In-person Worship at 10 am Lions 2 Shelter at Deming Park More information and Service bulletin can be found here Registerhere
or call Peggy Allen 812-239-6826
Sheila Carl, Sally Newlin, Ray Snyder, Linda Hegedus, Robin Rolt, Megan Price, Richard Hillier, Jonnee Western, Terry Persinger, John Bonner, Lane Clark, Martha Hafner, Ellie Thomas, Joe Kuhn, Justin Mendoza, Aaron Campbell, Kay Griswold, Joan Hubbard, David Mier, the Orndorff Family, Patrick Murphy, Martha Layton, Don Layton
Our Postulant Joanna Benskin
Birthdays Mary Conrad (10/25), Kathryn Loeser (10/25), Kimberly Streeter (10/28), Regina Sheets (10/30), Mattox Richey (10/31), Zachary Willis (10/31)
7th Street Church neighbors Centenary United Methodist Church, Central Presbyterian Church, United Campus Ministries, Second Christian Church
Diocese of Indianapolis Prayer Cycle St. Thomas, Franklin, The Rev. Whitney Smith; Dioceses of Brasilia, Haiti, and South Sudan
Anglican Cycle of Prayer The Church in Wales, The Most Revd John Davies, Archbishop of Wales & Bishop of Swansea & Brecon
Zoom office hours weekly
Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
Drew Downs is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Office Hours
Time: Oct 28, 2020 10:30 AM Indiana (East)
October 25, 2020 Freely giving our all to God “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’…. And … ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” – MATTHEW 22:36-39
There’s a saying that the chicken who lays an egg makes a contribution, but the chicken who makes a sandwich offers a sacrifice. One could say that Jesus was alluding to the latter when he responded to the question as to which was the greatest commandment, “You shall lovethe Lord your God with all of who you are.” He was asking for more than a contribution; he was asking for the sacrifice of our all.
As the Latin root of the word suggests, a sacrifice — a sacrum facere — makes one holy. Giving generously of that of which you are a steward — your heart, soul, mind and all your possessions — is life giving. And it is countercultural. As the bumper sticker declares, “S/He who dies with the most toys wins.” That’s a powerfully seductive statement. Only with God’s help can we avoid being allured into thinking that it is in acquiring possessions that our life gains meaning. May we grow in the wisdom that a rich life results in trusting that it is in God we live and move and have our being.
This reflection is written while visiting Green Bough House of Prayer in Scott, Georgia. Here the three residents, with the company of 77 associates, have dedicated their lives, their all, to God and have taken on a Rule of Life to embrace silence, prayer, simplicity and living in the present moment, and accept all as coming from God. Do all for God. Offer all to God. This to me is a beautiful example of Faith-Filled Generosity.
Very few members of the Church dedicate themselves to full-time contemplative living, but all of us are invited to learn to live Jesus’ greatest commandment, trusting that in so doing, Faith-Filled Generosity will flourish in our lives.
As we move back into our church buildings, remembering only too well the COVID-19-caused absence of normalcy, may we re-enter with a renewed commitment to freely giving our all to God and faithfully loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Rob Townes received his Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and has spent his professional career as a nonprofit and church fundraising consultant.
Light a Candle, Pray for the Nation, Vote Online prayer service on November 2, 7:30 p.m.
Light A Candle, Pray for the Nation, Vote: A Message from Bishop Jennifer
Yard signs that encourage people to "light a candle, pray for the nation, vote" are now available. Email Canon Kristin White to make a request. Images are also available on the diocesan website for people who want to make their own signs or social media posts in English and Spanish.
To have yard signs printed with your church or organization's logo included, please contact Stan Charles at Stan's Sign Design in Indianapolis (317-251-3838 or via email).
Barbara Vogel
“The Stratford”
2460 Glebe Street
#205
Carmel IN 46032
Barbara writes "It is with deepest regret that I bid farewell to my St. Stephen's family. Being the Senior, Senior citizen that I am, it seems a wise move to make at this time. I will be living in a retirement facility a short distance from my son and his family in Carmel. It goes without saying that my many years as a member of St. Stephen's Church are so very special to me and I leave with a treasury of wonderful memories."
This Season of Coronavirus Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and after much deliberation and direction of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, we suspended the use of our building for in-person Sunday worship.
Read the Regathering Plan While many churches in our community opened this summer, Vigo County’s infection rate rose dramatically in July and August. This has put some of our plans on hold. You may read more in the letter from our Regathering Team.
Continuing Financial Giving We understand that the COVID19 epidemic is causing a great deal of stress and confusion for all of us. Without regular in-person gatherings, you may not know how to continue your pledge or even know how to give. And this time of quarantine may be putting a financial strain on you or your family.
The treasurer hopes that you consider continuing to give what you can during this season to help maintain our ministry.
Here are three ways you can do that:
1) Mail a check to the church.
2) Use online banking to have your bank send a check directly.
3) The diocese is now processing online gifts on behalf of the
church. So you may go to https://onrealm.org/indydio/-/give/covid19
and your pledge will come to St. Stephen's.
While the church building is dark, there is light still shining.
Manna From Seven is still distributing food and some hygiene items on Fridays. They are still providing laundry services and putting food in our blessing box.
They could use our help. How? By sending them either a check or a Walmart gift card to help purchase needed items. Your monetary donation is tax deductible.
Please make checks payable to Manna from Seven, Inc and mail to their treasurer: Mike Cahill, 9730 Conner Cr, Terre Haute IN 47802.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Deby Veach at
217-251-7239 or dveach53@yahoo.com Thank you
Our church building is closed for until further notice.
Drew and Dennis are available by phone and email
see below.
Dennis will check mail periodically
and deposit offerings at least twice a month.
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
215 North Seventh Street
Terre Haute, Indiana 47807-3103
Phone: 812-232-5165
Web site: www.ststephensth.org
Worship times: Online Sunday at 10 am; Online Thursday at 12 noon
The Right Reverend Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop of Indianapolis
The Reverend Drew Downs, Rector — rector@ststephensth.org
Rector's cell phone — 770.755.8067
The Reverend Deborah J. Veach, Deacon — deacon@ststephensth.org
Dennis Dieken, Organist/Choirmaster/Secretary — officeadmin@ststephensth.org
