St. Stephen's Episcopal Church welcomes you to celebrate with us...

Lenten Services
Letter from the Rector
Notes from the Vestry
Church Calendar
Ave, Maris Stella
Stained Glass Window Renovation Campaign (see Donations)
The Lord’s Supper
Keep the Spirit Alive (see Donations)
Silence Is Golden

This year, beginning Wednesday, February 24th and each Wednesday through March 24th, a Eucharist service will be held in the Parish House at 5:30 in the evening, followed by a simple supper and brief discussion. Note the time change from previous years. This is to give people more time after work to attend the service. There will be no Wednesday service during Holy Week.

Lent will begin with Ash Wednesday on the 17th, and there will be a service in the church with imposition of ashes at 5:30 p.m. As you know, Lent is a time when the Church calls us to self-discipline through some kind of simple but significant fasting, and making an effort to “up-grade” our practice of our religion—perhaps, among other things, by attending the Wednesday evening Lenten Eucharist in the parish house, and the simple supper and brief discussion that follows. (The discussion will be based on the lesson sheet from the previous Sunday.)

A major traditional emphasis is for that self-discipline to include dealing more effectively with our personal sinfulness, something we as Christians continually attempt to deal with. A general confession is, of course, a part of all of our services. While we may need to do a better job with that, since it is something that is always a part of our effort to be more effective persons and Christians, why not use the Lenten period to handle other areas of our life where we know we are falling short? That might have to do with our daily responsibilities, or doing what we know we need to do for our physical health and well-being, or trying to make a better effort at dealing with our less effective relationships with others; for example, those closest to us, our associates at work or school, or maybe just the difficult neighbor next door?

In other words, let’s try to finish out the sacred Forty Days as better, stronger, healthier, more effective persons.

Spring is on its way and for most people, not soon enough. With spring come construction projects. By the end of the summer we will have completed the multi-year stained glass project. This has been the biggest project for this parish in most of our life time. Add on top of that a complete painting of the exterior, including the bell tower and now we have a home we can be proud of. We are also looking at a couple of landscaping ideas to further dress up the street appeal.

The year-end financial reports have been delivered to the vestry and read pretty much as reported at the annual meeting. Bonnie Mundy is taking over the Treasury and the new vestry is functioning smoothly. Your help is also needed. Let us know what you want to see happen to increase our numbers and presence in the community.

Star of ocean fairest,
Mother, God who barest,
Virgin thou immortal,
Heaven’s blissful portal.

Ave thou receivest,
Gabriel’s word believest,
Change to peace and gladness
Eva’s name of sadness.

Loose the bonds of terror,
Lighten blinded error,
All our ills repressing,
Pray for every blessing.

Mother’s care displaying,
Offer him thy praying,
Who, when born our Brother,
Chose thee for his Mother.

Virgin all-excelling,
Gentle past our telling;
Pardoned sinners render
Gentle, chaste, and tender.

In pure paths direct us,
On our way protect us,
Till, on Jesus gazing,
We shall join thy praising.

Father, Son eternal,
Holy Ghost supernal
With one praise we bless thee,
Three in One confess thee. Amen.

Ave Maris Stella is a plainsong Vespers hymn to the Virgin Mary. The hymn is frequently attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) and sometimes has been attributed to King Robert (1031), both of whom are too late to have authored it. It has also been attributed to Venantius Fortunatus (d. 609) and Paul the Deacon (d. 787). It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions. Translation by T. I. Ball.

Recently I had the pleasure of listening to a recording by John Michael Talbot entitled “The Lord’s Supper.” This recording contains a mixture of classical and folk influences that are set to liturgical Catholic text. Songs include: Prelude, We Shall Stand Forgiven, Glory to God, Creed, Holy Holy Holy, Communion Song, Lord’s Prayer and Lamb of God.

“Glory to God” is the artist’s rendition of our song of praise which is sung during the contemporary service.

In “We Shall Stand Forgiven” we find a confession that we are all sinners and that we are ready to accept absolution.

“Holy, Holy, Holy” follows the proper Preface which is sung or said on all Sundays.

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we say “The Lord’s Prayer” which precedes the “Communion Song”.

I highly recommend this recording as it is very well done and compliments the mass quite nicely. Go to http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com for purchasing information.

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.