Author: Father Stephen

Father Stephen started serving as the rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on January 10, 2020. Prior to that position he served as priest-in-charge in Miles City and Forsyth, Montana. He is originally from West Virginia and has experience in youth ministry, mission work and more.

Weekly Announcements for January 6, 2023

The readings for the First Sunday after the Epiphany:  The Baptism of Our Lord – Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

Fr. Stephen Day will preside and preach Sunday with Holy Eucharist at 10:00am.  Many thanks to Doris Gerstner and Kerrie Sheets for serving as Lay Readers.  Thanks also to Carol Pickard for performing the Altar Guild duties.

Please pray for Yvonne, Danielle, David, and Richard.  Please also pray for our adopted unit at the Billings Clinic.  If you wish to have the church pray for you or another, please call (#259-5017) or email (ststephensmt@gmail.com) the church with your request.  

Happy Birthday to Crystal Matthews (January 10) and Lesley Model (January 12).

If you would like to contribute to either the Food Bank or Little Library/Pantry, please leave donations in the narthex.  The pantry has been well used the past several weeks, and we are low on food items.

The 2023 Altar Flower and Sanctuary Candle sign-up forms are posted in the fellowship hall.  The cost is $5.00 for the candle and $20.00 for the altar flowers.  Please complete the form provided and return to the office with your payment (memo:  Altar Guild).  Thank you.

If you would like a home visit from Fr. Stephen and/or our Lay Eucharistic Ministers (George & Steve), please contact the church office to arrange an appointment.

Vestry will meet Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00pm.

Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 22 following worship.  If you have a report, please turn it in to the office by Friday, January 13.  (Typical reports include:  Rector’s Report, Senior and Junior Warden’s reports, Altar Guild Report, Treasurer’s Report, and the Bishop Fox Company Report.)  Thank you.

A Few Words from Father Stephen;

It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that late Sunday night, Dorothy Hucke (Carol Moore’s mother) entered into God’s kingdom.  Plans for a service are being worked on, but it likely will be held on January 21.  Please keep Carol, her father Joe, and the whole family in your prayers.

Commendatory Prayer 

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Dorothy. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Today, January 6 is The Feast of the Epiphany!

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Churchy Term of the Day –The Epiphany 

The manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth. The winter solstice was kept on Jan. 6 at some places during the first centuries of the Christian Era. In opposition to pagan festivals, Christians chose this day to celebrate the various manifestations, or “epiphanies,” of Jesus’ divinity. These showings of his divinity included his birth, the coming of the Magi, his baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he miraculously changed water into wine. The day was called “The Feast of Lights.” Celebration of the Son of God replaced celebration of the sun. Baptisms were done, and a season of preparation was instituted. It was later called Advent. 

The solstice was kept on Dec. 25 by the fourth century. Jesus’ birth was celebrated on this day in both eastern and western churches. The western church commemorated the coming of the Magi on Jan. 6. The eastern church continued to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and the Wedding at Cana on Jan. 6. In the east the day was called “Theophany” (manifestation of God). 

The coming of the Magi is celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, in the BCP. The Baptism of our Lord is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Epiphany.

Adapted from Don S. Armentrout’s An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians Church Publishing Inc., 2000.

Thank you.

Epiphany

“Adoration of the Magi” by Edward Burne-Jones, 19th century

January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany!

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Churchy Term of the Day –The Epiphany 

The manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth. The winter solstice was kept on Jan. 6 at some places during the first centuries of the Christian Era. In opposition to pagan festivals, Christians chose this day to celebrate the various manifestations, or “epiphanies,” of Jesus’ divinity. These showings of his divinity included his birth, the coming of the Magi, his baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he miraculously changed water into wine. The day was called “The Feast of Lights.” Celebration of the Son of God replaced celebration of the sun. Baptisms were done, and a season of preparation was instituted. It was later called Advent. 

The solstice was kept on Dec. 25 by the fourth century. Jesus’ birth was celebrated on this day in both eastern and western churches. The western church commemorated the coming of the Magi on Jan. 6. The eastern church continued to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and the Wedding at Cana on Jan. 6. In the east the day was called “Theophany” (manifestation of God). 

The coming of the Magi is celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, in the BCP. The Baptism of our Lord is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Epiphany.

Adapted from Don S. Armentrout’s An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians Church Publishing Inc., 2000.

Weekly Announcements for December 30, 2022

The readings for The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ:  Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:15-21

Thanks to those of you who attended our Christmas worship, and thanks to all who worked to make our Christmas special.  We hope you had a Blessed Christmas.

Many thanks to George Kimmet for serving as Lay Reader this morning.  Thanks also to Carol Moore for performing the Altar Guild duties.

Please pray for Yvonne, Danielle, David, Dorothy, and Richard.  Please also pray for our adopted unit at the Billings Clinic.  If you wish to have the church pray for you or another, please call (#259-5017) or email (ststephensmt@gmail.com) the church with your request.  

Happy Birthday to Wesley Kimmet (January 3) and Kelly Bruggeman (January 7).

Happy Anniversary to Woody and Sharon Hahn (January 3).

If you would like to contribute to either the Food Bank or the Little Library/Pantry, please leave donations in the narthex.  (Microwave soup cups would make a nice addition to the pantry during this cold weather.)

$600 was given for our Homeless Outreach.  Thanks to all who donated.  It’s still not too late to contribute.  Please speak with Doris for more information.

If you would like a home visit from Fr. Stephen and/or our Lay Eucharistic Ministers (George & Steve), please contact the church office to arrange an appointment.

The office will be closed Monday, January 2.

Vestry will meet Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00pm.

Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 22 following worship.  If you have a report, please turn it in to the office by Friday, January 13.  Thank you.

Happy New Year!