Christmas,
2022My Friends at St.
Stephen’s,
A sign of how hectic this time of the year can be is that your
Rector forgot to get his Christmas cards done. I had every good intention of
getting them done and mailed early. Sadly, it did not happen. So, an electronic
letter without a card will have to suffice for this Christmas season.
As we near our yearly commemoration of the birth of Jesus, God’s
special gift to us, and prepare to celebrate all that that birth means to
us, we also find ourselves looking forward toward a new year of
2023.
The future is certainly looking bright for us at St. Stephen’s.
We continue to grow and to experience a great swell of new faces, new
names and new opportunities. And in 2023, we look forward to some changes to
our church building, namely the renovation of our sacristy which is scheduled
to begin in early February. Of course, we continue to be a place in which we
welcome and include everyone, no matter who they are. We continue to be a place
that radically accepts and loves everyone who comes to us and we ourselves seek
out. As the organized Church continues to drive people away, as the Church
continues to be divided and chose to serve at the golden altar of false
prophets, golden idols and teachings of exclusion and hate, St. Stephen’s
continues to be a place of refuge and love for those who feel they have no
other place to go. To a large extent, this joy and excitement we feel is what
Advent is all about. Those of us who waited in holy expectation and worked hard
for the kind of growth we are now experiencing are truly rejoicing.
Serving as St. Stephen’s continues to be one of the most
fulfilling experiences of my priestly life. Our life together of worship,
ministry, music and outreach has been a source of great personal joy for me and
has helped me to see how gracious God is in showering blessings upon faithful,
committed people who truly do seek after God and to live out Jesus’ commandment
to love God and love 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 observance of the Daily Office
(Morning and Evening Prayer). Also know that I remember all of you at the
altar during our celebration of the Mass. Above all, know that I give God
thanks every day for the opportunity to serve such a wonderful, caring, radical
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.
PEACE always,
Fr.
Jamie+
Christmas, 2022
at St. Stephen’s
Saturday
December 24 - Christmas
Eve
7:00 pm – Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Deacon John
Anderson, assisting
James
Mackay, music
Sunday
December 25 – Nativity of Our Lord
11:00 am Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Deacon John
Anderson, assisting
James
Mackay, music
Monday
December 26 –St. Stephen
6:00 pm – Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Deacon John
Anderson, assisting
James
Mackay, music
Monday
December 28 –Feast of the Holy Innocents
6:00 pm – Mass of the Dawn of a New Year
Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher
Deacon John
Anderson, assisting
James
Mackay, music
Sunday January
1
–Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
11:00 am – Holy Eucharist
Fr. Jamie
Parsley, celebrant/preacher
James
Mackay, music
