st. stephen’s episcopal church and preschool
TRANSCRIPT
E x p e r i e n c e C h r i s t ’ s W e l c o m e W i t h i n O u r D o o r s Pentecost Edit ion 2 021
ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCO PAL CHURCH AND PRESCHOOL
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Message from Next Door
Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost, signifies a multitude of things: it is often the start of the local church’s “summer season,” when Sunday School comes to an end, when worship schedules are often adjusted to a single service during the summer, and when we no longer anticipate yet another major feast right around the next corner. Indeed, the seasons of the Church year often gallop at breakneck speed toward Trinity Sunday, where everything seems like it abruptly stops. Advent purple no longer gives way to Christmas white; the starkness of Lent is no longer suddenly
replaced with the dazzle of Easter; and the red of Pentecost gives way to the white of Trinity Sunday, followed by our return to what many call the “long, green season.” Along with the rainbow of colors we experienced from season to season, our emphasis at the beginning of the year was on God the Creator, Whose Kingdom was heralded throughout Advent. Christmas marked the arrival of the Incarnate God the Redeemer, Whose short time in a human body would change the course of human history forever, and Whose departure gave an opening to God the Spirit of Sanctification and Sustenance, Who would lead us into all truth and unite us eternally to the Creator and Redeemer. Thus Trinity Sunday is the day all Three of Them occupy a single stage at the same time, each taking a bow. Our gift is that this Trinity is able to meet whatever need we have whenever we have it. From the transcendent majesty of the Creator to the intimate whisperings of the Spirit, it’s all there for the taking. The long, green season is a time for growth: for our community and for us as individuals.
Joint Summer Services are being Explored
St. Stephen’s is very happy and excited to welcome our new preschool director, Karen Ramirez, who begins on June 1. Karen demonstrated a perfect mix of experience, personal warmth, enthusiasm, and an understanding of what the search committee was looking for in the new director. Karen, the newly-created preschool board, and the vestry are all looking forward to forging a deeper relationship between the church and preschool; we are very fortunate to have Karen join us and hope that everyone will have a chance to welcome her to our community.
The vestry has received suggestions that we celebrate the Eucharist once a month in the Memorial Garden as a joint service, and the worship committee is enthusiastically exploring this. One issue is that the portable keyboard Virginia used during previous Memorial Garden services is owned by the
school from which Virginia recently resigned. We therefore need a new keyboard for this idea to move forward, and various approaches are presenting themselves. Times and dates of these services will be determined once we finalize plans for music.
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Dear St. Stephens members, My name is Karen Ramirez and I will be starting on June 1st as the Preschool Director. I've been married for almost 29 years and have three grown children. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior 27 years ago and continue to grow in my faith everyday! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve your church in this wonderful ministry. I have worked with children in many capacities since I graduated from college. I most recently served as a preschool director for the past 8 years. I have a heart and passion for little ones and know that helping them grow is my calling. I am excited and look forward to learning all about St. Stephens, your preschool and all of the people who call this church their home.
Blessings, Karen Ramirez
A Very Warm Wellcome to the New Director of the Preschool
Newly Re-Formed Preschool Board Meets
On a recommendation from the Preschool Director Search Committee, the vestry has appointed a new board of directors for the preschool. The board met for the first time in late May, and will continue to meet every two weeks until a firm foundation is laid to promote the interdependency of the church and preschool, to establish support for the new director and preschool staff, and to engage in a regular process of reporting to the vestry. The board includes Tammy Brown, Peter Demaree, Tom Derco, Pete Gustin, and Amanda Woodward as voting members, and Connie Chintall and Karen Ramirez as nonvoting members.
Thanks to New and Returning Altar Guild Members Our return to the church has been a joyous process, but not one without a lot of behind-the-scenes efforts expended by a lot of people, including our new(ish) and returning Altar Guild members. Lori Wicka, and Leslie and Anna Cox were just starting their service to us when the pandemic shut our doors for 15 months. Since the reopening, Emily Derco has joined us, and Audrey Arnold and Charlotte Dandar have resumed their full involvement. We are all so very grateful to each of them for their service that allows us to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 96:9). This includes setting up and taking down the worship space before and after each service, keeping the candles filled, silver polished, and linens clean and ironed.
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Dear Friends in Christ, We have reached a moment we have long anticipated, when COVID-19 cases have declined as vaccination rates have risen. This reality has led Governor Northam to lift the mask mandate in Virginia for those who have been fully vaccinated. In addition, distancing requirements and capacity limits will be lifted on May 28. Suddenly, groups in Virginia may regather far faster than we anticipat-ed! We celebrate this news, giving thanks to God. We also remember the nearly 600,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the United States. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. When the pandemic began, I placed limitations on our worshipping in person and gathering together in our church facilities in other ways. I did so because of our shared Christian commitment to loving our neighbor and protecting the most vulnerable among us. I have greatly appreciated your faithfulness in abiding by those restrictions for the sake of the health of the entire community.
