Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church

The Messenger

June 2008

Dear Friends:

Dear Friends,

This is the "Summer Messenger" which means that is the last one you will receive until September. This also means that our program year is coming to an end. Every June I look back over the last ten months in amazement. The collection of monthly "Messengers" tells the story of the year just past. As I flip through the pages, there is one response that arises: the response of gratitude to God for the gift of such a year.

It has been said before on this page, and I cannot help but wonder: do we realize, do we ever really realize the gift of this congregation to us? Look through the directory - at all the names of all who have joined our membership - and remember that many congregations struggle to show a lessened decline each year. As I flip through the past year's newsletters, I remember the incredible lives of those who have died, but not before they gave much of themselves to the work of this church. I also see articles on activities that have helped us to keep on top of social issues, to educate us about the substance of the Christian faith, to welcome those who are strangers in our midst. Consider the members of the parish council whose labors of love have strengthened us. Rejoice at the list of vestry members who have led us this far. I am overwhelmed at the children in our congregation who have crowded into our church. I am excited by the strains of choirs singing, our organ resounding.

Do we ever really realize what an INCREDIBLE, LIVELY, REMARKABLE gift this church is to each and every one of us? Come to the volunteer recognition picnic on June 8th after the 10:15 am Eucharist. Celebrate all that we have done; give thanks to God for the gifts of such a year.

James+

Diocesan Convention: One man, One Woman?

The Albany Diocesan Convention will be held June 13-15 at the Camp-of-the-Woods in Speculator, New York, in the Adirondacks. The highlight of this meeting will be the debate and vote on whether the Diocese should adopt the following resolutions which will be included in our Diocesan Canons (law):

Members of the Clergy Resident in or Licensed to Serve in this Diocese shall neither officiate at. nor facilitate, nor participate in. any service, whether public or private, for the Celebration or Blessing of a Marriage or any other union except between one man and one woman. Unions other than those of one man and one woman in Holy Matrimony, even if they be recognized in other jurisdictions, shall be neither recognized nor blessed in this Diocese.

Properties owned, controlled, managed, or operated bv this Diocese, or any Parish of the Diocese, or any legal entity established by the Diocese or a parish of the Diocese, shall not be the site for any service, public or private, for the Celebration or Blessing of a Marriage or any other union except those between one man and one woman.

To be eligible to be ordained to the Diaconate or Priesthood, or consecrated a Bishop, a person must live within the covenant of Marriage between one man and one woman, or be celibate and abstinent.

To be eligible to be elected, appointed or licensed to any position of ordained ministry in the Diocese, a member of the clergy must live within the covenant of Marriage between one man and one woman, or be celibate and abstinent.

Our deputies to the Convention are Norman Hoffmann, Dennis Wisnom and Paul deKanel. Please share with them your thoughts about these changes to the law.

Ask the Rector

Dear Rector,

I need to explain the giving of communion to very small children. As I understand it, in the early Church there was a long period of teaching before people were admitted to the Holy Eucharist. I understand the principle of inclusion and the sense of awe in children, but I would need to know how much preparation parents and clergy give before children receive the sacrament. It may well be that my culture and my deep sense of tradition prevents me from accepting this practice fully, but in honesty, I must at least state my problem with it.

...........Wondering

Dear Wondering,

I give the children of St. Stephen’s Communion bread when their parents agree to it. My reasons for this are several: My theology of Eucharist was shaped by a man named Aiden Kavanaugh who took the Eastern Church as his model where babies are literally "spoon fed" the Eucharist from a chalice where the bread and wine are mushed together. Theologically I think in somewhat of an Old Testament way newborn (boys) were circumcised and made an immediate part of Israel (on the 8th day). Baptism is our equivalent in that through the waters of baptism we are made part of the "new Israel," the Body of Christ. The Holy Eucharist is the meal which symbolizes our full inclusion in Christ.

I was raised in an Episcopal Church that taught and practiced that children do not receive Communion until they were Confirmed (about 11 or 12 years old). But the net effect of this was that I was raised as "Pagan" with "Christian" parents. I sat in my pew while they went up to receive the bread and wine, or I went up and watched the rector pass me by. I suppose I relish the idea that the children of St. Stephen’s will never know a time when they were not nourished by the sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood.

As to their understanding it, I'm not sure we ever grasp the mystery of this sacrament. I dare say that I don't even to this day it is beyond the intellect and into that mysterious realm of sharing and partaking in a community ritual.

Fr. James

Sunday school Comes to a Close on June 8th By Laura Davis

We have had a wonderful year of learning and special projects and outreach. Below are our regular Sunday school teachers. They have been wonderful with our children this year.

