November - St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Gilroy, CA

The L
Livin
ng S
Stonees
Novem
mber 20014
Greetings loved ones,
As Seniorr Warden and
d editor of thee Living Stonees I have manny opportunitties to speak m
my mind. Herre is a
unique op
pportunity to bring
b
forward
d a subject neear and dear. Y
You may wonder how Steewardship couuld be
near and dear to anyo
one. That iss a fair quesstion. I have come to thiis point wherre the meaniing of
stewardsh
hip has taken on a deeper level of undeerstanding. Thhe root of myy understanding of stewarrdship
goes back
k to my youth
h and the storry of Middle Earth.
E
Yes thhat is right, thhe well-know
wn trilogy by JJ.R.R.
Tolkien – The Lord of
o the Rings. You may have
h
read th is story, or ssaw the movvie. Do you recall
Denethor,, Steward of Gondor? Den
nethor had co
ome to think oof himself ass king and waas reluctant too give
up his pow
wer should th
he real king (Aragorn) retu
urn. Denethorr had lost hiss way, thinkinng he was anoointed
to kingshiip. This is ho
ow I first cam
me to understaand that the cconcept of steewardship waas more than ttaking
care of paassengers on a cruise ship.
As an adu
ult Christian I have continu
ued to grow in
i this understtanding. If yoou’ve read myy other letterss over
the years you will know
w that I have a strong adm
miration for Toom Olcott. Frrom my vantaage point Tom
m was
always a strong
s
believeer and a stron
ng person. I haave learned m
much from Toom in the shorrt time I knew
w him.
One thing
g that was alw
ways clear waas his messag
ge, his belief rreally, in the importance oof stewardshiip. He
gave me guidance
g
and provided hellpful resourcees. Now Gail Paul is our sttewardship chhair and leadiing us
with her own
o
unique and
a powerful style. Gail’s message Sunnday Novembber 2nd was reeally meaninggful to
me. Whatt I took away was that giving back to God
G was not ssupposed to bbe like leavinng a tip basedd upon
the service provided. Im
magine this conversation with
w God – “hhere you go G
God; things w
were pretty goood for
me last yeear so I feel like I can dig a little deepeer for a few m
more coins”. O
Or this – “Heey God, man iit was
tough, I ju
ust do not seee how I can help
h
you out, sorry”.
s
Such approaches aare like leavinng a tip in thee plate
and that is not spirituaally healthy. A better apprroach, one wee have all beeen taught, is tto give of ouur first
fruits, to do
d so willinglly and with a smile. In thiss way our relaationship withh God can beecome closer, more
intimate. After
A
all this is what God wants
w
from us - that sense of intimate fr
friendship.
So how do
d I view stew
wardship? Reeally it is verry simple forr me, even chhildlike. Godd is the sourcce, the
creator off all that we are,
a all that we have, all that we see andd touch, smell and feel. It is His to sharre and
He does so
s freely. However He rettains ownersh
hip of creatioon. Thus we aare all stewarrds with rightts and
privilegess, but also dutties and expecctations. We reside
r
in His ccreation, and are His sons and daughterrs.
My own stewardship
s
of
o what God has given mee has seen a llot of ups andd downs overr my life. I coonfess
that I wass more of a tipper
t
for mu
uch of my liffe, giving beccause it was expected andd according tto my
budget. Also
A Bobbie and
a I have no
ot always seen
n eye to eye when it camee time to fill out a pledgee card.
This has changed in reecent years with
w both of us
u gaining a more maturee understandinng of stewarddship.
Recently we
w had an un
nplanned wind
dfall with a sttock sale. Forr the first timee in my life I knew I had too give
a tithe bacck. So at the first
f
chance we
w wrote that check, givingg back the firsst fruit. Nothiing changed eexcept
that insidee my mind I knew
k
it was th
he right thing
g to do and it m
made me smiile.
