The Voice of St. Stephen`s - St. Stephen`s Episcopal Church

The Voice of
St. Stephen’s
Location: 2177 First St. Baker City, OR
Mailing address: PO Box 1146 Baker City, OR 97814
May 2014
Charlene Chase, Editor
[email protected]
News From Junior Warden
The Voice of
St. Stephen’s
St. Stephen’s
The next issue will be a
combined one for the
summer. Please have
everything for June,
July, and August in to me
by Friday, May 23. This
deadline is important in
order for me to get the
newsletter put together.
There are several events
that happen over the
summer that need to be
included. Thank you all
for your cooperation.
Charlene Chase
[email protected]
St. Stephen’s is seeking donations for the parking lot
door and a gas fireplace insert for the Fireside Room. The
parking lot door is beginning to come apart and swell
during the spring, thus making it hard for church members
to open. Phil Burroughs has placed a metal sheet across
the bottom of the door to protect it and slow the damage
occurring. The bid for a new exterior door is approximately $1500. We will
reuse as much of the existing hardware as possible.
The gas fireplace insert in the Fireside Room has been a
long term goal of many members of the church. The Fireplace
Room has become a significant meeting area for our church
family and other groups. While the primary benefit would be
atheistic, it also serves to heat the room. The current furnace
heats other rooms on the main floor that are not being used when the heat
is turned on in the Fireside Room. Three bids were considered. A bid of
$5300 was chosen.
Contributions to either or both projects would be appreciated.
Please talk with Joel Bigelow if you have any questions.
Women’s Group
Inside this issue:
The Vicar’s Moment
2
Reflections on Scripture
3
Confirmation Class
4
May Worship
Schedule
5
Milagro Theatre Group
Easter pictures
6
6
Announcements/
Celebrations
7
May Schedule
8
The Women’s Group had another of
the luncheons on Saturday, April 26.
The group met at the Little Pig and
enjoyed a delicious, no-host lunch.
The next and last lunch for the season
is Saturday, May 24 at the Sunridge at
noon. Please join us for food and
fellowship.
This picture of Sean
Tomlinson is proudly
displayed on the counter at
the Pig.
2
The Vicar’s Moment…
By Rev. Aletha Bonebrake
The Easter Miracle is New Life.
He is Risen – Hallelujah. Our Lord has broken the bonds of
death by his suffering, crucifixion and resurrection to give us
new life in Him forever. He lived as a man and died as a man
in obedience to His Father’s will. As God’s beloved Son who
had come down from heaven to dwell with us until his time, he
was then lifted from the grave to return to his Father in heaven.
And that is the promise to us of the Resurrection, that as our Savior we live in him, have been lifted
up with him and will also dwell in the house of our Lord forever.
Jesus said, “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live,
you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He
who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be
loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."… (John 14:19-21)
It is as if we ride on the wings of the Spirit, as did Elijah in his Chariot, beyond the physical death of
our temple bodies to an eternal life of our spiritual bodies. Does this happen in our Baptism or at our
death? Do we live in the Resurrected Lord as newly born in this lifetime or only on that journey to
heaven? If we accept our spiritual persona as our true bodies, then we live in Him the minute we
accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
“Since …you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at
the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and
your life is now hidden with Christ in God. “ (Colossians 3:1-7)
Although historically Christians have been buried with their feet pointing East, so
that in the day of the Resurrection all may rise and stand facing glory to greet
their Lord at his second coming, this is rather a literal understanding of life after
death. For our bodies the life span is ashes to ashes and dust to dust. Indeed,
it’s pretty hard to wrap our brains around the idea that you’ll walk through the
pearly gates and see only familiar faces. How does that work?
I’m not going to try to explain what heaven looks like or must be, but the
testimony of Scripture assures us that it is real and that there love abides.
Jesus told his disciples before he was taken into heaven: “ In my Father's house
are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you
may be also.” (John 14:2-4 )
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
(John 15:9-11)
I deduce that if love abides, all the love we have known in our spiritual selves through our Lord
Jesus Christ will be known in heaven too, even as our bodies pass away. I believe it is in this way
that we shall know the faces of our loved ones in that joy even as our God knew us from our
mothers’ wombs and will know us when we come before his throne. And in his love, we will know
each other.
God is Love and Love has eyes of eternity.
3
Reflections on Scripture…
By Nancy Rorick
I enjoy walking for exercise and for the time it gives me to reflect. Biblical
references to walking are often metaphors for walking with or “in the way” of The
Lord. In Genesis 13:7, God, having just established a covenant with Abraham,
commands him to “Arise, walk through the length and breadth of the Land, for I
will give it to you.” I can imagine Abraham on this walk, he was probably full of hope as he planned
and dreamed about what would be. Abraham was 99 years old the next time the Lord gave him a
command about walking: “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be
blameless.” Matthew Henry’s commentary defines what it means to walk before God: “It is to have a constant regard to his
word as our rule and to his glory as our end in all our actions, and to be
continually in his fear.”
In the Old Testament the phrase “to walk in the way of the LORD” meant to follow after and to obey
the LORD.
You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live,
and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
(Deuteronomy 5:33)
To not walk in the LORD’s way was to turn away from the LORD like the Prophet Samuel’s sons.
Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted
justice. (1 Samuel 8:3).
The Bible promises us that the LORD does not leave us to walk by ourselves.
