The Messenger
A weekly e-newsletter of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
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Message from the Rector
By The Rev. Dr. Vincent Joseph Kopp
Dear Good People of St. Stephen’s,
My two calls—medicine and ministry—overlap at times. As one wag put it, “Priests are called when doctors fail!”
Priests in the past cultivated some expertise in medicine. George Herbert’s 1652 manual, “Country Parson: His Character and Rule of Holy Life,” Chapter XXIII, stated it thus:
“The Countrey Parson desires to be all to his Parish, and not onely a Pastour, but a Lawyer also, and a Phisician….Now as the Parson is in Law, so is he in sicknesse also: if there be any of his flock sick, hee is their Physician,…Yet is it easie for any Scholer to attaine to such a measure of Phisick, as may be of much use to him both for himself, and others. This is done by seeing one Anatomy, reading one Book of Phisick, having one Herball by him….”
What Herbert wrote then strikes us as quaint now. Keeping current in medicine is harder than ever. To do so a physician takes Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses and earns credit-hours to stay licensed.
That is what I will be doing next week from June 12th through June 18th. It’s not ministry and it's not a vacation but it is an essential activity. It will be bittersweet, though, as 2022 will be the last time I renew my medical license. After 40 years it's time to let go and let the next generation wave the caduceus.
Let Us Pray:
For Health Care Providers (from Ministry with the Sick, p. 65)
“Give your blessing, gracious God, to those you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and the prevention of disease and pain. Give them the wisdom of your Holy Spirit, that through their work the health of our community may be advanced and your creation glorified, through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen”
In Christ,
Vincent+
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Weekly Happenings
SUNDAY, JUNE 12 - Trinity Sunday
8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Rite I (Sanctuary)
10:30 a.m. Morning Prayer Rite I (Sanctuary)
11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour (Parish Hall)
11:30 a.m. Outreach Committee Meeting (Parlor)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
5:00 p.m. Centering Prayer / Lectio Divina (Parlor)
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer, Rite I (Sanctuary)
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Rite I (Sanctuary)
10:30 a.m. Morning Prayer, Rite I (Sanctuary)
11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour (Parish Hall)
5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Pizza afterward (Pavilion)
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Prayer List
† Mary Branch
Cissie Bryan
Kelly Holden
Pam Martin
Dick Taylor
PARISHIONERS:
Rives Hicks
Lucy Landis Moore
NON-PARISHIONERS:
Betty Jo White
Betty Yancey
At Pentecost and at All Saints we renew our prayer lists. If you or someone you know wishes inclusion, please obtain permission first and then inform Lidiya at: [email protected].
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June Birthdays & Anniversaries
BIRTHDAYS
03 Ginny Hicks
04 Mack Harris
06 Caroline Folger
08 Harvey Spurr
10 Jim Branch
10 Mary Elizabeth Hicks
10 Beckett Swanner
12 Frances Mathews
22 Laurel Sciortino
24 Mary Ruth Edmundson
ANNIVERSARIES
02 William & Ginger Claiborne
03 Adam & Lee Brewer
04 Clayton & Claire Ramsey
04 Joe & Jennifer Tartamella
10 Harvey & Marlene Spurr
14 Mack & Eve Harris
16 Tom & Grey Currin
20 Scott & Madeline Basnight
21 Jim & Mary J. Branch
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Parish Strategic Plan
Michael Currin, Chair of the Strategic Planning Process for 2022-2023, will soon convene a committee and develop a timeline for the work to be done. If you are interested in being a part of this process, please reach out to Michael. The Strategic Planning Process will provide groundwork and recommendations needed for St. Stephen’s to accommodate future growth as Oxford and Granville County grow. Please discern your part in the process and stay tuned to learn more as it starts to unfold.
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Bicentennial Year
St. Stephen’s Bicentennial Committee will meet Wednesday, June 22nd at 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall. If you are interested in contributing, please plan to attend. In addition to Bishop Rodman’s visitation on April 16, 2023 to mark the Bicentennial date of our acceptance into the Diocese of North Carolina, plans are under consideration for a 1789 Prayer Book service, display of our restored original parish record, an update of our parish history book, and an oral history of St. Stephen’s relationship with St. Simeon’s (Satterwhite), St. Cyprian’s (Oxford), and St. John’s (Williamsborough) parishes.
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Volunteers
Want to serve at St. Stephen’s in new and creative ways? Going forward we need volunteers to serve in the following ways:
- Altar Guild
- Readers of Lessons and Prayers of the People
- Lay Ministers, Crucifers, and Acolytes
- Greeters
- Bell Ringers
- Photographer
- Bicentennial Planning Committee
- Strategic Planning Committee
- Creation Care Committee
Please give prayerful consideration of where your highest and greatest gifts meet St. Stephen’s greatest needs.
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Social Media
It is easy to discount social media, yet numbers do not lie. To date the St. Stephen’s introductory video on our Facebook page has garnered 200 encounters and 100 engagements (some form of active response after an encounter). Pictures from our Shrimp Boil have had over 400 encounters and 200 engagements. The Memorial Day St. Stephen’s Window post had 600 encounters and 80 engagements. To this end, please, use the tools at our disposal to help bring the ancient church into the modern world for the good of all; engage with St. Stephen’s on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). Doing this will help St. Stephen’s reach out to others.
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Thrift Shop Day
Saturday, July 9th
9:00AM-12:00PM
Saturday, July 9th is Volunteer Day at the Community Church Ministry Thrift Shop. Parishioners are encouraged to stop by the shop and purchase items; all proceeds will go to St. Stephen’s.
The shop receives a variety of donations, including antiques and collectibles. They have jewelry, children’s items/games, a large book section, and many other items. The shop is located at: 1200 SE Industry Drive, Oxford.
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Save the Date
On July 10th the parish will have Holy Eucharist and a picnic at Henderson Point on Kerr Lake. Folks are asked to bring sides. Church Life will provide main courses. If you have thoughts about transportation, please share these with the Church Life Committee.
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Rector's Weekly Video
Trinity Sunday - June 12, 2022
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MISSION STATEMENT: We are dedicated to sharing the Gospel and love of Christ Jesus through service to our Church, community, and world.
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Office Hours: M-Th 9AM-4PM
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