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.

Parish Letter – January 31, 2023

January 31, 2023

Dear people of Saint Stephen’s,

Three years ago, on January 11, 2020, Father Stephen began serving us as our full-time rector.  Today was his last day in that position.  As announced at the beginning of September 2022, due to the fiscal situation of our congregation, he felt the most prudent thing to do was to become a half-time priest.  This was not an easy decision, nor one he took lightly.  However, continuing in the status quo would have simply delayed the inevitable and further drained the congregation of its resources. 

You might be wondering what this new arrangement will look like as we go forward.  First, to be honest, we are still working out many details.  This is somewhat uncharted territory for Father Stephen and for Saint Stephen’s.  We do know that our bishop believes that part-time ministry must mean part-time.  Accordingly, the norm will likely be that Father Stephen will be presiding over Holy Eucharist three out of four Sundays in a month.  The remaining Sunday will be Morning Prayer led by our wonderful lay worship leaders.  Additionally, Father Stephen’s office hours will go from three days a week to two – for now, they will be on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Father Stephen made the decision for this change to go into effect on February 1, 2023, because he thought it was important to have the annual meeting beforehand.  That way people would have the opportunity to provide feedback and have questions answered. 

The shift to a part-time rector is projected to save the congregation (via reduced stipend and pension obligations) $29,520 in 2023.  Approximately $11,500 of that savings comes from him finding health coverage elsewhere. That is not the only place we reduced the budget for 2023.  The vestry decided that another economical move was to reduce the number of Sundays when we have Sean playing music for worship.  Everyone is tremendously grateful for Sean’s musical talent and wisdom.  However, given the shift to Morning Prayer once a month, it was thought we could save a little more money by not having music on those Sundays.  Accordingly, our budget for music for 2023 was reduced by about $1,000.  The vestry decided there was no need to reduce the hours of our parish administrator because she already works well under the number of hours allotted in her letter of agreement.  These changes make a dent in our deficit but have not eliminated it. 

Going forward, we must make dramatic changes and be open to radical ideas.  As mentioned at the annual meeting a few weeks ago, the first goal should be to grow the church.  That is one of our most important duties as followers of Christ.  Beyond that, there are some possibilities… but none are easy or quick.  If we wish to remain a worshiping community with a professionally educated and equipped priest, things must change immediately. 

Tomorrow, February 1, Father Stephen will still be our priest.  That is not changing.  All of you remain in his thoughts and prayers, constantly.  If you call him, he will still answer.  If you email him, he will still respond.  He will still be available for emergencies. 

As we look to what comes next, we need your help.  And so, as we continue to live into this new reality, we ask for your continued prayer and support for our community and for Father Stephen as he seeks part-time secular employment.  We also ask you consider what you can do to help grow our church and better serve our community. 

Finally, we leave you with a prayer for our parish which will remain in our Prayers of the People for some time:

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

The Wardens and Rector of Saint Stephen’s

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.