Upcoming Congregational Activities
Fri, Feb. 26- 7pm -9pm EASE Gallery opening
Sat, Feb. 27 –10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Swap Shop for our Sisters –see Jeff Watters for details
Sun, Feb. 28 – after the 10:30 am service -ANNUAL MEETING and Potluck
Fri, March 4– 10:00am – 4:00pm Red Cross Blood Drive –Hobson Hall
Transition News
Things are heating up with our Rector search! On Tuesday, the search committee met with the Rev. Lynn Carter-Edmands, our Diocesan Transition Officer, and received the names of our applicants. The names we received have been vetted by the Diocese for any red flags (misconduct, etc.) but not evaluated for qualifications or fit – that is entirely up to us. This is a very exciting moment in the search – after the months and months of soul-searching and preparation, we are finally ready to start interacting with the flesh-and-blood people who feel called to explore the possibility of joining us at St. Stephen’s.
From here on out, the committee will need to follow strict confidentiality rules that do not allow us to talk about our applicants with anyone outside the committee. Even our spouses are not privy to the number of applicants we have or where they are currently working, let alone their names. What we can say is that we are very happy with the names we have received and are moving forward joyfully.
We will also continue to share everything we are allowed to, which includes where we are in the process. Over the next week, the committee members will each read through the applications carefully, looking in particular for a number of qualifications and skills that we feel are essential for our next Rector to possess. When we meet next week, we will discuss the applicants and decide who we wish to speak with in first-round interviews, which will be held via Skype between March 7 and 18. Once we have wrapped up that process, we will regroup and decide who to carry forward into the next phase of the interview process.
Please keep us and our candidates in your prayers, and we will keep you posted with our progress along the way.
~Melanie Schlosser, Search Committee Co-Chair
Vestry and Convention Delegate Voting!
Voting for Vestry and Convention Delegates concludes this Sunday, February 28. The 8 individuals running for the 4 Vestry openings are: Agnes Burris, Edward Lasseigne, Brad Oglesby, Kaitlyn Raver, Joe Rutter, Wayne Sheppard, Norm Wernet and Rob Wood. The 5 individuals running for the 4 Diocesan convention lay delegate positions are: Rae Fellows, Edward Lasseigne, Janet McNaughton, Norm Wernet, and Mignonne Whitlow.
Potluck and Annual Meeting
THIS SUNDAY, February 28 following the 10:30 service
The annual meeting is the required meeting where we conduct the business of the church each year. To make it more fun, we have a potluck meal with the meeting. Please plan to bring food to share (main dish, side dish, dessert, beverages). We are going to supply some chicken, so perhaps bring something that goes well with chicken. The potluck will begin immediately after the 10:30 service. The meeting will begin about 15 minutes after everyone has their food. The elections will conclude 10 minutes after the service and the results of the elections will be announced at the meeting. We’ll have a thrilling bylaws vote as well as a report from the Search Committee and other groups. I hope all of you can make it!
~Cynthia Whitacre, Sr. Warden
BREAD Issue Update
Mental health
Because of BREAD, the ADAMH Board has established 3 new Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams that are currently at work engaging the most vulnerable people with mental illness. They also allocated $200,000 for an accredited clubhouse in Franklin County! The plan is to have a grand opening for the clubhouse this summer and to have 200 active clubhouse members by the end of 2016!
AWAKE, AWARE, ALIVE
The AWAKE Trade In Bake Sale continues on its third (out of five) Sunday this week! The response has been great! Please bring in non-food items that go to Neighborhood Services, Inc. for families in need.
ALIVE will not meet this Sunday, due to the annual meeting. ALIVE will resume on March 6.
NSI Donations for Easter
St. Stephen’s has been asked to collect cans or plastic bottles (no glass bottles) of fruit for the Easter baskets. Our goal is 400 cans/bottles of any kind of fruit, as of last Sunday we’ve collected 160 cans of fruit. Bring the fruit to church by Sunday, March 13.
For the Trade In Bake sale: Last Sunday you donated 154 personal items.
Swap Shop for our Sisters
‘Women’s Swap for our Sisters’ will be held in Hobson Hall on Saturday, February 27. This is sponsored by Women Have Options-Ohio, and it raises money for women’s reproductive health services. From 11:00 am until 6:00 pm that day, people can come and get donated clothing for LOW Prices! NOTE; if anyone would like to volunteer, we could use some help on Friday evening, from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm, sorting and setting up. We could also use help on Saturday the 27th as well. If you are available to help, contact Jeff Watters. This is a great cause!
The Game Show: At EASE Gallery
Feb 26 –April 9, Opening Reception Feb 26 7-9pm
We invited artists, philosophers, teachers, and thinkers to come together over a hshared meal, form groups ad create a game out of collaboration. The Game Show is the fruit of these labors where process and play produce product. Come to the show. play the game. take a book.
Featuring: Julie Jent, Karl Stevens, Matt Swift, Nicolette Swift, Natalia Arbelaez, Brad Modlin, Kristin Calhoun, Joy Sullivan, Carolyn Baginski, Agnes Burris, Adam Gellings, Forrest Gard, James Minor, Wendy McVicker, Kristin Distel, Jena Seiler, and Melissa Neiderhiser.
Made possible by a grant from the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Friday, March 4
10am to 4pm
Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. When you donate, you’re changing the life of a patient in need. Please donate blood at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Friday, March 4. Donors will receive a Red Cross T-Shirt and Marco’s Pizza Coupon, while supplies last! If you donated on or before January 8 you may be eligible to donate at this drive.
Please schedule an appointment at: www.redcrossblood.org search sponsor code: buckeyes or email David Harris at Harris.2454@osu.edu
Helpful Links:
Eligibility: http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements
Why donate blood?: http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/why-donate-blood
Tips for a Successful Donation: http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/tips-successful-donation
Book Club News
Book Club News: The March book is Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. Book Club is meeting on Wednesday, March 9 at 6:30 PM at Matthew and Cory Strauss’ home.. We’ll share a meal, followed by book discussion. Please bring food and/or beverage to share. Kindly let Matthew and Cory know in advance if you plan to attend. Everyone is welcome. And, the book club selection of titles for 2016 is now available. Contact Cynthia Whitacre if you would like a copy of the list.
Reminder: If you’re mailing something to the church, especially time-sensitive materials, we recommend using the PO Box! St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 82263
Columbus, OH 43202
