ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday, February 19, 2011

 St. Stephen’s welcomes all visitors. We invite you to return often and become an active member of our parish family.
 

_________   THIS WEEK AT ST. STEPHEN’S  _________

Today we welcome Bishop Gregg who will be preaching at our 8:00 a.m. and our 10:30 a.m. services.  During our 10:30 a.m. service, we will celebrate with Confirmation and Eucharist.  Immediately following the service there will be a special reception during coffee hour with Bishop Gregg and the Confirmands; all are invited to join us!

Our weekly adult discussion on the scriptures of the day is held in the Davis Room from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  Please bring your coffee and join us!

Sunday School program!  Today, Sunday School for 4 year olds through 4th grade will take place beginning at 10:15 a.m. in the Education Building.  The children will then return at the time of The Peace to join their parents for communion in church.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will be held February 21 at 5:00 p.m. Come support our annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper hosted by the SSEC Youth.  Parental support is needed!  See Megan Carlson or email her at filleaunc@gmail.com. 

The Vestry will meet Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Davis Room.

Wednesday, February 22 is Ash Wednesday; services at St. Stephen’s will be observed at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon and 7:30 p.m.  (See today’s calendar for  details.)

Be sure to save the first Saturday in Lent, February 25, for the St. Stephen’s Women’s Quiet Day: Rediscovering Jesus (Recovering Spirituality in Mid-Life).  This event will be led by The Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner of Duke Divinity School.  Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the program will end at 12:30 p.m. with a concluding Eucharist.  (See insert in today’s bulletin to register.)

Another opportunity for quiet reflection on Saturday, February 25 will be a day with Sam & Jo Wells at The Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill from 9:30am to 3:30pm.  You may pick up a form in the narthex for more information.

Don’t forget the Original Works Art Fundraiser for St. Stephen’s preschool on February 25 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.  Forms are available in the narthex. See Kristy Gibson or email gibson.kristy@gmail.com if you have questions!

__________  PARISH LIFE  _________

The Knitting Group will meet next on Tuesday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m. in the Davis  Room.  Everyone is invited to attend!  Contact Bobbie Nielsen to RSVP (452-4751).

The Lex Matthews Scholarship Fund for Women - The Diocese of NC Episcopal Churchwomen offer an annual scholarship for women to provide educational opportunities for upgrading skills or advancing career opportunities.  Information and applications are available in the church office or online www.ecw-nc.org.(deadline 3/15/12).

Save the date!  The Men’s Group will sponsor a spaghetti dinner on Friday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall (see today’s bulletin insert).

Look what’s happening this summer!  St. Stephen’s will be offering camps for the summer; see today’s insert for specific details on these camps and how to sign up!

__________  CARING  _________

The Ministry of Healing: Each Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service, you are invited to receive prayers for healing for yourself or others during communion.  Those seeking healing may come to the narthex after they receive communion for private prayer with the healing team.  Healing prayers express the hope that we will be brought to wholeness in mind, body and spirit.  They remind us that God is with us in our brokenness as well as in our joy.  We are not alone, but are part of a caring community that is bound together in the love of God.  Prayers for healing include the ancient practice of laying on of hands and anointing.  A kneeler will be provided for those who wish to kneel; it is also appropriate to stand as you are prayed over.  All concerns and requests for prayers will be held in strict confidence among the pastoral team.

__________  WORSHIP and STUDY  _________

Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. in the Davis Room; we will NOT meet February 22 or February 29.  We will resume our meetings on Wednesday, March 7 with the continuing study of the Messiah and the afterlife.  Call Waltz Maynor at 489-8366 for more information.

The Spiritual Book Club meets weekly on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon in the Davis Room.  The Spiritual Book Club will be reading "Listening for God" by Paula J. Carlson and Peter Hawkins - ISBN # 0-8066-2715-8, also available from amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.  Please contact Diana Dohr - dohr.diana@gmail.com or call 886-1417 for more info.

Lenten Resources: As Lent once again draws near, it presents an opportunity for the Church to reflect and consider how we might follow Christ in healing a hurting world.    Free information is available on the web; please visit www.erd.org.  We will also have Lenten booklets available for your use.

We invite you to join us each week just prior to the service as we enjoy the opening prelude and prepare our hearts for worship.  This is a time which may be used for private prayer and meditation.

Mid-Week Eucharist -  St. Stephen's celebrates the Eucharist every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel. After the service, all are welcome to join in a pot-luck luncheon. Those who are able are invited to bring a dish to share.

We meet between services at 9:15 a.m. in the Davis Room for informal reflection on the sermon and the scripture readings for the day.  Bring your coffee and join us! 

Lenten Series -  Adult Christian Formation - Starting March 6th, 2012 St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will hold a four session Lent Series entitled Harsh Ground, Holy Ground.  We will begin the evenings at 6:00 p.m. with a simple Lenten supper of soup and salad, tea or coffee and end the evening with Compline. Lent is a time of reflection, of growing into the Spirit and of a renewed commitment to faith in God. This series will be led by Phyllis Leppert, Emily Hylden, Louane Frey and Martin Caldwell, all of whom have an interest in church history and what this history means in terms of our faith today.  The dates and topics are: March 6: Harsh Ground, Holy Ground DVD produced by the North Carolina Diocese of the Episcopal Church; March 13 Baptism of Virginia Dare and Manteo, the Lords Proprietors, Revolutionary War. March 20- Antebellum Period: African-American Spirituality-(in the words of Lauren Winner- A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith), Spirituality among the English and Scots descendants, and the formation of the North Carolina Diocese.  March 27- The Civil War time and afterwards.  For more information, see your February newsletter or talk to Phyllis Leppert.