The week of February 20th

Dear St. Stephen’s church family,

Greetings on this very cold and sparkly morning. May the warmth of God’s love fill you with peace.

A few items of note for the coming week:

 

  1. The season of Lent begins next week, on Ash Wednesday—March 2nd.We will hold 2 services of Holy Eucharist with the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, at noon and at 7 pm (I will be leading a service at Preston Park 1 at 9:30 am). All are welcome to attend. No registration necessary. (If you have palm crosses at home, please bring to church before Friday and I will use them in making this year’s ashes). Let us observe a Holy Lent.

2. The day before Ash Wednesday, Tuesday, March 1st, is Shrove Tuesday! “Shrove” comes from the expression of having your sins “shriven,” or absolved, after confession. Eggs and fat were used up before the 40 day long fast of Lent began. Pancakes are the perfect food for this! And they taste so good. You are welcome to attend our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper—in person, by reservation only. We will place tables distant from one another and sanitize in between the 2 sittings—5:15 and 6:30. We will serve you at your table, rather than have a buffet. If you’d prefer curbside pick up, that can be arranged. Just send a note. $10 per person ($5 for kids 12 and under). 

3. I have chosen a Lenten devotional readings booklet which is now available for all who wish to use it as we go through the season of Lent together. It is called “From Suffering to Salvation,” with reflections by Henri Nouwen. Booklets can be picked up any time, or can be mailed to you if you prefer. Please let us know if you would like your booklet mailed.

 4. Our youth and others will be attending a play at Persephone Theatre on Saturday afternoon—on the Mountaintop, about Martin Luther King Junior. It looks like an amazing and thought provoking play, about King’s last night on earth and the amazing, God inspired words he shared, confronting racism and shallow Christianity. (If YOU-th still wish to come, be in touch with me.) (It’s a fitting title, considering we are celebrating the feast of the Transfiguration on Sunday!)

 5. Camp Okema’s pizza fundraiser is coming up soon—in March! The deadline for orders is February 27th. Here’s the info: Hey Okema Family!We are excited to announce we’ve partnered up with Little Caesar’s Pizza for a Take-Home Pizza Kit Fundraiser! Options include Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza, 12” or 6” personal, thin-crust or traditional, as well as Italian Cheese Bread or Crazy Bread. Visit the website link below to place your order!

https://www.pizzakit.ca/fundraising-products?shop=1&t=lc…

Next, enter our Fundraiser ID # 400786 After that, you can enter, add pizza to your cart and place your order. Orders will be delivered to a member of the Camp Okema Board by the week of March 14th. We will contact you and arrange for pick up in Saskatoon. If you live outside of Saskatoon—please contact a member of the board before ordering, so plans can be made to get you your pizzas.

 6. The Scroll—our parish newsletter–will be unrolling soon—if you have any news or views from the pews, submissions are due March 4th. Please send to Linda Bliss. With thanks!

 7. Please mark your (digital) calendars for St. Stephen’s Annual General Meeting—Sunday, March 6th at 2 pm on Zoom. All are invited to come and give thanks for the work of the parish in the past year and to look ahead to where God is calling us. Reports will be abbreviated, as last year, with a priest’s report, financial information, highlights of the year and statistics. Agenda and all information will be available to pick up or receive by email next week. An agenda item of note will be a parish decision (reviewed by our Bishop, wardens, treasurer and vestry) to offer some financial support to Rev. Sunil Steephan as he leads the Malayalam congregation, which is an area of growth and rejoicing in our parish family. Sunil has been leading services since Easter of 2021. This is a leap of faith for him, and for us, and will be revisited at the end of 2022.

Only God can give us a selfless love for others, as the Holy Spirit changes us from within. This is one reason we must receive Christ, for apart from His Spirit we can never be freed from the chains of selfishness, jealousy, and indifference. Will others see Christ’s love in your life today? -Billy Graham

In Christ,

Rev. Amy <><