YI thank Stacy DeBritz who helped the children with their creative time.

YThank you to Trudy North who brought us webs to untangle.

YThanks to Richey Woodzell who sang with the kids, always ready to help a child if he or she needed

it and made each child feel special. .

YI thank Dave Crates, our storyteller…always listening, ready to discuss questions and concerns

brought up by the children.

YThank you to Allison deKanel who could always think of ways to reach the children

so that they could understand the lessons.

YThank you to Peter Nelson who was always ready with a magic trick or puzzle to solve.

His smiling face was always welcoming to the children..

YThank you to Melinda Renken who told engaging stories to the children and was especially

able to bring our Episcopal tradition to them.

YI thank Dawn Tonneau who brought music to our little ones and could ask

just the right questions to help the children think.

YThank you to Tracy Ormsbee who brought current affairs into discussions of faith

and always had great ideas.

YThank you George Woodzell who listens, cares and guides the youth so that they will each

have the confidence to continue forging their own path on their faith journey..

YThanks to Pam Gutherie who provided nursery care during the program year. She has welcomed the children and parents with open arms.

YAnd thank YOU for bringing your children to church school each week. Thank you for bringing the Millennium Development Goals home by contributing to ERD Hope Chests and Bethesda House hygiene kits. And by bringing in school supplies last September and by either walking or sponsoring someone in the CROP walk. We could not have a Church school program without you.

Laura Davis

Dear Sunday School Parents, (from Peter Nelson)

I have been teaching Sunday school at the fourth through sixth

grade levels for six years now with Allison DeKanel as my co-teacher. I

completed a four year bachelor's degree in elementary education at SUNY,

Oswego in 1995, but was unable to find work in the field. I have been

attending St. Stephen's since I was five or six years old, and I decided

that I would like to put my education to good use and teach our youth

here at the church. The teaching ministry has its ups and downs, and not

everything goes according to the lesson plans that we make, but I have

kept at it because I find it to be a very rewarding and enriching

experience. Being able to connect at a spiritual level with the children

and enrich their lives in some way brings me a great deal of

satisfaction and joy. I especially like seeing the look on the kids'

faces when they grasp something meaningful, and really enjoy watching

them grow in their relationship to God. I have also recently become

involved in the church as a Vestry member and as an usher at the 8:00

service.

- Peter Nelson

Dear Parents of Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School students, (from Melinda Renken)

I feel compelled to let you know how much I have enjoyed working with your children. I have been teaching the Pre-k/K Sunday school students for three years now and I have always enjoyed it, so…at the end of the year I sign up for more! I have to say, when your children arrive to class each Sunday, I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to help teach them about their faith. After our lessons finish I feel very satisfied to know that I have helped contribute to their lives in a positive way. I also feel such happiness as I think about their expressions, comments and conclusions in response to the lesson given. They are at such an inquisitive age and they really enjoy participating in the activities and discovering different aspects about Jesus, the church and their faith. Their eyes light up so brightly when they make these discoveries and they are so amazing to watch. As a parent, I am thankful that I have had the chance to watch the children during this process. I am blessed to have experienced not only other parishioners children learn and grow through Sunday school, but also my own children. The curriculum is easy to teach, plus we now have Laura Davis to help out and direct. She has been a true blessing to the program…she makes it so easy for the teachers! I thank her from the bottom of my heart for all she contributes to our children and St. Stephen’s church education. I’m sure I can speak for all of our Sunday school teachers when I say that we are honored to watch the children of our church grow in their life in Christ.

Fondly,

Melinda Renken

ERD Responds to Myanmar Disaster

Episcopal Relief and Development is responding to Cyclone Nargis and providing churches and individuals with an opportunity to help those affected by this deadly disaster.

The storm has left more than 22,000 dead and another 41,000 missing. More than

5,000 square kilometers in this region are still under water, destroying the vital rice crop, and much of the country’s agricultural and fishing industry. Officials fear the death toll could rise ramatically. Contaminated water, food shortages, and deadly diseases are likely

To help people affected by the cyclone in Myanmar, please make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development’s “Myanmar & Cyclone Response” online at www.er-d.org , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development “Myanmar & Cyclone Response” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

CROP WALK Success

THANK YOU to everyone who supported the CROP Walk on May 4th! Your efforts will help to alleviate hunger in our community and worldwide. Seventeen walkers (or runners) from St. Stephen’s joined members of other churches, synagogues, community groups, employee associations and schools to raise money for Church World Service. Viki Brooks-McDonald came with 22 students from Union College, and our own Linah Rusere recruited other Union walkers as well!

