October 16, 2024 Full Newsletter

October 16, 2024

A Message from Rev. Jane

Dear Friends,

As summer has given way to fall, this has been a lovely period. Now, we are less than three weeks from turning back the clocks, a certain measure of the passage of time.

Bishop Carlye J. Hughes, looking ahead to Election Day, has suggested prayers for individuals and congregations, helping all to be "aware of God's leading and responsive to God's guidance." Many of the prayers are found in the back of the Prayer Book -- individual prayers as well as a Litany for our Country. They are lovely, and I recommend them to you. The full list is in the Diocesan section below. I do want to share one of the prayers sent by the Bishop, written by members of the Diocesan Commission on Liturgy and Music.

"Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Faithfully,

Jane Rockman+

Happening at St. Stephen's This Week...

Twenty Second Sunday

After Pentecost

October 20 at 10:00am

ALL are welcome.

At Communion, you may receive the wine by sipping from the cup, reverently touching the base of the chalice, or you may choose Communion in one kind only (the bread).

Join us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall

after the service.

Coffee Hour host(s) still needed.

Live-streamed to YouTube and Facebook. Bulletins are available on the St. Stephen's website. All links can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.

Looking Ahead

PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY BECAUSE EVENTS MAY BE ADDED OR CHANGED.

OCTOBER

OCT 16

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

OCT 17

7:30pm - Preschool Committee Mtg

OCT 20

10am - Sunday Worship

11:30am - Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

OCT 21

7:30pm - MA Meeting

OCT 27

Rev. Paula will be back with us!

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

OCT 28

7:30pm - MA Meeting

NOVEMBER

NOV 3

10am - Sunday Worship and Baptism

11:30am - Reading with the Rector

1pm - AA Meeting

NOV 4

7:30pm - MA Meeting

NOV 10

10am - Intergenerational Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

NOV 11

7:30pm - MA Meeting

NOV 17

10am - Sunday Worship and Baptism

11:30am- Vestry Meeting

1pm - AA Meeting

NOV 18

7:30pm - MA Meeting

NOV 20

7:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting

NOV 21

7:30pm - Preschool Committee Mtg

NOV 24

10am - Sunday Worship

1pm - AA Meeting

NOV 25

7:30pm - MA Meeting

NOV 28, NOV 29

Offices closed for Thanksgiving

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED:

October 28 - November 4

YEAR OF RENEWAL

Rev. Paula will be on sabbatical from September 19 - October 26.

Rev. Jane Rockman will be with us during this time.

Rev. Paula will be back with us for Sunday service on October 27th.

A summary of information and the known dates of Rev. Paula’s sabbatical can be found on the St. Stephen’s website. Updates will be posted periodically.

Other Happenings...

NORTH PORCH

Coming Soon DIAPER DAY!!!

We are holding a DIAPER DAY collection. Bring any size diapers to church on November 3rd. If you can't attend that day, please drop them off ahead of time in the North Porch box in the Narthex. Here is another opportunity for the St. Stephen's Community to support North Porch Women and Infants' Center.

Contact: Barbara Riedel, 201-906-2712.

Legacy Planning: Ensuring Your Story Lives On

This is your opportunity to learn how preplanning can bring you and your family peace of mind and financial security.

Event Details:

Event Date: Wednesday, October 23

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Where: Zoom (Live & On-demand) *

Led by Angela Clough, our expert Preplanning Consultant and Owner/ Funeral Director, Scott Bradley, you’ll discover how to:

- Personalize your legacy to reflect your true self

- Secure your finances and protect your loved ones

- Rest easy knowing your final wishes will be respected

Act Now to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Bradley Funeral Homes is donating $10 for every registration to the Susan G. Komen Foundation as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Your registration helps fight breast cancer!

Free Raffle & On-Demand Access

All registrants will receive access to the recorded event and be entered to win a free raffle prize.

Don’t miss out—register by October 22 to ensure your spot.

For more details, reach out to Austin at (973) 908-6004, ext. 140, or email Austin@BradleyFuneralHomes.com.

On the second Sunday of the month, we have our “Second Sunday Intergenerational Service.” Our children and youth join us for the entirety of the service, with some serving as liturgical ministers. We use child specific resources for some of the readings and prayers, and make other changes so the liturgy is more accessible to the younger among us.

If your child(ren) would like to participate in the service, please signup below. We have opportunities to read, greet/usher, bring up the oblations (church-speak for bread and wine), and to collect the offering.

Signup here.

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED

Please consider hosting!

Host(s) provide milk and food

for Coffee Hour on Sunday.