And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my
people. (Leviticus 26:12)
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out
your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers
me. (Psalm 138:7)
In the New Testament, Jesus cares about our physical ability to walk.
And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind receive sight, the lame walk” (Luke 7:22).
Jesus as the light of the world provides us a light to show us the way.
Again Jesus spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life.”
Like Abraham, we can set out to walk before the LORD. As Paul
explains “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We do not
walk alone, the LORD is with us, and we walk with him by grace in the
light of Christ.
4
An 8-week adult confirmation class will begin the first week in May and
conclude the week before Bishop Nedi makes her annual visit to St.
Stephen’s on the 20th of July. Confirmation is a Pastoral Office of the
Episcopal Church defined in our Book of Common Prayer as the
mature public affirmation of one’s faith and commitment to the
responsibilities of their Baptism in receiving the laying on of hands by
the Bishop. Those serving the church in leadership positions are
expected to be confirmed, but any Baptized person who wishes to
formally become a member of the Episcopal Church USA may also be
confirmed before their fellow parishioners by the Bishop when she visits. The classes are the
opportunity to learn and discuss with other seekers what our Church is all about in order to gain a
deeper understanding and faith in your spiritual journey. We will cover our principal and essential
beliefs as outlined in the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds regarding the Creation, the divinity of Jesus,
the nature of the Trinity, and other tenets of Faith regarding Scripture, the Sacraments and the
Church as the Body of Christ. We will look at the history of the Christian Church and the significance
of the Reformation to our form of worship and evangelical calling. We will explore the richness of the
Book of Common Prayer, and we will talk together about how to live one’s faith in the modern world.
Aletha is providing the book Your Faith Your Life: an Invitation to the Episcopal Church as a guide for
the sessions. The dates and times for the classes will be announced in the Sunday bulletins and on
our Website, or can be obtained by calling Nancy at the Church Office 523-4812, or Aletha
519-3255. I have a current roster of three interested persons and the same number of books, so if
you are interested and have not previously let me know, please do so, and I will order you a copy.
Confirmation class for Youth will be held on select Sundays in May and June. There will be a sign
up after Church May 2 at the Men’s Breakfast to gauge interest and see what the best time might be
for those interested. There will also be an Acolyte training class which can be planned for the same
time frame if any youth is interested in both opportunities. I would encourage parents who think their
child is interested to make note of the date or give Aletha a call 519-3255.
If you are coming from a church in the Apostolic Succession (i.e., Roman Catholic or Eastern
Orthodox), and have already been confirmed, you would be "received" by the Bishop the ceremony
that takes place during the Bishop's visit. This applies to ECLA Lutherans as well, with whom we
share full communion. If you are coming from a different tradition, confirmation would be
appropriate. Note that confirmation or reception is NOT necessary before you can take communion,
or participate in the life of the church.
Church Clean-up
Thanks to all who helped during the work day. The grounds
around the church look beautiful! Thanks to Nancy Rorick for
the picture.
5
St. Stephen’s Worship Schedule
May 2014
Date
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
Time
9 AM
9 AM
9 AM
9 AM
Sunday
Easter 3
Easter 4
Easter 5
Easter 6
Service
Holy Eucharist II
Morning Prayer II
Holy Eucharist II
Morning Prayer II
Celebrant/
Sermon
Rev. Aletha Bonebrake
Worship Leader
Shameron Skeels
Hannah Violette
Mike Durgan
Beth Bigelow
Lector/Greeter
Acolyte
Nancy Buehler
Molly Larsen
Molly Larsen
Barbara Prowell
Thomas Larsen
Rob Palmer
Beth Bigelow
Sue Richard
Karen Foglesong
Karen Foglesong
Rev. Aletha Bonebrake
Mike Durgan
Doug Boone
Music
Altar Guild
St. Brigid’s in the Pines Worship Schedule
May 2014
May 4
May 18
11 AM
11 AM
Sunday
Easter 3
Easter 5
Service
Holy Eucharist II
Holy Eucharist II
Celebrant/Sermon
Rev. Richard Thew
Lay Leader
Jay Phillips
Date
Time
May 11
Rev. Aletha Bonebrake
Jay Phillips
6
Baker Welcomes the Latino Milagro Theatre Group
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Eastern Oregon Regional
Theatre and Baker 5J School District welcomed the Milagro Theatre
Group of Portland to Baker City on April 3 - 4. Milagro's visit was twofold to share their new production Cuentame Coyote at Eastern
Oregon Regional theatre on Friday April 4th. It was also to educate
and inspire the WHOLE community. Their visit was a rich one where
the artists/educators of the Miracle Theatre learned about Eastern
Oregon, as we learned from them.
One of the key pieces of their visit was a Community
Gathering Potluck at Stephen’s Church on Thursday, April 3rd.
MaLena Wirth, ESL Translator for Baker 5 J School District helped
organize this event. Great food was brought and stories shared of
how we all came to America. MaLena and the families she worked
with also acknowledged many in the community who have been a
"Hero" to the Latino Community in Baker County. Several members of
St. Stephen’s Church were honored. The event made the people of
Baker realize how blessed we are in Baker County to have so many names on the list who made a difference
in the lives of the working families every day.
7
Coffee Hour Hosts
May 4
Men’s Breakfast
May 11
Heather PalmerJohnson
May 18
The Tracy Family
May 25
The Bigelows
Mother’s
Day—May
11
NA Meeting Times
Mondays
8 PM
Tuesdays
8 PM
Wednesdays noon
Memorial
Day—May 26
Sumpter Flea Market—
Memorial Day
Weekend
Thursdays
8 PM
Fridays
8 PM
Saturdays
8 PM
AA Meeting Times
Mondays
Prayer Corner
Pray for one another.
James 5:16
12:05—1:05 pm
If you would like to have your name removed
from or added to the prayer list, please call the
church office at 541-523-4812. All phone
numbers have a 541 prefix.