Summer Lunch Program

It's almost that time again! The SICM lunch program will begin on June 29 and we need your help. Last summer more than 4500 lunches were served at Jerry Burrell alone, the largest number at all of the 12 sites! A total of 27,400 lunches were served. St Stephen's is signed up for June 30-July 3 at Jerry Burrell Park. Can you help us from 11:15 to about 1:15? This is often the ONLY meal of the day for some of these children. There is a signup sheet on the counter of The Shop.

SICM is more than that grocery cart for Food Pantry donations. The Damien Center, Computers for Kids, Weed and Seed, JOBS, and winter heating assistance are among the current activities. Other programs have spunoff to independence such as Community Land Trust Project SAFE and SAFE house.

Thank you.

Eunice Chouffi and Marti Spang

Thank You to the Garden Folks

The front of the Church has looked particularly spectacular this spring. From the early bright yellow daffodils, to the luscious purple and pink phlox, to the magnificent and stately tulips, it has been a weekly delight to the eye. Our “face” is welcoming and inviting with this beautiful show of flowers.

And because you know this doesn’t just happen, I want to be sure to thank the gifted and dedicated people who work hard in the fall to make sure we have this treat. Please know your work and efforts have not gone unnoticed ~ THANK YOU!

Barbara Wisnom

Workcamp

On July 12th members of St. Stephen's high school youth group and adults travel to West Virginia for a week-long work camp. Bringing together high-schoolers from all over the country, these camps combine work, play, and a religious framework into an unforgettable experience, for the young people and the adults who come with them.

What happens at workcamp?

Starting each day at six in the morning, we work on a variety of projects to help poor and elderly people have better homes in which to live. The work might include replacing a roof, building a new room, replacing floors or stairs, repainting, or building a wheel-chair ramp. The work is hard, challenging, and very rewarding.

In the late afternoon everyone returns to the school that houses the camp, to shower, socialize, and relax until supper. In the evening, we take part in programs that explore the spiritual side of our lives, focusing on the connection between the work we do for others at workcamp and the work God does in and through us. We close each day with a meeting, of our church group to talk about our experiences that day and to see what lessons we can draw from them.

What can you do to help? The youth group needs to raise approximately $5000 for this summer's camp; you can help by buying shares in a workcamper - you'll hear how in the next few weeks.

Georrge Woodzell’s workgroup work on a roof.

Workcamp Shares

Who cares if the stock market is down? Workcamp shares never lose their value!

Beginning next week, the youth group will begin selling their coveted workcamp shares, which help pay for our trips to workcamp each summer. This year we’re going to Oceana, West Virginia, to some of the poorest areas of Appalachia, to help fix up homes for people who cannot do the work themselves.

Buy several shares! Give them to your friends!

Mothers Day Brunch Thank you

Thank you! to everyone who came to our brunch on May 11. Thanks to you, and to people who made separate contributions, we’ve raised $525 for our scholarship fund in memory of Peter Boese. We’ll use this money, and other money we raise through work projects, to provide opportunities for kids who, like Peter, struggle with severe handicaps.

LOST & FOUND

Please check the lost & found basket for any items you may have left at St. Stephen's during the past year. At the end of June we will donate unclaimed items to a local agency.

New Piano Fund

Sal and Diana Belardo would like to thank all the parishioners who have given so generously to the New Piano Fund. We are a third of the way there having raised over $5500.00. The goal for Tim's new piano is $15,000.00. Any donations will be gladly accepted

On Sundays,

don’t forget to please

bring a grocery item for the

SICM pantry grocery cart.

Thank you.

2008 Vacation Bible School

July 7~11

We’re All Welcomed

The ark is taking shape and almost ready for adventure. We’re all welcomed aboard. Bible school this year is following themes of being welcomed, being family, being important, not being alone, and being sent. We hope to see you there.

Vacation Bible School is the week of July 7th to July 11th. The program is 9:15-noon at Union Presbyterian Church. Friday evening, July 11^th at 6:30pm, we will meet at St. Stephen’s Church to share dinner, worship and celebrate the week. If you would like your children to participate, you can fill out a registration form (below) and give it to Laura Davis.

Planning meetings have begun. If you would like to help with Bible school this year, please sign up at the shop or see Laura Davis about specifics.

2008 Vacation Bible School Registration: July 7~11

Child’s name:______________________________ Age / Entering Grade:____________

Parents’ / guardians’ names:_________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

Phone:_______________________ Email:_____________________________________

Parents’ / guardians’ phone contacts: (W)__________________(cell)________________

Who will be picking your child from VBS?_____________________________________

Please mark you calendar and plan to join us as we celebrate VBS with a family potluck and worship on Friday, July 11 @ 6:30pm.