Sweet -or- savory.

Bought -or- made.

The hosting sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

COUNTING MINISTRY

The Counting Ministry is required

for compliance with best business

practices and our audit process.

Please consider joining this team, which works in pairs immediately after the service. It’s actually one of the least time-consuming and most straightforward ways you can participate in the vital ministries of this parish.

Email Maria for the 2024 signup.

The Evelyn Underhill Region.. and beyond

Halloween Concert

Grace Episcopal Church

Madison, NJ

Grace Community Music presents a Halloween Concert on Saturday, October 26, 7PM with Grace Church School Choirs, New Jersey Youth Chorus Coro Vivo and Harmonium Outreach Chorus.

Freewill donation at the door and they will collecting non-perishable food items for local food banks.

Saints Be Raised! Saint-themed wine and cheese party

St. George's

Maplewood, NJ

Friday November 1 is All Saints Day, and St. George's is celebrating with a Cheese and Wine Party! Proud to pair with local wine educator and writer Hank Zona. There will be Saint-themed cheeses and wines, grazing tables, a Wine Pull, a Silent Auction, and delicious, homemade rum cakes and ice cream to pre-order for the holidays!

Bring your friends!

Tickets are $65.

Faithful Outreach

FAMILY PROMISE

Family Promise of Essex County helps homeless and at-risk families achieve self-sufficiency by providing shelter, social services, and housing assistance through a community-based approach.

A donation can help Family Promise of Essex County to remain responsive to families’ emerging needs and its impact in our communities.

To read the Family Promise Newsletter,

please click here.

NORTH PORCH

North Porch Women & Infants' Centers provides emergency aid, in the form of baby supplies, to mothers and infants in northern New Jersey, to help them stabilize and improve the quality of their lives.

Our collection bin is located outside the education building doors year-round. Donations can be dropped off at any time. Items of urgent need are:

Enfamil 12.5 oz powdered baby formula and soy formula
Diapers sized 1 through 6 and Pull-ups of all sizes
Baby wipes
Jars of baby food all ages-fruit, veggie and 1st foods
Baby Cereal

If you would like to make a monetary donation to North Porch, please click here.

THE APOSTLES' HOUSE

The Apostles' House Turns 40

this Year!!

Apostles' House provides compassionate care for homeless women, fostering healing and empowerment. They plan new programs focusing on trauma-informed care and crisis intervention, addressing immediate needs and long-term healing. They aim to create a space

where every woman feels heard, breaking the cycle of homelessness.

Help Apostles' House celebrate their four decades of unwavering commitment by contributing to their goal of raising $400,000 this year!

Learn more here.

Collection bins for non-perishable food and hygiene product donations are available year-round outside our education building doors.

From Bishop Hughes & The Episcopal Church

MESSAGE FROM BISHOP HUGHES

Pastoral Letter: Hurricane Helene -10/1/24

What does success look like for us?

-10/2/24

Bishop Hughes reflects on our diocese's 150 years of service in northern New Jersey, and its ongoing relevance in addressing the community's changing needs.

SUGGESTED PRAYERS FROM

BISHOP HUGHES

As we approach our country’s General Election on Tuesday, November 5, Bishop Hughes has provided some suggested Prayers for all.

A collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 100)

Read the full list of prayers here.

The Voice Online Link - 10/2/24

DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTERS

Find out more and subscribe here.

THE INVESTITURE OF PRESIDING BISHOP-ELECT SEAN ROWE

Saturday, November 2nd at 11 AM

In this historic and joyful season, we invite you to pray for guidance for our church and our new presiding bishop as he leads us in envisioning the reign of God in our midst. May our celebration unite us as a sacramental community, and may we be filled with new energy to bear witness to God’s work of redemption.

Who: Everyone is invited!

What: The Episcopal Church will officially welcome the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe as its 28th presiding bishop with a smaller, simpler investiture service aimed at reducing carbon footprint and increasing churchwide virtual participation.

When: Nov. 2, with a prelude featuring a “roll call” of dioceses starting at 9:30 a.m. ET. The service itself starts at 11 a.m. ET.

The service will be livestreamed on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page.

ELECTION NIGHT VIRTUAL PRAYERS

Tuesday, November 5th from 8:00 to 10:00 PM

Everyone is invited to join Election Night Virtual Prayers hosted by The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations from 8 to 10pm on Nov. 5. Bishop Sean Rowe, who will become presiding bishop on Nov. 1, will offer an opening reflection and prayer. Episcopalians from around the church will hold silence and lead participants in prayers together for peace, the nation, and all people and countries.

