__________   THIS WEEK AT ST. STEPHEN’S  _________

 

The Ministry of Healing:  After 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.

 

The St. Stephen’s Reading Group will resume our monthly meetings at the home of Tyler Jones and Carol Jablonski.  We will begin Listening for God, Vol. 2, discussing John Updike’s Short Easter.  Please contact Mother Carol for a copy of the book.  If you are interested in joining this group, please contact either Mother Carol at carolty@nc.rr.com or Marian Tyson at 489-7030.

 

There will be a Pre-Convocation Meeting on Wednesday January 7 at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall.  This meeting will include a review of resolutions and program items; each convocation has a meeting scheduled at this time of year, and we are pleased to host it for the parishes in the Durham Convocation.

 

Sunday School teachers and supporters!  (Pre-school through grade 6). There will be a special meeting of the Sunday School teachers on Saturday, January 10^th from 10:00-11:30am in the Parish Hall. Sunday School teachers will be commissioned for the spring semester at the 10:30 AM service on January 11^th. 

 

Sunday School will resume January 11th.

 

______ SPECIAL PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS ______

 

Mangiamo!  Spaghetti Dinner!  Join us on Saturday, January 17 from 6–9 pm for a Parish-Wide Spaghetti Dinner.  Advance tickets are available TODAY following services, and are easy on your wallet:  adults $7, children (4-10) $3, with a family maximum of $20!  Dinner includes salad, bread, spaghetti with meat sauce (or vegetarian option) and dessert.  Wine and beer will be available at the free will donation table.  The price goes up at the door, so plan ahead!  This event is brought to you by the 20s and 30s group as a benefit for Durham Nativity School.  Contact Rebecca Sayers rebecca.l.sayers@gmail.com or 606-3528 for more details. 

 

Fiftieth Anniversary Speaker Series: January 18, 2009, 4:00 PM— Jim Wise:  "A Newspaper Man's Perspective:  Looking Back, Looking Forward".  Jim Wise is a newspaper columnist, an author of local and Southern history books and a frequent visiting lecturer in Duke’s Learning for Life Continuing Education classes.  This event will be followed by a wine and cheese reception in the Davis Room.  Join us for this very interesting discussion!

 

Drivers needed!  We have a number of people in our parish who would like to participate in our services on Thursdays and Sundays, but need rides to and from the church.  If you can help with this ministry, please let the church office know!  We are especially looking for individuals who can assist a parishioner who lives at Carolina Meadows and another who lives near Martin Luther King Drive.  Drivers needed for Christmas Eve services too.  Thank you!  

 

__________   CHILDREN and YOUTH  __________

 

Children’s Chapel–We are pleased to announce that our children are participating in a special and exciting storytelling program called Beulah Land.  The children not only hear the stories but see and interact with them.  This program is appropriate for all children between the ages of four through nine years old.  We invite all parents who are interested in seeing what Children’s Chapel is about, to please come and “see for yourself” what a wonderful and enriching worship experience it is.  Also, in an effort to teach our children Stewardship, we are asking children to bring in a can of food, pasta, or rice to be given as an offering during our service each Sunday.  Thank you for your generosity.

 

___________ CARING _________

 

Eucharistic Visits can be arranged for parishioners who are unable to attend church but would like to be part of our corporate worship.  If you or a family member would like to be on our list to regularly receive Eucharistic Visits, please contact Bill Losee by email at chezlosee@yahoo.com, or at (919) 383-4674, or one of the clergy at (919) 493-5451.

 

Ministry of Intercessory Prayer. St. Stephen's has an active and committed prayer team that offers prayer support for parishioners and family members who are sick or experiencing any kind of crisis. If you would like to have the prayer team pray for you or a family member, or would like to learn more about becoming a member of the prayer team, please contact Sally Markham at skbmarkham@mindspring.com.

 

Healing Ministry:  If you have been involved elsewhere in Healing Ministry, Stephen’s Ministry, The Order of St. Luke, or similar activities, Mother Carol or Deacon Louane would like to talk with you about your experience.  Also, please have a look at the list of committees and parish ministries now posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

 

__________  PARISH LIFE  _________

 

Are you interested in some aspect of life at St. Stephen’s or have an idea for a program or service project?  Please take time to chat with Senior Warden Ted Griffin, Junior Warden Sally Markham, or any member of the Vestry.

 

Do you speak Spanish?  Would you like to be available for various projects at St. Stephen’s in which the ability to speak Spanish would be desirable?  If so, we’d like to hear from you.  Contact the church office 493-5451.  Thank you.

 

Small group sign-up sheets will be in the Parish Hall outside the Chapel after the early service and in the narthex after the 10:30 a.m. service. Be sure to take a look at this exciting range of opportunities.

 

_________ WORSHIP and STUDY _________

 

Music for a Sacred Space begins at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday with the musicians of St. Stephen’s.  This will be a part of our weekly fall schedule; we hope you will help fill our nave as we all prepare our hearts and minds for the worship of the Almighty through great sacred music each week.

 

Weekday 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. 

 

St. Stephen’s Bible Study group meets Wednesdays  at 2:30 p.m. in the Davis Room.  Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 7 at 2:30 pm.  We are studying the Old Testament with our colleague David Winer.