Staying Safe and Staying Connected
Good Morning Saint Stephen’s Church,
We continue our life of daily prayer. The Lord be with you!
Today’s Prayer
May the strength of God pilot us,
May the power of God preserve us,
May the wisdom of God instruct us,
May the hand of God protect us,
May the way of God direct us,
May the shield of God defend us,
May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.
– Patrick, 461
Patrick was born into a Christian family somewhere on the northwest coast of Britain in about 390. When he was a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish slave-raiders and was a slave in Ireland for a number of years. Years later he escaped, returned to Britain, was ordained, and eventually decided to return to Ireland, his place of suffering and enslavement in order to evangelize the people. Patrick was never formally canonized. Nevertheless, he is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Churches, and in the Eastern Orthodox Church as equal-to-the-apostles and Enlightener of Ireland.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
From Our Prayers of the People
For the special needs and concerns of our congregation.
For people throughout the world: in places of war and strife, and for all victims of violence and oppression.
For the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine, that wisdom and courage may prevail in the cause of peace.
For the people of Ukraine, the people of Russia, and for all who affected by violence and war;
For those who have taken up arms, whether aggressively or defensively, that a spirit of peace may reign in their hearts and in their lands.
For our allies around the world in harm’s way: for those who are still trying to leave Afghanistan and the Ukraine; may God be with them and their families.
For comfort and healing for all who are affected by the Coronavirus around the world: for physicians, nurses, and all others who minister to the sick and the suffering, and for those administering vaccinations, may God grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience, and may God keep them healthy and safe.
For all historical acts of injustice and oppression: especially those perpetrated against native, Black, Hispanic and various Asian Americans in this abundant land, that we may recognize racism in ourselves, in our church, in our society, and recognize the times we have failed to take action.
For a reverence for the earth as God’s own creation: that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to God’s honor and glory, and for wisdom, guidance, and persistence as we face the challenges of climate change and work for the flourishing and health of all the earth.
For those on the Parish Prayer Chain: Maria V., Liz, Kathy, Maggie, Reena, Jim, Bruce, Chris, Audrey, June, Caleb, Sunny, Josh T, Pat J.
For our Government Leaders: Joseph Biden, President of the United States; Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State; Gary McCarthy, Mayor of Schenectady.
For our Church Leaders: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop; Michael G. Smith and Carol Gallagher, Assisting Bishops; James and Dennie, our priests; Pat, our deacon emeritus and Allison, our Lay Reader.
For those who are imprisoned: those particularly vulnerable at this time, especially the women in the Schenectady County Jail.
For Members who request our prayers for strength and healing: Liz, Kathy, Janet, Marilyn, Eunice, Ruth, Mary Frances, Vincent, Priscilla, Joe, and all their families.
For all the blessings of this life.
For our dioceses in the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Kirinyaga – The Anglican Church of Kenya.
For all who have died: Florence Bentley, Lucy Totterdale, Gertrude Dunmore, Edmund Tatge, and Frieda Wyman.
Something to share
| God is the Fracture I used to need to knowthe end of every storybut these days I onlyneed the start to get me going. God is the crackwhere the story beginsWe are the crackwhere the story gets interesting We are the choice ofwhere to beginthe person going out?the stranger coming in? God is the fractureand the craic in your voiceGod is the storyflavoured with choice God is the pillar of saltfull of pityaccusing Godfor the sulphorous city. God is the woman who bleedsand who touchesWe are the storyof courage or blushes. God is the storyof whatever worksGod is the twist at the endand the quirks We are the startand we are the centrewe’re the charactersnarrators, inventors. God is the bitthat we can’t explainmaybe the healingmaybe the pain. We are the bitthat God can’t explainmaybe the harmonymaybe the strain. God is the plotand we are the writersthe story of winnersand the story of fighters the story of loveand the story of rupturethe story of storiesthe story without structure. – Pádraig Ó Tuama |
News and Updates
Save the date: Interfaith Seder – April 7, 2022 – 5:15pm – On Zoom
Seder-in-a-Box Food and Materials will be available for sale in advance.
This Zoom Seder will have the theme “Historical Development of the Seder Through the Ages.” It will be participatory and traditional. The special ritual foods for the seder are available for purchase, as is a traditional Passover meal. Community is invited to help with food prep on Sunday, March 20, from 2-5, and to learn about Kosher practices.
Contact – Jack Mintzer, Congregation Agudat Achim
518-393-9211 – eddirector@agudatachim.org
Intergenerational Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt – Mark your calendars and plan on joining us after the 9:30 service on Sunday, March 27 for a special coffee hour and egg hunt extravaganza for ALL ages! We will split into two teams, follow clues around the church, and finally complete a puzzle together to finish the fun!
Come Join us for the 2022 Crop Walk
When: Sunday, May 1 after the 9:30 service
Where: Meet in the Parish Hall
What: A 30 minute walk (about 1 ½ miles)
Why: To raise money and awareness for the thirsty and hungry in our community and world.
To Register for our team or To Donate:
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/team/st-stephens-schenectady
Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) – Thank you again for your continued support of the SiCM Rev. Phil Food Pantry. For the month of March we are collecting:
· snacks (granola bars, fruit snacks, snack-size pretzels, crackers & chips, etc.)
· Knorr food packets (pasta and rice sides, bouillon and food mixes).
In addition to having the pantry open four days a week, each week SiCM volunteers bring food to Schenectady residents eligible for food delivery. SiCM has recently begun distributing food at Martin Luther King School every other week when parents come to pick up their children, reaching families who cannot get to the pantry.
St. Joseph’s Place – On the last Wednesday morning of each month St. Stephen’s volunteers make lunches for the guests at St. Joseph’s Place. If you would like to participate, contact Carole Merrill-Mazurek or Richey Woodzell. We welcome contributions toward the cost of the food and supplies, which you can put in the offering plate or mail to the church office.
Reminders
If you have an update/news, a prayer or poem or something inspirational you would like us to share with the congregation, please send it to us. Please also send us any prayer requests. We will incorporate these into the Daily Prayers as best we can: james.ross.mcd@gmail.com.
Prayerbook Morning Prayer in Zoom – each morning. Join Dennie and me for an inter-active service of Morning Prayer at 9 am. Time to bring your prayer concerns will be provided. (contact Becky for the link: becky.holder@gmail.com).
If you need a prayerbook, and are not in a position to purchase one, please contact me: james.ross.mcd@gmail.com. I will make sure you have your own Book of Common Prayer.
Masks are optional for all gatherings at the church.
Our office email is: office@st-stephens.church
Our goal is for all of us to stay in touch and connected.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be at your back,
May the sun shine upon your face,
he rains fall soft upon soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Be of good courage. We are in this together, and we will be together again soon. God bless you and may God be with us in the days ahead.