DECEMBER 2009
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First-Wednesday Service of Healing and Hope with The Holy Eucharist On December 2, the 5:30 PM midweek service will be the Holy Eucharist (instead of Evening Prayer). The service will include a litany of healing, anointing, and communion around the holy table.

Annual Parish Meeting REPORTS for 2009 and BUDGET requisitions for 2010, are due from ministry coordinators, committee chairs, and program leaders BY DECEMBER 20. Preparation for the church’s annual meeting report gets underway mid-December so it will be ready for the meeting on January 24. Reports and budget requests may be brought to the church office or e-mailed (ststephens@sbcglobal.net).

Newsletter deadline is the 10th of each month for entries in the next issue.

Vestry will convene December 14 at 5:30 PM for their regular meeting (the 2nd Monday this month instead of 3rd).

Stuff ‘n’ Fold is Tuesday, December 22, at 10:30 AM to prepare the January newsletter for mailing. (Note: This date is a change from the usual last-Thursday schedule for Stuff ‘n’ Fold.)

2010 pledges are still welcome following the November 22nd Celebration Sunday Ingathering. 100% participation in return of pledge cards is requested by the vestry so that they may prepare the 2010 budget based on information on returned cards. Cards are in pewracks, the narthex, and the office-area foyer.

The Search Committee for a Rector for St. Stephen's has been meeting regularly and is moving ahead with the initial tasks invovlved in the search process. If you know a priest that you would like to have the committee consider, now would be the appropriate time to make this suggestion. Please make your recommendation to Louise Cummins, chair of the search committee. Her phone number is 799-7812 or you may email her at louise.cummins@gmail.com. Thank you, Maggie

Nominations of people to fill vestry vacancies and for delegates to the annual diocesan convention may be made in writing to the Nominating committee of the vestry. This committee is made up of the outgoing vestry members: Barbara Arrington, Charlotte Burt, Britt Pharris, Phil Rapstine. Nominations must be received by the committee by January 3. Vestry personnel serve 3-year terms. Convention delegates serve two years, attending deanery meetings as well as the annual diocesan convention (usually the last weekend in October). Persons being nominated for vestry or delegates must have been a member of the parish for at least 6 months..

Next month and beyond . . .
January 3 Sunday School resumes
January 6 Wednesday schedule resumes: 5:30 PM Midweek service 7:00 PM Choir rehearsal
January 24 Annual Parish Meeting, after 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist

Confirmation and Reception with The Holy Eucharist is scheduled Wednesday, November 11, at 7 PM. Celebrant will be The Right Reverend J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of our Diocese of Northwest Texas; he will confirm and receive recent Inquirers’ class participants who are thereby joining the Episcopal Church. A reception honoring the confirmands will follow the service. Confirmands will have a time prior to the service at 5:30 to visit with the bishop; they will be served a light supper at that time.

Christian education news for everyone!
On Sunday, November 22nd, something quite special is planned in preparation for the Advent season. A multigenerational workshop in the parish hall from 9 AM-10:00 which will involve the whole church is scheduled that day. Stations will be set up through which parishioners will rotate to make Advent wreaths, bookmarks, and do other activities that relate to the season. Please sign up to be a part of this inspirational new event at St. Stephen’s. All planning and materials will be provided; we just need you to help us make this a fabulous beginning to Advent. Any questions? Call Nora Stubblefield (797-3086).

All Saints’ Day is Sunday, November 1
Names of the faithful departed will be read in the morning’s services. (Note: Daylight-saving time ends Nov 1st, 2 AM.)

First-Wednesday Service of Healing and Hope with The Holy Eucharist On November 4 the 5:30 PM midweek service will be the Holy Eucharist (instead of Evening Prayer). The service will include a litany of healing, anointing, and communion around the holy table.

Newsletter deadline is the 10th of each month for entries in the next issue.

Vestry will convene November 16 at 5:30 PM for their regular meeting.

Stuff ‘n’ Fold to prepare the next newsletter for mailing will be Tuesday, November 24, at 10:30 AM. (Note: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday this is a change from the group’s last-Thursday schedule.)

Schedule changes associated with Thanksgiving holiday:
Wednesday 5:30 PM service and other evening activities are not scheduled November 25. (Scheduling will resume December 2.) .On Sunday, November 29, Sunday School will NOT meet.

The new Church Year begins November 29 with the First Sunday of Advent. Lectionary texts will be those designated for Year C. Subsequent Advent Sundays are December 6th, 13th, and 20th. Happy new Liturgical Year!

EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) invites youth of all Lubbock parishes to the following gatherings this month:
Nov 1 - regular Sunday meeting (middle-high school), 4-5:30 PM at St. Stephen’s. Note: St. Stephen’s will host all 1st-Sunday EYC meetings; the parish is asked to provide drinks, snacks, sponsors.
Nov 8, 15, 22 - regular Sunday meetings at St. Paul’s (16th St & Av X), 4-5:30.
Nov 29 - no meeting (EYC does not meet the last Sunday of each month.
Nov 13-15 - fall rally for high school youth, BQCC, Amarillo.

