

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

James Mackay, organist

Coffee hour following Mass

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

 

Investiture Service for Presiding Bishop-Elect

The investiture service for Presiding Bishop-Elect will take place on Saturday, November 2 at the Chapel of Christ the Lord in The Episcopal Church Center in New York City with a prelude beginning at 9:00a.m. CT and the service starting at 10 a.m. CT. There will be an extensive livestream production to support churchwide access and participation. (modified; https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/save-the-date-for-presiding-bishop-elect-rowes-installation-service/)

We at St. Stephen's will host a livestream event in the undercroft. Doors to the church will open at 8:45am, with the prelude--per above--beginning at 9:00amCT and the actual service at 10:00am. We will have some coffee on; bring snacks to share; drop in or depart as your schedule allows.

 

 

Upcoming Events:

November 17 - Stewardship Sunday - Vestry provided lunch

 

Words of Wisdom:

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

 

From the Green Team:

Living Greener in the Kitchen:

Find a source for local meat and eggs for eco-friendly protein.

Make a set of reusable beeswax wraps or snack bags to cut down on plastic waste. No time to make your own? Get a pack of three here!

If you use a dishwasher, switch to a less-caustic detergent. Or make your own dishwasher soap tablets. If you wash dishes by hand, skip the disposable plastic bottles and make this homemade dish soap.

Not ready to make your own homemade dish soap? Check out these solid dish soap bars – they’re entirely plant based and zero plastic!

Use a dish cloth instead of a sponge. Or opt for an eco-friendlier natural sponge.

(Source: Attainable – Sustainable)

 

The week of October 21

 Monday, October 21

11:00 a.m. – Burial Office with Holy Eucharist for Lavonne Marubbio (+8/30/2024)

 

Wednesday, October 23

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

 

Friday, October 25 - 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.

 

 

Friday, October 25 – Saturday, October 26

Diocesan Convention at Gladstone Inn, Jamestown.

 

 

Saturday, October 26

1:00 – Memorial Service for Delbert Moen (+10/18/2024)

 

 

Sunday, October 27 -

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

Coffee hour following Mass

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:

October 25 and 26 – Diocesan Convention in Jamestown

November 17 - Stewardship Sunday - Vestry provided lunch

 

Prayers for Diocesan Convention

For our Diocese as it meets for its annual convention October 25-26 in Jamestown, and for our delegates to Convention, Jessica Anderson, John Baird, Steve Bolduc, Janice Chief, Leroy Chief, Sandy Holbrook, James Mackay,  Amy Phillips, Dan Rice, Kristine Shafer, Chancellor Leo Wilking, councilmember Stephanie Garcia, along with Fr. Jamie and Deacon John

 

 

 

Words of Wisdom:

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. ~Mother Teresa

 

From the Green Team:

 

Greener in the Kitchen: 

Stop buying fruits and vegetables that have been imported from another country to reduce gas emissions and energy consumption caused by moving produce from one location to another.

Buy real food. If you can’t trace its origin, it shouldn’t go into your body (ahem, IMHO) and it’s surely not doing our environment any good.

Quit relying on takeout food. If you succumb, find a restaurant that uses compostable packaging and say no to plastic straws. Or better yet, bring your own containers for them to fill.

Learn to cook some really simple, really fast meals so you won’t be tempted by fast food.

Find a local butcher that uses butcher paper instead of buying your meat cuts on Styrofoam.

(Source: Attainable – Sustainable)