Give this registration form to Laura Davis or place it in the box marked

“VBS registration forms” in the Parish Hall.

VESTRY MEETING UPDATE – May 12, 2008

Buildings and Grounds

No decision has been made concerning the cleaning of the limestone in the sanctuary; it is on hold until a final plan for the whole campus is complete

Communications Task Force

Ministry Booklets are complete and were distributed at the Mother’s Day Brunch
Announcements about the Messenger “Going Green” were in the May Messenger, and will also be in the June issue. Weekly announcements will also be in the Bulletin thru June. We want to afford everyone the opportunity to let us know if they prefer to continue to receive a paper copy. To date, the response has been very positive, in favor of “going green”
At the June picnic, we will again give everyone who is there the opportunity to update their contact information. Our commitment is to do this three times a year. The next time will be at the Parish Faire.

Architectural Task Force

Representatives of the architectural firm continue to meet with members of the Architectural Task Force. They are in the “very early” planning stages

We remain on target with our time line. We ask your continued prayers for this project.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That’s it for the May meeting. The Vestry will meet one more time in June. However, since the Messenger is not published in July & August, there will not be a June Vestry report. You may speak to any Vestry member if you are interested in what happened at the June meeting.

Contact Barbara Wisnom for questions or suggetions at 371-6187

or bwisnom@nycap.rr.com

“See” you in the Fall!

_________________________________________________________________________________

MESSENGER GOING GREEN

By Barbara Wisnom

Who among us hasn’t been impacted by the rising prices everywhere – gas, food, our electric bill. It’s a real challenge to stay on track. We also know that postage will be increasing – AGAIN ! – in the fall. In addition many of us are keenly aware of doing what we can to conserve resources by recycling and reusing. With these two points in mind (conserving both financial and other resources), the St. Stephen’s Messenger will be transitioning to an electronic version beginning in September. Here’s what you need to know and do:

§ Beginning with the September issue of the Messenger, copies will be sent to parishioners electronically, via their email address. See the response form below.

§ It is critical that we have your current email address.

§ If you do not have email, or still prefer to receive a paper copy of the Messenger, we will be sure that happens.

§ Extra copies of the Messenger will always be available at Church (an extra incentive to come to Church)

§ The Messenger is always available through our website www.saintstephenschenectady.org.

§ You need to tell us your preference.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Please tear off the section below & place in the offering basin, or leave with an Usher.

or mail to St. Stephen’s Church Office, 1229 Baker Ave., Schenectady, NY 12309.

Feel free to make duplicate forms for anyone.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NAME ______________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS ____________________________________

CHECK ONE

______ I want my copy of The Messenger delivered to my email box.

______ I want to receive a paper copy of The Messenger by regular mail.

THANK YOU!

Q&A Corner

The Q&A Corner is a monthly feature of The Messenger. You may send your questions to messenger@saintstephenschenectady.org and we will do our best to find answers for you.

QUESTION

Every Sunday in the Bulletin, there is a list of people who are doing certain jobs ~ the readers, the acolytes, Coffee Hour and so on. I really enjoy having this list ~ it helps me put a name to a face. However, there is one thing in the list that I don’t understand. Will you please explain what “The Book” is? And what do the people do who have it?

Signed,

Eager for An Answer

ANSWER

Dear Eager,

What a great question. So glad you asked! My guess is that this is one of those things where we’ve done something for a long time and just assume everyone else knows what we’re talking about. While I can’t tell you the origin of the name, I can tell you what it is and how it works.

At various times throughout the year, members of St. Stephen’s find themselves in need of various kinds of support. Blessedly, we have a very generous & caring congregation, so that most often we can match up a helper with someone who needs something. That’s where “The Book” comes in.

“The Book” contains the names of people who have volunteered to be the helpers for people in need. Typically, you can sign up to do this at the Fall Parish Faire, although in practice you can offer your services at any time.

The name or names you see in the weekly Bulletin are the people who volunteer, for that week, to be the holder of “The Book”. It is their job to respond to the need by calling on the volunteers whose names are listed.

Most often (but not always) the need comes through our parish secretary, Kathy Miller. She will get a call or an email that there is a need and contact the holder of “The Book” for that week. Anyone in the congregation can call “The Book” holder directly however.

Examples of the needs:

v Preparing & delivering food for a family when there has been a significant event in the life of that family (new baby, illness, surgery, a death)

v Rides to medical and other appointments

We hope your question has been answered to your satisfaction, you know how to request assistance, or become a volunteer and a “Book” holder!

