Upcoming Congregational Activities
Saturday, January 30: Noon – 2:30pm “Manna for Exodus: Reflections on Baptism and Eucharist” with The Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal. The Speaker Series is open to both congregation and the larger community.
Saturday, February 6: 9:30am – 5:00pm Absalom Jones Celebration –St. Philip, Columbus
Sunday, February 7: after the 10:30am service -Pastoral Care Team meeting
Tuesday, February 9: 5:30pm – 7:00pm Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Wednesday, February 10: Ash Wednesday services at 7am, 12:30pm, and 7pm
Saturday, February 13: 9:00am – 4:00pm Anti-Racism Training http://diosohio.org/events/event/anti-racism-training-6/
Sunday, February 14: Trade-in Bake Sale begins!
Sunday, February 14: Voting for Vestry/Convention Delegates begins
Sunday, February 21: after the 10:30am service –BREAD network meeting
Sunday, February 28: After the 10:30am service –Annual Meeting
Interim Rector away
The Rev. Faith C. Perrizo will be away beginning Saturday evening, January 30 and returning February 5. During that time, pastoral concerns should be directed to Deacon Pam Elwell. Pam will then direct concerns o the proper clergy.
Transition News
Another transition is underway for St. Stephen’s. Wayne Sheppard, who has served as our parish Treasurer for over 10 years, has stepped down from that role. On behalf of our parish, I extend heartfelt thanks to Wayne for his excellent and faithful service. We will have a chance to thank Wayne in person at the Annual Parish Meeting on February 28. I am pleased to report that this week, at the January Vestry meeting, Edward Lasseigne was elected as the new Treasurer of St. Stephen’s. My thanks to Edward for his willingness to take on this role. Wayne, Edward, and Eben Kent (Chair of our Finance Committee) will be working together over the next month to transition the responsibilities.
A reminder that nominations for both Vestry and Diocesan Convention delegates are due by Monday, February 1. I hope we will be able to announce the full slate of candidates next week.
-Cynthia Whitacre, Senior Warden.
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER
will be held from 5:30-7 pm on Tues., Feb. 9th. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras ( Fat Tuesday) is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. The word “shrove” comes from an old English word shriven, which means “to dry up”. Shrove Tuesday is the last celebration of Epiphany, which is the season that follows the visit of the Three Kings/Magi to the baby Jesus and symbolizes that Jesus’ coming among us was for all people of the world, not just the Jews. Because Lent is a time of fasting and prayer to prepare for Good Friday and Easter, all the fats and sugars in the pantries were to be used up by Shrove Tuesday. Different countries and cultures have various traditions around using up their fats and sugars. In some European countries they began to have pancake suppers with sausage or bacon. Some made cakes and sweetbreads, some made donuts. The Germans make a donut called a “fastnacht”, or fast night—indicating the night before the fast begins. In France the celebration was called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Join us for fun and food !
AWAKE, AWARE, ALIVE
The Ninth Annual AWAKE Trade-In Bake Sale begins in TWO weeks!! The first Sunday of the Bake Sale is February 14. We will be collecting non-food items, such as shampoo, soap, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.), toothpaste, etc. As we have done is the past with our ‘tradition’ of the Bake Sale, please bring your items to the 10:30 service, where the AWAKE children will come and gather them. The children will come and pick up what you bring (right where you are sitting), and then give you a ticket, which you can use following the service to enjoy baked goodies, in the back of the sanctuary.
The non-food items are for distribution at Neighborhood Services, Inc., which is the local organization that St. Stephen’s has supported. Neighborhood Services, Inc. offers help for families and people in need of food, clothing, etc., and they greatly appreciate this annual event by our church and children, which provides much needed items. The Bake Sale will run for the first five Sundays in Lent, from February 14 through March 13. Please know that you do not have to donate every Sunday; as always, contribute what you can, whenever you can.
Absalom Jones Celebration: Symposium on Social Justice and Reconciliation
Saturday February 6
9:30am – 5:00pm
The Diocese of Southern Ohio, the Herbert Thompson Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians of the Diocese of Southern Ohio and Christ Church Cathedral will present a second annual Symposium on Social Justice and Reconciliation. The daylong event will be held at St. Philip’s, Columbus, located at 166 Woodland Ave.
Schedule for the day:
9:30am Registration
10:00am – 3:00pm Symposium and Workshops w/Lunch
3:30pm – 5:00pm Festive Eucharist celebrating the life of Absalom Jones
Reception to follow
There is no cost for the event, but pre-registration is encouraged. Register here or visit http://stphilipcolumbus.diosohio.org
Volunteers needed for Greeting/Ushering
Help St. Stephen’s present a welcoming face! We are looking for a few friendly faces to join the ranks of the Greeters. Greeters arrive at the front of the church by10:10am to pass our bulletins and ensure that Arps parking passes are available. Greeters also facilitate the Offertory. Please speak to Faith or contact the Parish Office (parishoffice@ststephens-columbus.org ) if you are interested in signing up!
Vestry and Convention Delegate Nominations
Vestry and Convention Delegate nominations are open throughout the month of January. There are a four 3 year terms to fill on Vestry as well as 4 diocesan convention delegate spots to fill. Nomination forms will be in the pews on all January Sundays. Or, you may nominate a fellow parish member or yourself by sending the name to the parish office or to someone on the nominating committee. Ballots will be finalized in early February. Voting will take place on Sundays of February 14, 21, and 28, with the annual meeting taking place on February 28. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the meeting. If you have questions, ask your nominating committee: Thomas Clark, Michael Harbin, Cynthia Whitacre, and Mignonne Whitlow.