Join the event via Zoom by registering here, or watch a livestream on The Episcopal Public Policy Network’s Facebook page.

Q&A: PRESIDING BISHOP MICHAEL CURRY REFLECTS

ON NINE YEARS AS CHURCHWIDE LEADER

As Curry prepares to step down and spend more time closer to home in Raleigh, North Carolina, ENS spoke to him by Zoom to get his reflections on his many travels, the Way of Love, the effects of the pandemic, a certain royal wedding and the road ahead for the church.

Read the full story here.

TRINITY RETREAT CENTER

Trinity Retreat Center, located in the Northeast in West Cornwall, CT, offers a place of spirituality and gracious, authentic hospitality—where you can slow down, connect deeply with nature, experience the rhythm of a community, enjoy farm-to-table meals, discern direction for your life, and go home ready to make an even greater impact on the world.

Trinity Retreat Center is an Episcopal mission of Trinity Church Wall Street and is open to everyone, regardless of denomination or faith.

For more information, go to the Trinity Retreat Center's

Facebook page or website.

Upcoming EPN Digital Workshops:

What Clergy Spouses Can Teach Us About Spiritual Resilience 11/12 3:00pm EST

Learn more here.

Cross Roads Camp & Diocesan Youth Ministries

CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center is a joint ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark and the New Jersey Synod. Cross Roads is a welcoming and inclusive community providing life-changing and sacred adventures for renewal, growth, and joy.

Cross Roads is an inspiring and relaxing year-round retreat center offering comfortable facilities and professional programming for secular and spiritual groups of all ages. Located on 250 glorious acres atop the stunning mountain landscape of northwestern New Jersey, our cozy retreat centers and cabins house up to 300 people. Guests enjoy our beautiful hiking trails and an abundance of outdoor and indoor recreational areas including basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, and open space for field games.

To learn more about Cross Roads' offerings, click here.

POP UP YOUTH MINISTRY

Pop Up is a welcoming ministry of the Diocese of Newark bringing together youth for fun activities, community, and faith formation. All youth grades 6-12 are encouraged to join the monthly events.

Follow popupym on Instagram

and Facebook.

Resources

In this time of Crisis, there are many resources that can help if you or someone you know needs assistance. Please contact NJ Mental Health Cares for free helpline telephone counseling or assistance. Call 866-202-4357.

TTY: 1-877-294-4356.

E-mail: help@njmentalhealthcares.org

Other resources are:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line, 741741

NJ Hope Line (suicide prevention)

855-654-6735

A/MA MEETINGS

Weekly AA meetings:

Sunday at 1:00pm

Contact: Rob H. (516) 860-9062

AA meetings are presented in Big Book format.

For more information about Alcohol Anonymous, click here.

Weekly MA meeting:

Monday at 7:30pm

Contact: Max T. (212) 203-2542

Contact: Deana L. (908) 499-8997

MA meetings are presented in a rotating format:

Step - Speaker - Story from Life with Hope - Topic

For more information about Marijuana Anonymous, click here.

Prayer List

Please keep the following St. Stephen's family

members and friends in your prayers...

Harold Williams

Ruth and Ron Gadbois

Gina del Russo

Victor

Linda Petrillo

Jennifer Reilly

David Losito

Kevin Young

Mary Loucas

Sean Fitzgerald

Susan Okrent

Evie Larson

Arlene Coughlin

Barry Lenson

Donna Riggi

Mary Ruth Stone

Maura Stack Duge & Family

Carol Ann Lockwood

Anne Burg

Brian Bogardus & Family

Kris Hunt

Cyndi Geller

Betty Toland

If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please email us at church@ststephensmillburn.org, or call (973) 376-0688 Ext. 32.

Anyone for whom we are praying will be on our prayer list for six weeks. If prayers are still needed beyond that time period, please let us know. Thank you.

Sunday Lectionary

The Twenty Second Sunday After Pentecost

October 20, 2024

We are using the new lectionary,

Wilda Gafney's A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year B.

Our bulletins are available here.

Giving with Tithe.ly

TITHE.LY

Giving with Tithe.ly is easy with options for recurring donations or one-time use for when you are away or not able to be in church.

You can access Tithe.ly giving here.

Office Notes

Only teachers and staff are allowed to be in the building during school hours. If you need to visit the parish office/building for any reason, please contact us for an appointment. Thank you.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm

Important Links

Zoom Links

Sunday Worship

Meeting ID: 864 1664 1640

Passcode: SSM119

To call in, dial by your location:

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Adult Formation

Meeting ID: 878 3014 4448