Fr. Ken & Sabra
Crysler

Marian Brown

Mary Basche
 Beth Bigelow
856-3334

Sandy Palmer
 Rev. Aletha Bonebrake
523-6025
Prayer Chain

Charlene Boone

Amy Breton

Ben Burroughs

Lynne Burroughs
 Marian Brown
523-4991

Robert Armstrong
 Barbara Prowell
523-4813

Nancy Basche
 Sue Richard
519-7227
 Betty Palmer
523-4043
 Nancy Rorick
519-3644
 Maryanne Lovell
709-8097
 Nancy Buehler
523-2293
Celebrations
May Birthdays
1 Betty Palmer
2 Carol Porter
18 Rylan Shukle
7 Luke Palmer
24 Kyle Johnson
7 Kassidy Calloway
8 Sue Richard
12 Kelly Jensen
12 Ashlyn Calloway
14 Beth Bigelow
18 Patty Shukle
May Anniversaries
7 Doug & Connie Boone
8
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
2177 1st Street
Mailing Address: PO Box 1146
Baker City, OR 97814
Phone: 541-523-4812
E-mail: [email protected]
www.ststephensepiscopal.com
Address label here
St. Stephen’s is a welcoming community of faith.
Please join us Sundays at 9 AM.
We miss you when you are not here.
Established 1873 by The Rev. Reuben Denton Nevius
May Schedule
5 Holy Eucharist @ 9 AM; Men’s Breakfast; Sumpter @ 11AM
7 Choir Practice @ 5:30 PM
8 Bible Study @ 5:30 PM
11 Morning Prayer @ 9 AM; Mother’s Day
Choir practice
Wednesdays 5:30
pm
Mother’s Day
May 11
14 Choir Practice @ 5:30 PM
15 Bible Study @ 5:30 PM
18 Holy Eucharist @ 9 AM, Sumpter @ 11
Memorial Day—
May 26
21 Choir Practice @ 5:30 PM
22 Bible Study @ 5:30 PM
25 Morning Prayer @ 9 AM
28 Choir Practice @ 5:30 PM
29 Bible Study @ 5:30 PM
Memorial Day Weekend—
Sumpter Flea Market