Diversity Training
In support of St. Stephen’s commitment to diversity, the Diocese has agreed to sponsor an Anti-Racism workshop at St. Stephen’s on Sat., Feb. 13th, from 9am-4 pm. The workshop will be facilitated by Debby Stokes (St. Philip’s) and Faith Perrizo. Registration for the event can be found at : http://diosohio.org/events/event/anti-racism-training-6/.
Swap Shop for our Sisters
St. Stephen’s will be hosting the 4th Annual Swap for our Sisters, on Saturday, February 27. This is a fundraiser for Women Have Options-Ohio, helping patients control their reproductive choices since 1992. NOTE; we do need volunteers and donations of clothes.
Do you have clothes that you would like to ‘get rid’ of? Here is a great event to drop off clothes for a worthy cause. The drop-off for clothes and donations is Friday, February 26, from 4:30-8:00 pm. The event itself will be in Hobson Hall, from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday, February 27. Donations of clothes for both genders-along with shoes, belts, hats, etc.-will be greatly appreciated.
Some common courtesy notes; items should be clean and in good condition, without holes, rips, or stains. If you don’t think others would want it please don’t bring it. Fun/ bizarre items are encouraged! You may bring adult clothing, shoes, accessories (purses, scarves, etc.). Please no children’s clothing. If you bring any long items, like dresses and coats, please bring them on hangers.
If you would like to help, please contact Jeff Watters.
SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016
PIMIL – Partners-in-Ministry-in-Liberia announces the 7TH Annual International Luncheon and Silent Auction Fundraising on Saturday, July 23, 2016 with the vision: A Decade of Expansion. The vision is to provide opportunity to respond to the educational needs of the Ebola orphans of which there are over 2000, and to the students in the program. The theme is “Seeking, Caring and Belonging”, based on John 10:16. The event will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Worthington, Ohio from 12:30-3:30 pm. The event offers educational and cultural engaging activities for the family! Delicious food! The goal is to raise $10,000. More information later!
Thank you!
Harold Patrick, PIMIL Chair
Abby Flemister, PIMIL Director
House of Bishops Theology Committee Offers Free Online Daily Meditations for Lent
This Lent, the theology committee of the House of Bishops invites the Church to explore ways to recover and renew economic imagination with a new resource, Repairing the Breach: Discipleship and Mission in a Global Economy.
Produced in partnership with Forward Movement, Repairing the Breach provides daily meditations and videos during the season of Lent. The meditations move through a pattern of reading, watching, reflecting, and praying, and each week of Lent is devoted to a particular aspect of economic life.
“The project’s digital format is a welcome new direction for our work as the theological arm of the House of Bishops. We have sought to model a process of theological reflection that is open, interactive, and accessible to everyone,” said the Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal, bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
The reflections examine the causes of economic injustice and our role, both personally and corporately, in unsustainable patterns of consumption and self-interest. The project also highlights specific practices where the Spirit of God is moving in local congregations and communities to bring new life.
“This resource provides an opportunity to engage in an important topic during Lent—
especially in a pivotal election year,” said Richelle Thompson, deputy director and managing editor of Forward Movement. “Most of us have been impacted by the economic crisis, whether we lost homes and jobs or know someone who did. This is a chance for us to reflect on concrete changes that we can make in our lives to avoid another meltdown.”
Visit repairingthebreach.forwardmovement.org to learn more and watch for the first meditation on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10. A print-friendly downloadable PDF of the reflections is also available for download at www.forwardmovement.org.
Forward Movement is a ministry of The Episcopal Church located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1935 we have produced resources to inspire disciples and empower evangelists around the globe.
Columbus Lenten School
The Columbus Lenten School Classes
Feb. 16 & 23; Mar. 1 & 8 at St. John’s, Worthington
6:30 – 8:15 pm
Four Week Classes:
Christianity in a pluralistic religious context
The Rev. Stephen Smith, St. Patrick’s, Dublin
As We Believe, So We Pray: The Theology of the Mass
The Rev. Jason Prati, All Saints’, New Albany.
But is it Resurrection? Re-incarnation, re-animation, and regeneration, too.
The Rev. Charles Wilson, St. Philip’s, Columbus
Finding God Deep in the Wounds: The Eucharist as Spiritual Practice
The Rev. Joseph Kovitch, St. Matthew’s, Westerville.
All Things Come of Thee: Living as Stewards of the Realm of God
The Rev. Bruce Smith, St. James, Columbus
From Charity to Empowerment: Changing the Conversation in Our Churches
The Rev. Lee Anne Reat and Jed Dearing, St. John’s, Columbus
Dark Night of the Soul
This Class has reached its maximum and is closed to new registrations
Two Week Classes
Forgiveness: Getting down and dirty.
[February 16 & 23] The Rev. Paul Williams, St. Andrew’s, Pickerington
The Good, the True, the Beautiful: Getting Clear About What We Really Want.
[ March 1 & 8]. The Rev. Dick Burnett, Trinity Church, Columbus
To register, just e-mail The Rev. George Glazier at associate@pats-dublin.org
Detailed information is in the LentenSchool 2016 Course flier
Book Club News
Our February book discussion will take place on Wednesday, February 10 starting at 6:30 PM. We will be discussing the humorous Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher. We’ll share a potluck dinner prior to the book discussion; please plan to bring something (food or beverage) to contribute to the meal. Our hosts this month are Jen Schmied and Rob Wood (along with Emma, Muriel and Carlin). Kindly let Jen or Rob know if you plan on attending. Everyone (new, old, young, long-time, male, female, etc.) is welcome. Voting on the list of books compiled in January for selection for the rest of the year will commence around February 1. An announcement will be made when the list is ready.
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
