St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
This Week
December 28, 2017-January 4, 2018 
Celebrate Christmas with St. Stephen's
merry-xmas-header2.jpg

1st Sunday after Christmas
December 31st @ 9:30 am - Lessons & Carols with Eucharist
(This will be the only service we will be having this weekend)  
In this Issue
Marathon - Jan 14
Office Closed
Habitat
Detour's next show
Community Dinner
Christmas Breakfast
Pledge Cards
Your Vestry Hosts this week are:
Lyle Skillen
If you have any questions about St. Stephen's or have any comments or questions in general, you can reach out to them or find them this weekend.
We pray for...
  • those affected by the earthquakes,
    hurricanes, flooding and fires wreaking havoc across the world;
  • civil discourse grounded in respect;
  • refugees, immigrants and those without a home.
  • The search for a new bishop and rector: Merciful God giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese and a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Service Schedule
Saturday
   5:00 PM - Holy Eucharist and Healing 

Sunday
  8:00am Rectors Bible Study & Coffee
9:30am Holy Eucharist
Following worship, Fellowship, Coffee and Refreshments 
11:00am Adult Formation & Education 

Wednesday  
12:15pm Mid-Week Eucharist
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday
10:00AM-12:00PM & 1:30PM-4:30PM and other times by appointment .  
St. Stephen's Vestry
Christina Priddy
-Rector's Warden
Vic Grace
-People's Warden
Jack Colaric
-Treasurer
Mary Heldenbrand
-Clerk
Vestry
Lyle Skillen
Vicki Bradshaw
Ronnie Sunderman
Bruce Brannan
Kristin McCartor
Paul Basha
Ken Carleno
Helpful Links



Marathon Road Closures - PLAN AHEAD!
The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon will be closing many streets around the valley on January 14th, blocking the route most normally would take to arrive at church. You can  click here or call the office to find a list of all the road closures and to plan an alternate route!  
Office Closed for the Holidays!
The parish office will be closed next Monday and will reopen Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Happy New Year to all - see you in 2018!  
Happy New Year! - A Habitat House!
On the second weekend of January we're looking for hammer swingers and other DIY volunteers to help Genet Asress finish building her new home.  St. Stephen's is assisting the Episcopal Habitat Coalition of Central Arizona, in its fall project.  Our coalition is  working with other several other non-profit organizations to build a new house for Genet to start her family.  We will meet at 7:15 AM on Saturday, 13 January to install doors and trim on Genet's House.  We should be done by just after lunch. It is always a well-spent morning to help people put sweat equity into a house that they will buy from Habitat.

The house we are building is at 1937 E. Don Carlos in Tempe, near McClintock and Apache.
If you want to help us keep the Asress house on track for its February dedication, please contact Vic Grace at 602.463.8044, or sign up after service this weekend. We can get you a ride if you need one.
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Detour's Main Stage Troupe Presents: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Join us at the  Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. As always, the performances are free to all, donate as you're able.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 
1:00 PM & 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2018
3:00PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018
3:00PM
Community Dinners Sign Up!
The signup sheet for January's Community Meal is in the church.
Steve Cifone is the cook for this one and when asked what he was cooking, he said he didn't know yet, but we all know that whatever it is, it will be good.
So please R.S.V.P. so he will know how much food he needs to get and so no one will go hungry. (That's never happened yet)
Christmas Breakfast and Gift Card Distribution!
Our abundance overflows!! On Wednesday, December 20, through your generous gifts, we were able to share our abundance with nearly 200 people. We served breakfast and distributed 125 $25 gift cards and 68  turkeys. That is is simply AMAZING!. Santa even stopped by with gifts for the children and many photo opportunities. Thank you to all who helped - donating, shopping, cooking, organizing, setting up, decorating, being creative with the kids, translating, making coffee, cleaning up, and mopping floors. Surely God smiled on our little corner of the world Wednesday morning!!

Calling all 2018 Pledge Cards!
We have begun work on the 2018 budget and ask that if anyone has a pledge card that has not yet been turned in, please make sure you get it to us as soon as possible. You can drop it by the office or place it in the plate over the weekend. Thank you for your prayerful and continued support.   

We aspire to be an accepting community in which people will know Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, spiritual formation and fellowship. We hope our community will encourage all to use their God given gifts to serve others in the name of Christ.

Faithfully,

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church