As of May 28, churches may regather indoors and outdoors, according to decisions made by the clergy of each congregation. Church leaders must continue to monitor two things going forward: public health markers and guidance from civic authorities, including the CDC, the Virginia Health Department and the Governor of Virginia. Churches should continue to adjust practices when necessary as new information emerges. According to the CDC, those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks in every indoor setting. However, we must consider how we can protect those who are still vulnerable, including children under the age of 12, who cannot yet be vaccinated. Although I am fully vaccinated, I will continue for the time being to wear a mask indoors during parish visitations, removing it only while actively leading worship and preaching. Your clergy have received a letter from me outlining particular areas in which we must still exercise restraint for the time being. I know you will cooperate with them as we move forward to Church together. I am grateful for your steadfast commitment throughout these long months to follow Christ’s example. You did your part in putting the needs of others ahead of our own desire to be together in accustomed ways. Let us now celebrate this milestone with thanksgiving. God bless you. God bless us all as the journey continues.
Faithfully yours, Bishop Susan Goff
A Message from the Diocese of Virginia
The BOOK CLUB is starting up again. We'll be meeting once a month to discuss the book/books of the month. We will be meeting on the last Sunday of each month. Our first meeting will be Sunday, June 27 from 11:15 to 12:15 For June we will be reading "Drenched in Light" by Lisa Wingate (Christian Fiction) and the first 3 chapters of "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney. Anyone can join the book club.
This club is mainly for fellowship with fun discussions so even if members don't read the book or the entire book, members are welcome to come to the monthly discussion. We'll be picking the next book to read at the discussion meeting each month. To join all they need to do is email me at [email protected] or call/text me at 540-270-2612. Thanks, Diana Crandall.
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New Historical Marker Installed
The Dedication of St. Stephen’s Historical Highway
Marker will be on Sunday, 13 June at 11am. Following
the dedication remarks by Rev. Pete Gustin, there will be
some light “Tailgate Refreshments.” After refreshments
there will be some copies of St. Stephen’s history
available for those who want to read
. We owe an enormous debt of thanks to Ed Dandar for shepherding this project
from inception to installation and invite everyone to join us in celebrating this
wonderful addition to our grounds.
Breakfast is back
Sunday, June 6: 8:45 a.m.
Breakfast in parish hall kitchen. Breakfast will be
every first Sunday of the month, and there is a
sign-up sheet in the kitchen. Questions? Contact
Donna Anders at [email protected].
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June and Julfuture Birthdays and Anniversaries
June Birthdays
June 6 Audrey Arnold June 8 Hannah Hertag June 9 Diana Crandall June 20 Carter Preston Duvall June 22 Sherry Moyers June 24 Kitty Wade
Anniversaries June 2 Charley & Denise Haynes July 14 Greg & Carol Miller July 15 Mark Lindsey & Connie Chintall
News f rom St . Stephen’s ECW
July Birthdays
July 5 Susannah Grove July 13 Ruth Eskridge July 28 Charlotte Dandar July 28 Stephanie Moyers
The BBQ’s are back.
June 12 and June 26th
BBQ Chicken and Pulled Pork dinners with Baked beans and Potato Salad
In the parking lot of Golden Rule
Builders If you would to help, it would be greatly appreciated
A little future planning………. another BBQ planned for July and August September 11th will be our CRABS-TO-GO October 30 th is the Pig Roast and Silent Auction
November 21st is the Annual Meeting and Mitten Tree Holiday Fair will be December 4th
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St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church & Preschool 8695 Old Dumfries Road
Catlett, VA 20119
RECTOR Rev. Dr. Peter Gustin VESTRY Jeff Cox Tom Derco Ruth Eskridge Joanne Faunce - Sr Warden Richard Gerhardt William Gulick - Jr Warden Marianne White - Registrar PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR Karen Ramirez
TRUSTEES Robin Gulick Christine Sanford Bessie Woodward
CONTACTS Karen Pickrell, Secretary
Dr. Virginia Palmer-Fuechel, Organist Connie Chintall, Treasurer
PARISH OFFICE HOURS Tuesday - Friday, 8 am -1 pm
WORSHIP AT ST. STEPHEN’S 8:00 AND 10:00 AM
SUNDAY
Church www.ststephenscatlett.org
[email protected] 540-788-4252
Preschool www.ststephenspreschool.org
[email protected] 540-788-3364
C ONTACT S T . S TEPHEN ’ S
RED DOOR CHRONICLE by St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church & Preschool.
OUR MISSION
We will minister to each other
and reach out to all people in the
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