This Week at St Stephen's

A wonderful celebration
Thank You to all who helped make our Installation ceremony for The Rev. Dennis j. Parker such a special event Wednesday evening.  Over 100 were in attendance to support our new Rector, including quite a number of visiting clergy.  There was plenty of good food and drink afterward, and the Parish Hall looked great.  A big Thank You to Mary Komachi for organizing the potluck donations and coordinating the reception.  It was a good night for St Stephen's (StSt)!  Thanks everyone!

This Sunday
9am Adult Inquiry concludes their discussion of Protestantism with a presentation on Christian Science by two members of Portland’s Church of Christ, Scientist.  Christian Science is sometimes confused with Scientology, faith healing, New Age practices, and Eastern religions.  It has also been called un-Christian or labeled a cult.  Actually, Christian Science is none of the above.  Join the conversation at 9am in the Parish Hall between the services.  Jean and Mic Fleming will facilitate.

Our preacher at 7:45 and 10 a.m. Eucharist is Joshua Kingsley.  Fr. Dennis presides.
At StSt, we celebrate one message spoken by many voices.  The message is that we are all welcome at the Table.  Clipboards with weekly bulletins for the children are at the back of the church.

Special Vestry Meeting @ 11:30am
A special meeting of the Vestry will be held this Sunday in the Parish Hall library at 11:30am.  The purpose is to discuss the 2012 Budget of the church and explore ways to offset shortfalls.  The regular meeting of the Vestry will be NEXT Sunday, Dec. 18, as scheduled.  All meetings are open to parish members.  However, because time is limited, the Rector and Wardens ask that you contact them prior to the start of the meeting if you wish to speak or introduce specific agenda items.  If you have not made a pledge to the 2012 budget and plan to do so, please reply to this email prior to this Sunday’s meeting so we can have an accurate reporting.

Communion in the Park @ 1:30pm
Come join the service and outreach every Sunday at 1:30pm, in the SW Park between Columbia & Jefferson, rain or shine.  Joyce Lew is making sandwiches and hard boiled eggs to distribute to those who are hungry.  Paul presides this week.

Friends of StSt Music Concert, Dec 18
Our next Friends of StSt Music concert is next Sunday, Dec 18, at 2pm.  Oregon Chamber Singers perform under direction of Sandy Miller.  Funds support our music program.  $10 donation suggested.

Benson High School students at StSt TablePartnering with the Teen Outreach Program (TOP), we will be introducing as many as 30 students from Benson HS to volunteer service at StSt Table this month, beginning this week with Saturday Breakfast and continuing over the holiday break before Christmas.  Students will be paired with a regular volunteer at StSt who will shadow them and allow them to do the work.  TOP is funded through the (Federal) Office of Adolescent Health.   Students chose their own community service-learning projects, so it is a compliment to our StSt Table that the meals/pantry program was so popular.  Perhaps another Robert Ashenburner, who founded Sat Breakfast at age 11, will be inspired by volunteering with us!