Staying Safe and Staying Connected
Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,
Today’s Prayer
O Lord, our God, teach us, we beg of you, to ask you in the right way for the right blessings. Steer the vessel of our life towards yourself, tranquil haven of all storm-tossed souls. Show us the course in which we should go. Renew a willing spirit within us. Let your spirit curb our wayward senses, and guide and enable us unto that which is our true good, to keep your laws, and in all our works evermore to rejoice in your glorious and gladdening presence. For yours is the glory and praise from all your saints, for ever and ever.
– Basil the Great, 379
Today we commemorate Basil of Caesarea.
Basil was educated in Athens in the best of Greek and Christian learning, and later settled as a hermit on the banks of the river Iris. He met his university friend Gregory of Nazianzus and they went on preaching tours together. He came out of seclusion to defend orthodoxy against the doctrine of Arianism which considered Jesus as divine but distinct from God Almighty and therefore subordinate to God. Basil spent the last nine years of his life as Bishop of Cappadocian Caesarea. He created a form of monasticism in which a religious community lived around a local church, and engaged in the care of their neighbors in addition to maintaining a life of prayer. He believed it dangerous to seek perfection on one’s own. The monastic buildings in Caesarea included hospitals for the sick and hostels for the poor. Basil was revered for his holiness.
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: Myra, Candace, Daryl, Joan, Charline, Ralph, Mary Ann, Joe, Jeanne, Theresa, Josh, Donald, Judith, David
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: Mary Ann, David, Marilyn, Eunice, Ruth, Mary Frances, Vincent, Priscilla, Joe, and all their families.
For Priscilla – today is her baptismal anniversary!
For all the blessings of this life.
For our dioceses in the Anglican Communion: The Diocese of Magwi – The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (Eastern Equatoria Province).
For all who have died: Hiola Sharpe, Charles Bradish, and Ruth Cotton.
For one another.
Something to share
My God, my Father, make me strong,
When tasks of life seem hard and long,
To greet them with this triumph song:
Thy will be done.
Draw from my timid eyes the veil,
To show where earthly forces fail,
Thy power and love must still prevail,
Thy will be done.
With confident and humble mind,
Freedom in service I would find,
Praying through every toil assigned,
Thy will be done.
Things deemed impossible I dare,
Thine is the call and thine the care,
Thy wisdom shall the way prepare,
Thy will be done.
All power is here and round me now,
Faithful I stand in rule and vow,
While ’tis not I, but ever thou:
Thy will be done.
Heaven’s music chimes the glad days in,
Hope soars beyond death, pain and sin,
Faith shouts in triumph, Love must win.
Thy will be done.
– Frederick Mann
News and Updates
Hi-Tech Parish Ministry – If you are interested in learning how to live-stream our church services there will be a training after church this morning. Please meet Dan Schuldt directly following the service in the front of the church.
Service Committee Meeting – Sunday, June 19, after the Eucharistic there will be a service committee meeting in one of the classrooms to plan outreach for the next few months. Please join us if you can.
New Ushers Needed – We are looking for new ushers to help us on Sunday mornings. If you are interested please see Vicki Hoshko or Allison de Kanel for more information.
SiCM Summer Meals St. Stephen’s will be doing the summer meals at Central Park for the first two weeks of the program: June 29-July 1 and July 5-8. If there is enough interest, we may also take a week in August.
· We will need at least 4 volunteers per day.
· Time commitment: Approximately 2 hours (give or take)
· Duties: Greet truck and unload supplies, hand out meals, keep count, interact with /provide activities for kids, clean up site, *bring coolers back to SiCM campus (we will request that volunteers at sites with earlier end times bring the coolers back to SiCM so they do not have to wait on site for the truck to come back to pick them up)
You can email Richey Woodzell at erwoodzell@gmail.com for any days you’re willing to volunteer; there will also be a sign-up sheet in the nave extension. All volunteers must complete a training session and sign a volunteer training form. The training will be either in person at the SiCM pantry at 839 Albany Street on Tuesday, June 21st at 9:30am or Wednesday, June 22nd at 1:30pm or watching a video of the training session online (to be announced after June 21). If you wish to attend the in-person training, email Richey to send you the link to register or call SiCM at 518-374-2683 ext. 108.
Coffee Hour – Volunteers are needed to sign up for coffee hour. Please visit the homepage of our website to choose an available date from now through the end of summer. Thanks!
SiCM Pantry- Thank you for your donations of cleaning supplies! For June we are collecting spices and seasonings, which are not usually stocked by the pantry. Please see a full list of spices needed in the nave extension, near where you put your contributions.
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.
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.