PARISH PICNIC and VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION DAY

JUNE 8 – After the 10:15 Worship Service

We’re gearing up for another fun-and-food filled picnic this year. And there’s a special twist this time. We’ll be reviving a St. Stephen’s tradition of recognizing our volunteers.

Here are the details:

DATE: Sunday, June 8, 2008

TIME immediately following the 10:15 worship service

PLACE: Parish Hall and outdoors, weather permitting

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

Ô your favorite dish to pass ~ appetizers, munchies, salads or other sides dish or desserts

Ô yourself, especially if you have been a volunteer (and that covers pretty much everyone)

Ô the sunshine and warm weather

WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED

Ô Hamburgs

Ô Veggie Burgers

Ô Hot Dogs

Ô Rolls

Ô Condiments

Ô Paper products

Ô Coffee/tea

Ô Cold drinks

There will be a special recognition of volunteers right before we begin the picnic. We’re honoring volunteers of ALL ages (kids, too).

There will games for the young and old alike.

This promises to be a great time. We’ll see you on June 8^th!

Wedding Anniversaries

Lucy Clark & Stephen Sombor 06/01

Victoria & James Brooks-McDonald 06/09

Diana & Salvatore Belardo 06/12

Patricia & Christopher Jones 06/12

Diane & K.Scott Kilbourn 06/15

Janet & William Schlansker 06/19

Michael DeBritz 06/20

Stacy DeBritz 06/20

Mildred & Clark Gittinger 6/20

Dawn & Glenn Kaler 06/20

Linda & Belachew Emaelaf 06/22

Susan & Jack Feyrer 06/22

Martie & Austin Spang 06/22

Wendy & Gene Koreman 06/26

Tracy & Jim Ormsbee 06/26

Barbara & Roy Stratton 06/27

Pat & Bob Hagen 06/28

Amy & Scott Soule' 07/05

Shirley & Robert Voelker 07/10

Gaye & Charlie Mertz 07/16

Carolyn & Richard Morin 07/19

Julie & Brian Bailey 07/21

Marilyn & James Dare 07/28

Lorie & David Kelley 07/30

Susie & Tim Olsen 08/02

Kelly & Chris Murphy 08/03

Cindy & Wayne Reedy 08/06

Mary & Eber Davis 08/09

Karen & William Smith 08/09

Marilyn & Donald Humphrey 08/13

Mary & Ronald Michelson 08/25

Deborah & Charles Trawick 08/25

Joanne & Bill Frank 08/26

Suzanne & David Taylor 08/28

Kathy & Tom Miller 08/31

Summer Birthdays *

See June Birthdays on next page.

Patrick Trant 07/01

Florence Walker 07/01

Carrie Trant 07/02

J. Keith Nelson 07/03

Everett Schierenbeck 07/08

Mary Davis 07/09

Joan Moss 07/09

Marian Sevinsky 07/09

Dawn Tonneau 07/09

Doreen May 07/10

Judith Versocki 07/10

Gillian Woodcock 07/12

James Brooks-McDonald 07/13

William Smith 07/15

Andrea Worthington 07/15

Michael Bishop 07/16

Gaye Mertz 07/16

Austin Spang 07/16

Jean Versocki 07/17

Jean Hadley 07/21

Christopher Jones 07/21

Oto Jones 07/25

George Woodzell 07/25

Garret Pierce 07/26

Ryan Huneau 07/28

Connor Wolff 07/29

Molly Ormsbee 07/31

Jeanette Claus 08/01

Brody Riordan 08/01

Kieran Templeton 08/01

Dawn Tonneau 08/01

Cindy Reedy 08/05

Jean Greenspan 08/05

Peter Sombor 08/05

Robert Chapman 08/06

Pauline Holmes 08/06

Sydney Bailey 08/07

Lynn An Kelly 08/07

Suzanne Taylor 08/07

Robert Petito 08/12

Julia Smith 08/14

John Goldthwaite 08/15

Daniel Emaelaf 08/16

Ganon Riordan 08/16

Mildred Santer 08/18

Polly Mathews 08/18

Elizabeth Dipley 08/19

Angela Strong 08/19

Stacy DeBritz 08/20

Emily Mertz 08/20

David Dare 08/22

Melinda Renken 08/23

Daniel Koch 08/24

Ellen (Richey) Woodzell 08/26

Cadence Brennan 08/27

Madelyn Denofio 08/28

Clark Whitney 08/28

Glenn Kaler 8/29

Wendy Koreman 08/29

Mary Whitney 08/30

Brandon Anthony 08/31

Summer Birthdays *

June Birthdays

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Church Staff

The Vestry