Every Sun
nday we pray
y for the stew
wardship of alll Gods gifts, aloud or silenntly. My hopee is that eachh of us
keeps thiss fresh and reaal in front of God and each
h other.
Yours in faith,
W
Richard Wallstrom
Rector’s Corn
ner
Living With
W the Commu
union off Saints
One of th
he most Chriistian of observances occurs this tim
me of year annd it goes virrtually unnotticed.
And it is not Halloweeen.
First of all,
a I really liike Halloweeen. Halloweeen, All Halllows Eve, iss now all aboout “ghostiees and
ghoulies and things that
t go bump
p in the nigh
ht”. It is a tim
me for kids to dress up aas princessees and
cowboys, the obligattory ghosts and
a witches, and favoritee cartoon characters. Annd yes, latelyy, the
day has evolved –w
with the enccouragement of the costtume industtry. We are more and more
fixated on zombies and
a sexy sup
per heroes. On
O the plus sside, for thiss chocoholic, records acttually
do show that more candy
c
is sold
d for this niight than any
ny other holiiday, followed by Easteer and
Christmaas trailed by Valentine’s Day. No qu
uestion, it’s a lot of fun.
But its ro
oots are deep
per and reveeal something about the People of G
God usually rrememberedd only
at baptisms and the occasional funeral. Wee mouth it oon Sundays,, too: ”I bellieve in the Holy
Spirit, The Commun
nion of Sain
nts.” The Communion of Saints. N
Now that caan mean a llot of
mage for manny is of duusty statues in old churrches,
different things. Perrhaps the prrevailing im
whisperin
ng together in the silen
nce of an em
mpty sanctuuary. Perhapps one expeeriences a vvague,
fleeting thought
t
of heaven
h
and all
a the perfecct people sittting aroundd talking aboout saintly thhings,
seated on
n clouds.
But St Paaul has anoth
her image th
hat my own faith
f
asserts as totally truue. He neveer fails to adddress
the churcches he serveed as “the saaints.” By th
his he meantt the averagee everyday C
Christian likee you
and me. These are living saints. Not perfeect but forggiven. Acceppting the faact that whaatever
m trusting in God and livving their livves in the ligght of
righteoussness we maay have comes only from
the Crosss and Resurrrection.
The exteension of thiis vision, and one we ussually give a nodding aacceptance too –at funeraals--is
that Life in Christ is eternal. Theerefore thosee in Christ inn this life arre also with---and in-- Him in
the next. The comm
munion of Saaints begins at baptism and proceeeds throughoout eternity. That
includes you and me. Those who
o have gone before
b
are a part of the ssame commuunion that w
we are
a part of. They wo
orship, in a sense, besiide us everyy Sunday. W
We are, as a prayer ssays,”
surround
ded by a clou
ud of witnessses.” And so
o we are.
We have a whole mo
onth before Advent
A
begins. For me, this year, I ppropose to reemember thaat the
Commun
nion of saintts is somethiing we can live
l
in, trust in, and experience from
m day to dayy. We
are neverr alone. Those who havee gone ahead
d of us are liiterally ever with us. Thhat month is filled
with them
mes of the harvest
h
and the changin
ng of the seaasons. Thannksgiving iss, for me, a mere
foretaste of that ban
nquet that Jeesus promisees. This moonth, for us, can be “Thhe Season oof All
Saints”. Not
N merely a passing day
d after Hallloween, butt a month too wrap our hhearts and m
minds
around th
he true mean
ning of everlasting life.
And, yess…… I do hope
h
they haave turkey and
a pumpkinn pie when I finally geet home for those
ultimate holidays.
