Your Guide to February 2022

Volume 81, Issue 2

Volume 76, Issue 10

The Guide

A Newsletter of

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

February 2022

Visit our Website

February Calendar and Rota

From our Senior Warden

Dear St. Stephen’s,

Just a little update on church happenings!!

First, we held the Annual Meeting last Sunday. Terry Babcock presented the financial overview and budget for 2022. All things considered, the church is in a good financial position; and a balanced budget was presented for 2022.

We also approved two new vestry members!! Thank you to Raynette Martin and Dave Jepson for agreeing to serve a term on the vestry! Their service is much appreciated!!

A few “house keeping” changes were made to the church by-laws. Mainly changing the number of members on the vestry; and changing the number of voting members, of the church, it takes to make a quorum at the Annual Meeting.

Second, the vestry is working with Canon Liz to hire an interim minister. This will be a temporary minister, possibly up to two years, to help transition St. Stephen’s as we search for a full-time minister. Please continue to pray for our parish and our future worship leaders!

Last, and with great joy, I get to announce we will have a pianist at our Sunday services beginning the middle of February. Mary Osterman, a senior at Northwest High School, will be playing for us!! She is quite talented and we look forward to having her join our Sunday worship.

I think that is all for now! If anyone has questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email me at 308-390-5904 or TracyBabcock@me.com.

God Bless St. Stephen’s!!

Tracy Babcock

Worship Guidelines

Masks: If you are not fully vaccinated, please wear a mask out of love for others who are not fully vaccinated. Otherwise, mask-wearing is left to your individual discretion, although at present it is recommended.

Passing the Peace: If you do not wish to shake hands or otherwise make contact with those outside your family, please flash the peace sign instead. All are invited and encouraged to use the hand sanitizer in the pews.

Distribution of Communion: Those who desire to receive kneeling or standing at the communion rail may do so; while at the rail and coming to and from it, we ask you not to come so close as to rub shoulders with someone outside your family. Fr. John will continue to walk out to anyone who chooses not to come forward because of mobility issues or concerns about maintaining social distance. Sipping from the common cup continues to be prohibited; intinction is permitted as long as you take care to dip only the wafer (and not your fingertips).

Youth News

God’s Spirit Moving: Please pray for our youth as they listen to where God is leading them. Currently our youth are in the discovery of where they are being called. Stand beside them as we discover together where 2022 will take us.

Watch for our youth group as we worship together. On the second Sunday of the month we will be at St. Stephen's Church and on the fourth Sunday we will be at Messiah Lutheran Church! We look forward to new relationships forming.

Mission Trip: Kansas City Bound

Dates to be determined

Snow Policies

If we experience inclement winter weather on a Saturday or Sunday morning, in-person services may be canceled at the discretion of Fr. John and Sr. Warden Tracy Babcock. In the event of a cancellation, notification will be sent out via OneCallNow and our email list (if you are not on either list, please ask Lynne in the Office to add you), and a service of Morning Prayer will be offered on Zoom. If Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings are affected, Fr. John will contact the usual participants directly. When Grand Island Public Schools are closed for weather, the Office will also be closed. And in all circumstances, if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable driving to St. Stephen's, please stay home.

Make a Call, Send a Card, Say a Prayer

On Our Prayer Lists

Those in need of healing or for other concerns: Robin, Marilyn, Cindy, Rebekah, Jerry, Cody, Reece, Jade, Elaine, Brendan, Sue, Carrie, Cindy, Jok, Dennis, Russell, Frances, Dorothy, Sam, Nancy, Stacie, Linda, Dennis, Tony, Wanda and Mickey

Those serving in the military: Tim

Homebound: Marla and Mickey

Prayer Chain requests can be emailed to Donna at dowesm@yahoo.com

The prayer lists are printed in the bulletin weekly and monthly in

The Guide.

Birthday Blessings to:

Susan Briseno - February 4

Nick Stoddard - February 6

Laura Volcek - February 11

Christy Jepson - February 13

Jerre Mallory - February 13

Tracy Babcock - February 16

Mya Cook - February 17

Cathi Swift - February 25

Anniversary Congratulations to:

Jerre & Stan Mallory - February 3

Fred, Jr. & Peggy Rauch -

February 25

Robert & Karen Borgheiinck -

February 27

If you would like to add a name (or remove a name) from the prayer list or add birthdays and anniversaries, please call the church office at 308-382-4961 or email Lynne.