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