The EYC website – www.lubbockeyc.org – has up-to-date information regarding scheduling additions and changes. More eucharistic ministers are needed at the 8 AM Sunday Holy Eucharist. Anyone from the group of 10:30 ministers who is willing to assist with this shortage may contact scheduler Michael Pullen. In addition, anyone interested in becoming an 8:00 eucharistic minister may contact Kara Wischmeyer to arrange training and licensing.

From the Vestry . . .
A grand “thank you” to all who filled out and returned the parish surveys. Information gathered will be vital in creating a parish profile to present candidates who will consider a call to minister as a priest at St. Stephen's. Thanks also to Stephani Windham for coordinating, and to many loving hands for preparing, the excellent lunch at our parish town hall September 27. That day’s meeting with Nancy Igo from our diocesan office was informative and helpful in leading us to move to the next step of receiving the rector God has in store for St. Stephen's. To those who took part in the meeting, thank you for your time and valuable input.

Please join us at the CROSS (Communion Received On SaturdayS) Life’s expectations are difficult and constant. There are some weeks when it is impossible to go to church on Sunday. Work or travel demands often require that we are “on the road” bright and early Sunday morning. For families in which both parents work, Sunday may be the only day when they can slow down, relax, and spend time with the children. After all, everyone needs a Sabbath! Based upon this need and with the bishop’s encouragement, Mother Pat Russell will celebrate the Holy Eucharist (Rite Two) every Saturday for diocesan parishioners and friends in Lubbock and across our Llano Estacado deanery. These services will be held at 5 PM beginning November 28, 2009 (the eve of 1st Advent). The CROSS will meet at All Saints’ Episcopal School, 3222 103rd St, Lubbock, in the small gym. Childcare will be provided. Dress is very casual. It is hoped that this new service will provide the Holy Eucharist and an opportunity for Sabbath. Please join us when your schedule allows.

Mother Pat+

Introducing SignChiDoTM
SignChiDoTM – The Art of Moving Prayer – is a relaxation exercise form created and designed as a unique approach to stress management. A class in SignChiDoTM is being offered every Thursday at 5:30 PM at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (42ND St and Elgin Av). SignChiDoTM differs from other forms of exercise meditation in that this program was founded based on brain function. Sign language stimulates the brain in a different area than all other movement. This cognitive function, when combined with slow-rhythmic movement, has been found to enhance memory, concentration, spiritual awareness, and create an overall sense of well-being. SignChiDoTM is intended for people of all ages, regardless of their physical abilities. It can be practiced anywhere, requiring no special equipment. This makes SignChiDoTM a great tool to help deal with stress on a daily basis. For more information please contact Nancy Igo, diocesan facilitator, (806) 763-1370 x5 or nigo@nwtdiocese.org , or SignChiDoTM at www.signchido.com.

Treasurer’s update . . . St. Stephen’s continues to have a blessed year in 2009. Operating revenue at nine months was $180,245.00, which is $4,200.00 in excess of budget. Overall operating expenses were $187,967.00, representing a cash net deficit of $7,722.00. As reported earlier, Spring Fling raised $21,239.00 for church operating needs, choir/choir scholarships, and outreach. In September the vestry elected to fund anticipated choir needs through April 2010 in the amount of $8,000.00 from the Spring Fling fund. Discussions continue regarding applications of the remaining funds. Bursting-with-Blessings campaign continues to collect from pledges to the building expansion. At September 30 we had cash on hand of $44,775.00 and pledges receivable of $152,634.00. Our financing with American State Bank has a balance of $107,473.00; with our Diocese of Northwest Texas a balance of $81,652.00. The Vestry and the Finance Committee continue to monitor and manage the business of the church to maximize use of its resources. We look forward to continued success in 2009, together with launch of the Stewardship Campaign and associated budget plans for 2010. We are grateful for our many blessings. Gaylon Simmons, treasurer

Next month and beyond . . .
December 20 - 4th Sunday of Advent (Regular schedule) Noon: Hanging of the Greens and light lunch
December 24 - Christmas services (Thursday): 6 PM Family service 11 PM Festival Eucharist : The Nativity of Our Lord
December 27 - 1st Sunday after Christmas (Regular schedule of services; NO Sunday School)
December 30 - NO Wednesday 5:30 PM service or other activities
January 3 - 2nd Sunday after Christmas (Regular schedule of services; Sunday School resumes)
January 10 - 1st Sunday after the Epiphany -- The Baptism of Our Lord
February 17 - Ash Wednesday April 4 - Easter Day

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