News - St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Gilroy, CA

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Gilroy CA

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St. Stephen’s News & Anouncements

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo!

We celebrated the ordination of Fr. Robles!

And he celebrated his first Mass as a Priest!

Spring Coffee house was great!

Bob Thomas was featured in our April 5th Coffee house

We had some Great Christian Music and fellowship.

We celebrated Easter!

BIBLE STUDY

On every Wednesday, “ rain or shine”, we are meeting in the Family living room at St. Stephens to read and study the Bible. Organized in subject matter units, each week will stand on its own to enable people to join in as often as they are able. Meetings are at 7:00 p.m., Contact: Fr. Terry
And in Lent we will preceed the Bible study with a Soup and salad meal at 6:00 P.M. in the Parish Hall, and we are having Lenten Studies 9:00 A.M. Sundays, between services.

FIRST SATURDAY

Men’s prayer breakfasts happens on the First Saturday of each month, we meet (Longhouse Resturant on Monterey) at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, prayer and fellowship. This will be a time devoted to the uplift, support and encouragement for the men of our parish. Contact: Hal Bellairs.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

A women’s prayer and fellowship order within the congregation whose purpose is to support the spiritual life of the congregation, uphold the clergy and to grow personally in faith. We are beginning the process of forming a chapter here at St. Stephen's. Contact: Pat Savage.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sunday School is going strong with around ten children attending.

STEWARDSHIP CELEBRATION

Are we responsible Christians? 2 Corinthians 9.8: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (N.I.V.)
We are now focusing on the future of St. Stephen’s, thinking about how we can live our mission statement, and understanding how we can accomplish God’s work for us. One helpful step is to create a budget for the next year. And, as in the past, we hold a pledge drive as a necessary step in the process. This year we have been taught of God’s grace and how he wants us to be blessed beyond measure often, not just in the fall. It is important that we share our blessings as we have seen recently in scripture and sermons, for our own good. As giving is the enabler of receiving!

Are we good stewards? Matthew 25.34-36: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.” (N.I.V.)
We are called to be good stewards of all of the gifts we receive from God: time, talent, and treasure. Good stewardship is in action at St. Stephen’s when we provide multiple use of our facility for other’s benefit (AA, boy scouts, etc.) Sharing our facility with Congregation Emeth also illustrates good stewardship (and perhaps some evangelism?), as does our helping needy people with our Resource Center, and feeding at the Armory. Those who contribute to our facility with their time, tools, talent, and muscles are also being good stewards, and there are certainly more examples.

Are we asking for and receiving blessings? John 16.23, 24: “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (N.I.V.)
At the back of the church is a prayer banner, and we are now starting to see not only crosses (asking for prayer), but stars (testifying to answered prayer)! We have seen growth started at St. Stephen’s this year, both spiritually and physically. This is just a beginning as we seek God’s will as individuals, and as a church body. God has enriched our lives at St Stephen’s this year, and a part of that process has been the giving of time, talent, and treasure by everyone here.

Are we prepared to receive God’s blessings? Luke 6.36―38 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (N.I.V.)
Remember “God does not need our money, we need to give it!” If we hoard what God has given us, hang on tight to it, keep our hands closed around the blessings we have received, then how can we receive what is there for us? The best idea is to share our blessings as fully as we possibly can with others, especially if it helps spread the Gospel. We cannot even imagine the full measure of God’s blessing so all are encouraged to prepare themselves to receive what God has in store for us. Keep the river flowing!

Can God provide beyond imagination? Malachi 3.10: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (N.I.V.)
You cannot out give God! Challenge God, by giving generously of your time, talent, and treasure to the work of the Lord in your daily lives – and you will see blessings in your life beyond anything that you can imagine.

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