The week of December 29

 Monday, December 39

Ambassador deadline

 

Wednesday, December 31 - New Year’s Eve

6:00 p.m. – Eucharist for the Dawn of a New Year

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Thursday, January 1- Holy Name

Office closed

 

Friday, January 2

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, January 3

11:00 a.m. – Memorial Service for Russell Nylander (+12/17/2025) at Korsmo Funeral Home, Moorhead

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

Michelle Gelinske, soloist

 

Sunday, January 4 – Epiphany (observed)

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

James Mackay, organist

Blessing of Chalk/Blessing of Homes of the Parish/Marking of Lintel

Luncheon following

 

Livestream

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

To donate to St. Stephen’s, please click this link: Donate or, send a check to St. Stephen’s, 120 21^st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

 

 

Pledges

Just a reminder if you have not yet pledged, or if you have forgotten: it is not too late. Please consider filling out a pledge card and returning it this week so we can continue to do what we do.

Or simply send an email to Laura Nylander letting her know how much you intend to pledge. Her email is  laura.nylander56@gmail.com

 

Upcoming Events: 

January 25 - St. Stephen’s Annual Meeting

 

Good to Know: 

An Episcopal priest worked with Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson to create the foundations of The Twelve Steps. Episcopal Churches have long been a welcoming space for recovery groups, and our most recent General Convention re-committed our church to end complicity in issues of substance abuse and employ our church as a community of healing for those in recovery. Source: https://cor-satx.org/article/10-things-i-wish-everyone-knew-about-the-episcopal-church/

 

From the Green Team:

Darin Underhill, an inspector with the West Fargo Fire Department, said every homeowner should test smoke detectors at least once a month, learn and teach how to use a fire extinguisher and plan emergency exits in case of a fire. "Be familiar with the fire extinguisher. Have one in your house. Know where it's at, make sure it's in working order. And when in doubt, call 911. We'd rather be there and not be needed than be too late. So don't be afraid," Underhill said. He added that lithium batteries should not be thrown in a normal trash bin and should be taken to a local household hazardous waste facility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The week of December 21

 Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

8:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist – Christmas Eve

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

Thursday, December 25 - Christmas

10:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist - Christmas Day - Nativity of Our Lord Mass

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

James Mackay, organist

 

 

Sunday, December 28 – St. Stephen (transferred)

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist 

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

 

LIVESTREAM

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

 

DONATE

To donate to St. Stephen’s, please click this link: Donate or, send a check to St. Stephen’s, 120 21^st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

 

Russell Nylander (1953-2025)

Your prayers are continued to be requested for the repose of the soul of Russ Nylander, spouse of our Senior Warden, Laura Nylander.

 

Please also keep Laura, their children and the entire Nylander and Coffey families in your prayers.

 

The memorial service for Russ will be on Saturday, January 3 at Korsmo Funeral Home in Moorhead. Fr. Jamie will be officiating. Deacon John will be assisting.

 

More information will be forthcoming.

 

Pledges

 

Pledges help us to be the safe place we are in a world that is often unsafe for many people. Let’s face it, there are few places quite like St. Stephen’s

If you have already pledged, please accept our deepest gratitude. Thank you!! Your pledge does so much! 

If you have not yet pledged, or if you have forgotten, it is not too late. Please consider filling out a pledge card and returning it within this next week so we can continue to do what we do.

Or simply send an email to Laura Nylander letting her know how much you intend to pledge. Her email is  laura.nylander56@gmail.com

 Most of all, know how grateful we are for the presence and vitality each of you adds to this parish.

Thank you for being who you are to us and with us.

 

 

 

Upcoming Events:

January 3 – 10:00 a.m. Russel Nylander memorial service at Korsmo Funeral Home

 

January 17 – Budget Meeting

 

January 25 - St. Stephen’s Annual Meeting

 

Words of Wisdom:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

~Luke 2:14

From the Green Team:

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." 

~Desmond Tutu

Fr. Jamie's Christmas Letter

 

Christmas, 2025

 

My Friends at St. Stephen’s,

 

It’s no secret at St. Stephen’s that your priest is kind of a Grinch regarding Christmas. I’m not a big fan of the commercial aspects of the holiday. But I can say that our celebration of Christmas at St. Stephen’s makes up for it for me. I love celebrating Christmas with all of you. I am grateful to serve a congregation in which, as we commemorate the birth of Christ and prepare to celebrate all that that birth means to us, we do so recognizing that we are all fully loved and fully accepted children of God. There is something truly beautiful and joyous in that realization.   

For my part, serving as St. Stephen’s continues to be truly one of the most fulfilling experiences of my priestly life. Our life together of ministry, worship, music and outreach is always an amazing grace in my life. I love serving alongside faithful, committed people who truly do seek after God and strive to serve others.

As we move forward together into this future full of hope and potential growth, I ask for your continued prayers for St. Stephen’s and your continued presence on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights and whenever else we gather together to worship and to do ministry.

Please know that I pray, as always, for each of you individually by name over the course of each week in my daily prayers and at the celebration of the Eucharist. Above all, know that I give thanks to God every day for the opportunity to serve such a wonderful, caring and loving congregation of people who are committed to growth and radical hospitality.

My sincerest blessings to you and to all those you love during this season of joy, hope and love and in the New Year of 2026.    

 

PEACE always,

                                               

                                                       Fr. Jamie

CHRISTMAS AT ST. STEPHEN'S

 

The week of December 15

 

Wednesday, December 17

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, December 19

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 21 – 4 Advent

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

LIVESTREAM

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

 

DONATE

To donate to St. Stephen’s, please click this link: Donate or, send a check to St. Stephen’s, 120 21^st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

 

CHRISTMAS AT ST. STEPHEN’S

December 24 – Christmas Eve Mass – 8:00 p.m.  

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

 

 

Words of Wisdom:

"I don't know how to save the world. I don't have the answer. I hold no secret knowledge as to how to fix the mistakes of generations past and present. I only know that without compassion and respect for all of Earth's inhabitants, none of us will survive - nor will we deserve to." ~Leonard Peltier

 

From the Green Team:

“December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come.” ~Fennel Hudson

 

 

 

 

 Monday, December 8

Fr Jamie day off – office closed

 

Wednesday, December 10

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant

Dan Rice, preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense will be offered at this mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Friday, December 12

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 14 – 3 Advent/Gaudete

PLEDGE IN-GATHERING

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist – Gaudete Sunday - Ingathering

Fr. Jamie, celebrant / preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

Greening of the Church

 

Vestry

 

We will be gathering our pledges this Sunday. And since it is Gaudete Sunday, please feel free to wear rose or pink to church.

 

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

 

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

To donate to St. Stephen’s, please click this link: Donate or, send a check to St. Stephen’s, 120 21^st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

 

Upcoming Events:

December 24 – Christmas Eve Mass -8:00 p.m. 

 

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

 

Fun Fact: Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church has no central authority like the Pope. While the Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, each national and regional church is self-governing.

 

From the Green Team:

Some eco-friendly Christmas gift ideas:

-DIY craft and wellbeing gifts

-Sustainable toys and games

-Food and drink gift sets

-Eco-friendly gifts for men

-Sustainable fashion

-Plastic-free makeup and beauty gifts