Readings for Personal Study and Devotion
Beginning Sunday November 2
Sunday
Ps24, 29
Monday
Ps56, 57
Tuesday
Ps61, 62
Wednesday Ps72
Thursday Ps70, 71
Friday
Ps69:1 38
Saturday Ps75, 76
Beginning Sunday November 9
Sunday
Ps93, 96,34
Monday
Ps80,77, 79
Joel 1:1 13
Tuesday
Ps78:1 72
Joel 1:15 2:2-11
Wednesday Ps119:97 120, 81, 82 Joel 2:12 19
Thursday Ps83, 23, 27
Joel 2:21 27
Friday
Ps88
Joel 2:28 3:8
Saturday Ps 87, 90,136
Joel 3:9 17
Beginning Sunday November 16
Sunday
Ps66, 67
Hab. 1:1 2:1
Monday
Ps89:1 18
Hab. 2:1 20
Tuesday
Ps97, 99, [100]
Hab. 3:1 18
Wednesday Ps101,109:1 30
Mal. 1:1,6 14
Thursday Ps105:1 22
Mal. 2:1 16
Friday
Ps102
Mal. 3:1 12
Saturday Ps107:33 43,108:1 13 Mal. 3:13 4:6
Beginning Sunday November 23
Sunday
Ps118
Zech. 9:9 16
Monday
Ps106:1 18
Zech. 10:1 12
Tuesday
Ps120,121,122,123 Zech. 11:4 17
Wednesday Ps119:145 176
Zech. 12:1 10
Thursday Ps131,132
Zech. 13:1 9
Friday
Ps140, 142
Zech. 14:1 11
Saturday Ps137:1 9,144
Zech. 14:12 21
ADVENT Starts November 30
Sunday
Ps146, 147
Isa. 1:1 9
Monday
Ps1, 2, 3
Isa. 1:10 20
Tuesday
Ps 5, 6
Isa. 1:21 31
Wednesday Ps119:1 24
Isa. 2:1 11
Thursday Ps18:1 20
Isa. 2:12 22
Friday
Ps16, 17
Isa. 3:8 15
Saturday Ps20, 21:1-13
Isa. 4:2 6
1 Cor. 12:27 13:13
Rev. 14:1 13
Rev. 14:14 15:8
Rev. 16:1 11
Rev. 16:12 21
Rev. 17:1 18
Rev. 18:1 14
Matt. 18:21 35
Luke 12:49 59
Luke 13:1 9
Luke 13:10 17
Luke 13:18 30
Luke 13:31 35
Luke 14:1 11
1 Cor. 14:1 12
Rev. 18:15 24
Rev. 19:1 10
Rev. 19:11 21
James 1:1 15
James 1:16 27
James 2:1 13
Matt. 20:1 16
Luke 14:12 24
Luke 14:25 35
Luke 15:1 10
Luke 15:1 32
Luke 16:1 9
Luke 16:10 18
Phil. 3:13 4:1
James 2:14 26
James 3:1 12
James 3:13 4:12
James 4:13 5:6
James 5:7 12
James 5:13 20
Matt. 23:13 24
Luke 16:19 31
Luke 17:1 10
Luke 17:11 19
Luke 17:20 37
Luke 18:1 8
Luke 18:9 14
1 Pet. 3:13 22
Gal. 6:1 10
1 Cor. 3:10 23
Eph. 1:3 14
Eph. 1:15 23
Rom. 15:7 13
Phil. 2:1 11
Matt. 21:1 13
Luke 18:15 30
Luke 18:31 43
Luke 19:1 10
Luke 19:11 27
Luke 19:28 40
Luke 19:41 48
2 Pet. 3:1 10
1 Thess. 1:1 10
1 Thess. 2:1 12
1 Thess. 2:13 20
1 Thess. 3:1 13
1 Thess. 4:1 12
1 Thess. 4:13 18
Matt. 25:1 18
Luke 20:1 8
Luke 20:9 18
Luke 20:19 26
Luke 20:27 40
Luke 20:41 21:4
Luke 21:5 19
NOVEMBER 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Men's Fellowship 9AM
DOK 9:30AM
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Daylight Savings
Church @ 8 & 10AM
Church @ 8 & 10AM
Church @ 8 & 10AM
Vestry
Church @ 8 & 10AM
30
Marcy Cox Bday
Bruce Howland Bday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Veterans Day
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Chris Hall Bday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Richard Wallstrom Bday
S
5
12
19
26
October
M T W
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
Ladies Retreat
Noon Healing Service
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Cameron Hilton Bday
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Jim Redman Bday
2014
Th F
2 3
9 10
16 17
23 24
30 31
Sa
4
11
18
25
S
7
14
21
28
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Peter Burley Bday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Andrea Bertero Bday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Thanksgiving
Resource Ctr Closed
December 2014
M T W Th F
1 2 3 4 5
