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This Sunday at
St. Stephen's
February 14
8:00 AM
Holy Eucharist
in the Chapel
9:20 AM
Adult Forum
9:30 AM
Confirmation Class
10:30 AM
Holy Eucharist
10:30 AM Sunday School
5:00 PM Evensong
5:00 PM Youth Group
Looking Ahead:
February 16
6:00 pm
Mardi Gras
(Fat Tuesday)
Pancake Supper
Lenten Series
Soup, Study, Worship 6:30 - 8:00 Wednesday Nights in Lent
SAVE THE DATE:
Celebration of New Ministry
May 5, 2010
(Details to come)
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A Message from
the Rev. Stephanie E. Parker
Our Lenten Journey Begins
This upcoming Wednesday we will begin our holy observation of Lent with The Imposition of Ashes. We observe this solemn custom at two simple and reflective Holy Communion services in the Chapel. The ashes are a sign of mourning, as if one has experienced a death or a loss. The invitation of this holy season is to create or renew a deeper connection with God; it offers us an intentional time to reflect and ponder those things we might do or things we do not do that impair a full and joyous union with God's purposes.
The sacred journey to which we are invited might find us encountering what I sometimes call those spiritual "hard places." Ironically, we might be met with these "hard places" just as we entering a new phase of our spiritual adulthood.
In these times we might find ourselves confronting long held "baggage" that has become a stumbling block. Trembling on the brink of a new and deeper revelation and understanding of God's forgiveness for ourselves and for the world, for example, suddenly finds us confronting old issues we thought were long ago surpassed and forgotten. We might encounter old grief, anger, or fear; it could be a spectrum of things. Have you ever had that experience? Finding ourselves in these hard places may seem like a horrible detour on the way to spiritual fulfillment, but in fact these hard places are gifts; they are invitations to new life---new life unencumbered by old obstacles.
Sometimes it is just as difficult to let go of what we call "negative" emotions, and the behaviors that accompany them, as it is to say goodbye to something that has been life-giving, but has run its course in our lives. Our ability to grow into whole (holy) people, who are able to fully experience God's joy, requires that we face these obstacles honestly and without fear, knowing that Christ is our constant companion along the Way.
Lent is a perfect time to be very intentional about this holy and life-giving process of letting go. Encountered prayerfully and honestly, Lent is a powerful and transforming season of faith.
Our Lenten program this year will feature Henri Nouwen's, With Burning Hearts, A Reflection on the Eucharist Life. I hope to see many of you there. Here is wishing us all a prayerful Lenten season!
Grace and Peace, Stephanie+
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Evensong: Bach Cantata
February 14, 5:00 pm
Please join us for a very special Evensong on Valentine's Day - featuring Bach Cantata BWV 100 "What God Does, that is Well Done" (Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan). A first for St. Stephen's - and perhaps for all of Seattle - the cantata will be performed on baroque instruments, including two (valve-less) natural horns of the type that Bach employed 300 years ago! Other instruments include baroque flute, baroque oboe d'amore, baroque timpani, and baroque strings. The Parish Choir and section leader/soloists will be joined by our Boys and Girls Choir, singing the cantata in the original German. Read more!
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Coffee Hour Changes:
Returning to the Parish Hall
This Sunday, the coffee hour after the 10:30 a.m. service will return to the parish hall. We think this provides a nicer setting and easier logistics for our volunteers. We will also return to ceramic cups, thus doing the environment a real favor, as well as save a bundle by not using paper cups. The earliest dates to sign up to help are in April; in fact, Easter Sunday heads the list when we are asking for multiple volunteers. Many thanks last Sunday to the combined force of Sharon Sack, Barbara Beatty, Pat Burrus, Winnie Lee, Inez Swanson, Marc & Gwen Malone, and Barbara & Chuck Atcheson for food at the annual meeting.
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Pancake Supper - Mardi Gras
Tuesday, February 16, 6:00 pm
Start your Lenten season off right with a traditional pancake feast. We'll have music, fellowship, and of course, pancakes.
Y'all come!
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Incarnation: An Adult Forum
led by Gene Webb
February 14, 9:20am
Virtually every member of the Christian community recognizes the centrality of the doctrine of the Incarnation to the tradition, but few are aware of how differently it has been interpreted by various strands of the tradition and ow many different meanings compete for dominance. This lecture will sketch out what some of those competing ideas are and how they have developed historically.
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| Prayer for the Last Sunday of Epiphany:
O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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