8 9 10 11 12
15 16 17 18 19
22 23 24 25 26
29 30 31
Sa
6
13
20
27
Diocesan Convention
Men's Fellowship 9AM
Diocesan Convention
Festive Meal 6PM
Kathy Dettmer Bday
Notes:
www.vertex42.com
© 2009 Vertex42 LLC
Sunday
DECEMBER 2014
1
Monday
Tuesday
2
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Phil Brock Bday
Wednesday
3
4
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Al/Betty Anniversary
Thursday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
19
21
22
23
24
25
28
29
30
31
Church @ 8 & 10AM
Church @ 8 & 10AM
Anne Cantrell Bday
Dec. Solstice
Church @ 8 & 10AM
Scott Walker Bday
Church @ 8 & 10AM
CJ Redman Bday
Jim/CJ Anniversary
Elizabeth Brown Bday
Terry Burley Bday
Norm/Jan Anniversary
Melissa Cuculich Bday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Holly Feliciano Bday
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Sally Allenby Bday
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Chanukkah
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Christmas Eve
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Church at 10PM
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Resource Ctr 9-11AM
Christmas Day
26
Friday
Saturday
6
Men's Fellowship 9AM
DOK 9AM
Kari Hilton Bday
13
Christmas Party 6PM
20
Men's Fellowship 9AM
Kwanzaa begins
27
New Year's Eve
Bible Study 10:30AM
Noon Healing Service
Andy Cuculich Bday
Brad/Geralyn Anniversary
S
2
9
16
23
30
November 2014
M T W Th F Sa
1
3 4 5 6 7 8
10 11 12 13 14 15
17 18 19 20 21 22
24 25 26 27 28 29
S
4
11
18
25
January 2015
M T W Th F
1 2
5 6 7 8 9
12 13 14 15 16
19 20 21 22 23
26 27 28 29 30
Sa
3
10
17
24
31
Notes:
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© 2009 Vertex42 LLC
Praaise Repoorts
For a wonderfull and successsful Art and Craft Fair
NOV
VEMBER Biirthdays
3
Marcy Cox
C
Bruce Howland
6
Peter Bu
urley
9
Ariel Kee
ener
12
Cameron
n Hilton
13
Andrea Bertero
B
19
Andrew Ludwick
24
Chris Ha
all
Richard Wallstrom
25
Jim Redman
26
Kathy Dettmer
29
NOV
VEMBER Anniversariess
Non
ne
DEC
CEMBER Birrthdays
2
Phil Bro
ock
8
Elizabetth Brown
Kari Hilton
12
14
Anne Caantrell
15
Fr. Terry
y Burley
16
Holly Feeliciano
21
Scott W
Walker
28
CJ Redm
man
29
Melissa Cuculich
30
Sally Alllenby
31
Andy Cu
uculich
DEC
CEMBER An
nniversariess
3
Albert & Betty Gaggliardi
15
Norman
n & Jeanette Dickens
28
Jim & C
CJ Redman
31
Brad & Geralyn Sulllivan
PARISH/DIOCESAN NEWS
RESOURCE CENTER
Thank you so much for your continued support of
our clients. Winter is almost here. As you are
cleaning out your closets remember we are in need
of cold weather jackets. We are also always in need
of men’s jeans and sturdy shoes. If you are cleaning
out the garage we could also use tents, sleeping
bags and tarps. Bobbie
BITS OF SAWDUST
A big thank you to all of you that contributed to
“The Tom Olcott/Polly Manley Memorial Lighting
Fund”. We have reached and passed our goal of
$3,506. By next Sunday the new lighting may be
installed as the contractor has scheduled Monday,
November 10 as the installation date. Since we
actually exceeded our goal the two pairs of spot
lights that illuminate the altar will be replaced with
LED spots. This will eliminate the need for your
Junior Warden to scale a tall ladder to replace the
bulbs which seem to burn out frequently.
The restoration work on the Family Living Room
has been completed. The walls and ceilings have
been painted, the conference table refinished, new
switch plates and receptacle plates installed, new
thresholds installed, and trim work completed. The
Family Living Room is a much nicer room and
more pleasant to work in.
Work on the landscaping has been postponed due to
time spent on the two projects mentioned above.
New sprinkler valve control wiring which has been
buried about half way to the valves by Parish Hall
nearest the street should be completed soon and
then we can see about new plantings.
ANNUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR
The Craft fair netted $2,600.00. Table/Space rentals
netted $875, the Raffle Table $321.00, the Kitchen
$422.00 and the Bake Sale/Craft Sale Table
$982.00. The vendors seemed pleased with the
weekend event and many said they’d see us again
next year. Many thanks to everyone who helped in
the kitchen, at the raffle table and our sale table and
to those who donated food for the kitchen and items
for the Country Store Table.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Mark your calendars on December 13 for our First
Annual Christmas Party and Fundraiser
As a people of God we know that the joy of the
Lord is our strength. But what does that mean? At
St. Stephen’s it means we express our joy through
celebration, in this case a good ol’ fashion
Christmas Party. We have a fantastic committee
making plans to create a wonderful time for
everyone, but we solicit your help.
We will be having a silent auction as a fundraiser to
benefit the church and would like you to think about
a quality item or service that you could donate for
this event. Minimum bids will range from $5 to
$200.00. If you are wondering what kind of service
you might be able to offer think about the services
you already pay for or would be willing to pay
for—dog walking or pet sitting; house sitting;
providing a dinner party for six; gardening -- let
your imagine soar.
Please contact Bobbie Wallstrom (831-623-4522 or
[email protected]) or Gabe Paul (408842-3344 or [email protected]) about your
donations or any other questions you may have.
Invitations will be sent in about a week. If you
know anyone outside of the parish family that
would also like an invitation please contact Bobbie.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Operating Income through Sept. 2014:
$96,345
Operating Expenses through Sept. 2014: $107,996
Net Operating Income (Loss) YTD:
($11,651)
Available Cash:
$11,794
DIOCESE
The annual convention of the diocese will be
November 14 and 15. Gabe and Gail are our
representatives and will be joined by Fr. Terry.
Stewardship Campaign
Sometimes I think the easy part of stewardship is the Treasure part. God gives us very
specific direction about that with the scriptures on tithing. But the Time and Talent can
be a little less certain. I read some thoughts of John Powell, a Jesuit priest. I found them
helpful and I hope you will find these excerpts thought provoking.
“If God had a specific will for each and every detail of our lives, I‘m afraid God would
be aiding and abetting infantile delinquency. We would never grow up. We humans
grow up by struggling through and making decisions for ourselves. God would not
preempt all our decisions. That would predestine us to a helpless form of immaturity.
What God rather holds out to us is a general will. Do something loving with your life
and your talents. Do something beautiful for your brothers and sisters. Make love your
life principle. This will involve us in many decisions. We will be constantly confronted
with the ever-present question: What is the loving thing to do? But it is in struggling
with and making these decisions that we shall become mature sons and daughters of God.
“I also believe that, in addition to God’s general will, there is operative at definite times
in our lives a specific will of God. I think it is certain that God has sent you or me into
this world with a specific thing to do: a definite message to deliver, a song to sing, an act
of love to bestow. When we come to that point in time in our lives, when God wants us
to do something specific, he will nudge us with his grace. He will put into us a deep
attraction, a sense of vocation. To us it may seem like a vague conviction, ‘I am
supposed to do this.’ It may be that God will make us uncomfortable until we say ‘yes.’
He comes to comfort the afflicted, but also to afflict the comfortable. I think that I was
called to be a priest by such a specific will of God. I think that God chose me to be a
priest and so tailored the graces of my life that I would be attracted to the altar of my
ordination. There have, of course, been other moments in my life when I somehow knew
that God wanted something specific of me. He wanted me to help this person, to do that
thing, to become involved in this cause, to be concerned about a given situation. In each
of these times, I felt that God was asking me for a specific ‘Yes!’ “
So there you have it! We’re supposed to make wise decisions and choices, but also be
looking to God for guidance in all things. I remember years ago I was really stewing
about whether or not I was in God’s will, and how would I know this? Finally a friend,
probably tired of hearing me fret, said, “Gail, I think the God who created the world is
big enough and smart enough to give you direction, if you are looking for it. The
problem is that so many people are not looking to God or listening for his voice!” I know
that when I am out of God’s will, it’s not God’s failure. It’s my lack of being open to
him. I pray that he will give us ears to hear him and eyes to see him and a will to obey
him.
The John Powell quotes are form “Seasons of the Heart.”
Gail Paul
Sunday Servers Schedule for 2014
LEM/LEV
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
Prayer
Team
10:00 AM
Lector
8:00 AM
Loren
Loren
Jane
Francine
Jesse
Jesse
TBD
Paul
Paul
Gabe
Gail
Richard
Richard
Paul
Pat
Jesse
Brad
Jane
Francine
Kathleen
Allison
TBD
Jesse
Jane
Gabe
Gail
Jesse
Richard
Paul
Pat
Michael
Al
Paul
Virginia
Jesse
Kathleen
Walt
Jesse
Stan
Paul S.
Richard
Loren
Loren
Anne
Jane
Gabe
Gail
Bobbie
Debra
Brad
Geralyn
Ed
Jane
Paul
Rob
Jennifer
Richard
Jesse
Bobbie
Lectors
10:00 AM
Usher
10:00AM
Oblation
Bearers
10:00 AM
Altar
Guild
Marjorie
Manel
Bobbie
Richard
Gail
Gabe
Francine
Jane
Bobbie
Francine
Brad
Geralyn
Jane
Delores
Jeannette
Francine
Jane
Allison
Manel
Pat
Debra
Aundria
Jeannette
Francine
Jane
Allison
Manel
Pat
Debra
Aundria
Date
9/28
10/5
10/12
10/19
10/26
11/2
11/9
11/16
Date
11/23
11/30
12/7
12/14
12/21
12/28
Marjorie
Delores
Stan
If you are not able to carry out your assigned duties you are
responsible for getting someone to take your place.
Rev 8
Church
St. S
Stephen’s Episcopal
E
651 Broadway
y
Gilrroy, CA 95
5020
408-842-4415
5 (office)
408-84
42-1401 (rresource ceenter)
Webbsite: www
w.ststephen
nsgilroy.orrg/ Email:: [email protected]
Offiice Hours: Mon-Wed
d-Fri 9AM to Noon
Resource Centter Hours: Tues & Th
hurs 9AM to 11AM
Pasttor – Rev. Terry Burlley
Vesstry – Richard Wallsttrom - Seniior Warden
n (2014); L
Loren Canttrell - Junioor Wardenn
(20114); Jane Olcott
O
(2014); Geraly
yn Sullivan
n (2015); Jeesse Fariass (2015); A
Alison
Williams (201
16); Gabe Paul
P (2016
6)
Janee Olcott – Clerk;
C
Lorren Cantrelll – Sexton
n; Virginia Gomer – S
Secretary;
Gabbe Paul – Treasurer
T
Send
d commentss/correction
ns to:
[email protected]
m